Nominated for their second critics choice awards Netflix reality real estate series -Selling Sunset- is on fire. The man behind and in front of the scenes shows how he manages all that swagger.
If you have the seen the show you know a set of twins running a real estate firm that only handles high-end luxury real estate and did over three billion in closed sales and all the agents are competitive, tough WOMEN. Jason Oppenheim, founder of the company is the lead and the most outspoken of the twins on Selling Sunset, and we had a chance to chat with him about hard work and his passions.
“It’s a work in progress, I learn something new every day, being a manager, I decided to get therapy because I wanted to work on myself and be better at it.” said Jason. Jason and his twin Brett lead a firm that has eight strong-willed, opinionated highly talented women who are amazing closers. Conflicts are bound to arise and Jason’s job is to manage them to ensure business keeps flowing.
However he sees his team as family and when you watch the show you get that sense as they socialize and break bread with each other authentically in many segments. The office is gorgeous as to be expected from an agency of their stature.
Jason didn’t just jump in to real estate even though his family has a long history in that world. He was a very accomplished lawyer, even arguing and winning cases at the Supreme Court level but wasn’t satisfied. On the lead of his twin brother Brett, he quit his very successful legal career and decided to travel. “I worked at a law firm for many years, there are no blurred lines at a law firm” “I have always been argumentative and the law seem natural, I like intellectual arguing and that’s what the law represents, critical thinking is very important and is what I missing from society right now”. “When Brett quit his law firm and started to tell me about his travels I realize I wanted that freedom”. Jason believes that critical thinking ability is one of the keys to his success in real estate.
That freedom led Jason on a 3.5 year journey of self discovery through 80 countries. He sold everything he had and left his law degree at his parent’s house to travel. What he realized on his travels was his passion for real estate. In 2010 he came back $40 thousand in debt but he knew what he wanted to do… real estate. His first few years at Caldwell Bankers weren’t what he is living now; he was making under $50 thousand a year a far cry from his quarter million dollar law salary. He made the very risky move of starting his own agency, depending on passion and hard work. Jason was very focus on his niche market “ If you want to be the best you have to know your market and you can’t do that if you are expanding all over the place” says Jason.
“I know how I got successful, I’m probably the only agent at my level that still only uses a cell phone, no landline, I answer all my calls personally, no assistant or agency” “If I expand I can’t do that, I know why my clients are loyal, I keep it personal..I am an agent first” says Oppenheim. Now that’s a commitment to personal service and keeping your nose to the grind!
Oppenheim doesn’t just enjoy the fruits of ‘Selling Sunset’ on Netflix but is dedicated to giving back. Food on Foot a nonprofit dedicated to assisting the homeless and low- income neighbors in LA with nutritious meals clothing and a fresh start through life-skills education full-time employment and permanent housing. He gave his time when he was less affluent and now his money, but still manages dedicating his time and encouraged his entire team to be active members. He likes that its privately run and he can be hands on in helping bridging that in equality between the ‘haves and have not’s.
When asked what his personal Mantra is “Belief in self and investing in self, I am always growing and not afraid to invest into that growth.”