Rebecca Garrett

British-born and with plenty fond memories of Pacific Palisades, Rebecca Garrett is now helping clients find their dream home in Mammoth Lakes, June Lake and Crowley Lake with Mammoth Realty Group.

Tell us a bit about your childhood — where did you grow up? Any hobbies or interests?

Garrett: My family moved to the Palisades from London in 1973 when my father took the position of Deputy Director of the J Paul Getty Museum.  My father had been Getty’s architectural consultant on the building of The Villa and during that time Getty’s health had declined. The Villa was due to open in January of 1974 and Getty asked my father if he would move to Los Angeles and run the museum for two years while he recovered. Getty’s health never improved and sadly he passed away in 1976 at which point the board asked my father to become Director. I had been attending the Lycée on Marquez and then moved to St. Matthew’s. Some of my fondest memories are from St. Matthew’s but also Junior Lifeguards, AYSO soccer, Palisades Little League, the Hobby Shop on Via, St Matthew’s Day Camp and the beach. Having spent the first eight years of my life in London, Pacific Palisades with the sun, the ocean and the backdrop of the Santa Monica Mountains seemed like heaven.

What was your first job?

Garrett: I was a runner at Mort’s on Swarthmore.

What inspired you to enter the world of real estate? 

Garrett: It was 1994 and I was one of the managers at Toscana in Brentwood. I was looking for a change and Fran Flanagan, the mother of one of my best friends, was managing the Jon Douglas office around the corner from Toscana. Fran planted the seed and I got my license and went to work in her office. A few years later I moved to John Aaroe in the Brentwood Gardens building before joining Sotheby’s in the Palisades. In 2007, I moved to Mammoth and I am currently with Mammoth Realty Group.

What elements of your past have helped you in real estate?

Garrett: I feel that being the daughter of an architect has been very helpful. I traveled a lot with my father and he would always talk about the architecture of the countries and cities we visited. This love of architecture sunk in. I spent a number of years as an architectural photographer and that taught me a lot about space and light.

Do you represent homes in any areas other than Mammoth? 

Garrett: Yes, in addition to Mammoth I represent clients and properties in June Lake and Crowley Lake.

Tell us about one of your favorite current listings.

Garrett: Inventory is really low at the moment, 14 houses and 26 condos, and any new listing that is properly priced is selling quickly.

What advice do you have for first-time Mammoth home buyers?

Garrett: There have been lots of new buyers in the last nine months because of the pandemic and the fact that Mammoth is a lovely place to be if you have to stay-at-home. If you are planning on getting a loan it is wise to have that lined up before starting to look at property. A few things I encourage clients to take into consideration when purchasing are getting to know the different neighborhoods, where the closest shuttle stop is, how much sun the property gets and will you have any natural light if there is 15 feet of snow on the ground. I would be happy to help with any of these or the myriad other things one should take into consideration when buying property in the Eastern Sierra.

What are some of the current trends in real estate? 

Garrett: Until March of 2019 the majority of buyers were looking for an investment, AirBnB type, property but since the start of the Coronavirus we have seen a shift. Since March of last year most buyers are looking for a place for themselves, somewhere where they and their family can escape from the city. This has meant a drop in inventory and a steady rise in prices.

What do you do for fun when you are not working? 

Garrett: There is so much fun to be had in the Eastern Sierra. I love to ski (alpine, x-country and backcountry) and snowshoe in the winter but I have come to love the summer activities even more. I moved to Mammoth for skiing but the summers have captured my heart. Once the snow melts, I get out on my road and mountain bikes, hike almost daily, paddleboard and backpack. There is also incredible fishing and Mammoth has two golf courses. There really are not enough hours in the day for all the fun!

If you have any questions about real estate in Mammoth please give me a call (310) 795-9161. To see all of the current listings in Mammoth, June and Crowley visit www.RebeccaGarrett.com