Michael Repka

CEO

Michael Repka is the chief executive officer of DeLeon Realty and offers an extensive background in real estate and tax law. Michael heads the listing team and you will be working directly with him.

Prior to joining DeLeon Realty, Michael was a practicing real estate and estate-planning attorney. After obtaining his first law degree, Michael joined a New Jersey-based law firm, where he counseled clients on the legal, tax, and procedural aspects of buying or selling homes. Unlike in California, New Jersey residential buyers and sellers routinely engage attorneys to represent them when entering into a real estate transaction. Michael’s enhanced knowledge and experience provides a level of understanding and competency that consistently proves beneficial to DeLeon Realty’s clients. Following this, Michael worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, and later at Baker & McKenzie, specializing in tax law.

Michael’s love, however, has always been in real estate. Following his calling, Michael returned to real estate, first as a practicing attorney, and later as a broker. The experience gained from litigating real estate disputes enables Michael to identify potential problems and take mitigating steps to protect DeLeon Realty’s clients.

Michael has served on the faculty at Menlo College, where he taught real estate economics and taxation, on the California Association of Realtors’ Board of Directors, and on the Santa Clara Bar Associations Executive Committee of the Real Property Section. He has also lectured on real estate ethics and professionalism.

Michael is a private pilot who loves to ride his motorcycle along Highway 1 with his lovely wife, Rachel. Michael also skis, travels, and has completed eight marathons, over 30 half-marathons, and one triathlon, which was very embarrassing.

Education

NYU School of Law, LL.M, Taxation, 2001
Rutgers University School of Law, JD, 1999
Rutgers University Schools of Business and Law, Graduate Certificate in Conflict Management, 1999
Pace University, BA, Finance, 1991

Admissions & Qualifications

California Broker License No. 01854880
Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI)
Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS)
Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
California State Bar No. 255996
New York State Bar No. 2986107

Membership

California Bar Association
New York Bar Association
Santa Clara Bar Association (Real Property Section)
National Association of REALTORS®
California Association of REALTORS®
Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®

Michael Repka

CEO

Articles by Michael

Misaligned Incentives and Systemic Flaws of the Real Estate Industry - By Michael Repka, Esq. Many people take issue with the real estate industry and the way transactions have been handled traditionally. Many clients justifiably believe that there are far too many conflicts of interest, too little oversight, inadequate training, and a general herd mentality that is often not in the best interest of the clients. […]

Surge in Demand from Hong Kong Buyers - By Michael Repka Michael Repka, DeLeon Realty CEO, on a recent business trip to Hong Kong Prior to Great Britain’s transfer of Hong Kong back to China in 1997, there was a significant increase in demand for US (and Canadian) real estate from Hong Kong buyers. Wealthy people from Hong Kong were understandably concerned that there […]

Behind-The-Scenes for 1023 Forest Avenue -

Housing Affordability for Local Teachers, Police Officers & Firefighters - by Michael Repka, Esq. Silicon Valley is one of the best places to live in the entire world. From our robust economy and rich culture, to our great weather and scenic beauty, there are few places on earth that can compare to where we call home. Unfortunately, the attractiveness of this area, coupled with the […]

Eight Things That Make DeLeon Different - By Michael Repka, Esq. 1) We never take money from both sides of any transaction Most brokerages, and even many individual agents, take money from both sides of the same transaction when they have the opportunity. While some try to characterize these payments as “referral fees” and have another agent in their office submit the […]

The DeLeon Team Announces its New Satisfaction Guarantee for Sharon Heights Homeowners - I love Sharon Heights for its rolling hills, convenient location and diverse architecture, and, of course, its people. Regrettably, Sharon Heights homes have historically sold for less than I believe they should, and less than similar homes in Palo Alto, Los Altos, and other parts of Menlo Park.

