ABOUT DEAR LA
Brad Holmes & Joanna Suhl and the Dear LA real estate team have extensive knowledge of the Los Angeles real estate market. We are experienced realtors specializing in excellent customer service, savvy marketing, tough negotiations and smooth transactions. Dear LA is committed to giving you a five-star service experience, whether you are a first-time buyer or if you've sold your home many times. It is our mission to work hard for you and put your needs above all else.
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Brad Holmes
REALTOR
DRE#01930471Raised in Los Angeles, Brad is exceptionally well-respected for his professional track record and high ethical standards. He is proud to be the person people turn to when it is time to buy or sell their home and understands what it takes to get the deal done. Creative marketing, tough negotiation and an intimate knowledge of the market allow Brad to protect his clients’ interests and ensure their success. He listens, problem-solves and brings honesty and integrity to every transaction.
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Joanna Suhl
REALTOR
DRE#01935804Having grown up in Los Angeles, Joanna gravitated to Silver Lake and developed a deep knowledge of The Eastside and its many eclectic pockets. Her natural and easy-going approach is a rarity in this highly competitive market. Joanna got her start in building management in 2004, and soon after started her own appraisal company. When she is not handing you the keys to your new home, she is at her own home cherishing family time with her beautiful son, Zev.
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Megan Wilson
REALTOR
DRE#02020821Originally from North Carolina, Megan brings a dose of good ole’ southern charm to the team. She has her southern roots to thank for the value she places on family and home. Megan’s ability to listen and understand clients needs is unique. Her instincts and creative ideas are often the reason the deal gets done. She’s the one you want on your side when it comes to buying or selling in Los Angeles.
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Hope Steinman-Iacullo
REALTOR
DRE#02224431
A proud New Yorker, Hope’s upbringing instilled in her the values of determination and grit. But it was the city of Los Angeles, which became her adopted home over a decade ago, where she found her deep appreciation for neighborhood histories and architecture.Hope prides herself on being personable. Her ability to connect with a diverse array of people is an asset when she’s collaborating with clients and other agents. She believes that when the unexpected occurs, it’s an opportunity to be adaptable and to problem solve. A professional career in arts funding drew upon her passion for helping people achieve their dreams and her ability to bring even the wildest of ideas and goals to fruition. Now, she brings that same passion to real estate.
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Cyrus Gengras
REALTOR
DRE#02192566
Cyrus grew up in the northeast and lived in upstate New York and the Berkshires where he worked in childcare and the restaurant business before moving to Los Angeles. He spent nearly ten years touring the world as a musician where he developed a keen sense of staying calm in stressful situations and an innate ability to understand others and meet their needs.Cyrus values service, loyalty and honesty and utilizes these principles in everything he does. Cyrus approaches all situations with empathy and understanding, always standing up for what is fair and just.
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Alex Halenda
REALTOR
DRE#02107732
Over the last 15 years, Alex has worked in health and wellness, hospitality, management and real estate. Her passion for selfless service is at the core of every role she’s played. As an agent, she empowers every client with knowledge and clarity, and loves to help her clients succeed.You might recognize Alex from Kinship Yoga, where she leads classes and has developed a strong relationship with the local community. Working with Alex, you’ll feel confident about every step you take.
What Is It Like To Work With Dear LA?
Of course Brad Holmes was knowledgeable and informed about all aspects of the local real estate market. Of course he patiently explained and re-explained the regulations surrounding real estate procedures and practices. And of course he was meticulous in staying on top of all details. But what I most appreciated about working with Brad was his calm, unflappable personality. That calmness continued even when the process had to be put on hold for a month while I underwent emergency hospitalization and rehabilitation. As a new widow, this was the first house I was selling on my own, so I was understandably anxious about not making mistakes. Brad made sure I didn't, and everything went exceedingly well. I would recommend him to anyone who hopes for a similar house-selling experience.
— Patricia N.
