Movers: Shelton Wilder moves to AKG Christie’s to edge into L.A.’s luxe market

Shelton Wilder, CEO of Shelton Wilder Group, has affiliated with AKG Christie’s International Real Estate. The group made $150 million in sales in 2022, when it was affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty.

Wilder said she started working with AKG Christie’s to further develop and expand her team’s reach in the luxury market. 

“I don’t want anyone to think that I’m not going to work in my bread and butter market — homes between $1 million to $5 million,” she said. “We treat all of the clients from all price points as luxury clients.”

Five other agents work at Shelton Wilder Group. Focusing on neighborhoods such as Brentwood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and Beverly Hills, the group has made notable deals such as a $19.5 million trade for 835 San Vicente Boulevard in Santa Monica in 2022. Wilder represented the buyer, while Aaron Kirman, founder of AKG, served as the listing agent. 

Wilder is a serial entrepreneur. She previously helmed a fashion brand called The Shemie, which she pitched on business reality TV show “Shark Tank” in 2012. The Shemie ceased production in 2015, and Wilder started work as a real estate agent in late 2017.

➤Zac Mostame is a top agent who completed more than $134 million in sales in 2022, according to Real Trends. Mostame affiliated with Carolwood Estates earlier this month, according to the Beverly Hills-based brokerage.

“(Carolwood’s) prominent presence in the ultra-luxury real estate market caught my attention,” Mostame told TRD in an email. “Secondly, I appreciated the boutique atmosphere of the company.”

Mostame’s most recent affiliation was with The Agency where he worked closely with Santiago Arana, who was ranked among TRD’s top 20 L.A. agents in 2022. 

Mostame’s ultra luxe presence includes listings in Beverly Hills, Bel Air and West L.A. In September 2022, Mostame co-represented the buyer for a $38 million deal at 5012 Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu. 

Carolwood Estates has started working with other new agents. 

Loren Judd affiliated with Carolwood earlier this month. He formerly worked as a manager at Coldwell Banker Realty’s Beverly Hills offices, an association which ended in 2019. He most recently worked as an agent at Compass. Judd worked on a $25 million deal for the Beverly Hills estate of movie pioneer Samuel Goldwyn in 2015. 

Jim Ostridge also started working with Carolwood Estates. He was formerly affiliated with Compass, where he worked as a co-buying agent on a deal for 2383 Mandeville Canyon Road in Brentwood in 2022. 

Other new agents joining Carolwood include Alexandra Allen, who served as a co-listing agent for the 2019 megadeal for the $150 million Chartwell Estate. The property was the former residence of the late Univision Chairman Jerry Perenchio and is currently owned by media tycoon Lachlan Murdoch.

Other new agents at Carolwood include Christina Collins, who was formerly affiliated with Hilton & Hyland; Jake McDermott, who was formerly with Douglas Elliman; and Amandine Ferla, who joined Delaram Rivani’s team at Carolwood. Another recent affiliate is Chase Aguer, who received a real estate license in August. 

➤Nicole Plaxen is striking out on her own after 16 years working with Sally Forster Jones, who ranked sixth on TRD’s 2022 top L.A. brokers list. In January 2022,  Plaxen was named executive vice president of sales for Sally Forster Jones at Compass, where she helped direct 25 agents.

Earlier this month, Plaxen started Walters Plaxen Estates at The Beverly Hills Estates with another Sally Forster Jones alumna Shauna Walters. Plaxen and Walters were high school friends while growing up in the Calabasas area.

While Plaxen found success at Sally Forster Jones, the slowdown of the 2023 market made her contemplate what she wanted to do next. She decided to run her own business and use it as a platform to help other women. 

“I thought, ‘If not now, when?’ This was the best time to start,” she told TRD. 

Plaxen said she was grateful for her time with Sally Forster Jones and planned to work with her on listings in the future. 

Walters Plaxen Estates will focus on different price points from starter homes to ultra luxe in neighborhoods such as Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Malibu, Encino, Calabasas and Hidden Hills. 

➤Doug Echelberger, an agent in South Orange County, has launched a new company called Inhabit Real Estate. The company affiliated recently with the white label brokerage Side.

Echelberger’s self-named Echelberger Group made more than $202 million in sales in 2022, according to Real Trends. His new company Inhabit Real Estate will focus on San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.

➤Marcy Roth has worked with the Eklund Gomes Team at Douglas Elliman since late 2018. She recently was promoted to Eklund Gomes California Team Lead, where she’ll manage teams in Orange County, Los Angeles and Malibu. 

Roth co-represented buyer Tina Trahan for the recent $3.2 million sale of a Studio City home made famous as the exterior for “The Brady Bunch” television show.

➤Douglas Elliman has recruited a crop of new agents including Meha Chopra, who will work in Elliman’s Pasadena office. She will focus on the San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire and Orange County. She was formerly affiliated with Century 21. 

Chelsea Howe recently affiliated with Elliman’s Newport Beach office. She will focus on neighborhoods such as  Laguna Beach, Balboa and Lido Islands, Balboa Peninsula and Corona Del Mar. Howe was formerly affiliated with Realty Source. 

Tucker Trainer recently started working with Elliman’s Brentwood office, specializing in Mar Vista, Brentwood, Santa Monica, West L.A. and Cheviot Hills. He was formerly affiliated with Landon Realty Group. 

Jennifer Farrell also recently started working with Elliman’s Brentwood office. She plans to focus on Calabasas, Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Brentwood. She was formerly affiliated with Romeo Echo Real Estate. 

Cristian Insua recently joined Elliman’s Malibu office. He’ll focus on neighborhoods such as Malibu, Beverly Hills, Westlake Village, Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge. 

➤Boutique brokerage Nourmand & Associates has gained several new agents recently. Heather Klein will work with Nourmand’s Beverly Hills office, where she’ll focus on the Beverly Hills market. For much of 2023, she was affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty. 

Eva Garber, formerly with Sotheby’s International Realty in South Pasadena, also started working with Nourmand in the Hollywood office. Garber will focus on Northeast Los Angeles neighborhoods such as Highland Park, Mount Washington and Eagle Rock.

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