The DeLeon Team Just Ranked #1 in the Entire USA - By Michael Repka Way back in 2011, Ken DeLeon and I discussed the possibility of establishing an innovative new real estate team. At that time, no individual agent or team from Northern California had ever been number one in the United States in terms of sales volume. That honor typically went to real estate agents […]

Innovative Silicon Valley Attorneys Become the Top Ranked Real Estate Team in the Country Thanks to a Unique Business Model - REAL Trends, the national authority for Realtor rankings, just released their verified 2018 results in the Wall Street Journal. Once again, the DeLeon Team, based in Palo Alto, California, secured the top spot in the team category for the entire nation with over $850,000,000 in annual sales. These sales, the highest in the history of […]

Conflicts of Interest with “Coming Soon” Marketing - By Michael Repka One of the fundamental problems with the real estate industry is that the interests of the sellers are often in conflict with the interests of their agents. The 100% commission-based compensation system employed by most brokerages, coupled with the permissibility of the same agent or the same brokerage receiving money from both […]

Caltrain Electrification Sparks Appreciation - By Michael Repka Over the past 15 years, we have seen a shift in buyers’ preferences away from remote estates located far up into the hills and towards fine properties closer to city centers. While no group is ever homogenous, many tech buyers and buyers from large urban centers, such as New York, Boston, Shanghai, […]

So Your Home Didn’t Appraise, Now What? - by Michael Repka, Esq. When a buyer submits an offer on a home, they need to decide which, if any, contingencies they will include in the proposed contract. Naturally, the more contingencies, the better for the buyer, but an offer with fewer contingencies is more likely to be accepted by the seller—or accepted at a […]

The Unfortunate Downside of Automated Searches - By Michael Repka, Esq. There’s no doubt that technology has made a significant impact on the search for homes. Nowadays, many buyers do the bulk of their searching online and, often, with little assistance from buyer’s agents. That is one of the reasons why DeLeon Realty does not take any commission when the buyer finds […]

Time to Revisit Your Trust - by Michael Repka, Esq. Historically, there have always been three important reasons why affluent California residents should establish a family trust. First, probate costs in California are extremely high and, if properly executed, a trust can eliminate the need to go through the time-consuming and expensive probate process. Second, trusts provide a way to distribute […]

2018: Year in Review - By Michael Repka, Esq. By virtually any measure, 2018 has been a turbulent year for Silicon Valley real estate despite the general local economy doing very well. Overall, businesses have been thriving but there have been some hiccups along the way. In the spring, a variety of local tech companies found themselves answering questions about […]

Palo Alto Preserves Historic Homes; Homeowners Benefit Too - by David Burckhard While more famous as the center of contemporary, high-tech achievements, Palo Alto is also rich in local history. Nothing better demonstrates that than the diverse and remarkable collection of its iconic homes. Locals and soon-to-be locals are fortunate that the presence of historically significant residences provide character and a sense of place, […]

Risk of Using Friends & Family As Your Real Estate Agent - By Michael Repka, DeLeon Listing Team When I originally got my real estate license many years ago, a manager pulled me aside and gave me what she considered wisdom. These words were really powerful because they clearly showed me what’s wrong with the real estate industry. First, the manager explained that new real estate agents […]

Reverse 1031 Exchanges - By Michael Repka, Esq. (LL.M.—Taxation; NYU School of Law (’01)) The federal government and the state of California provide for the deferral of tax when a taxpayer exchanges investment or business real property for other real property that will be used as investment or business property. This is commonly referred to as a “1031 Exchange” […]

Dishonesty in Real Estate - by Michael Repka, Esq. Dishonesty in Real Estate — Fraudulent Marketing Techniques There are an awful lot of real estate agents out there and they all seem to be scrambling for the same potential clients. Given the low barriers of entry in the real estate industry, and the tremendously high commissions, some agents give in […]

Danger of Live Offer Presentations - By Michael Repka, Esq. In Silicon Valley, the typical approach to taking offers on a home is for the buyer’s agents to present their clients’ offer in-person to the listing agents and the sellers on offer date. The buyers are generally not present for this presentation. The listing agents often advice their sellers to remain […]

The DeLeon Team Presents at the 2018 AREAA National Convention in Las Vegas - by Michael Repka, Esq. As the world continues to shrink due to efficient transportation and ever-evolving telecommunications, global reach has become critically important. This is as true for real estate as it is for most industries. The real estate community is served by countless professional organizations that go to extraordinary lengths to enhance the lives […]

The Diminishing Role of Buyers’ Agents - By Michael Repka Over the past 20 years, technology has enhanced and improved many industries. The quality of products and services has gone up, while, thanks to improvements in efficiency, the cost to consumers has often gone down. Unfortunately, real estate is not one of those industries — even in Silicon Valley, the technology capital […]

Palo Alto Spotlight: Rinconada and Mitchell Parks - By Michelle Lee As a long-term resident, it sometimes feels like there’s not much to do in this quiet small town where the bars close at 10:00 pm and the streets are empty by 9:00 pm – how many can relate? However with recent remodels, expansions, and initiatives, it’s clear that the City is facilitating […]

