Real Estate Questions, Answered Straight

Andy Hsieh is a Monrovia-based California real estate broker (DRE #01943789) with 13 years of experience and founder of Timeless Realty Group. Unlike most agents, Andy holds a broker license — the highest license issued by the California Department of Real Estate — and has represented buyers and sellers across Monrovia and the San Gabriel Valley since 2013.

Andy serves Monrovia and the greater San Gabriel Valley, including Arcadia, San Marino, Pasadena, Temple City, San Gabriel, Bradbury, Sierra Madre, and surrounding foothill communities in Los Angeles County.

Buyer and seller representation fees are discussed and agreed in writing up front, as required by California law. The initial consultation is always free, with no obligation. Call (626) 787-6878 to discuss your situation.

Yes. Andy Hsieh holds an active California real estate broker license, DRE #01943789, first licensed in 2013 and upgraded to broker in 2017. His license status is verifiable on the California DRE public lookup and shows no disciplinary action.

As of mid-2026, the median Monrovia home sells for roughly $1.03–1.1 million at about $600 per square foot, but foothill streets, historic-district homes, and recently renovated properties can deviate 20% or more from citywide medians. Andy Hsieh provides free, no-obligation home value assessments using current MLS comparables specific to your street. Call (626) 787-6878.

Typical seller costs include the agreed real estate commission (negotiable and set in writing before listing), title and escrow fees, county and any city transfer taxes, and any negotiated repairs or credits. Andy walks every seller through a personalized net sheet before listing so there are no surprises at closing.

In mid-2026, well-priced Monrovia homes average roughly 45–55 days on market, up from the frenzied pace of 2021–2022. Homes priced correctly in the first week still routinely attract multiple offers; overpriced homes sit and eventually sell for less than an accurate initial price would have achieved.

Usually only selectively. Paint, landscaping, lighting, and deep staging return several times their cost. Full kitchen or bath remodels rarely recover their expense in a sale. Andy provides a room-by-room pre-listing walkthrough that identifies only the improvements that pay.

With mid-2026 median prices around $1.03–1.1 million, a conventional purchase typically requires 10–20% down plus 2–3% in closing costs. However, condos and townhomes in Monrovia and the eastern SGV start well below the median, and first-time buyer programs through CalHFA can reduce cash requirements. Andy helps buyers map realistic budgets before they start touring.

Market conditions in 2026 favor buyers more than any time since 2019: inventory is higher, homes average about 50 days on market, and sellers negotiate on price, repairs, and credits again. Timing the absolute bottom is impossible, but buyers today have leverage that vanished during 2020–2022.

You are almost always better served by your own representation. The listing agent's fiduciary duty runs to the seller. As your buyer's broker, Andy's legal duty is to you alone — including telling you when a home is overpriced or when to walk away.

It depends on your priorities: Arcadia for top-ranked schools, Pasadena for architecture and walkability, Monrovia for small-town charm with Gold Line access, San Marino for the SGV's most exclusive estates and top-ranked schools, Temple City for schools at a lower entry price than Arcadia. Andy's area guides compare each market in detail.

Search the agent's name or license number on the California Department of Real Estate public lookup at dre.ca.gov. Andy Hsieh's broker license is #01943789, active with no disciplinary action.

A California broker license requires years of documented experience, additional college-level coursework, and a more difficult state exam. Brokers can operate independently and supervise agents; salespersons must work under a broker. Andy Hsieh has held a broker license since 2017.

Yes — first-time buyers are a core part of the practice. Andy walks first-timers through budgeting, loan pre-approval, CalHFA and other assistance programs, and the full purchase process in plain English.

Yes. With 13 years in the SGV, Andy advises on single-family rentals, multi-unit properties (particularly in San Gabriel, Alhambra, and El Monte), and ADU potential — an increasingly important value factor in LA County.