Dwelling in Dreams: High-End Real Estate Made Easy with Holly Nanula

Picture your dream home. Maybe it’s a two story house with a private wine cellar situated in the rolling hills of Poway, or it’s a beach-front property with a terrace overlooking the sea. Your dream home could be situated in the center of a bustling metropolis or nestled away in a quiet part of town. Perhaps you crave hardwood floors and brilliant overhead lighting, or maybe you want plush carpeting and a dim, romantic atmosphere. You deserve your dream dwelling, and Holly Nanula of Engel and Völkers can help you find it.

How She Started

Originally an educator and public school administrator, Nanula eventually joined the real estate industry. A master of the art of multitasking, Nanula triumphed in owning three prestigious real estate offices operating under the Holly Nanula Group, formed in 2012 and still active today. Having earned its position in California’s upper echelon of highly respected real estate professionals, the Holly Nanula Group currently specializes in the sale and purchase of homes and estates in Poway, La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Point Loma and Rancho Bernardo.

It’s no surprise that Nanula found success in the real estate business; Nanula comes from a family of homebuilders who own and operate Essex Homes, a premier regional residential building company located in Buffalo, New York. Upon moving to San Diego with her husband and three children, Nanula dived into the Southern California residential real estate business.

It was almost inevitable that Nanula enter this industry; the rewards of working closely with clients and finding new homes makes Nanula swell with pride. "I love the gratification that comes from guiding sellers in the negotiation of their home," Nanula tells us, "or from helping a buyer find the home of their dreams."

Beyond her passion for the world of residential real estate, Nanula has a strong foothold in the philanthropic sphere, including ties to the Del Mar Village Association. Nanula personally believes in supporting the betterment of her community and giving back as a way to help San Diego prosper. Adding to her sense of community is Nanula's strong faith and involvement in Maranatha Christian School, where her children are currently enrolled. Brimming with benevolence and strong community ties, it’s no wonder Nanula’s staunch motto is "the client comes first."

Work Ethics

Hard-working and with high standards, she accepts nothing but the best from her business ventures—mainly for the sake of the client. "I aim for excellence in every aspect of the real estate transaction," Nanula explains. "[I] want to make it as stress-free as possible for my client."

With an impressive number of high-end listings, Nanula has a lot to offer prospective clients. One perk of working with Nanula? Her flawless reputation for placing her clients’ needs and goals at the forefront of every transaction. Nanula strives to learn what really matters to her clients so she can better alleviate their buying or selling anxieties and deliver stellar results. Nanula also brings to the table negotiation abilities, management skills and an in-depth knowledge of the San Diego area’s neighborhoods and real estate market to help first-time buyers ease into the process. With a combined 25 years of experience within the Holly Nanula Group, it’s clear they can provide a seamless journey through the current market.

Given Nanula’s surplus of skill, experience and success, it’s no surprise that this entrepreneur continues to grow as a businesswoman. Her most recent transition was joining Engel and Völkers, a global real estate powerhouse that sells high-end homes throughout Europe, Asia and North America. 

To Holly Nanula, Engel and Völkers was the next logical step in her career. As of June 2016, Nanula is one of their esteemed agents. Though the brokerage firm is international, according to Nanula it doesn’t have an intimidating, corporate atmosphere. Instead, Engel and Völkers feels almost like a boutique. "Engel and Völkers [has an] unparalleled devotion to serving the most discerning clients," Nanula illustrates. "The firm built its business representing signature properties around the world. Despite its global reach, Engel and Völkers has retained a boutique culture. Agents collaborate and support each others’ listings."

Engel and Völkers gives Nanula room to shine because it offers one thing that she understands well: a luxury brand. Known for providing the crème de la crème of local homes, Engel and Völkers is the perfect fit for Nanula’s expertise. "Engel and Völkers is about catering to the clients and making sure they have a first-class experience and transaction," Nanula confirms. "The luxury brand they exude is where I’m more comfortable."

When you look at the properties Nanula currently has listed, it’s easy to see why she reigns supreme at selling luxury real estate. These multi-million dollar homes, dripping with opulence, are located in the most coveted neighborhoods in San Diego. Nanula’s star listing, however, has to be 5910 Camino de la Costa.

