Skip Barbour

We all face moments in life that push us toward change, and one of the
most defining ones for me came when I was just 20 years old. At that point, I had
already spent two years playing football on scholarship at the University of San
Diego. Football had been such a central part of my life growing up, and earning
that scholarship was a dream come true. But deep down, I also knew I wasn’t
destined to go pro. I could feel that my journey needed to take a different direction.
So, I made a bold and somewhat scary decision: I walked away from the comfort
of my scholarship and the familiar path I was on, and I spent the summer traveling
through Asia with a close friend.That trip included time in India and Nepal, and perhaps most memorably, a
month-long trek up to Everest Base Camp. If you’ve ever done long-distance
hiking, you know it gives you a lot of time to think—and being up there in the
Himalayas surrounded by that kind of natural beauty gave me the space to really
reflect and grow. It was a chance to mature, to look inward, and to wrestle with
what I wanted my future to be. At the time, I still didn’t have clarity on my longterm career, but I came back from that trip leaning toward the idea of becoming a
lawyer, just like my father.
So, I committed. I buckled down, finished college, applied to law school, and even
worked long hours as a law clerk to prepare myself. But after immersing myself in
that world, I quickly realized something important: while the work was valuable,
it just didn’t feel right for me. The endless hours behind a desk made me realize
that I craved something different. I wanted more direct connection with people—
something more relational and interactive.
Around this time, one of my roommates was beginning to thrive in real estate.
Watching his excitement and energy for the work sparked something in me. After
a year and a half of law school, I made another big decision: I stepped away and
pursued my real estate license. I’ll never forget walking into the broker’s office for
the very first time, eager but unsure of what it would take to succeed. His advice
was simple: “Go make friends.” It took me a while to fully grasp it, but he was
absolutely right.
From day one, my business has been built on relationships—earning trust, showing
genuine care, and building friendships. That mindset carried me as I got married,
raised two wonderful daughters, Nina and Brittany, and provided for my family.
Over the last 30 years, that philosophy has carried me through three recessions and
countless experiences: flipping homes, arranging loans, building custom houses,
and helping people buy and sell both homes and investment properties.
Today, I still love my work, I still enjoy playing golf and tennis in my free time,
and I make it a point to volunteer regularly with local charities. What makes
me proudest, though, is seeing Brittany now stepping into the business with me,
continuing the legacy of building relationships and serving people with care.