Real Estate Auctions Experts 2025

Recognised in the top 1.5% Nationwide, I am a luxury real estate specialist with Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno, serving Silicon Valley’s premier neighborhoods. I work with affluent buyers and sellers throughout the bay area, offering expert guidance on pricing strategy, market timing, and positioning high-end properties for maximum value. My negotiation expertise is the foundation of the results I deliver. I pride myself in being a trusted resource on luxury real estate trends, buyer behavior, and the evolving Silicon Valley housing market.

Athena Barrocas is a South Florida real estate professional with 24 years of experience and advanced training and certifications, including CNA and Luxury Property Specialist. Her expertise spans South Florida housing trends, luxury real estate, pricing and negotiation, relocation, new construction, downsizing, aging in place, and Transition Concierge Real Estate for older adults and families navigating major lifestyle moves. A committed lifelong learner, Athena also focuses on the evolving role of AI in real estate—using AI-driven strategies in market research, consumer education, content, and modern real estate marketing. She offers journalists an experienced, on-the-ground perspective on changing buyer and seller behavior, the luxury and relocation markets, housing risks, senior transitions, and how technology is reshaping the real estate industry. Athena is also a real estate educator and content creator, sharing consumer-focused insights through her YouTube channels, the SoFlo Real Estate Show and Ask Athena Anything, as well as LinkedIn articles, real estate blogs, and other digital media. Her content focuses on making complex housing, market, and consumer issues understandable, practical, and relevant—giving journalists access to both deep real-world experience and clear, publication-friendly commentary.

I’m an antiques specialist with almost 15 years of experience in the auction industry. I’ve worked as an auctioneer and valuer, and now serve as the UK specialist for Auctionet, a global online auction platform. I regularly contribute to articles and podcasts on vintage collecting, second-hand culture, and the changing value of everyday objects. I am the toy consultant for Miller’s Antiques Handbook & Price Guide, and an on-screen expert on Cash in the Attic. My mission is to make antiques and collectables feel approachable, culturally relevant, and a bit magical. I’m available for comment on: • Auctions and second-hand trends • Toys and popular culture • Generational collecting habits • Valuations and unexpected finds • British design and nostalgia

I help home buyers, homeowners, and investors understand market trends, mortgage options, and building considerations so they can make confident, informed decisions about real estate.

Austin Hudspeth is an award-winning real estate agent based in Bellingham, Washington, specializing in relocation services for buyers moving to Whatcom County. In his first full year in real estate (2025), he closed 16 transactions totaling $12.9 million in sales volume and was named Rookie of the Year by the Whatcom County Association of Realtors. A transplant from the Deep South, Austin brings a unique perspective to the Pacific Northwest market and has developed expertise in helping out-of-state buyers—particularly those relocating from Seattle, San Francisco, and other major metros in the Western United States—navigate the transition to Bellingham, Washington. He is the creator of "Welcome to Whatcom," a community-focused mobile app designed to help newcomers integrate into the region's culture and lifestyle. Austin is available for commentary on real estate trends, counterurbanization: the migration wave from urban to rural, housing inventory and affordability, and the state of renting vs buying real estate in high cost of living regions.

Mark Winter is a seasoned art certification expert, fine art appraiser, and expert witness, with over two decades of experience in the global art market. A former associate at Sotheby’s.com and a senior specialist at Art Authentication Experts, Inc. Since 2003, he has worked on cases spanning authentication, attribution, appraisal, and the investigation of forgery, theft, and rediscovery. Mark and his team regularly collaborate with journalists and media across print, digital, radio, and film, providing expert insight into art authentication, attribution, and market trends. Their commentary has been featured in investigative reports, documentaries, news segments, and podcasts worldwide. Offering rapid fact verification (often within 24–48 hours) and multilingual interviews in 21 languages, Mark supports timely stories with accuracy and depth.

