The California coast is a hotbed of high-stakes real estate and eXp Luxury agent Ed Kaminsky has built a business that put him at the top of that big-time game. Take it from the Wall Street Journal, which named Ed one of the Top 100 agents in America.
Between residential sales out of his Manhattan Beach home base and his specialty brokerage, SportStar Relocation – helping pro athletes buy and sell homes – Ed has tallied two years with over $300 million in sales.
Oddly, Ed found something frustrating came along with being so successful. Before eXp Luxury, the brokerages Ed joined and helped turn into juggernauts and became ripe for buyouts and takeovers.
“I had a bad experience with one such takeover when Shorewood Realtors sold to another firm. It took about a year for the new owner to throw the company into bankruptcy. It wasn’t my company, however, I had five closed escrows with commission checks waiting at the corporate office. They were all voided the day the bankruptcy was filed with no notice to me. I was out well into the hundred figures, and it was quite frustrating,’’ Ed said.
“I then joined another brokerage, and we quickly became the leading brokerage in our market, but they, too, were targeted for buyouts,’’ he said.
By 2021, Ed had had enough. In seeking the control he wants and deserves, Ed joined eXp Realty, a move that has delivered everything he needed, and more.
eXp’s Commission Structure, Cap and Massive Collaboration Top-Selling Features
“As the fastest growing company in the nation, eXp caught my interest. It was also important to me to have a commission structure that met my expectations. I was not used to paying large splits, and the $16K cap model was perfect for me,’’ Ed said.
> Read why revenue share is better than profit share
Ed said it was also important that at eXp, he could continue to use his own brand in marketing.
“eXp supported that model and philosophy and while I was concerned about luxury at that time, I realized that I had built two of my own luxury brands with SportStar and Premiere Estates, so I figured I could certainly maintain my luxury branding on my own,’’ he said.
eXp’s Culture of Sharing a ‘Phenomenal Attitude to Be Around’
While eXp’s model for revenue sharing and stocks was interesting, that wasn’t the primary driver for Ed’s decision to join eXp.
“What really caught my attention was the unusual collaboration and sharing happening among the leaders in the company. I was trained not to share with your competition. Why would you? I spend every day trying to figure out how to beat them. I only discovered after joining, though, that sharing does in fact, raise all ships like the tide. It was a phenomenal attitude and culture to be around and I embraced it immediately,’’ he said.
His biggest surprise since joining eXp?
“That a large corporate company with 85,000+ agents can feel so close and personal.”
Learn More About Ed Kaminsky:
Years in real estate:
Since 1987.
Gross sales and transactions in 2023:
- $180 million on 100 units sold in 2023
- Previously had two $300 million annual sales years, 140 sales.
Brokerage history:
- eXp Realty (March 2021-current)
- Strand Hill Christie’s International (2014-2021)
- Shorewood Realtors (1992-2014)
- Century 21 Bob Maher (1987-1992)
- Premiere Estates Auction Company (2004-2018)
- SportStar Relocation (2000-current)
Main territory:
South Bay of Los Angeles – Manhattan Beach
Main focus:
Luxury single-family homes, new construction, celebrities and athletes
Number of people on team:
32 agents, 7 staff.
Accolades, accomplishments & awards:
- eXp Luxury founding council member
- #1 eXp agent 2022 for small team company-wide
- 2X ICON Agent (2022, 2023)
- Recognized as the top-producing team in South Bay for multiple years running and #2 agent for previous 15-20 years.
- Leaders of Influence: Residential Real Estate Brokers- Ed Kaminsky – Los Angeles Business Journal (labusinessjournal.com)
- Find an eXp Luxury Agent
- Founder of SportStar Relocation
- Featured in Inman News
10 Fun Things About Ed Kaminsky
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Winning a Texas hold’em tournament followed by a Michelin star dinner.
Who is the person you most admire?
Kobe Bryant. He was committed to his craft to no end and I respected that.
One thing you can’t live without?
Belief. I like to move forward and believing you can do it is all I need.
One trait that has led to your success?
Hard work. I work harder than anyone I know and most of the time it doesn’t feel like work but I simply do it a lot.
What celebrity would play you in a movie or TV show?
Kevin Costner. I have been mistaken for him a few times, so go ahead Kevin, give it a shot.
Pet peeve?
Bad attitudes, negative attitudes. The world is as you see it. I just wish they knew that.
Little known fact about yourself?
I am a graduate gemologist.
Song you never tire of?
Any Kygo playlist
Favorite meal?
Any chef’s meal inspired by Grant Achatz
Your epitaph will say:
He never stops. I bet he escaped that casket when no one was looking.
