MerciSF sat down with Grant Beggs, a top-producing San Francisco real estate agent at Sotheby’s International Realty, to discuss his insights into one of the most unique and competitive markets in the country, his boutique approach to client service, and the French touch he brings to the SF real estate market.
Grant, how did you find your way into San Francisco real estate?
Grant Beggs, Sotheby’s International Realtor
About ten years ago, after two decades in investment banking, corporate strategy, and consulting — including time at McKinsey and LVMH — I decided I didn’t want to write another board deck. I wanted something more entrepreneurial, where I could directly shape the outcomes of my work.
After a six-month break (and a half Ironman), my daughter then in kindergarten told me I had “too much free time.” She wasn’t wrong.
I’d always enjoyed real estate and owned properties in several states and saw an opportunity to bring my strategic rigor and attention to detail to the field. Nine years later, we’ve built a highly specialized boutique practice.
What do you love most about helping clients navigate this city?
San Francisco is a small town with a global name. Unlike cities like London, Paris, or LA—where seeing a friend across town can feel like an expedition—San Francisco is incredibly navigable. You can get from Sea Cliff to Glen Park in 25–30 minutes.
This scale makes lifestyle matching much more flexible. Whether swimming in the Bay, taking kids to school, or heading to dinner, everything is accessible. I also love the options density offers: you can drive when needed, Uber or Waymo when convenient, or walk when you want. It’s the perfect blend.
How is the SF real estate market trending right now? What forces are driving activity?
San Francisco real estate is a classic supply-and-demand story. Our supply is fixed: there’s almost nowhere—other than parts of SoMa—to build major new inventory, especially single-family homes. So prices move dramatically with even small shifts in demand.
Over the last 18 months, AI has had a significant impact. We’ve seen founders, executives, and board members return to San Francisco. Now we’re seeing the next wave: VPs, directors, and staff relocating from New York, Boston, and Miami as companies expand their AI teams here—fueling a high-end demand, especially for homes over $10M.
Another factor: thousands of homeowners locked in 2.3%–2.9% mortgages don’t need to sell, creating a pricing floor. Renovations are also costly, so turnkey homes command premiums as families with young children prefer move-in-ready properties.
For buyers and sellers entering the market today, what key advice would you give?
For buyers:
- Get pre-approved early.
You don’t want to find your dream home and then lose it because you weren’t ready. - Start visiting open houses months—or even years—before you’re ready.
This gives you a feel for pricing, staging, and the trade-offs you’ll face. You might think your home is worth $2M—then see what’s on the market and understand how you compare. - Get aligned on priorities.
Buying real estate is like dating: you won’t get everything.
Some people prioritize light, some parking, some flat blocks, some views. Know your trade-offs.
For sellers:
- Benchmark your home honestly.
Buyers are savvy. They know when updates are dated—and they discount accordingly. - Prepare early.
Paint, minor repairs, decluttering, and staging make a huge difference.
What advantages does a brand like Sotheby’s International Realty bring to buyers and sellers?
Sotheby’s is one of the most recognized luxury brands in the world thanks to its heritage in art and auctions. Whether you’re selling an $800K condo or a $12M home, the Sotheby’s brand signals “best-in-class” to buyers.
When a Sotheby’s sign is in front of a property, buyers come in with an expectation of quality, curation, and professionalism. Our marketing is global, our network is unparalleled, and international buyers—who may not know other U.S. real estate brands—always know Sotheby’s.
For sellers in particular, the brand creates immediate trust and credibility.
You emphasize your boutique approach. What does that look like in practice?
Everything we do is intentionally limited and highly personalized. We only work with a small number of clients at a time so each one gets our full attention.
For buyers, we avoid conflicts of interest: if we’re already representing someone searching for a $2–3M home, we won’t take on another buyer in the same segment. For sellers, we cap ourselves at around four listings and personally show every property—no lockboxes, seven days a week. When someone trusts us with what’s often their largest asset, we take that seriously.
Being selective also means saying “no” when expectations aren’t aligned. We turn down about 20–25% of potential listings if pricing doesn’t make sense.
This selective approach allows us to offer a highly customized service to our clients. Oddly enough, by focusing on quality over volume, we’ve become one of the most productive teams in the city and even nationally.
Last but not least, tell us a little bit about the French touch you bring to the market?
Émilie Mutz, Head of Marketing at Sotheby’s International
A large portion of my clients come from the French and Francophone community, and that definitely shapes the way we work. My daughter attended the International School of San Francisco (formerly French-American), so I’ve been part of that ecosystem for years and understand the cultural nuances, expectations, and concerns that relocating families often have.
I speak French and our head of marketing, Émilie, is a native French speaker from Paris, so our team naturally offers bilingual communication, cultural fluency, and a service style that feels very familiar to French families.
The “French touch” for us is also about offering a high level of service, discretion, and personalized guidance. We spend time educating clients about how the U.S. and San Francisco markets work, helping them navigate financial processes, neighborhood differences, school decisions, and even remodeling standards. It’s a blend of local expertise and cultural fluency that makes French-speaking families feel understood, supported, and well-advised from the moment they arrive.
The Beggs Team
Tel: (415) 815-9701
grant.beggs@sothebys.realty
SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
San Francisco Brokerage, 117 Greenwich Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
www.grantbeggs.com
Sponsored article, published in partnership with the Beggs Team at Sotheby’s International Realty
