Jamie Leff and Amy Hollingsworth

Jamie Leff and Amy Hollingsworth are longtime Westside Realtors who are both right at home in Pacific Palisades. The sisters-in-law have been working in the industry since college, after growing up with families involved in real estate development and sales.

Tell me about your childhoods. Where were you born and where did you grow up? What were some of your hobbies and interests as children and teenagers?

Jamie was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the Palisades. She left for college but ultimately came back to the Palisades when she graduated.

Amy grew up in Calabasas and enjoyed horseback riding, skiing, babysitting and, of course, looking at real estate as a child/teenager. Amy would spend weekends driving around with her dad looking at new housing tracts to get ideas for his next projects.

What were your first jobs out of college?

Working in real estate, of course!

Amy worked for a developer in customer service pre-selling new homes and helping buyers pick their finishes. Jamie assisted her mom who was a top Realtor on the Westside.

What led you to choose a career in real estate?

Growing up with families involved in real estate development and sales, real estate was a natural career decision for both Amy and Jamie.

How do your backgrounds help you when working with clients to buy or sell a home?

Honestly, when you love what you do and have been doing it as long as we have, it becomes second nature. Although it’s true when they say that no transaction is the same. We are constantly learning new things, which keeps us on our toes.

Do you represent homes in all neighborhoods of the Palisades?

Yes, each section of the Palisades has its own uniqueness, which makes it so special.

Tell me about how you approach new clients who are aiming to buy or sell a home.

The majority or our business comes from referrals or repeat business. When we’re referred a new client, our approach is to have an initial meeting to get to know them better.

It’s really important to just listen. Our goal is to have a clear understanding of what they’re looking for and what their expectations are. Communication is key, and we find that as long as we have that, we can get through any hurdle that may arise.

What are some of the most memorable homes you have sold or helped a client purchase?

One of the most memorable purchases was when our nine-month pregnant client closed escrow on her home the day she went into labor after spending months and months looking for the perfect home to start their family in.

The movers came while she was in the hospital, and her amazing husband took over and got the house ready all on his own so that his wife and newborn had a home to come back to. We all worked our magic to get it done in time.

There’s nothing more gratifying than happy clients!

Have you lived in Pacific Palisades, and if so, what neighborhood(s)?

Between the both of us, we have lived in every section of the Palisades.

Jamie was born and raised in the Palisades and attended the local public schools. The Palisades has always felt like home to her.

Amy discovered the Palisades while working on sales and marketing for a new construction project in the Highlands during the late ’80s. She loved it so much she bought her first home there.

Between the two of them, Amy and Jamie have lived in the Highlands, Alphabet Streets, Huntington, Riviera, Marquez Knolls, Castellammare and El Medio Bluffs. It’s hard to say which one is our favorite.

We feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to raise our own kids here. There really is no place better. We have it all here, especially now with the new Village.

What do you and your family like to do for fun?

Amy and Jamie are sisters in law (related through marriage), and when they’re not selling homes together, they’re spending time with their families and making time for travel, which is one of their favorite things to do in their spare time—although, as of late, the real estate market has been so busy there really hasn’t been much time for travel. As soon as it slows down, that’s what they plan on doing.