Blog Review: The Hartanov Team

By Stevie Duffin Updated on 2/10/2014

“Living here is loving here” is the irresistible tagline adorning the equally alluring slideshow that first welcomes readers to the Hartanov team’s blog. There pictured are surfer silhouettes against the glistening backdrop of a sunset, a family playing in the sand, gulls perched along the jetty at evening, and all the trimmings necessary for a delectable Southern California fantasy.

Based in San Clemente, a Southern California fantasy of a community in and of itself, Drew and Linda Hartanov and their team aim to sell beach real estate and coastal living. And let me tell you – it’s working.

I was born and raised in SoCal but lived relatively far from the west coast shore, in North Orange County. I didn’t experience the life of those glittering, tanned and carefree children of The OC and Laguna Beach. But after visiting the Hartanov Team’s blog, I’m quickly reminded that I’ve always been a twenty-minute drive’s length away from paradise.

True to style, the team’s property listings page is titled “Living in Luxury” and delivers on that promise. With home prices regularly numbering in the $20-30 million range, the Living in Luxury gallery is an unapologetic feast for the eyes: ocean, lavish villas, infinity pools, sprawling, palm tree lined mansions.

In fact, my favorite thing about the Hartanovs is their unapologetic attitude toward their business and town. They sell high-end real estate in one of the most breathtaking, coveted locales in the world, where the wealthy live and play, and tourists with heavy cash narrow their gaze for shopping, resting and most importantly, investing. And just upon scanning HartanovTeam.com, it becomes abundantly clear that these luxury realtors understand the majesty of their territory - they showcase it beautifully.

With language like “lush,” “exquisite,” “incomparable,” and “prime” describing the properties in large, glossy HD photos to boot, the blog is a spectacular example of realtor listing jargon done right.

For the practical-minded and number junkies, the Hartanovs provide impressive market roundups – all monthly and for each city in which they sell. The roundups are in addition to the “Community Statistics” section of the blog, where readers can call upon impressively up-to-the-minute housing data. I was surprised to see they have information for available homes for sale up until February 7, 2014, the date of this article’s creation.

But the Hartanovs are not without heart, and that makes HartanovTeam.com all the more compelling. Beyond the mystique and exorbitance of their Coto De Caza, San Clemente, Laguna, Monarch and Newport listings is a tangible kinship with the sandy cities. Locals can learn about upcoming festivals, fairs, charity events, and when migrating whales will be visible off the coast.

There is a wholesome quality to the sunny blog. Despite the apparent emphasis on riches and luxury real estate, HartanovTeam.com embodies the vast comfort and coziness of South Orange County.

Because as the Hartanov blog echoes unrelentingly, Southern California is truly not just a location – it’s a state of mind: one of living and loving.