Located on a bluff in La Jolla, this home is simultaneously a warm and comfortable living space and an artistic masterpiece. The breathtaking ocean views—with over one hundred feet of oceanfront visible—are just the beginning of this gorgeous property; the home offers five bedrooms and six and a half bathrooms. Boasting 7,500 square feet and a towering 14 foot ceiling from the main floor, this home is awe-inspiring and is currently listed for $16,995,000.

Designed to seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living, each room of the home allows for breathtaking views that—on a clear day—stretch down to Mexico. Situated on what is colloquially referred to as the "street of dreams," the Camino de la Costa property has both historic charm and modern amenities.

The property was originally built in 1959 and has undergone various changes over the last fifty years. The Camino De La Costa property was purchased in December 2013 by American Coastal Properties, a premier provider of single and multifamily homes, specifically in coastal Southern California. The company's President & CEO, Nick Sinatra, spearheaded a substantial two and a half year redevelopment of the property focusing on maximizing land value through improvements and redesign.

Though not considered a new home, the property has recently undergone a substantial remodel. Expertly rebuilt by PBS Construction and designed by acclaimed project designer Marengo Morton Architects, the home now features new facilities and details perfect for even the most discerning buyer.

If you think the remodel was easy—a dash of paint here, a new light fixture there—you’d be wrong. It took a long time to revitalize this home; according to Claude Anthony Marengo of Marengo Morton Architects, "to ready the home for construction took six months, and [it took] about a year to build." 

This is because the Camino de la Costa property underwent major structural changes, including moving the pool out of the front yard and putting a jacuzzi with a glass wind screen on the entertainment side of the home. The basement was turned into a wine cellar, bar and entertainment room. Other changes made by the architects on the project include raising the ceilings, dropping the basement floor and putting in more windows on the eastern side of the house to allow for better natural morning light and a mountain view.

According to project designer Marengo, these changes were absolutely necessary. When he first stepped foot on the property, Marengo says the home "had a very shut-down feel to it. Our inspiration was to bring the outside in as much as possible, to get the feel of the ocean being inside the property."

Who can blame them? The astounding ocean view is one of the best parts of the home, and both Marengo and Nanula used the sea as inspiration moving forward with the design. This inspiration was then shared with Sandra Vila of Sandra Vila Design House, who completed the interior design makeover of the property. The 15 year old boutique custom design firm is known for being creative, and Vila enjoyed the challenge of regenerating this home. "It was incredible to be given a blank canvas," Vila says.

With the ocean as her guiding force, Vila aimed for something modern but approachable, something with European flair, something that juxtaposed old world materials with modern elements. Using an ocean-inspired color palette, Vila found herself leaning towards natural stones like marble and limestone, gold coloring throughout and white-washed woods like bamboo and walnut. The color scheme pervades throughout the house, and to its benefit. "Every room relates to the other, so it’s very cohesive," Vila confirms.

It’s a home perfect for the modern day and age—elegant and refined, but an amazing place for entertainment. And the home doesn’t just look cool—it actually is cool. Admits Nanula, "The latest advances in technology powers every element of the home, from lighting to entertainment, to motorized sliding doors, all off your phone or tablet." Chic, modern and irresistible features are what make this home so unique.

And through it all, Holly Nanula kept a discerning eye on the project, guiding it towards the future and what would be most valuable to any potential buyer. States Nanula, "I worked with the architect and designer regarding a host of items selected, including flooring, wall treatments, lighting and finished fixtures." Everything was chosen with a potential homeowner in mind, allowing the property to transform from a shut-down distant memory to a shining star on the Street of Dreams.

By designing Camino de la Costa for utility, Nanula and her team were able to add functional details. The pièce de résistance? "The master bedroom suite is absolutely amazing," Nanula says with pride. "The bedroom has an intoxicating ocean view, the bathroom is divine and the master closet is large and luxurious, including built-ins throughout. [It’s] every woman’s dream closet." 

There’s that word again: dream. It’s something Holly Nanula and her team specialize in. With laser-sharp focus on the client and their individual dreams, Nanula takes the stressful process of buying or selling a home and turns it into a personalized process. Says Nanula, "[I find] out what my clients’ needs and wants are, whether it be schools, environments or just getting to know their lifestyle… and what works for them." Nanula works tirelessly to find lavish homes in your budget that meet all of your criteria—no matter your dream!