Kimberly Schmidt is a San Diego real estate expert and team lead of Kimberly Schmidt & Associates at Compass, known for providing strategic guidance to buyers and sellers navigating San Diego’s dynamic housing market. With over 19 years of experience and more than 500 successful transactions, Kimberly has built a results-driven business rooted in precision, market knowledge, and a highly personalized approach. Her team is consistently ranked among the top 1.5% of small teams nationwide by Real Trends, reflecting both performance and consistency at a high level. Kimberly is frequently quoted in national publications including CBS News, Travel + Leisure, House Beautiful, Bankrate, and House Digest, where she provides insight on housing trends, buyer and seller behavior, and navigating changing market conditions. She also serves as a TV host for American Dream San Diego, highlighting the lifestyle and communities that define the region. As a San Diego real estate expert, Kimberly works across a range of property types and client needs, including luxury homes, coastal properties, relocations, trust and probate sales, and 1031 exchanges. Her approach is both strategic and detail-oriented, with a focus on pricing, negotiation, and positioning homes to stand out in competitive conditions. Clients value Kimberly for her clear communication, thoughtful guidance, and ability to navigate complex transactions with confidence. Whether buying, selling, or investing in San Diego real estate, she provides a level of service that is both highly personalized and results-focused. CA DRE#01781140

I didn't arrive in Arizona with a luxury real estate network. I arrived from Ukraine in 2011 with my family, a love for homes and design, and no roadmap for what came next. Everything I've built here, I built from scratch, in a new country, in a new industry, in a new language. That background shapes how I work. I understand what it means to start over somewhere unfamiliar and need someone you can genuinely trust. It's why my clients, whether they're local to Paradise Valley or relocating from overseas, tend to stay with me long after a transaction closes. Today I work as a luxury real estate advisor with the Grigg's Group powered by The Altman Brothers, a platform with over $9 billion in career sales across California and Arizona. I'm a member of the Top Agent Network, an invitation-only group limited to the highest-producing agents in the area. That membership allows me to run pre-market campaigns that create buyer demand before a home ever touches the MLS. Most sellers never see that kind of reach. My clients do. I hold the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation through the National Association of REALTORS® and I'm currently completing the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) credential. I'm fluent in English, Russian, and Ukrainian, which puts me in a genuinely rare position when working with buyers and investors from outside the US. My listings have been featured in the Phoenix Business Journal and Phoenix Agent Magazine's list of the ten most expensive new listings in Arizona. I've listed estates in Paradise Valley at $12.5M and $13.975M, and I've appeared on camera alongside Josh Altman during property tours. I've also been covered by ABC15, Viva Phoenix, and international media for co-founding United4Ukraine, a charity I started with my husband after the Russian invasion of our home country. We've raised over $2.5 million for war relief. The work I'm most proud of doesn't always make headlines. It's the client who called years later to say I helped change their life. The deal that came together after everyone else gave up. The buyer who had lost multiple bidding wars before I found them the right home off-market and got it closed. That's the work that matters to me.

Nick Booth is a Utah real estate agent with Utah Real Estate, dedicated to helping clients make confident, informed decisions in one of the country’s fastest-growing markets. Based in Salt Lake City, Nick combines deep local insight with a modern approach to marketing, negotiation, and client care. He believes real estate is more than a transaction, it’s about building trust, creating opportunities, and helping people open the doors to their dreams. Nick takes pride in understanding Utah’s unique neighborhoods, from the energy of downtown Salt Lake to the quiet charm of the Wasatch foothills. His clients value his honesty, creative strategy, and hands-on support throughout every stage of the buying or selling process. Whether it’s advising a first-time buyer, analyzing market data, or positioning a listing to stand out online, Nick brings a thoughtful and detail-driven approach to everything he does. Beyond the day-to-day of real estate, Nick is passionate about personal growth, community, and helping others succeed. He’s a lifelong learner who studies market trends, digital marketing strategy, and sales psychology to provide the best possible service to his clients. His mission is to redefine what it means to work with a real estate agent, someone who’s professional, proactive, and genuinely invested in your success. For Nick, it’s not just about selling homes. It’s about helping people find the right fit, whether that means a downtown condo, a family home in the suburbs, or a mountain retreat. Every client has a story, and Nick’s goal is to make that story feel supported, informed, and celebrated every step of the way.