A Snapshot of Some Real Estate Related Propositions on the November Ballot - By Michael Repka, Esq. It is easy to tell when an election is coming up—just watch the countless television commercials paid for by special interest groups. However, every proposition seems to be either the greatest idea ever or pure evil, depending on which side’s ad happens to be on at the moment. Here are some […]

Hidden Dangers to Arbitration in Real Estate Contracts - By Michael Repka, Esq. When looking to buy or sell real estate, many clients ask their real estate agent whether they should initial the arbitration provision. If initialed by both sides, this provision binds the parties to arbitrate most disputes that arise under the contract. Realtors® typically respond in one of two ways: (1) they […]

Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club: A Hidden Oasis - By Michael Repka, Member This article is the first of a series in which we will look at some of the area’s best country clubs and social meeting places. Approximately five years ago, my wife and I considered joining a local country club. We looked at a few options and found the Palo Alto Golf […]

Air Traffic Impact on Real Estate - By Michael Repka, Pilot As a licensed pilot and Silicon Valley’s most active real estate listing agent, I have a unique perspective on how air traffic impacts local real estate. From this vantage point, I can see and understand the concerns of both sides of the debate as to how we can keep aircraft noise […]

The Value of Narrated Videos - By Michael Repka The way that real estate is typically sold in Silicon Valley varies from the way that many sellers may envision. Nowadays, buyers like to be able to access properties on their own schedule with their own agents without the seller or even the listing agent present. Although this is not the general […]

Eight Listing Traps to Avoid - By Michael Repka, ESQ. Many sellers enter into a listing agreement feeling very optimistic and with a high level of trust in their listing agent. However, there may be devils lurking in the details of the listing agreement that the sellers are being asked to sign. Many sellers erroneously conclude that they can sign the […]

Construction Techniques – Insulated Concrete Forms (“ICF”) - By Michael Repka Over the past decade, the building industry has become more environmentally conscious while also striving to find ways to improve the quality and durability of homes. One construction technique that has seen increased popularity in recent years is building with Insulated Concrete Forms, also known as ICF construction. Traditional residential construction generally […]

Tax Topics—Deductions for Pass-Through Entities - By Michael Repka, Esq. (LL.M.—Taxation, NYU School of Law ‘01) On December 22, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) into law. This sweeping legislation dramatically lowered corporate tax rates, encouraged multi-national companies to bring money back to the United States, generally lowered individual income tax burdens, reduced mortgage interest deductibility, and, […]

The Peril of Pocket Listings - by Michael Repka, ESQ As the most active listing agent in Silicon Valley, I receive many phone calls from people interested in selling their property. The majority are interested in taking all steps necessary to achieve the highest possible sale price – which includes the proper preparation of the home, the appropriate timing of the […]

Attracting Palo Alto Buyers to Menlo Park Listings - by Michael Repka | CEO & General Counsel At first blush, some homeowners in Menlo Park may assume that they should limit their search to Menlo Park-based listing agents when selling their home. Their reasoning is that a local Menlo Park agent knows the community and the other agents in town. While local knowledge is […]

The Allure of Double-Ending - By Michael Repka, ESQ | CEO & General Counsel On a financial level, it is understandable why real estate agents want to represent both the buyer and seller on the same transaction: it means double commission. Naturally, agents want to justify or rationalize this approach by arguing that they can remain completely objective and fight […]

A Shot Across California’s Bow - By Michael Repka, ESQ | CEO & General Counsel (LL.M.—Taxation, NYU School of Law) Since the earliest hints at the substance of President Trump’s new tax proposal, there has been one element that has remained consistent—the elimination of the deduction for state and local taxes. A cynical observer may note that this significant change to […]

Exclusive Arrangement with Da Lusso Designs - By Michael Repka The July issue of the DeLeon Insight newsletter includes an article discussing the challenges that limitations on staging inventories can pose for real estate agents during the busy time of the year. This article will address some further enhancements to our design services. Given the market-leading size of the DeLeon Team, we […]

How the New Tax Legislation Could Impact California Real Estate -

The DeLeon Team Returns to China for LPS, December 8-10 2017 - DeLeon Realty is proud to announce our upcoming participation in China’s 16th edition of the Luxury Property Showcase (LPS), which will be held December 8-10, 2017, in Shanghai, China.

