R E A L E S TAT E
THE EXPERT
THE EXPERT
CARMINE SABATELLA
This Pasadena native and star of HGTV’s new show Inside Out shares tips, insights, and experience. BY SA M A N T H A B R O O K S
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create an all-encompassing platform. The first house I sold was my mom’s in Arcadia, which went for $3 million and set a new record per square foot in the neighborhood. I’ve since become more of a seller’s agent, with a lot of clients asking how to make design investments to increase the value of their homes. I make sure that money doesn’t go to waste.
From top: Sabatella at home in South Pasadena. With his daughter, Gianna, and husband, Ryan.
> What’s the market like in Pasadena right now? Fire. Since COVID, people are exiting metro parts like West Hollywood and moving east for space. Our business was up more than 20% over last year. Interest rates are low and staying low, and there’s not a lot of inventory.
GINA J. SBATELLA
> How did you get into design and real estate? It’s always been a passion—ever since I was a kid, when I’d rearrange the furniture in our house. In my 20s, I taught myself about horticulture, learning about plant identification and climate zones, how to plant efficiently depending on which direction your property faces… I was born in South Pasadena and moved to Arcadia when I was 8. I graduated college from USC and decided to open a restaurant [Carmine’s] with my dad, and later a lounge [Magnolia], which both had a good run. I eventually got tired of working 75 hours a week and got into real estate in 2013 with the intention of doing design as well to
