Q&A: Laura Klein

By JACQUELINE PRIMO | Assistant Managing Editor

Laura Klein—broker, realtor, certified negotiation expert and certified buyer representative with Klein Real Estate—brings her familial background in the industry to clients hoping to buy or sell a home in Pacific Palisades. Raised in Sunset Mesa and now a 20-year Highlands resident, Klein knows every inch of the Palisades and what makes each neighborhood special. In this interview, Klein talks about her family, how she works with clients and what she thinks of Caruso’s Palisades Village project.

Jacqueline Primo: Tell me about your childhood. What were some of your hobbies and interests?

Laura Klein: I was born in Santa Monica and my parents purchased their home in Sunset Mesa when I was six months old. They still live there.

My interest growing up was horses, and I was a competitive equestrian from the age of 7 until 21. Being an equestrian taught me so much about caring for animals, having a respect for the sport, being disciplined in my training for competition, learning independence and focus and following my passion. All of these traits are important elements of who I am today.

Primo: Where did you go to college and what did you study?

Klein:  I went to CSUN and studied communications with an emphasis on marketing, film and TV. I loved my time there and what I learned. It was perfectly suited for who I am which is a creative thinker and problem-solver.

Primo: You have lived in the Palisades for many years. What do you think sets each neighborhood in the Palisades apart from one another?

Klein: Each neighborhood of the Palisades has a slightly different feel and appeal depending on your specific type of micro-lifestyle, and they all offer different lifestyle choices. Some neighborhoods are more remote and private, while others have an old-fashioned community feel. Some are more coastal and others are more walkable to the Village.

Whatever your lifestyle choice—California coastal, natural mountains and canyons, walkable Village life—it is all here in the many different neighborhoods of the Palisades.

Primo: Both of your parents are involved in real estate. How did this influence your career choice to go into the industry as well?

Klein: Initially my father was a real estate developer and my mother an interior designer; in 1993, they began the Klein Real Estate brokerage.

My original goal was to go into real estate after college but during my first year of college, I discovered another area that I wanted to explore first—entertainment marketing and advertising, a career I thoroughly enjoyed for 12 years.

Once I got that out of my system, I dove into real estate and have not looked back since.  I am currently enjoying my twelfth year in real estate.

Primo: Do you represent homes in all neighborhoods of the Palisades?

Klein: Yes. Klein Real Estate has been assisting clients with buying, selling, leasing, investments and property management in Pacific Palisades for over 23 years. We take great pride in being experts in this market and knowing the nuances of each neighborhood.

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

Klein: We believe every home and buyer has a story. We work with our seller clients to capture their home’s story, analyze its target demographic and go from there to create a unique marketing strategy. We do something similar with our buyers and create a unique buyer strategy to strongly position our buyers for success.

Primo: What are your thoughts on Caruso’s Palisades Village project?

Klein: Having the pleasure of calling the Palisades my hometown for nearly all of my life, I was a little skeptical at first of the change. However, after learning how Caruso is integrating the community into the Swarthmore plan, I feel optimistic and positive about the evolution of the Palisades.

The idea of change can be difficult, but in this case it’s a thoughtful and inclusive plan, and I believe it will benefit the town and its residents greatly. It is important to me that the Palisades Village thrives and that any new development is harmonious with the past and present culture of the Village. I feel Caruso’s development is striving to achieve this harmony.

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

Klein: I love spending time with my family, which includes my partner Tracy, my 10-year-old son Seth and our two dogs, Maxine and Zoey.

We love going to the beach and boogie boarding, surfing and bike riding along the boardwalk. We love hiking on the trails in the Highlands and walking our pups around the neighborhood.

Lately we are getting more involved with sailing and are having fun with it. We truly love and enjoy every aspect of the Palisades lifestyle and believe this is the best place in the world to live!