Willis Allen Real Estate has been doing business in San Diego County since 1914. For more than 90 years we have established a reputation for excellence that endures today. Willis Allen Real Estate’s mission is to continue to be the premiere luxury real estate company in San Diego County. In pursuit of this goal, the staff and agents who serve as ambassadors for the company are committed to the following:
• Maintaining the highest standards of professionalism
• Conducting ourselves with complete integrity
• Providing exceptional service
• Being trustworthy and honest
• Exceeding client expectations
• Associating with exclusive affiliations
• Improving our communities through charitable involvement
Willis Allen Real Estate’s Timeless Story
Willis Allen Real Estate’s local roots are as deep as the Pacific Ocean that laps at San Diego’s pristine shores. Independent and family-owned, we have been a lighthouse in the sometimes dark days of real estate, guiding clients in the home-ownership process since we were founded 95 years ago by businessman, Frederick L. Brown. He built the company on timeless values that are as important to our clients today as they were in 1914—superior service, knowledgeable agents and ethical business practices.
In 1924 the brokerage helped found the Real Estate Broker’s Association of La Jolla, created to promote industry ethics and professionalism. In 1940 the company’s namesake, Willis Allen, Sr., bought the business, changed the company name and grew it with the city. Under his strategic stewardship the company opened its second location in Rancho Santa Fe in 1952 and expanded to Del Mar in 1973.
In 1981 Willis Allen Real Estate’s current president and CEO, Andrew E. Nelson took the helm. A former Naval officer who copiloted F-4 Phantom Fighter Jets, Nelson draws on his military training and experience to help the company flourish, even in trying times.
Under his leadership Willis Allen Real Estate, which he bought outright in 1995, has more than doubled in size. The brokerage opened a Point Loma office in 1988, a Coronado branch in 2002, and in 2004 expanded to revitalized downtown San Diego. Most recently Willis Allen Real Estate expanded north and east, adding a Fallbrook location in 2007 and acquiring a branch office in Santaluz in 2008.
Though much has changed, much has also stayed the same at Willis Allen Real Estate. With a focus as clear as the deep blue waters off the coast, the company remains true to its independent heritage and its steadfast commitment to integrity, quality and professionalism.
