Billy Rose

Billy Rose was recently named the No. 10 realtor in the U.S. by The Wall Street Journal. He has been representing high net-worth and celebrity clients for more than 25 years; first, as an entertainment and real estate lawyer, then as a motion picture agent, and now as a broker. As a result, Rose understands what it takes to render quality representation (under, at times, high-pressured circumstances) with the utmost of confidentiality and professionalism. "Representing a client in the purchase or sale of their home is not terribly different than buying or selling their movie," says Rose.

The transition from lawyer/agent to realtor was natural for Rose in another way. By the time he obtained his broker's license, Rose had already developed, designed and sold a number of "spec" homes. "After seeing my homes, a lot of my friends were asking for my advice on real estate, and, in my quest to find new projects, I realized that I was seeing way more properties than most realtors. Representing buyers and sellers of real estate seemed like a natural progression.”

Though he's no longer officially part of the "Hollywood Shuffle", Hollywood is still attached to Rose. Several internationally renowned celebrities and high-level entertainment executives have all owned and/or currently live in homes created by Billy Rose Design & Development. "Being a developer has made me a better realtor. As a result of my building experience, I can help a buyer understand and appreciate what a property can become, as well as what it will take to achieve that vision. Moreover, since I am an active investor in real estate, I feel I am more aware of the subtleties of values and trends in pricing than those who are just agents (and who are, in essence, spending someone else's money).”

A native of Los Angeles, on any given day, Rose can be found traversing the city from Point Dume to Downtown LA – in search of properties for clients. "Some agents like to focus their efforts on a particular neighborhood. I know it's more work, but I pride myself in being up-to-speed on what's happening throughout the city. As a result, I can better help clients assess alternative areas; I can effectively assist clients in their transition from their Hollywood Hills view house to their Westside family home; and I have a better overall knowledge of the Los Angeles real estate market as a whole.”

In September 2011, Rose and partners Mauricio Umansky and Blair Chang founded The Agency, a boutique, real estate brokerage firm representing buyers and sellers of luxury properties and architecturally-distinct and design-centric homes. The Agency’s principal office is located in Beverly Hills, California, and The Agency is currently in the process of establishing multiple offices around the world. Prior to establishing The Agency, Rose (with Chang) co-founded and served as the Executive Director of the Architectural Division at Prudential California Realty, where Rose’s team, Rose + Chang, was the number 1 sales team for Los Angeles County for 4 of the last 5 years. Rose + Chang was named by The Wall Street Journal as one of the United States’ Top 100 Residential Realtor Teams multiple times.