"Brad and I embarked on our journey to finding me a home in November of 2016. As a first time home buyer I was clueless about much of the process, the market, house conditions, and neighborhood trends. It took nearly 1 year before we found the perfect house, and when we found it, we pushed hard for it and got it. Working with Brad was a great experience. We spent a lot of time together, and he alway made me feel as if I was the only client of his (even though I'm certain I wasn't). LA is a tough real estate market and Brad did a great job of steering me towards great opportunities, and away from potential money pits. I trusted his experience and advice and it really paid off because in the end, we got the best house of any we had seen. (I may have personally gone to 100+ open houses over this time) Thank you Brad for being a great agent and ally for me in this journey and I will certainly steer anyone who asks me about referrals to you!"
— Mike L.
"We were recommended to Brad by our friends and we'd love to pass along the rec to the public: Brad is the presence you need as you navigate the incredibly stressful L.A. market and was amazing from start to finish of our house purchase. Brad listened to what our priorities were and gave us great guidance during our search. Brad did whatever we asked of him during our search, but we never felt pressured to see new homes, put down offers, or stretch our budget. Brad made us feel supported and informed: he never forced his opinion on us either. When we had an offer accepted and the seller's agent turned out to be a horror, Brad stood strong for what we needed: he got the agent to recoup us a huge amount and pay all closing cots when we thought the deal might be off. We cannot recommend Brad enough: he listens, he supports, and he delivers. We couldn't have asked for more as first-time home buyers."
— Avimaan S.
"Finding Brad was the single best thing that happened to our search for a home. We were toying with the idea of moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Once we met Brad, that decision became so much easier. We knew we'd be able to find the right home, in the right neighborhood, and he'd guide us through the process like the pro that he is. After two near-misses, Brad helped us find the perfect home off market. We ended up with a complicated transaction, but Brad held our hands through the process and was the calming force in our sometimes emotional reactions. I'm not sure I've ever met someone with such patience and practical advice -- two key qualities in an agent (whether you're buying or selling). We plan to recommend (even force) Brad on our friends and colleagues as soon as they even mention that they might be in the market."
— Rose E.
"Brad is FANTASTIC! He was patient as we took our home to market, had spot on advise as to what we needed to do to maximize our asking price, and ultimately sold our house with multiple bids in 2 weeks for $175,000 over asking! He was diligent in bringing our house to market and held 5 well-attended open houses in that 5 weeks - working hard to get us the best deal. Brad followed this amazing effort helping us smoothly purchase two other properties within a month of this sale. Again he worked hard for us to negotiate deals that we were thrilled with all the way around. We can't recommend Brad highly enough!"
— Patrick C.
"Working with Brad in the sale of our home was a wonderful experience. Brad helped us out every step of the way and was a truly genuine and helpful partner in the process. From our very first meeting we knew we had chosen the right agent. He provided us with great advice, from the right pricing strategy, to minor improvements that we could make to our home so that it attracted the caliber of buyer (and asking price) we were looking for.
As a buyer or seller, you have many questions, and Brad was always thoughtful and informative when responding to our inquiries. Buying or selling real estate can be a complicated process, but Brad explained everything with great care and made it easy for us to understand. I definitely learned a lot along the way. And Brad is a dedicated and hard working agent. I always knew that he had our best interest at heart. He was always available to chat with us and always kept us updated with the status of our listing, the open houses, and all the other ins-and-outs associated with selling our home. We got a great offer, sold our home, and are now excited to start house-hunting again. And we are extremely lucky to have Brad by our side as our agent."
— Francisco C.
"I heard about Brad via a neighbor. He was great! Gave me a detailed marketing plan and helped stage my house for the best appeal to buyers. He would contact me on a regular basis to keep me informed on the progress of my home sale. During the open house he brought in literally hundreds of people to see the house and we received several over asking price offers. The house sold quickly and I would diffidently use him again."
— Emily C.
"Brad assisted us in purchasing a house in Glendale. We were very fortunate to find Brad. Before we started our house search, I did not realize just how much we would have to rely on the trustworthiness and thoroughness of our realtor. Whether it was being realistic about an inspection report orhonestly assessing the drawbacks of a property, Brad always presented a forthright perspective. I never felt as though Brad were encouraging us to pick a specific house--in fact, quite the opposite, Brad always presented both the pros and the cons of each property and warned us against properties that his experience could tell him were overvalued or not good fits for our family. I did not fully realize during the process how unique it was for a realtor to be quite so honest in providing these kinds of assessments.
