Willis Allen Real Estate has been around since 1914 – as long as the U.S. Naval Base, Spreckels Theater, San Diego Zoo, Grand Colonial Hotel, and even electricity in La Jolla. For 100 years Willis Allen Real Estate has grown with San Diego and has been intimately involved in the building, beautifying and conservation of the city’s finest communities.
For example, our company’s namesake, Willis M. Allen, helped broker the land that we now know as Clairemont. Allen Field, home of the La Jolla Youth Soccer League, was given to La Jolla through the Willis Allen Family Largesse. Willis Allen agents helped found the La Jolla Real Estate Brokers’ Association (REBA). Today, our Realtors – who are simply the best in the business – continue to carry on this commitment to community by volunteering their time and talents to worthy causes across San Diego County.
With Willis Allen Real Estate, clients get the best of both worlds – local roots and global reach. Being a fiercely independent brokerage allows us to focus our full attention on San Diego. Meanwhile, our exclusive affiliation with groups such as Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and Luxury Portfolio International gives our clients exposure to the international marketplace.
The success of Willis Allen Real Estate hinges not only on our history and hyper-local sensibility, but also on our pioneering marketing program. We were one of the first San Diego real estate companies to have a website and to “go global” with our marketing and advertising. We continue to innovate with a staff dedicated to the latest real estate tools for the Internet and social media.
Willis Allen has been the premier real estate firm in San Diego for 100 years. During this time Willis Allen has become synonymous with “luxury.” We aren’t just the leading real estate company in America’s Finest City; we are one of the best businesses in San Diego, period.
1910s
Electricity had just been introduced in La Jolla, the paving of La Jolla streets had begun and in the same decade the San Diego Zoo opened as did Naval Base San Diego.
1914
A young entrepreneur, Fredrick L. Brown, opened a real estate company on Prospect and Girard.
1930s
These were the coming of age years for a young man named Willis M. Allen. Willis obtained his real estate license to broker a land deal for a San Diego-area polo field.
1942
In 1942, Willis M. Allen purchased the company on Prospect and named it the Willis M. Allen Company.
1952
In 1952, Willis M. Allen expanded his business and opened a second branch in Rancho Santa Fe.
1973
In 1973, Willis M. Allen Company expanded again – this time into Del Mar, known for the world-famous Del Mar Race track.
1977
In 1977, Andrew E. Nelson, a former Naval Officer who flew in the back seat of F-4 Phantom Fighter Jets with Fighter Squadrons VF-151 and VF-111, joined the company.
1981
Andrew E. Nelson took over as President in 1981. He grew the company further in 1988 by adding an office in Point Loma.
1995
In 1995, Andrew E. Nelson purchased the flourishing real estate company from his mentor Willis Allen and renamed it Willis Allen Real Estate.
2002
In 2002, Willis Allen Real Estate opened their beautiful office in Coronado; one of the premiere zip codes in all of San Diego County.
2004
In 2004, Willis Allen Real Estate set up shop in the newly revitalized downtown San Diego right on 5th Avenue.
2006
Willis Allen Real Estate gets a new look! Updates were made to the company name, logo and colors. They even added a tag line; Real Estate. Real Integrity. Since 1914.
2014
Independent and family-owned, Willis Allen Real Estate has built a respected reputation for being trustworthy, professional and successful for over 100 years.
2016
Willis Allen Real Estate rolls out Willis Allen CONNECT: the next generation in real estate technology.