The “Residence Family” Makes a Move

This 4th of July, you can bet one local family will fall prey to one habit they just can’t avoid. It’s hard to blame them, it’s probably in their genes. Their DNA. As certain as fireworks will spark “Ooooohhs” and “Ahhhs,” the members of The Lippincott Group will talk shop over the family barbeque.

Barbara Wheeler, Katherine and James Lippincott and Jennifer Alatorre (all related) have a lot to talk about.  They just pulled up stakes and taken their generations old, well-earned and jealously-guarded reputation to the new John Aaroe Group office on West Green Street.

“Yes, we are so excited to be in on the ground floor of John Aaroe Group, bringing an office to the Pasadena area.  We are the fifth John Aaroe group office to open within the last three years,” says Barbara Wheeler, the most senior realtor of the group. “ We are the eastern-most office. The others are in Sherman Oaks, Sunset, Beverly Hills, and Downtown.”

What is now known as The Lippincott Group was founded by Matriarch Emma Lee Halverson in the 1970’s, then joined by daughter Barbara Wheeler. It has not just been handed down but reinforced through four generations of a realty-focused bloodline.

“Real estate is in the blood, in our family. [Emma Lee Halverson] taught me well and just by experience Katherine and now Jennifer are picking up on all the things that my mother and I learned from working with each other,” says Barbara. “That’s one of the better ways to learn – to observe and see it happening.”

The results speak for themselves.  Hundreds of homes bought and sold over the past thirty plus years have earned The Lippincotts the right to be a go-to realtor in a city itself with a long storied history.

As a group, they attribute much of their success to a passionate nature embedded in their DNA.

“We are in a business that’s not black and white. We have to be able to look at each situation, each transaction that we are in, and sometimes start back from square one because they are all so different.”  Katherine Lippincott echoes second generation Barbara’s sentiment.  “It’s so great for us that we can go back and forth with each other. The synergy! Believe me, we can figure out what to do.”

Nods of agreement all around make it clear members of the Lippincott family count on each other for support.

This family problem solving process, unique on-the-job training and family member expertise distinguish The Lippincott Group from the rest of their competitors.

Third generation Katherine, for instance, is married to James Lippincott, architect, designer and the marketing facilitator (read “go-to guy”) of the group, value added expertise in every respect.

“Whether it is a property that Katherine is talking about where she has great expertise in historical homes, but it also works with more contemporary buildings, and the mixture of homes that we see in the greater Pasadena area.  So we are glad to be a part of all that, and we are glad to have James’ expertise along the way as well.”

James observes the benefits the Group continues to derive to this day from founder Emma Lee Halverson.

“The respect that we have garnered due to this long history … is truly amazing,” he writes. “Emma Lee is still remembered for her integrity and commitment to service by other agents who have been in the business for many years.  Few other agents have a foundation like that on which to build!”

The added value emanates from nearly all angles of the Lippincott Group’s business as well, and mostly from the experience handed down from generation to generation.

“Together, you have three women here fighting to make each transaction for our buyers and sellers smooth and it doesn’t get any better than this,” laughs Barbara’s granddaughter, Jennifer.

What is better, of course, is 4th of July barbeques without shop talk (relaxation seems to take a back seat to their customers’ needs.

“The rest of the family hates it but, you know, what are you going to do?” sighs Katherine.

The Lippincott Group is at John Aaroe Group, 40 West Green Street, Old Pasadena. Call Barbara Wheeler at (626) 583-5066; Katherine Lippincott at (626) 818-3914; Jennifer Alatorre at  (626) 224-2799.  Visit www.lippincottgroup.com