Brad's honesty and careful approach allowed us to find the right property at the right price, even in a very competitive seller's market. Brad is also an incredibly smart negotiator. He is very familiar with the market and is ready to negotiate aggressively on his client's behalf. He diligently followed through with each part of escrow and continued to negotiate on our behalf right up until closing. On top of that, Brad is a genuinely friendly person, who we enjoyed getting to know during the house-hunting process. We always felt like he truly had our best interests at heart and could not have been happier with the experience. We highly recommend him!"
— Vanessa S.
"Buyers, looking for their retirement home and probably their last home, have a totally different perspective than first-time buyers. I don't know how Brad was able to relate to this, but he did. He is an empathetic listener who guided me through the entire process, from searching to buying, withthe ease of someone who had been helping seniors through the process his entire life! He made, what I feared would be a stressful journey, not only pleasant but actually fun. Almost every house or condo we looked at had the potential of being "the one"; he gave me excellent advice during the offer, counter-offer period, and helped me through those hectic days before closing. In just a little over two months, I went from being an apartment renter to a homeowner! I have a great house, at a great price, in a great community - I couldn't be happier.
Brad is knowledgeable, responsive, always on top of things, has great communication skills (the seller's realtor, the escrow agent, and lender all told me how easy he was to work with), exudes integrity, and, in short, is just a very nice guy. I am lucky to have stumbled upon Brad at the first open house I attended, and enthusiastically recommend him to anyone looking to enter the real-estate market. I had no idea how important the realtor is to the process - thank goodness I didn't pass by that first open house!"
— Janet Z.
"My wife and I just bought a house with Brad's help, and his services were invaluable. He is very easygoing and personable, and appears to have a great working relationship with the other brokers in the area. His advice is solid; we found ourselves regularly seeking his counsel at all stages of the house-hunting process. He is very patient, available, and attentive, even if you are not a big-ticket client. We could not be happier about our new house, and we genuinely owe our success to Brad, advocating and negotiating for us against 13 other offers. If you are looking to buy, especially in Northeast LA, we can't recommend Brad highly enough!"
— Mike S.
"I highly recommend Brad to anyone interested in selling their property. He is highly professional in communications with me and very knowledgeable in the processes of selling a property. In selling our family home (that we owned for 50 years), we wanted an agent who understood our wishes and concerns and knew the neighborhood extensively. From the moment I met Brad, I felt comfortable discussing all facets of the selling process. He understood my position in selling our house and described in detail every aspect of the entire process. He was extremely responsive to our questions and concerns and was dedicated to making the process as easy as possible. I know he will demonstrate the same professional manner to any prospective client that he displayed to our family."
— Ron O.
“Brad is the best. Exceptionally knowledgeable about real estate. Detail oriented. A tough, smart and fair negotiator. And masterful in helping with the inevitable emotional ups and downs of home buying. This is our second home, so we knew from experience what a challenge it can be to buy anew home. There are so many details to keep track of. But this go round, we knew that nothing would slip through the cracks because Brad is completely on point. We were a different situation than the first time we bought a home in that we were buying from a "flipping" company and not from people who had lived in the home. This had its own set of challenges, which Brad managed perfectly. We knew we were not going to get pushed around by some impersonal company. There were many things that the company did on the cheap. Brad made sure that they would either fix those things or reduce the overall price. Also, the inspection experts that Brad brought in were awesome. Incredibly thorough and excellent at communicating with us. And they went the extra mile when needed. Brad is also great at helping with the more personal aspects of home buying. He is just such a straight shooter and a calm presence. Totally cool headed. This helps the process enormously. I would recommend Brad to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.”
— Adam C.
"My experience with Brad was exceptional. I was a first time seller, having lived and raised my family in my home for 42 years. Brad had handled several properties in my neighborhood and I had always been impressed with his demeanor and professionalism. Everyone I spoke to also praised his work ethic, availability and thoroughness. After interviewing Brad and several other agents, I was even more impressed with his grasp of the market, his knowledge of products and his personal skills - along with his resume of successes. He worked with me in the months leading up to my listing and was there every step of the way through the whole process of preparation, listing, showings and closing - always available, listening to my concerns, answering my questions and explaining each phase and document. I found him to be honest, trustworthy, dependable, hard working, knowledgable, a great negotiator and professional. I highly recommend Brad. He did an excellent job for me."
