Meet James Nunemacher: Principal, Vanguard Properties

"When you're young, you have to find your way and there is nothing more alluring than a beautiful city," explains James Nunemacher, Principal in Vanguard Properties, when asked his thoughts about San Francisco and how it lured him. James, whose background in Biochemistry at UC Berkeley may not seem the most likely path into real estate, finds San Francisco "a vibrant place, filled with charming neighborhoods that are all very different, each with their own unique character. It's a true walking city. I love every part of it."

James Nunemacher is passionate and exuberant when talking about his love of the real estate business, which he feels started at an early age. "As a young kid, I sold everything under the sun, from greeting cards to newspapers; I always loved houses and even as a teenager, I loved going to open houses."

Although his college years were spent in biochem labs working on complicated experimental gene therapy, James feels that "perseverance and focus is needed to get things done,” a philosophy that has served him well in his real estate career. "A good real estate agent will understand as many aspects of a client that they can; it's so important to be focused on them and their needs."

TELL US WHY THE MARKETING AT VANGUARD IS UNIQUE

JAMES: Vanguard has an amazing in-house marketing team within our flagship office. The six-person team is very creative, accessible and does not follow a template. The minute you put properties into a formula, it downplays them. We identify the five shining aspects or best features of the property — like location, view, setting, design — and work from there to create the best marketing approach for that property. We have someone who works full-time on how to best bring SEO to our properties.

DESCRIBE THE CULTURE OF THE VANGUARD OFFICES

JAMES: We have 140 agents in San Francisco and another 25 in the Wine Country. Our flagship office is right between the Mission District and Noe Valley, in the hub of the start-up capital. There is a lot of engagement between the agents; a good camaraderie and sharing not typical in most real estate offices.

Many of us have grown-up with our clients, economically and personally, and it's interesting for us to be there to see how their housing needs change through their lives. We are a unique and respectful, trend-setting firm. We hold the line really nicely and therefore maintain respect as an industry leader.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE OFFICE WHEN TIME ALLOWS?

JAMES: I've learned to handle and delegate [business] so you still have a good life to live and not be a slave to your iPhone. I ride my bike to the beach and back several times a week. To this day, the urban paradise of Golden Gate Park is one of my favorite places to be. It gives me goosebumps. I spend time in Healdsburg, which is the new wine country central. Sonoma is more organic and biodynamic [than Napa]. The food is outstanding; there is not a bad restaurant in the whole town. It's a very alluring and charming town.

Leverage Global Partners is very proud to have James Nunemacher and Vanguard Properties as part of the network.