Brett Johnson is a real estate investor who has bought and sold more than 100 homes over the past 10 years. He is the owner of New Era Home Buyers, which purchases houses directly from homeowners across the Denver metro area — as-is, with no repairs, showings, or commissions. His background spans institutional multifamily acquisitions, residential investing, and direct home purchases. He works regularly with inherited properties, foreclosures, problem rentals, major repair situations, and other off-market deals, which gives him a ground-level view of what happens when a sale gets complicated — and what a house is actually worth to a buyer writing the check. He is also a licensed Colorado real estate agent. Brett has been quoted in Forbes, Fortune, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Kiplinger, and Realtor.com. He's available for commentary on real estate investing, cash sales and off-market transactions, home values and pricing strategy, seller concessions and negotiation, and inherited and distressed property.

Seda Stepanyan is a California-licensed real estate agent and the founder of Tooyn Homes, serving Los Angeles and surrounding communities. With a background in international journalism, marketing, and storytelling, Seda brings a strategic, data-driven, and highly personalized approach to real estate. She specializes in residential and multifamily properties, helping buyers, sellers, and investors navigate complex transactions with clarity and confidence. Born in Armenia and having lived and worked across Europe before settling in Los Angeles, Seda offers a global perspective that resonates with diverse clients. She is fluent in English, Russian, and Armenian, with conversational Czech, allowing her to work seamlessly with both local and international buyers. Her experience as an award-winning writer and marketing strategist enables her to craft compelling property presentations, negotiate effectively, and position listings for maximum exposure. Seda is affiliated with JohnHart Real Estate and is recognized for her adaptability, integrity, and client-first mindset—qualities that have helped her stand out in a challenging and evolving real estate market. Her work is driven by a commitment to transparency, education, and long-term client success.

John began his real estate career a decade ago, just before earning his degree with honors from New York University’s College of Arts and Science. Since then, he has directed and participated in more than $2 billion in complex transactions spanning luxury resales, high-end rentals, and new development sales, earning the confidence of discerning sellers and buyers throughout Manhattan's most coveted addresses. A recognized specialist in Upper East Side cooperative buildings, particularly along Fifth and Park Avenues, John has built deep expertise navigating the nuanced requirements of the city's most prestigious co-op boards and properties. He has represented properties across all asset classes and price points, including three full-floor apartments at 860 Park Avenue, an 18.5'-wide Lenox Hill townhouse, a Charles Gwathmey-designed pied-à-terre at The Sherry-Netherland, a full-floor SoHo loft, a duplex penthouse in Chelsea, and a Rosario Candela masterpiece in a distinguished Sutton Place South cooperative, to name a few. He is also known for maintaining an extensive network of off-market opportunities that rarely, if ever, trade publicly. As an Associate Broker and Global Real Estate Advisor with Sotheby's International Realty, John brings a rare combination of deal-making expertise and strategic leadership. Over the prior five years before rejoining Sotheby’s in 2026, he identified and developed elite brokers, building and managing teams responsible for more than $300 million in transaction volume annually, establishing a standard for both performance and client service. He is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York and speaks English and German.

Steve Jolly — Real Estate Expert Steve Jolly is a full-time real estate broker with Benchmark Realty, LLC, serving buyers, sellers, investors, banks, lenders, and asset management companies throughout Greater Nashville. With 20 years of real estate experience, more than $133 million in closed sales, 444+ personal sales, and 626+ team sales, Steve brings a practical, data-driven perspective to Nashville housing stories. His experience spans traditional residential sales, luxury homes, first-time buyers, investment properties, REO, foreclosure, bank-owned properties, and institutional asset disposition. Steve is also a past President of Greater Nashville REALTORS®, where he gained extensive media experience serving as a local real estate spokesperson during one of the most closely watched housing markets in recent history. In that role, he regularly helped explain market conditions, buyer and seller behavior, affordability challenges, inventory shifts, pricing trends, and the issues affecting homeowners, buyers, agents, and the broader Nashville housing market. Reporters looking for a clear, local, and experienced voice on Nashville real estate can turn to Steve for insight on: Nashville housing market trends Home prices and inventory Buyer and seller behavior Affordability and mortgage-rate impact Luxury real estate trends First-time buyer challenges Investment property activity Foreclosure, REO, and bank-owned properties Pricing strategy and seller mistakes Neighborhood-level market differences How national housing trends are showing up locally in Middle Tennessee Steve’s value as a source comes from both his market experience and his ability to explain complex real estate issues in plain language. He understands how buyers, sellers, investors, banks, lenders, and asset managers make decisions, and he can help connect housing data to what people are actually experiencing in the market. Whether the story is about rising inventory, slowing sales, affordability pressure, luxury housing, foreclosure activity, first-time buyers, or the changing expectations of Nashville homeowners, Steve can provide grounded, local perspective backed by two decades of hands-on experience. Steve’s approach is direct, practical, and consumer-focused: explain what is happening, why it matters, and what it means for buyers, sellers, homeowners, and the Nashville real estate market.