— Barb M.
"Brad Holmes worked with us for over a year in our search for a home. He was available to us early on when we weren't sure what exactly we were looking for and helped us hone in on the neighborhood and style of home that would best suit our family. He gave us his honest opinions on the places we saw and had great knowledge of what we should be looking for and aware of when buying an older home. He also knew very well the parts of the city we were looking in and gave advise based on his knowledge. He was always very responsive and helpful and encouraging on this long and difficult process. We ended up finding a home we love and we were so happy to have Brad in our corner!"
— Joey D.
"Brad just shepherded me and my family through the sale of our home. I interviewed 4 agents before meeting Brad and hired him right away - he was clearly the most impressive. From our first meeting, I found Brad to be thoughtful, patient and smart. He is an excellent communicator and negotiator. At every turn, I feel like he had our best interests front of mind. When the buyer presented multiple delays after Escrow opened, Brad consistently communicated our options, battled to make sure we came out on top in each negotiation, and stayed calm and "in charge" despite some stressful moments. Ultimately, we got a great price for our home in large part to Brad's professionalism. I recommend him wholeheartedly - I can't imagine a better real estate agent. Definitely call him if you're in the market to buy or sell, you'll be glad you did!"
— Trevor K.
"My husband and I purchased our first home with Brad in August of this year. As first time home buyers we had NO IDEA what we were getting ourselves into, but Brad helped us navigate through the whole process. We both feel like Brad really listened to us and what were were looking for--the town house we ended up buying is exactly what we wanted in a neighborhood we love and is something we never would have looked at without Brad's guidance. Brad is responsive, patient and we both really trusted him to help us make the best decision in a very competitive real estate market. I recommend Brad to all my friends (as he was recommended to me) and will definitely use him again when and if the time comes."
— Kayleigh O.
"I highly recommend Brad Holmes to anyone who is selling or buying property. In my case, I retained Brad to sell my home. He is professional, knowledgable, courteous, dependable and responsive to all forms of communications. Most importantly, I feel Brad truly listened to me, put my interests before anything else and made me feel like I was his most important client. He made the entire process easy. He acommodated my schedule and took the time to carefully review and explain the documents I was signing. I was very happy upon conclusion of the transaction and how Brad handled everything. I plan on retaining him to handle any real estate matter I may have in the future."
— Nancie A.
"Simply, Brad Holmes is the best real estate agent for any buyer (and presumably any seller, too). As an initial matter, Brad knows the market and is very savvy with respect to pricing and offers. He gave me excellent advice during the negotiation process that turned out to be spot-on. On a relatednote, Brad is patient, low-pressure, and honest. He will not pressure you to buy any house that meets your basic criteria. Rather, he takes the time to learn what you want and will try to find it for you. Perhaps most important, Brad provides unparalleled service. He is sensitive to all issues, and he used a network of professionals, all of whom are excellent (and one of whom I ended up hiring to do some repair work). He is always available to handle any issue, big or small. He responded to texts immediately, and he was available to talk, even during nights and weekends. He regularly attended open houses with me (even when I said it was not necessary), and he was present during every inspection and meeting on the house I ultimately purchased. In sum, Brad gets an A-plus. He is the perfect combination of real estate agent, contractor, financial advisor, interior decorator, therapist, and friend. You cannot go wrong selecting Brad Holmes as your real estate agent. I will never use anyone else."
— Steve G.
"Brad did an extraordinary job for us. We are based on the East Coast and were selling a home in LA, and he managed every aspect of the sale from start to finish. He made himself available to help well before the house was ready for sale, and assisted us in dealing with an estate firm and localcontractors, handling all of the tiny details so that we didn't have to.
He is dependable and completely trustworthy, and made the entire process stress-free. Brad went over and above for us, and we can't recommend him highly enough."
— Kev R.
"Brad was the best! My wife and I were tough clients who demanded a lot of attention and a lot of information. Brad was incredibly responsive to all of our requests. He helped us understand the market and how to shape our offer to get the best results. He helped us find the right home in the right area. And he was candid about any shortcomings. He took his time with us and was in no rush. I knew from the beginning that I could always trust Brad to give me a full picture of the goods and the bads of each home and each offer. That was invaluable. He was also a great negotiator and I could not have asked for a better result. We bought a home in March 2016 and could not be happier. Brad has even helped us to identify additional, great vendors and I know I can count on his advice going forward. I could not recommend him more highly."
