GRI
The Graduate Realtor Institute designation is considered the nations number one designation. All the agents at Southern Sierra Properties either have this valuable designation or are in the process of acquiring it.

 

Click here to learn more about the GRI and the R.E.Masters designation


CRS
The Certified Residential Specialist is the highest  designation awarded to salespersons in the Residential sales field. 

Seniors Real Estate Specialists® are REALTORS® qualified to address the needs of home buyers age 50-plus.

Click here to learn more about the CRS and the SRES designation

MEET THE AGENTS OF
SOUTHERN SIERRA PROPERTIES

CLICK ON THE AGENT'S NAME OR PICTURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM
ROD
LISA
DAVID
JEANNIE

Extension 112
Extension 113
Extension 116
Extension 114

Call us directly at (760) 376-4485

JIM
TOM
JOHN
(714) 901-7749
Extension 111
Extension 117

 


LISA LEMING - Realtor
Residential Specialist
E-Mail Lisa

Lisa brings strong analytical and organizational skills to our company. Lisa is very computer literate and is equipped to handle all our clients who wish to do business and communicate over the internet. She has learned the geography of the Kern River Valley and is conversant with the entire inventory of property that is listed for sale. Lisa has a background of over 25 years of customer care. She is very personable, loves the customer contact, is a very good listener and will do her best to fulfill your Real Estate needs. Her energy and enthusiasm for her work will be obvious the first time you meet her. 

 
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JIM JANSSEN - Licensed Business Broker, CBOA
Commercial Specialist
E-Mail JIM

As a cooperating Business Broker from one of Southern California's largest business brokerage firms,  Jim brings to us over twenty four years of Business Brokerage experience. He is an expert at determining the value of a business. He is the developer of a software product that has set the standard for the business appraisal field.  He serves as an appraisal consultant to many of the largest business brokerage companies in Southern California. He is also the office webmaster and computer and communications "guru". He has helped bring modern technology to our office to enable us serve our clients better.

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JEANNIE VERDUGO - Realtor, CRS, SRES, GRI, R.E. Masters
Residential Specialist
E-Mail Jeannie

Jeannie has been the #1 Valley Realtor for the last two consecutive years! She brings us a wealth of experience, talent and a “stellar” background ideally suited to representing the interests of our valued clients.  She has thirteen years of direct residential selling experience right here in the Kern River Valley.   She is the recent past president of the Kern River, Lake Isabella Board of Realtors.  Jeannie is the first and only realtor in the entire Valley to hold the prestigious designation of R.E.Master! 

Prior to moving to the Kern Valley, Jeannie completed a twenty five year career in the banking/lending industry. She purchased and sold loans in the secondary mortgage market. She supervised the corporate escrow department, managed ten profit centers for her employer and supervised three branch offices. Jeannie’s sparkling personality, dedications to her work, outstanding leadership, and her extensive knowledge of all facets of the selling and buying process makes her a consummate Real Estate professional.

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David Bacalis - Realtor
Mountain Cabin Specialist
E-Mail David

David is the newest member of our team and brings with him years of professional sales experience. The last position he held prior to moving to the Kern Valley, was a ten year stint as an account executive for a major national corporation. In 2003 David took the plunge and began his career in Real Estate. He has not looked back since! David spent five years with another local company and was recognized yearly for his achievements having sold over 14 million dollars of local Real Estate.

David’s hard work places him in the top 10% of all Kern Valley Realtors. He attributes his success to skills in communication, attention to details, problem solving and working well under pressure. David’s love of the Sequoia National Forest brought him and his wife Becky to the Kern River Valley. It was only natural that they would make their home in Alta Sierra. Hence, he has unequaled experience in Alta Sierra properties and is our “in-house” Mountain Cabin Specialist.
 
David has chosen to join Southern Sierra Properties to further his professional growth and take his career to the next level.

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Rod Leming - Realtor, GRI
Residential Specialist
E-Mail Rod

Rod brings twenty four years of direct sales and marketing experience to our company. He started his career with a large Southland Corporation right out of high school and rose through the ranks to retire as the company's regional sales director. He definitely knows what "customer service" is all about. Professional Real Estate is now Rod's second career. Rod is very hardworking and will bend over backwards to meet the needs of his customers and clients. Rod is a "rising star" and in just five and a half years he has become one of the Valley's Top Producers!

