Press & Media

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Mathys Tracie Kersten. -- Hi Ryan Mathys, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today? We really have two stories that came together to create the Ryan & Tracie Team. Tracie is a San Diego native, born and raised in North County and an SDSU alum. She started her real estate career right out of high school as an assistant, eventually running her own transaction coordination company before moving into sales. She’s been involved in hundreds—if not thousands—of transactions and has seen the business through multiple market cycles and countless changes. Her deep network of relationships and resources built over decades is a true advantage for our clients. Ryan first came to San Diego for spring break in college and never looked back. After finishing his MBA at Westminster University, he joined Morgan Stanley in La Jolla during the dot-com boom. When that bubble burst, he transitioned into mortgage banking, learning how deals were structured from the financing side—a perspective that’s been invaluable in real estate. Then the magic happened. We met at the office in 2004 and have been a couple and business partners ever since. That same year, we launched our own company, handling both mortgages and real estate. Over time, we focused solely on real estate, running an independent brokerage until 2014 before joining a larger firm and eventually Compass in 2019. To date, we’ve helped more than 400 clients and sold over $500 million in real estate. While we joke that real estate is a lifestyle, we do have a life outside of the business. Outside of work, we have two amazing daughters, ages 15 and 13, who keep us busy. We’ve lived in North Pacific Beach for the past 15 years and love boating, beach days, running half marathons, yoga, and soaking up the beach lifestyle. Travel is a big part of our lives, we love exposing our kids to different countries and cultures. Ryan’s an avid skier, and Tracie is wonderfully supportive about letting him take more ski trips than he probably should. Tracie is also deeply involved with our kids’ school and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She’s completed The 3-Day, 60-mile walk nine times, and our girls even volunteer on the Youth Corp for the organization. -- Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect? We’ve been through several market cycles and seen the industry change dramatically over the years, but “smooth” it is not. We’ve learned to adapt quickly and never get too comfortable. When the market’s strong, you work hard because you don’t know how long it will last. When it’s slow, you work just as hard because you don’t know how long that will last either. That mindset has served us well. The years following the financial crisis were especially tough. We were still building our business while navigating foreclosures, short sales, auctions, and creative financing. Eventually, the market shifted again, and our business evolved with it. With experience comes confidence and clarity. We’ve learned the importance of focusing our time and energy on the right clients; those who are a strong fit both personally and professionally. We don’t take on every client or every deal, instead, we concentrate on the relationships where we can truly make a difference. -- Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others? Having two of us is a big differentiator. We each bring distinct but complementary strengths that give our clients a real advantage. Tracie is the master of contracts, title, and transaction details—she’s incredibly meticulous and ensures that every aspect is handled flawlessly, especially in higher-end sales. Ryan brings a strong background in finance, tax planning, and real estate strategy. For many of our clients, real estate is just one piece of a larger financial picture, so we often collaborate with their CPAs, financial advisors, and attorneys to ensure every angle is covered. We focus on San Diego’s coastal markets from Point Loma to Encinitas. Beyond helping clients buy and sell, we’ve personally flipped over 20 properties, built a spec home, and bought & managed several rental properties. That hands-on experience gives us unique insight into what our clients go through, and helps us guide them away from costly mistakes. What we’re most proud of are the relationships we’ve built. After 20 years in the business, we’ve had the privilege of helping clients’ children buy their first homes and assisting parents with downsizing. Seeing how real estate builds long-term wealth and creates generational impact—that’s what makes it all worthwhile.

Southern California housing prices are rising sharply, and there’s a shortage of houses available for sale.