Terry Niemann

Terranea Real Estate is a full-service real estate agency specializing in the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the Beach Cities of the South Bay. The firm also maintains a waiting list of people who want to be notified about Terranea Casitas & Villas resales. Terry Niemann has worked in the industry for two decades and joined Terranea Real Estate in 2010.

How would you describe the current South Bay market?

Today’s market is noticeably different from a year or two ago. Some buyers are hesitant to make a move, as they are waiting for market conditions or interest rates to change. Many sellers are comfortable staying in their homes for a much longer time than we have seen in the past. 

What neighborhoods are you watching most closely right now? 

We love the steady value of Manhattan Beach, and our clients are also buying and selling in Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Estates. We are carefully watching the Lunada Bay market for clients who are eager to purchase a home there. 

In what ways does working in real estate fit your personality? 

Residential real estate is so rewarding because it is a personal and emotional journey for buyers and sellers. I am blessed to have the best clients, many of whom have become close friends. Of course, we want the best result for our friends, and home is where we hold our fondest memories and future dreams for ourselves and our families. 

How does the public’s access to so much information influence your work? 

Although we can compile and analyze data and comps, much of a home’s value is not precisely measurable because it also involves one’s perceived lifestyle while living there. Properly preparing sellers while realistically getting their homes ready to sell is as important as setting the right listing price. Listening to buyers and understanding their wish lists, their priorities and why they want to live in a specific neighborhood or home can be as important as making sure that the data is accurate.

Photographed by Lauren Taylor