Bio:
I am the Broker/ Owner of Charles Estates with offices in Palm Springs and Beverly Hills, CA.
I offer my sellers a 3D Matterport Tour, Custom Photos and Floor Plans and I am also an FAA Licensed Drone Pilot.
I am so grateful that I moved here after Frank died - we always wanted to live here one day and so after his death, I decided to keep that dream alive.
Recently, while waiting for a client to visit a property on Mulholland Drive in Beverly Hills, the next door neighbor approached me to ask what I was doing there. I told him that I was a Realtor. He mentioned that he was 94 years old and in perfect health. He looked familiar so I asked him if he was an actor and he said yes. Then he said I probably saw him in the TV Show he used to star in called Route 66 and that he was George Maharis. I said you are kidding and he asked me why. I told him that at 9 years old I was living in Glencoe, a North Shore suburb of Chicago and he said he was familiar with Glencoe. Then I told him that for special occasions our family would eat at Henrici's at the O'Hare Inn. He mentioned that it was a coincidence since they filmed an episode at the O'Hare Inn. And that is when I told him I knew that since I was there that day and saw him directing a scene in front of the motel section. So, it turns out that we met each other 60 years ago! What a small world!!
Life before California from a previous bio: Charles has lived between Glencoe and Chicago's Gold Coast his entire life. His father's family settled in Northfield, IL in 1860 and his mother's parents located to Glencoe in 1912 when her father was hired by the Stonehill family, their home later to be called "The Lady Esther Estate", to be their resident carpenter. In 1918, Charles' grandfather, Albert C. Hillinger, left the employ of the Stonehills and began his career as one of the leading builder's of fine homes and mansions on the North Shore. Charles' father, Ralph "Barney" Barenbrugge, joined the construction business upon his return from "World War II" and became a fixture on the North Shore for his detailed cabinetry work.
Charles continues the family tradition of giving exemplary service in the Real Estate industry. He believes that it can make a world of difference to have an agent who goes that extra-mile for you, which he does for all of his clients.
Charles worked for 10 years in property casualty insurance (Fred J. Sauter & Co., Alexander & Alexander and Marsh & McLennan and also has 7 years experience as a mortgage broker from 1992 - 1999. "Insurance and financial knowledge always come in handy during a Real Estate sale".
Charles is a 1970 graduate of New Trier East High School, a graduate of the U of IL at Chicago with a BA in Economics, a native of Glencoe, IL and resided in the Gold Coast for over 15 years. Charles and his husband, Frank Kiesel, have been together since May 29, 1995. Civil Partners as of 6-9-2011.
Since moving to Palm Springs I have numerous TV and Radio Ads and a few Bill Board ads as well. Now that I have an office in Beverly Hills as well, I joined the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, Advertise in the LA Opera Program and advertise iin a Beverly Hills Homes magazine also.