Hidden Gems: Meet Anthony Marguleas of Amalfi Estates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Marguleas.

Hi Anthony, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began my career in real estate in the mid-1990s and founded Amalfi Estates with a focus on trust, long-term relationships, and deep roots in the Pacific Palisades community. For decades, my work centered on guiding people through important housing and land decisions. That role took on an entirely new meaning when the Palisades fires took my own home and business, along with those of thousands of neighbors, friends, and clients.

In the immediate aftermath, people were not asking about pricing or market timing. They were asking how to move forward. Homeowners were overwhelmed by conflicting information around debris removal, permits, zoning, insurance timelines, and rebuilding options. Many were frozen not by a lack of resources, but by fear of making the wrong decision during an already devastating moment.

I began organizing and sharing clear, real-time information, which grew organically into a community rebuild effort now housed at 1pali.com. The goal was simple: provide accurate, unbiased guidance so residents could make informed decisions about whether and how to rebuild.

One moment that stayed with me was walking a burned lot with a homeowner who had lived there for over thirty years. They told me, “I just need someone to explain this without an agenda.” That sentence became the north star for the work that followed.

Much of the effort involved walking properties, hosting community rebuild discussions, tracking policy changes, and collaborating with builders, architects, and city officials. Just as importantly, it meant listening. Rebuilding after a disaster is not only technical. It is emotional, filled with grief, uncertainty, and the fear of making a permanent decision in a temporary state of shock.

Today, my real estate work is inseparable from community rebuilding and advocacy. The fires reshaped how I define success. Impact matters more than volume. Helping a town recover, preserving its character, and supporting people through one of the hardest chapters of their lives has been the most meaningful work of my career.

Pacific Palisades is rebuilding, and so am I.

“Working with Anthony during the sale of our property meant more to us than words can fully express. It was an incredibly emotional and difficult process, and Anthony was a steady, knowledgeable, and deeply supportive presence every step of the way. His care, availability, and patience made an overwhelming experience feel manageable and human. We are profoundly grateful for his guidance and would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone navigating a sale with emotional weight.”
— Maggie

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. In the early weeks after the fires, one of the biggest challenges was the lack of consistent information. Homeowners were often receiving completely different guidance from different agencies, insurers, and professionals, sometimes within the same day. People were being pushed to make irreversible decisions while still processing loss.

There was also pressure to provide answers quickly, even when the facts were still changing. One of the hardest but most important choices I made was to slow the process down when needed and be honest about what was still unknown. Saying “not yet” or “we need to wait” was often the responsible answer, even when people were desperate for certainty.

On a personal level, supporting others while dealing with my own loss was emotionally demanding. There were moments of real exhaustion and decision fatigue. But those moments reinforced the importance of listening, staying grounded, and focusing on service rather than outcomes.

The challenges ultimately shaped the work. They clarified the need for steady leadership, unbiased information, and compassion. While the road has been difficult, it has deepened my sense of responsibility to the community and reaffirmed why this work matters.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At its core, my work is about guidance, not just transactions. Through Amalfi Estates, I specialize in high-end residential real estate, land advisory, and complex valuation work in Pacific Palisades and the greater Westside of Los Angeles. I am best known for helping clients navigate high-stakes, emotionally charged decisions where clarity, discretion, and long-term thinking matter most.

What sets my work apart is deep local knowledge paired with transparency. I am highly data-driven, but I believe numbers only matter when they are explained honestly and in context. My role is not to push outcomes, but to help people understand their options so they can make decisions that truly fit their lives.

Since the fires, that philosophy expanded beyond traditional real estate. Through the community rebuild work housed at 1pali.com, I have focused on organizing clear, unbiased information for homeowners navigating debris removal, permits, zoning changes, insurance timelines, and rebuilding decisions. Much of this work happens outside of any transaction. It is about education, advocacy, and restoring a sense of control during an overwhelming time.

Brand-wise, what I am most proud of is trust. Many client relationships span decades and generations, built through consistency, availability, and care. Giving back has also always been central to the brand, with a portion of every commission donated to charitable causes that support the broader community.

What I want readers to know is that this work is deeply personal. Pacific Palisades is home. The fires reinforced that this is not just a market I serve, but a community I am responsible to. Whether helping someone rebuild, sell, or simply understand their options, my commitment is the same: clarity first, integrity always, people above all else.

My work is not about transactions. It’s about clarity, trust, and stewardship of a community I call home.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is being useful in moments that feel overwhelming for others. It might be walking a burned lot with a homeowner who does not know where to start, sitting on a long phone call just listening, or helping someone understand their options without pressure. Those moments bring calm where there was uncertainty, and that is deeply fulfilling to me.

I also find happiness in connection to place and community. Pacific Palisades is home, and contributing to its recovery has been meaningful in a way I did not anticipate. Seeing neighbors support one another, watching green return to the hillsides, and knowing that my work helps preserve the character of a place I love brings real perspective.

At the end of the day, time with my family grounds me and keeps everything in balance. I am grateful to do work that feels useful, rooted, and connected to something bigger than myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amalfiestates.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amalfiestates/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amalfiestates/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/anthony-marguleas/0/6a6/928
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/amalfiestates
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmalfiEstates
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/amalfi-estates-pacific-palisades
• Other: http://www.zillow.com/profile/Anthony-Marguleas/

Image Credits
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