Ranked near the top of all real estate agents nationwide, Jim’s reputation for highest ethical standards, commitment to clients’ goals, trendsetting marketing, and aggressive negotiating skills are hallmarks of his amazing career in Real Estate.

“Our business is client driven – we specialize in serving customers well,” said Jim. “The client you represent time and time again is the most satisfying experience in our business. We’re always very flattered when someone we’ve worked with in the past calls again and says ‘Jim – it’s time for us to move again.’”

“Jim is a remarkable man,” said Sandra Simmons, herself active in downtown San Diego business and former operator of the Downtown Information Center where Jim volunteered. “His calm yet determined persona combined with his knowledge of downtown makes him a successful leader in all he does.”

Jim became a Realtor nearly 20 years ago after receiving encouragement from Bill Opie, a legendary local agent who became his mentor and eventually his business partner. “I got into real estate not really knowing what it entailed or how to be successful at it,”said Jim. “My first week in business I hosted an open house, and halfway through it, a couple came in and bought the house I was holding open, and then asked me to list their current residence. I went into the Monday morning sales meeting thinking that selling real estate is easy! “And that was the last time in my career that ever happened!” he said with a chuckle.

Since that first sale and listing Jim has learned a great deal about the complicated and ever changing world of real estate. He started in the Poway/Rancho Bernardo area, but eventually found his niche when Prudential’s management suggested he consider moving downtown. Jim has unabashed pride in his native San Diego. “They don’t call it America’s Finest City for nothing,” he said. He says downtown San Diego is a sophisticated – and growing – market. “Many people are drawn to downtown by the cultural opportunities and the energy of living in a major urban core,” said Jim, also a downtown dweller. “I’m living in the city I was born in, walk the same streets and shop in the same stores I did as a child. It’s an incredible lifestyle.”

“Downtown houses about 25,000 people right now, with plans for about 50,000 in the next 25 years or so. That’s about the same size as a large suburban community,” said Jim. “It’ll continue to be a great and expanding market with housing in all price ranges. This year we saw the beginning of a strong internal market, where people are moving between buildings as their needs change.”

Helping Others Help the Community

Volunteering in the community is another of Jim’s hallmarks, “When I was the town council president in Rancho Bernardo we had very overcrowded and over utilized small branch library,” he said. Jim, along with his longtime friend Barbara Warden and other community activists formed a nonprofit corporation to pursue building something bigger and better. It took a great deal of work, including the complicated ins and outs of grant funding, but six years later Rancho Bernardo opened its new library. It’s now one of the busiest branches in San Diego, responsible for circulating several thousand new books annually throughout the entire San Diego library system. Jim remains president of the organization, which now oversees an endowment of several hundred thousand dollars.

“I have worked with Jim over 20 years, first in my role as publisher of a local newspaper, through my San Diego City Council career and now at the Downtown San Diego Partnership,” said Barbara Warden, president of the Downtown Partnership. “Truly professional Realtors are a treasure, and Jim Abbott is one of the rare combinations of integrity and intelligence.”

Jim’s work promoting downtown San Diego residential real estate goes beyond serving his own clients. He also works with other agent organizations, and even started one dedicated to the downtown arena.

“With the emerging downtown market, there was no venue for agents to come together on a regular basis to discuss market conditions and inventory, and to network with each other,” said Jim. So, he and colleague Caryl Iseman co-founded the San Diego Association of Realtors Downtown Real Estate Marketing Group. “The goal of the organization is to market properties and coordinate the tour of new listings. It also offers brokers agents and affiliates a place to exchange ideas and important information,” he said. With membership starting off in the single digits, group meetings now have 75-100 in attendance.

“As anyone who volunteers knows, you do those things for the personal satisfaction they bring you,” said Jim. “You’re meeting the very best people in the business – those who really care about professionalism in the industry and who want to continue that legacy.”

Jim’s been recognized by his peers for his work in real estate. In 2000, he received Prudential’s Legend Award, given each year to just a few of the company’s 42,000 agents in recognition of five consecutive years of peak performance.

Jim served as a director of both the San Diego Association of Realtors and California Association of Realtors – organizations that promote high professional standards and commitment to the buyers and sellers of real estate. “The dream and reality of homeownership are powerful and meaningful, I’m privileged to be part of the industry that helps people realize both,” Jim said.

Other acknowledgements include “1992 Businessperson of the Year” and City of San Diego Awards for service to the Police and Planning Departments. He’s also a past board member of the City of San Diego Public Library Commission. He’s written several op-ed pieces for local newspapers, including the San Diego Union Tribune, on the subject of library services. He remains an outspoken advocate for the public library system and eagerly awaits construction of San Diego’s new main library in Petco Park.

When not working, Jim and his partner Michael are busy raising the last of their seven children who range in age from 14 to 30. With four in college this year, they enjoy watching their kids’ success. This year saw the arrival of their second grandson Caden, who joined Dylan, as the apples of their eyes. “We’re making sure they get a good dose of downtown living!” said Jim. “Being a grandparent is a great experience. I highly recommend it.”