Alison Clay-Duboff

Above: Alison Clay-Duboff and Babu the Bouvier

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My Local List

• Favorite Seafood: Fishing With Dynamite
• Best Cheeseburger & Shakes: Proudly Serving
• Favorite Steakhouse: The Arthur J
• Fun Event: Halloween on Catalina, Redondo

Alison Clay-Duboff has worked in real estate for nearly 20 years and operates Salty Water Properties as part of Estate Properties. She grew up in Southern California, attended the American University in Paris and graduated from George Washington University with a degree in radio-television broadcasting. Alison has lived in the United Kingdom, St. Barts, France, Sweden and Saudi Arabia. She is a published author and  public speaker, and has contributed stories to Southbay magazine.

When did you first get into real estate?

I dove in headfirst in 2007—right at the cusp of the crash. It was a great way to learn the hustle required to be a successful Realtor for my clients. 

In this competitive market, how do you help your clients stand out beyond price?

No matter the love affair people have with AI, real estate is a contact sport, and Realtor relationships are crucial in a competitive situation. Your Realtor’s reputation carries gravitas. I exert an unflinching commitment to ethics, professionalism and serving my clients beyond their expectations. 

How would you describe the current South Bay market? 

Medium simmer. Buyers are realizing rates will not return to the cosmic lows of yesteryear; however, they are shopping. 

What neighborhoods are you watching most closely right now? 

I have a very dear client who is looking for an exceptional property for his family and growing car collection. Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach are under my keen observation. I’m shaking the bushes and hunting my off-market resources. They have a double-digit million-dollar budget, but it’s not an easy find. 

Tell us about a real estate deal that taught you invaluable lessons.

A young single mom contacted me about buying a home. So many aspects didn’t add up. She was mysterious about funds, uneducated on the home-buying process and told me her mother was a princess and would be paying for the purchase. She exhibited very odd behavior, had some interesting habits and family members, but I persisted, listened and assisted in her search. Once the property of her dreams was located, I found out that her “princess mother” was part of one of the most illustrious and historic families in the USA. We subsequently did many transactions together. Reserve discernment. 

What home features consistently add value?

Curb appeal and welcoming landscaping. First impressions are vital. And I can’t stress enough the value of good professional staging. 

Tell us about a deal that required an unexpected, creative solution. 

I once represented a professional poker player. Financing required a little bit of creativity! 

How does instinct play into your work?

Intuition plays a big role in understanding people’s goals and also their fears. A widower client needed to sell the family home. I could sense that he was torn up because the house would be torn down. He had fear and guilt all wrapped up into a ball of emotion. My role was to guide him through that fear. 

What was one of your proudest moments?

It was a huge honor being invited to speak to a group of over 500 Realtors and owner-brokers on the main stage at Euro Disney outside Paris—all in French. They even carried me out on a surfboard, which is a trademark of my marketing. 

What is new and exciting for your business? 

Being partnered with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. The Sanders family—the owner-brokers of Estate Properties—is amazing! I enjoyed being on a panel at the LeadingRE Global Symposium in Prague last October, and I look forward to being a panelist in Las Vegas at the upcoming LeadingRE LIMITLESS conference. Our global referral business is thriving. Anyone interested in a château in France or a prosecco vineyard in a UNESCO site in Italy? 

Tell us about your family.

I am married to my darling Michael. We share our South Redondo Beach home with our two Bouviers des Flandres. I also have an amazing daughter and a 4-year-old grandson.

Photographed by Shane O’Donnell