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TOM POPLAWSKI - Broker, BA, MA, SRES, GRI
E-Mail Tom

As one of the areas longstanding Real Estate Brokers, Tom brings over ninteen  years of direct Kern River Valley sales  experience to the office.  He has helped over a thousand families successfully close a property transaction during his tenure. He really "knows" the local marketplace and can provide both buyers and sellers alike the knowledge and  tools they need to make their transaction a satisfying experience. With his extensive background, Tom is an excellent problem solver and is the backbone of the company. In addition, he has been writing a Real Estate column for the local weekly newspaper for the past twelve years. He has invested in state-of-the-art technology to enable Southern Sierra Properties to set the "Quality Standard" for Real Estate service in the Kern River Valley.

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JOHN MILLER - Realtor, BA, MA, GRI 
Residential Specialist
E-Mail John

John brings to us a very strong business, sales and marketing background. He recently retired from a major national company as managing director of 254 retail stores where his major focus was always on providing superior customer service. John also has a background in education and holds two Masters Degrees in fine art. He has taught painting, drawing, and stone sculpturing at several colleges and private schools. Still an active artist, his work is displayed in art galleries throughout the country. John’s love of working with people and desire to help them realize their dreams brought him into the world of Real Estate. Southern Sierra Properties is delighted to have this customer service specialist on our team.

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GRI - Graduate Realtor Institute Designation

This designation is considered the nations number one designation. To become a GRI, one has to complete the most comprehensive Real Estate training available to Realtors in the nation.

A GRI has superior knowledge of all aspect of real estate and has acquired technical skills that set them apart from other realtors.

It shows buyers, sellers and other real estate industry members that these Realtors are true professionals and have a very solid grasp of every aspect of the complicated world of real estate. 

This designation may only be obtained by successfully completing a rigorous educational curriculum requiring 92 hours of live course instruction taught by a statewide faculty selected on the bases of extensive experience in their specific are of expertise

The GRI designation is earned by competing a 14 course program of specialized and advanced education.  It involves intense study covering many special aspects of Real Estate such as:

Legal Issues - Disclosures Contract Law - Investment Property - Creative Financing - Tax Strategies - Marketing Strategies - Cost Basis - Tax Exchanges - Cash Flow Analysis - Technology Applications-  Development and Construction - Capital Gains - Mortgage Programs - Professional Conduct

All the agents at Southern Sierra Properties either have this valuable designation or are in the process of acquiring it.



The R.E. Masters program is for GRI designees that have the desire to elevate their real estate knowledge base to the next level. The R.E. Masters program is offered only through live lecture instruction by California's foremost Real Estate educators whom are all leaders and innovators in their chosen field of real estate related business. Currently, Jeannie Verdugo is the first and only realtor in the entire Valley to hold the prestigious designation of R.E.Master!

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Who Are the Seniors Real Estate Specialists®?

Seniors Real Estate Specialists® are REALTORS® qualified to address the needs of home buyers age 50-plus. The SRES® Council awards the SRES® Designation to those members who have successfully completed its education program.

By earning the SRES® designation, your REALTOR® has demonstrated necessary knowledge and expertise to counsel clients age 50-plus through major financial and lifestyle transitions involved in relocating, refinancing, or selling the family home. Both Tom Poplawski and Jeannie Verdugo  hold the SRES designation and have received special training, get regular updates, and are prepared to offer the options and information needed in making life changing decisions.



  Certified Residential Specialist

The Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is the highest Designation awarded to sales associates in the residential sales field. The CRS Designation recognizes professional accomplishments in both experience and education.

Since 1977 the Council of Residential Specialists has been conferring the CRS Designation on agents who meet its stringent requirements.  

CRS training gives an agent in-depth knowledge about business planning, making listing presentations, negotiating and closing smoother transactions, and working in the buyers’ and sellers’ best interest.

At Southern Sierra Properties, Jeannie Verdugo has completed the rigorous educational and production requirements to earn the Certified Residential Specialist Designation. She has many resources at her fingertips — strong referral network of more than 45,000 CRS members; timely and timeless news and information found in the bimonthly magazine, and networking opportunities locally through CRS Chapters and nationally at events such as Sell-a-brations®, the Council’s annual educational conference, and National Committee Meetings held twice yearly. 
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