Hidden Dangers - By Michael Repka, ESQ. | CEO & General Counsel Whenever homeowners mention the possibility of selling their home without using a professional real estate agent, various agents are quick to counter with the argument that a lot of legal pitfalls are lurking out there. These agents continue that the sellers need a qualified agent to help […]

Summer Splash: Buy a Home Before the New School Year - By Michael Repka, ESQ. | CEO & General Counsel Buyers often say they would like to purchase a home over the summer and settle in before the new school year starts. Nevertheless, the majority of listings are brought onto the market during two windows of time: spring and fall. In effect, the summer becomes a […]

Resolving Real Estate Disputes - By Michael Repka, ESQ. | CEO & General Counsel Most real estate transactions close without a hitch. Agents on both sides explain the rights and responsibilities to their clients, and everyone does as required and expected. By and large, agents are competent and thorough, and buyers and sellers are reasonable. But, things don’t always go […]

Video: Our New Ethical Ideal for the Industry - We are thrilled to announce our most stunning innovation yet: going forward, DeLeon Realty will not take commission from both sides of the same transaction. If any DeLeon Realty agent represents a buyer on any DeLeon Realty listing, then we will waive 100 percent of the buyer-side commission.*

DeLeon Realty’s Most Significant Innovation Yet - We formed DeLeon Realty with the belief that there was a better way to sell real estate and, in doing so, a better way to build a real estate company. We have raised the client experience through offering significantly elevated marketing for our listings; employing exceptionally well-educated and well-trained agents

Why Open Houses Are Useful - BY: MICHAEL REPKA, ESQ. | CEO & GENERAL COUNSEL Sellers often ask me whether they should hold open houses and, if so, how often? What I have found is that some sellers are too quick to dismiss this powerful tool, while others overestimate their importance. The Importance of Open Houses DeLeon Realty’s unique approach to selling […]

Free Money From The California Association of REALTORS® - Michael Repka, ESQ., DeLeon Realty CEO – March 30, 2017 The California Association of REALTORS® has recently launched a wonderful new program to help first-time homebuyers save money on their homeowner association (H.O.A.) dues. In a nutshell, the Housing Affordability Fund’s Homeowners Association Grant Program will give qualified first-time buyers up to six months of H.O.A. […]

DeLeon Realty Announces Its One-Year Home Maintenance Service - The DeLeon Insight January 2017 Issue By Michael Repka, Esq., DeLeon Realty CEO When buying or selling a home, it has always been important to select the right Realtor®. However, the home itself usually remains the same, irrespective of which agent represented the property. That has all changed with the introduction of the DeLeon Realty/HomeSmiles […]

Year in Review - The DeLeon Insight January 2017 Issue by Michael Repka, ESQ. There is no doubt that 2016 was a turbulent year for real estate in many prime parts of the Peninsula. The softening of the overheated market that we have experienced over the past few years, coupled with uncertainty associated with the unusually divisive presidential campaign […]

The DeLeon Team Expands Its International Marketing to the Indian Community - The confluence of a vibrant economy, ideal climate, and intellectual capital draw people to Silicon Valley from around the world. This melding of cultures, ideas, and approaches only serves to intensify the appeal of this area. As the demographic profile of the area changes, so does the real estate market. These changes can be […]

Tax Tips: Installment Sales and Deferred Sales Trusts - Taxes stink! No one likes paying them, especially sellers of highly appreciated Silicon Valley property. This is particularly true now that the combined federal and California tax rate on longterm capital gains can reach as high as 37.1 percent thanks to California’s Prop 30. This doesn’t even take into consideration any additional revenue the federal […]

Do You and Your Agent Know About FIRPTA? - One of the fortuitous things about running the listing side of the DeLeon Team is the exposure to the international real estate market. It is widely acknowledged that the DeLeon Team leads all Silicon Valley agents and teams in marketing to the international community. Our efforts in this arena have taken Ken DeLeon and me […]

Real Estate Agent Rankings: How Can So Many People Be “Number One”? - The real estate industry is full of people claiming to be “Number One.” These claims often vary, but the variation is often nuanced. For example, the claims can range from Number One Team in America, Number One Individual Agent in Menlo Park, Number One Brokerage in America (based on number of agents), Number One Brokerage […]

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Michael Repka

CEO

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Michael Repka

Articles by Michael

DeLeon Properties

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