About Charlene

What is this Celebrated Hotel General Manager Doing Selling Real Estate?

Santa Barbara has always been noted for its understated elegance and natural beauty. With her signature couture wardrobe and statuesque form, Charlene Nagel has made a career of representing what is best about this special community to visitors and locals alike.

As she did when she reigned as the first female GM of the famed Biltmore Hotel, Charlene uses her honest and forthright manner to win over everyone she meets. Industry awards and accolades further assured her place in the top tier of the hospitality industry. So, it was a shock to customers, friends and colleagues when Charlene decided to shelve her Manolo Blahniks for more comfortable shoes in which to survey the local real estate offerings.

Charlene is certainly not your typical Realtor. Still intent on providing the best total experience for her “guests,” Charlene takes clients to view the most pristine and beautiful areas of Santa Barbara County. And she should know where they are! Living in the area since 1980, there isn’t an inch of this spectacular community that she hasn’t poked her nose into.

When asked how she created such a reputation for locating the ideal properties for her clients, Charlene just smiles and attributes it to her love of shopping! “It’s a process…it begins with a need, moves on to exploration and discovery and finally culminates in satisfaction and fulfillment!” Charlene’s active passion for the “hunt”…be it for shoes or the perfect second home, has fueled her reputation for finding the best deals every time. And it is obvious that her Biltmore years of catering to high-profile visitors prepared her well to meet (in fact to exceed) all their expectations. For Charlene, nothing less will do!

Charlene, always known for her “out-of-the-box” approach to both her life and her achievements says, “I love this area and I love the people who love it. What could be better than helping people make living here a reality? I made a conscious decision years ago to forego a very promising career in the hotel industry to remain in Santa Barbara. Nothing is better than sharing my passion for the area and helping those who, like me, are committed to living in Paradise.”