Terry Niemann

Terranea Real Estate represents buyers and sellers of homes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and throughout the South Bay, as well as the seaside villas and casitas at Terranea Resort. Director of sales Terry Niemann has worked with Terranea Real Estate since the resort opened. She is a local PV resident with a strong connection to the community. Terry was named a Real Estate All-Star by Los Angeles Magazine for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 and recognized as a Palos Verdes Specialist.

What differentiates you from others in this industry?

After working for eight years at Terranea Real Estate with Ted Lennon (SVP of Lowe Enterprises, Terranea’s original developer), I went on to sell at The Residences of Rolling Hills Country Club, a community of 114 semi-custom new-construction homes. Returning to Terranea with our expanded brokerage for all residential properties across the South Bay felt like coming home. We enjoy the benefit of Terranea’s thousands of guests walking by our office, often stopping in to say hello and ask what’s available on the market. We also have local friends ask us about the value of their home and what’s new in their neighborhood. There’s a fun, approachable energy here.

What value-added incentives do you offer?

Clients often tell us that buying or selling real estate can be an intense, worrisome, stressful process. Our team aims to alleviate some of that stress and instead create a calm, positive experience. One of the ways we improve the home buying or selling process is by ensuring that Terranea Real Estate clients enjoy special privileges at Terranea Resort, tailored just for them. These usually include perks like complimentary valet parking, being able to use the fitness center and spa pool, or hitting The Links for several rounds of golf. Those perks go a long way.

Why are you considered a go-to person in the community?

Knowing the best mortgage lenders, inspection teams, construction teams, landscapers, architects, engineers, interior designers and other real estate professionals helps our clients so much, especially when we’re preparing their home to sell for the best price or with buyers who may want to rebuild or remodel. I have a keen interest in staging; I like to update interiors to help create the best presentation. Clients know that I’m passionate about what I do.

What motivates you as a real estate agent?

What motivates me is that I truly care about my clients. Since I live here, there’s a good chance I’ll see them at the grocery store, at a restaurant or on a walk or hike. Relationships are so much more valuable and rewarding than any single transaction. Clients become friends, and the fact that they trust me to be hardworking on their behalf and straightforward with them means a lot. They know I’ll pay close attention to their specific wants and needs and take care of them as if they were family. That’s extremely important to me.

Why did you choose to work in real estate?

Real estate has always been a part of my life. My dad developed resorts and country clubs with residential offerings. Continuing the family’s enthusiasm for real estate, my mother-in-law was one of the top five real estate agents in St. Louis for years. My husband has built high-rises and developed multifamily and commercial buildings, and one of my sons works in the industrial real estate business. Earlier in my career I was president of an advertising and PR firm responsible for crafting marketing campaigns for developers, new home builders, financial institutions and interior design firms, which further fueled my love of creating marketing campaigns from a client’s perspective.

What technology helps you provide better client service?

Today’s buyers are sophisticated, educated and knowledgeable about the market, so being available to them via phone, text, email or in person helps maintain an authentic connection. A lot of people have real estate apps and social media competing for their attention, so the contrast of having a real conversation with a trusted local advisor is meaningful. Everyone we meet is busy and appreciates timely responses. Newsletters and email updates are regularly sent to our interest list to keep them informed. 

Many of our clients are out-of-towners who have fallen in love with the South Bay. They’d love to relocate to the area or own a property to return to again and again. Our website showcases current listings, and we personalize the information we send to clients based on their individual needs and wish list.

What is exciting for your business in 2024?

Last year Terranea Real Estate expanded its residential real estate services to include representing buyers and sellers anywhere in the South Bay. We handled a couple off-market resales in Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates, quietly representing the buyers and sellers in order to make these transactions smooth and stress-free for all parties. This year we have a Terranea villa resale coming to market, which is exciting because it’s rare for a villa or casita owner to sell. No more villas or casitas will be built at Terranea, making the properties even more precious and special.

Photographed by Lauren Taylor