Alberto Gonzalez is a real estate strategist, investor, and founder of Investahaus, where he structures acquisitions, creative financing solutions, and exit strategies for property owners and investors. His work sits at the intersection of real estate, capital strategy, and emerging technology. With a background in marketing and construction, Alberto brings both market psychology and asset-level discipline to his analysis. He has participated in real estate tokenization initiatives and is formally educated in blockchain applications for property ownership, giving him a forward-looking perspective on how digital infrastructure is reshaping real asset investment. As a licensed real estate professional and active investor in Florida, he provides insight on distressed inventory trends, creative finance, business exits, regulatory shifts in wholesaling, and the evolution of real estate into programmable assets. Alberto is available to the media for commentary on housing market dynamics, alternative financing structures, tokenization of real estate, and the future of property investment.

John T. Patton is a business school graduate of St. John’s University in New York City and has lived and worked in Florida for over 36 years. He began his real estate career in 2006 as a real estate auctioneer with one of the most established auction firms in the United States. During that time, John worked closely with real estate developers, banks, and homeowners, helping them market and sell properties using the accelerated auction method. When the housing market stabilized in 2010, John transitioned out of the auction industry and began acquiring bank-owned properties and single-family homes directly from homeowners. He also oversaw the acquisition, renovation, and leasing of both single-family and multifamily properties for a regional rental housing company specializing in clean, professionally managed, and affordable housing across South Florida and Toledo, Ohio. John holds an active real estate license in the State of Florida and is a proud member of the Central Florida Real Estate Investors Association (CFRI) and the Dade Real Estate Investors Association (DREIA). He is passionate about helping individuals and families overcome personal or financial challenges by providing fast, effective solutions to sell their homes. Whether you’re facing a difficult situation or simply ready for a change, John is committed to helping you sell your property and move forward with confidence.

Jacob Peistrup is a real estate marketer and consultant. He helps real estate teams and developers grow through SEO, content marketing, and YouTube content. Based in St. Louis, he also runs Living St. Louis, a real estate media brand that generates hundreds of leads annually through neighborhood guides, seller tips, market insights, and new development tours. His work spans SEO strategy, web design, content production, and analytics for real estate professionals. Jacob holds a B.S. in finance from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He has been recognized among the Top 10 Real Estate SEO Experts of 2025 and holds an SEO Expert Certification from Gotch SEO Academy as well as an FAA Part-107 drone license.

I am a life long lover of all things real estate and construction since I was a young man building all kinds of forts. At 53yo, today we specialize in many exit strategies in both residential and commercial real estate investing. I love what I do and sharing the knowledge is my way of paying it forward!

Associate Broker and Luxury Home Specialist with eXp Realty Maine, specializing in residential homes, condos, and coastal properties across Southern Maine — Saco, Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, Kennebunk, and the greater York and Cumberland County area. I bring 25 years of high-end sales experience to every transaction, retiring as General Sales Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Scarborough before transitioning to real estate. I provide clear, data-driven guidance based on what homes are actually selling for — not automated estimates. Licensed Associate Broker | eXp Realty Maine | License BA930057 | 207-880-9995 | MaineLuxuryListings.com

Kristin Oganisyan is a luxury real estate agent serving Northern California's premium markets — Granite Bay, Roseville, Rocklin, El Dorado Hills, and beyond. She specializes in guiding clients through relocation, navigating competitive offers, and uncovering hidden value in today's shifting market. Whether it's a family moving to Beale or a Bay Area buyer looking for space, Kristin brings local intel, sharp negotiation, and a genuine commitment to making the process feel human. She's been featured in local business publications and is a trusted source for NorCal housing trends, home values, and neighborhood insights.