With thousands of real estate agents in San Francisco, where the average home price can go well over $1MM, it is safe to say it is a competitive market. Then, when you remember that luxury properties are even more expensive, that competition becomes fierce. How do you rise to the top? Matthew Martinez, the founder of the luxury and investment real estate brokerage Diamond Real Estate Group, knows that it takes a combination of innovation, out-of-the-box thinking, talent, and a commitment to customer service. Named one of the Top 100 Luxury Real Estate Agents on Social Media and the Top 100 Real Estate Agents on Instagram, Matthew has used social media to quickly emerge as an in-demand luxury realtor. Now, with over 200K+ social media followers, he is shaking up how premium real estate is identified and invested in with Diamond Real Estate Group’s proprietary AI-powered platform. It has the potential to transform how sales leads are generated and returns are maximized in an industry long-accustomed to 20th-century technology and results.
Matthew’s road to reinventing real estate in San Francisco and Napa Valley began in Sonoma, California, where he grew up in a single-parent home. Looking back, he respects the sacrifices and hard work of his mother, who provided him with a wonderful childhood.
“As I got a little older, my entrepreneurial instincts emerged, and I dreamed of being able to provide a good life for myself as an adult,” Matthew says. “I was always fascinated by design and real estate, even when I was younger.”
After college, Matthew jumped into the real estate market as a part-time investor and flipper. He quickly developed a reputation for working tirelessly, prioritizing client service, and being an expert in the diverse neighborhoods of San Francisco.
“I eventually launched Diamond Real Estate Group because I was determined to help more people invest in properties around the Bay Area and Napa Valley,” Matthew says. He pauses for a moment, then laughs a little. “I probably could have chosen an easier market to break into, but I couldn’t resist the challenge!”
He says that the keys to his success have been three factors: his ability to explain a complex, ever-changing market to buyers, sellers, and other agents; the power of social media marketing, which has connected him to everyday investors around America; and artificial intelligence.
“I don’t believe in withholding valuable information that could transform other people’s lives,” Matthew reflects. “I want to teach everyone how to attain the same level of success that I have found and inspire them to believe that it is possible. That is why I concentrate so much on breaking down the complexities of real estate for anyone who is interested.”
Matthew is a frequent guest on podcasts, blogs, and media outlets and works to create an online environment where anyone can come together to learn about real estate. He has been featured on Yahoo Finance, Forbes, Fox, NBC, Time, Benzinga, and other publications. He is also a member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, a Certified Negotiation Expert, an Accredited Commercial Real Estate Professional, a Certified Distressed Property Expert, and an accredited Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource.
Now, with the launch of his AI-powered platform, Matthew is working to bring more precision to the real estate industry and to maximize the returns on each transaction. His team has spent the last few years developing the technology and celebrated when it was rolled out.
“It was incredible to watch our platform go live and to begin getting streamlined, targeted data on houses, condos, multi-unit buildings and income/investment properties in the Bay Area and Napa Valley,” Matthew remembers. “We have been able to see our entire business kick it up many notches in terms of productivity, allowing us to serve our clients even more.”
Diamond Real Estate Group is also launching its cutting-edge website, which will use AI to help visitors to find off-market investment opportunities and market their homes to the perfect buyer. The new website will also feature blog articles, white papers, case studies and other valuable content that educate visitors about real estate investment and transactions. Blog posts will provide analysis and insights into current real estate market trends, including data on home prices, rental rates, and inventory levels, and they will also spotlight local businesses, with the goal of increasing community and promoting a stronger economy.
Matthew thinks, however, that while AI offers exciting possibilities for the real estate industry, it will never be able to replace what matters most: service and integrity.
“AI is exciting, no doubt, and we are only beginning to see what it can do in luxury real estate,” he says. “But, it will be meaningless if we don’t hold on to our core values. At Diamond Real Estate Group, we believe that no matter how technologically advanced we become, nothing will ever be more important than being worthy of our clients’ trust.”