Mike is passionate about helping his clients to find value opportunities and create equity growth with innovative planning and sustainable improvements. Working with both homeowners and investors, he treats each of his clients as a partner, during their search as well as after closing to help realize their goals. For those seeking a first home or a new home, he loves the challenge of helping his clients balance their home priorities and needs within a budget to find the best property --by searching various neighborhoods, property types, and financing options-- to realize an affordable and welcoming home oasis. His team of experienced local lenders will give you expert guidance with VA, FHA, renovation, and first-time buyer loans. And when you need to sell your home, Mike enjoys helping his clients realize the highest possible return with targeted improvements in consultation with his team of design and staging partners, and expert home remodelers. For investor clients, Mike uses creative approaches to increase marketability and cash flow, including sustainable green features and energy and water efficiency improvements. He specializes in the acquisition, leasing and sales of multi-unit properties and has extensive knowledge of San Diego’s best investment opportunities including 2–4-unit properties, small commercial buildings, and downtown condos with upside potential. Mike has enjoyed helping many clients with their 1031 exchanges and loves the challenge of working with savvy investors. Mike is committed not only to the success of his clients, but also to the improvement of the neighborhoods where he lives and works. In 2015, Mike became an accredited LEED Green Associate and NAR Green certified Realtor. Today, he shares this knowledge of sustainability and healthy homes to effect positive "green" improvements through homeowner educational programs. In 2017 he became a member of the US Green Building Council's Residential Committee and helps to organize its annual Green Homes Tour. Mike is proud to have called San Diego home since 1993 and to have participated in the exciting redevelopment of downtown San Diego's urban communities including Little Italy, Columbia, and East Village districts. He currently resides in North Park and loves spending free days in Balboa Park or the San Diego Zoo. His passion for real estate began as a child touring open houses with his family in Santa Barbara and peaked when he bought his first home in 2000 and spent 2 years renovating the Hillcrest Craftsman bungalow. Prior to 2002, Mike was the founder and president of an international tour company that operated adventure tours to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Greece, Holland, and Russia. In 2002, after his first successful renovation and sale of his own home, he decided to leave the tour business and pursue a real estate career. Mike graduated with degrees in Spanish and geography from Dartmouth College in 1988. After college he studied and lived abroad in Barcelona, London, and Sydney. Today, he uses his fluency in Spanish in real estate. He is an active member of Balboa Park's House of Peru, a country very close to his heart since he married his husband Carlos in 2016. Mike's passion for real estate is matched only by his love of travel. Among his favorite escapes are Maui, Peru, Greece, and Spain, and he is happy to share his travel recommendations with friends and clients.