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Local Realtors dominate national sales rankings

by Sue Dremann

Many of the nation's top sellers of residential real estate come from Menlo Park, Palo Alto and other nearby towns, according to a report published June 22 in the Wall Street Journal.

Ken DeLeon of DeLeon Realty in Palo Alto topped the list of the 250 leading sellers based on dollar volume of sales in 2011. He had $275 million in sales last year, according to REAL Trends Inc., a residential real estate data firm that compiled the list.

Mary Gullixson of Alain Pinel Realtors in Menlo Park ranked fourth with $253 million in sales.

Other top local agents on the list: No. 25: Keri Nicholas, Menlo Park, Coldwell Banker, $114 million; No. 41: Hugh Cornish, Menlo Park, Coldwell Banker, $94 million; No. 52: Tom LeMieux, Menlo Park, Coldwell Banker, $84 million; No. 103: Erika Demma, Woodside, Coldwell Banker, $60 million; No. 126: Peter Cowperthwaite, Portola Valley, Cowperthwaite & Company, $54 million; No. 134: Hanna Shacham, Menlo Park, Coldwell Banker, $52 million; No. 160: Kristin Cashin, Menlo Park, Oliver Luxury Real Estate, $46 million; No. 239: Scott Dancer, Woodside, Coldwell Banker, $40 million.

Mr. DeLeon, who has been a real estate broker for nine years, was previously an attorney at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. He has had two near-death experiences, which he credits with instilling a laser-like focus to his work. He survived being run down by an under-the-influence driver and was diagnosed with cancer, which he beat, he said.

This is the first year a Silicon Valley agent has topped the national rankings, he said in a press release, and he attributes that achievement to the area's robust economy. His sales approach includes catered lunches, lattes, extended hours, and a 200-page strategic buyer's guide.

"I use economic models and analysis to empirically illustrate which neighborhoods have the greatest appreciation potential. This sets our company apart form brokers who just show houses," he said.