— Trevor S.
"I cannot say enough good things about Brad. He is utterly professional, patient, attentive, responsive, knowledgeable. He helped me to find and buy my dream home. He goes above and beyond for you...he made sure he was present at inspections for any needs we might have, even when i thought he was going to be gone on summer vacation. He is always a pleasure to be around, and truly held my hand through a process that can feel overwhelming and tricky at times. I know I would not have been able to even consider looking for a new home if Brad had not been exactly right. I felt in good hands, start to finish, and that means everything."
— Alison R.
"My wife and I just became the proud owners of our first home. This was made possible with the help of our realtor Brad Holmes. Brad made the daunting process of buying a home a seamless and exciting transaction. At no time throughout the process did my wife or I have anything but complete faith in Brad, as his passion and dedication to his clients was evident upon our first meeting. I strongly believe that his drive was paramount in securing our dream home. He was always available for any questions that arose, keeping our stress low and minds at ease. He was even running around for viewings with us on Xmas Eve! I would highly recommend Brad to anyone searching for their new home. Thanks again Brad, we couldn’t have done it without you!"
— Lincoln S.
"My wife and I recently purchased our first home, and Brad was our agent throughout the process. I can't recommend working with Brad highly enough, and we would work with him again in a heartbeat if we buy / sell another house. Brad is great at his job, but also a great person, which was key. Because this was such a major personal decision and (at times) all-consuming process, he was part of our lives on a near daily basis. We grew to trust Brad completely. He's resourceful and knows the market, but also genuine and honest in his advice. We never felt that he held back his opinions and expertise, but he never pushed or pressured us --- just tried to make sure we were making informed decisions. His "client service" is incredible. He is hyper-responsive --- available by phone and email around the clock (which we definitely tested, a lot!). When we needed his help or advice, it felt like we were his only clients. We found his strategic advice during the offer process to be very useful, and ultimately responsible for us being able to make a successful offer on our house. Our experience with Brad was entirely positive, and we're thankful to have worked with him. We now consider him a friend, and look forward to staying in touch. For a relationship that developed against the backdrop of the otherwise stressful real estate process, that may be the best compliment!"
— Manav K.
"Brad was amazing to work with. He helped us throughout the process and his knowledge of the LA market was key as we are new to the LA area after many years in NYC. His ability to keep everything organized, on track and stress free was remarkable. He was also really in tune with what our family needed in our new home. He took the time to get to know our likes and dislikes and found amazing properties to review. He was able to help us weigh our options, fine tune our needs and we ended up finding a perfect new home for our family. I highly recommend Brad - particularly if you are new to LA and need someone who truly understands the dynamics of the southern California market and the vast diversity of neighborhoods & locations."
— Dave R.
"Brad is an awesome real estate agent. I can't say enough good things about him. I began my home search in September 2014 and Brad was really helpful with preparing me for what to expect. He went with me to open houses and gently helped me through the process. Never high pressure and always understanding of my concerns and preferences. By the time I bought my house in April 2015 I felt like I had seen a lot of options and really made the best choice for myself. Getting through escrow was much easier than I expected and Brad helped me every step of the way. Now I'm eagerly recommending him to all my friends starting the home buying process."
— Bri D.
“Brad is the best real estate agent a first-time home buyer could ever want. He is always on top of things, answers all questions promptly, and is a pleasure to be around and talk to. We could think of no better person to lead us through the difficult and challenging path of buying a home in LosAngeles. We give him our highest recommendation.”
— Sandhya R.
"As first time homeowners, my husband and I were clueless about basically everything, and we were very grateful to have someone so knowledgeable and trustworthy by our side every step of the way. Brad was patient and reassuring when we got overwhelmed, a fair negotiator who had our backs, and the man with the never-ending checklist to make sure our house was in tip-top shape by the time we moved in. Knowing we could go to him with any question (and, oh, we did) and get an honest and intelligible answer made the process of buying a house that much less stressful. We could not have asked for more or better."
— Lijah B.