Built on Connection, Driven by Change

New Teammates, Updated Brand Messaging, and a Fresh Chapter in Leadership

If you thrive on stability and predictability, entrepreneurship—and especially real estate—may not be for you. Change is baked into this profession, and honestly, it’s what keeps me excited. But every now and then, change calls for reflection—and this is one of those moments.

Late last year, my business partner of eight years and I parted ways—she to pursue new opportunities and me to continue building the Rainmaker brand while doubling down on the vision we started together. That vision has always centered on building a client-focused brokerage rooted in people: growing our team of exceptional realtors and mentoring them with the hands-on approach that has become our signature.

This past year brought significant shifts—not just for our business but for the real estate industry as a whole. It allowed us to refocus Rainmaker as a boutique agency specializing in personalized service. We remain deeply rooted in the communities we serve—Los Altos, Mountain View, and neighboring communities—while evolving to meet new challenges head-on.

Looking Back: Building Rainmaker 2.0 from the Ground Up

Having started my own brokerage in 2007 in Palo Alto and later being acquired by a large company in 2012, I learned a lot about what I was—and wasn’t—looking for in a new Rainmaker venture. My experience on the leadership team of a ‘big box’ brokerage taught me invaluable lessons that helped shape the foundation of our business today.

With that in mind, my former partner and I opened our Los Altos office in the midst of the pandemic—a bold move that, in hindsight, proved to be exactly the right call.

In our first year, Rainmaker grew from a team of two to four, then to eight sales partners. By May 2021, The Wall Street Journal recognized us among the top 1% of teams nationwide—a milestone reinforcing our belief in building something truly special.

Real estate is a business where change is constant. Industry-wide, 70% of newly licensed agents leave the profession within their first two years. Even among those who stay, turnover is common: one in every 10 agents changes brokerages every year. Selling real estate isn’t for the faint of heart—but it’s what we love.

Keeping It Human—Obsessively Human

As we step into this new chapter, I’m excited to share our refreshed branding campaign, built around the core value that has guided Rainmaker since day one: People are the heart of our business.

In an increasingly digital world, where much of the buying and selling process happens online, we believe the human connection still makes the biggest difference. As our new website highlights, we are “obsessively human,” focused on building genuine relationships with our clients, partners, and team members.

This is why we love our cozy office space, just a short walk from Los Altos’ iconic Chef Chu’s. While we never got to host a red ribbon cutting when we first opened, creating a welcoming space built for connection has always been our priority. We’ve even stocked our espresso bar with locally roasted beans from Linea Caffe in San Francisco (I may be a coffee snob) because nothing beats connecting over a great cup of coffee—whether it’s with buyers, sellers, contractors, designers, or fellow real estate colleagues. While most of our work happens out in the field, having a space where we can gather, collaborate, and build relationships has always mattered to us.

A Warm Welcome

I’m also thrilled to welcome three new agents to the Rainmaker family: Susan, Arree, and Yao. I look forward to meeting with them regularly to share lessons from the field, tackle challenges together, and celebrate wins along the way. Mentorship has always been central to our culture, and I’m excited to watch them learn, grow, and thrive.

Looking Ahead

As we close out this season of change and growth, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our clients, partners, and team members—you are like family to us. Your trust and support fuel everything we do and inspire us to keep creating exceptional real estate experiences.

Here’s to an exciting year ahead! And remember—the coffee machine is always on. Stop by for a latte anytime!

Alex Wang is a Los Altos resident, local realtor, and founder of Rainmaker Real Estate. For more information text/call (650) 800-8840 or visit AlexWang.com.