Marin's Natural
By: Kevin Daniel Dwyer
Magdalena Sarkissian - Marin, CA
Magdalena Sarkissian has risen quickly to the top of her industry in Marin County— having closed nearly $100 million in sales in 2019 alone with the Sarkissian Bullock Team—but her road to success is a lifetime in the making. We catch up with the real estate natural to learn about her holistic approach to the business, closing deals and helping the next generation of real estate buyers and sellers.
“Residential real estate is an emotional industry. You have to listen to serve clients’ needs and desires.”
“Residential real estate is an emotional industry. When a client vocalizes what they are feeling, you have to listen, create empathy and appreciate the opportunity to serve their needs and desires,” says Magdalena Sarkissian, a top agent at Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty. “I learn everything I can about the person I am representing. I want them to feel mutual trust so that I can do what I do best for them.”
Sarkissian is an integral part of the Sarkissian Bullock Team, one of Marin’s top performing real estate teams for nearly 20 years, comprised of Lydia Sarkissian, Magdalena Sarkissian and Bill Bullock (who also is President and CEO of Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty.) Catering to predominantly repeat and referral based clientele, the team concentrates exclusively on the upper-end Marin County residential market, with a serious market share of Belvedere and Tiburon’s ultra-prime listings, among other enclaves. A Marin-native, Magdalena joined the team in 2015, after graduating college and working for several years at an architectural firm specializing in five-star resorts, a period she credits for giving her a global perspective of luxury and building her ever-growing network.
Relationships are at the core of Sarkissian’s approach to real estate. Not surprisingly, her road to real estate began with one of her closest relationships—her mother. “From a very young age, I have always been by my mother Lydia’s side. I learned the business through osmosis by watching and listening to her. I sent out thousands of mailers back in the day and went to countless open houses she would bring me to. She was always dressed in a suit, ready to tackle any obstacle. This was a huge inspiration for me growing up. She taught me the importance of a woman following her passion and creating financial independence for herself,” says Sarkissian proudly. “I learned the ins-and-outs of the luxury market, discerning clientele’s preferences and how to always think outside the box.”
The ability to connect with people at all levels and having wisdom beyond her years have enabled Sarkissian to break into the real estate market with ease and work with a variety of exclusive clients, expand the team’s business into new markets and satisfy the needs of the next generation of real estate buyers and sellers. She credits a holistic approach in taking care of her clients and their properties, her team’s reputation and how she carries herself. It’s also teamwork that gets her team through complex transactions.
“Obstacles are a fact of life and they happen a lot during a deal. I like to find the solution rather than get stuck on the complications. When a problem is very complex, solutions come easier when you push the irrelevant information to the background and keep focus on closing the deal. Taking a comprehensive, holistic approach to real estate incorporates every aspect of the business and everyone in it. You need to know this industry inside out and be able to execute and deliver for your clients,” says Sarkissian.
A reputation for delivering has put the Sarkissian Bullock Team top of mind among their growing clientele. The team has served some of the most dynamic and confidential individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area, from business entrepreneurs to professional athletes to technology and finance tycoons—many of which are typically all-cash buyers.
“Our highly productive relationships with our clients has enabled us to work on multiple purchases and sales with each of them over the years. Our clients near retirement have excellent spending power thanks to the appreciating values of their homes and their success in equity markets over the years. The next generation of luxury buyers have specific needs and wants to purchase a property that fits a particular lifestyle. We understand those needs and have the resources and connections to pair clients accordingly,” says Sarkissian.
Sarkissian notes that the next generation of real estate buyers seeks out their team thanks to their massive presence in the Marin marketplace as well as their renowned white-glove level of service. “We really roll up our sleeves and are hands-on from the moment we sign a listing contract. We are known to be ‘closers’. We bring our knowledge, resources and expertise to get the job done. From contracts to inspections to disclosures to negotiations, our team handles every part of the process with professionalism, necessary urgency and precision,” says Sarkissian.
When asked when she had her first big break in the business, Sarkissian lights up: “I love when I get asked this question because it puts a smile on my face. Shortly after I received my real estate license, we closed on a $10,000,000 property in Tiburon. The client was a friend of mine that I met in San Francisco. I left a lasting impression on him when we first met because I made the client feel comfortable in my presence. They were going through a difficult time and needed to hire a team that could make the transaction as smooth as possible. I will never forget the morning I got that phone call. Until this day, the client remains a close friend of ours and constantly sends me referrals. I truly appreciate the willingness to help me grow further in my career, especially as a younger agent in the market.”
“We are known to be closers.”
Gratitude is also a huge motivator for Sarkissian. “I’ve realized that in real estate, you come across all different types of people and being able to work with a diverse set of clients with varying needs is a privilege. I’ve met some of the smartest people in the world and I learned a great deal from them. I am humbled that I have an opportunity to cross paths with people of this nature. There is nothing better than adding value to someone’s life and that is what I do in real estate.” G
Magdalena Sarkissian | Sarkissian Bullock Team
415.847.7913 | m.sarkissian@ggsir.com | GlobalEstates.com | Lic.# 02028978
Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty