Conversations with Alissa Winkler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alissa Winkler

Hi Alissa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
If you had asked me 10 years ago if I could ever see myself selling real estate in LA, I would have laughed in your face.
At that time, I was just a few years out of college with a shiny new Interior Design degree, working in NYC in the commercial interiors industry as a showroom manager. It was fantastic; . I loved working in the city, but it wasn’t the long-term plan.
Fast forward to 2018, my newlywed husband and I decided it was finally time to move to California. We’d talked about it for years, but I don’t think anyone believed we would actually do it until we planned our final farewell. We landed in Torrance, CA and it was everything we imagined California to be. It’s like being on vacation every day!
We continued working remotely for our NYC jobs and spent the first two years here laying low, exploring the South Bay, and enjoying the weather. And then Covid hit. Within months I, like many others, lost my cushy corporate job. Everything I had worked for up until that point evaporated in what felt like seconds, and I was left with a choice: hop back on the corporate ladder or start an entirely new journey. Four years later, becoming a real estate agent has turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not exactly! When I moved here, I had 3 friends and no family nearby. The biggest question was: who would I sell houses to? That led me to cold calling expired listings and For Sale By Owners, which was exactly as hard as it sounds. I also realized that the business became incredibly competitive during Covid, thanks in part to reality tv shows glamourizing the life of a real estate agent, and low interest rates driving buyer demand so high that selling a house appeared to take no effort at all.
The toughest part for me, though, was the internal struggle. Transitioning from being an employee to running my own business was honestly not something I was prepared for. I lost a lot of confidence in myself before I had a track record of consistent and successful results.
In real estate, it’s not just about being a hard worker or a “people person.” There are so many methods for cultivating business that it can become very overwhelming. You have to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t, which can be quite a lengthy process. And it’s a lot of pressure when you don’t make a dime until you close the deal. But when you do close on the house, and your clients tell you how grateful they are that you made it possible, that’s what makes it all worth it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m residential Realtor at RE/MAX Estate Properties, the #1 brokerage in the South Bay. I have a wide range of experience helping people buy, sell, and lease many types of real estate including single family homes, condos & townhomes, income property, multi-family (2-4 units) and probate & trust properties.
What sets me apart is the patience and attention that I give to each of my clients, making sure they feel genuinely heard and comfortable asking questions about the process of buying and selling. It’s also my goal is to be my client’s Realtor for life. They’re often surprised to continue hearing from me personally long after we’ve closed. Real estate and the adjacent industries are changing constantly, and I consider it my duty to continue to be a resource for them.
I also want people to know that I’m very well-connected and super social. There’s rarely a South Bay networking event that I’m not at! I recently joined the Board of Directors for Leadership Hermosa Beach and I’m an active member of Torrance Chamber and the South Bay Association of Realtors, where I was the 2024 Rookie of the Year and will be the 2025 Chair of the Young Professionals Network.

What matters most to you?
Professionally: helping my clients win. Whatever that looks like for them. Gaining that understanding and being able to get them there, or at least a big step closer, is what I love most about my job.
Personally: maintaining a business that aligns with my values and my vibe. I believe in working hard and keeping it real. I approach everything with a mindset of abundance and positivity, and I share that with everyone I meet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/alissawinkler
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alissawinkler_realestate/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alissawinklerrealestate

Image Credits
Alissa Winkler