Your Villa Magazine - Desert Cities - October-December - 2022

KARISTA SMITH A prime example of what hard work, dedication, and resil- ience can do for a person’s career. Karista Smith got her start in 2001 and quickly learned the ropes and catapulted herself to the top of her field. Her determination and drive have helped her to achieve some incred- ible things in her career. She’s closed more than 300 homes for over $140 million, including one of the desert’s highest priced residential sale in 2021 for just under $14 million. She’s earned the respect of her clients and her peers and earned a spot as one of the top agents in the Desert. But despite her many accomplishments, Karista remains humble and down-to-earth. She’s always quick to credit her family and support team for her success, and she remains focused on helping her clients achieve their real estate goals. Recently, Karista spoke with Your Villa magazine about her life, fami- ly, and her years in real estate. She shared some insights about what it takes to be successful in this competitive industry. YVM: First off, what is it that attracted you to a career in real estate? KS: I spent most of my younger years as a singer but was ready to make a change outside of music. Growing up, my mother was a successful real estate broker in the Palm Springs area. She and my husband, who is also a broker, worked together at Lake La Quinta. My mom played matchmaker and set us up on our first date! I always loved homes, architecture, and interior design and wanted a career in a field that I encompassed these interests. I’m a real people person and the thought of helping others find their perfect home seemed exciting and rewarding so real estate seemed the natural fit. YVM: How has your career evolved? KS: My first sale was just over $100,000 for a home in the west val- ley, and I worked with a lot of first-time Buyers. This was such a fun experience as I got to share in the excitement that is hard to match of a first-time buyer. I then moved on to tract sales in Palm Desert at a development named Capri off Country Club Drive. During the few years selling out this development, I learned a lot about the construc- COVER STORY: HER LOVE OF REAL ESTATE AND HOW SHE TRIES TO FIND THE PERFECT BALANCE IN HER LIFE. tion of a home from the footings up. After we sold out, I obtained my Broker’s license and specialized in resale homes in Capri where I transacted most of the sales activity in the neighborhood. Since then I’ve specialized more in the luxury home market. YVM: How did you then move into the higher-end market? KS: I started to specialize in the luxury market when my husband and I moved to La Quinta. We lived in Griffin Ranch and I just loved our neighborhood and the surrounding upscale developments. I was impressed that California Lifestyle Realty showed a strong presence in the area so after meeting the broker and some fellow agents, I decided to join the firm which has offices on the grounds of The La Quinta Hotel and at PGA WEST country club. YVM: What do you love most about the Coachella Valley? KS: I was born in Palm Springs and just love it! Our weather is wonderful and the landscape is so beautiful. I enjoy spending time in the sun and attending our music festivals and sporting events. There are plenty of great restaurants and shopping as well. I’ve never met anyone who’s visited that didn’t love it too! YVM: We see you have high ratings on Zillow. How would some of your clients describe working with you? KS: I think most of my clients would say that I have a deep under- standing of the local market and trends, which helps them make informed decisions about their investments plus I think they’d agree that I listen carefully to their wants and needs and that they had fun while working together. I believe they like that I am the point person the entire time. I never pass them off to a team member to view prop- erties, to show their own property, or to a transaction coordinator that they’ve never met to review important documents. It’s important to me that my clients feel well taken care of, so I choose to handle every aspect of the transaction personally and I think they appreciate that. YVM: And what do you enjoy most about being a Realtor? KS: That’s easy - my clients. I love getting to know them personally and understanding their home needs. It’s not just about the transac- tion – it’s about the relationship. There is nothing more rewarding than finding and facilitating the purchase of someone’s dream home. It doesn’t matter how many times I see it, but when I see their faces light up, it makes me feel so good to have been able to share this experience with them.