Some families bond over dinner—ours bonded over open houses, contracts, and coffee-fueled negotiations.

Skip: We all face moments in life that push us toward change, and one of the most defining ones for me came when I was just 20 years old. At that point, I had already spent two years playing football on scholarship at the University of San Diego. Football had been such a central part of my life growing up, and earning that scholarship was a dream come true. But deep down, I also knew I wasn’t destined to go pro. I could feel that my journey needed to take a different direction. So, I made a bold and somewhat scary decision: I walked away from the comfort of my scholarship and the familiar path I was on, and I spent the summer traveling through Asia with a close friend.

That trip included time in India and Nepal, and perhaps most memorably, a month-long trek up to Everest Base Camp. If you’ve ever done long-distance hiking, you know it gives you a lot of time to think—and being up there in the Himalayas surrounded by that kind of natural beauty gave me the space to really reflect and grow. It was a chance to mature, to look inward, and to wrestle with what I wanted my future to be. At the time, I still didn’t have clarity on my long-term career, but I came back from that trip leaning toward the idea of becoming a lawyer, just like my father.

So, I committed. I buckled down, finished college, applied to law school, and even worked long hours as a law clerk to prepare myself. But after immersing myself in that world, I quickly realized something important: while the work was valuable, it just didn’t feel right for me. The endless hours behind a desk made me realize that I craved something different. I wanted more direct connection with people—something more relational and interactive.

Around this time, one of my roommates was beginning to thrive in real estate. Watching his excitement and energy for the work sparked something in me. After a year and a half of law school, I made another big decision: I stepped away and pursued my real estate license. I’ll never forget walking into the broker’s office for the very first time, eager but unsure of what it would take to succeed. His advice was simple: “Go make friends.” It took me a while to fully grasp it, but he was absolutely right.

From day one, my business has been built on relationships—earning trust, showing genuine care, and building friendships. That mindset carried me as I got married, raised two wonderful daughters, Nina and Brittany, and provided for my family. Over the last 30 years, that philosophy has carried me through three recessions and countless experiences: flipping homes, arranging loans, building custom houses, and helping people buy and sell both homes and investment properties.

Today, I still love my work, I still enjoy playing golf and tennis in my free time, and I make it a point to volunteer regularly with local charities. What makes me proudest, though, is seeing Brittany now stepping into the business with me, continuing the legacy of building relationships and serving people with care.

Brittany: The year before graduating from college, I was considering a career in the music industry—a dream I pursued for several years in Los Angeles. While it was exciting, I eventually craved more stability and wanted to put my communication degree to meaningful use. That led me to assist the founder of a high-end real estate brokerage in Brentwood and Beverly Hills, where I managed property showings, drafted contracts, and oversaw social media marketing. During that time, I had the opportunity to work with Tracy Tutor, one of LA’s most well-known real estate advisors—an inspiring and eye-opening introduction to the industry.

Over the next few years, I explored other professional avenues. I returned briefly to the music industry, then helped produce high-level, invite-only networking events for global leaders such as the Dalai Lama, Kelly Slater, David Blaine, and senior executives from companies including VICE, GM, Apple, Red Bull, Google, Coca-Cola, YouTube, the U.S. State Department, Facebook, Instagram, and Warner Bros. It was an extraordinary behind-the-scenes experience, bringing together some of the world’s most influential thinkers and innovators. While the work was fascinating, I realized I wanted a career that felt more personally fulfilling and rooted in long-term growth.

That realization brought me back home to Carlsbad and back to real estate, this time with my dad, Skip Barbour, as my mentor. With both of my parents having over 40 years of experience as real estate brokers, the business feels like second nature. Today, I’m building my career with Coldwell Banker Realty and the Skip Barbour Real Estate Group, blending fresh energy with time-tested expertise. Outside of real estate, I enjoy an active lifestyle—going to the gym, playing tennis, pickleball, and golf, spending time with my close-knit family, and teaching Lagree Fitness classes every Wednesday. I’m grateful to be doing work that feels like home, in a community I truly love.

In real estate, we believe genuine care for the client should always come first. The greatest joy we find in this work is seeing the happiness on our clients’ faces when they successfully buy or sell their home. While we’re always honored to help friends and family with their real estate goals, we never expect your business—we earn your trust through hard work, expertise, and results.

As a father-daughter team, we offer a powerful blend of experience, wisdom, energy, and efficiency. Skip brings decades of insight, while Brittany adds a fresh, professional approach that keeps transactions moving forward smoothly. We stay in close contact throughout the entire process, and our persistence means we never give up until the job is done.

We’re here to provide honest, clear guidance so you can make informed decisions. We stay up to date with the latest market trends and best practices, and we always meet clients where they are—offering education, support, and tailored strategies. Whether you’re buying a home, selling property, or investing in land, we’re ready to take great care of you.

Skip Barbour

Brittany Barbour