If you’re looking to buy a house in Los Ángeles the first thing I would say is: Man, I’m so sorry. The second thing would be to get in touch with Lorin Ruttenberg. She is amazing: so knowledgeable regarding the LA market, she negotiates like a boss (when the whole process was over we ended up paying slightly less than asking price--something unheard of in Los Angeles), she is always available, and she is so freaking funny that it’s actually a pleasure to visit house after house after house. She truly made house hunting as painless as it can possibly be in this city. And if that wasn’t enough, she has the best clog collection outside of Holland.

Because of the service and recommendations of broker Lorin and agent Brandon our home sold for much, much more than the asking price. Because of Ahead of the Curves Homes' marketing strategy, we had 27 written offers within seven days. Wow! Another plus is their concierge service that provides upfront costs for some home improvements prior to sale. This brought an immediate and significant increase in value to the home and a passionate response from buyers. The team was ready with answers to our questions (there were many of those). Ahead of the Curve Homes has a solid squad.

Lorin was instrumental in helping us purchase our first home. I can't imagine a better navigator on this brutal LA real estate market. She showed us houses all over the city, provided expert advice, listened to our needs, and talked us through our anxieties. My highest recommendation.

Lorin Ruttenberg is by far one of the most knowledgeable professionals in the entire Real Estate Industry . Lorin's years of experience not only reflects her abilities to excel to the highest level in accomplishing your requirements in all aspects of purchasing or selling your home; but she also is blessed with the insight of the psychology behind the inner workings of what it takes to close the deal. If you are in need of an accomplished professional by all means contact Lorin Ruttenberg. You will not be disappointed!

Lorin and the AOTC teams are responsible for making our dream come true. We live in a beautiful home in Baldwin Vista which we love wholeheartedly, but found our needs changed after living in our house and growing as a family. Many years ago I approached Lorin, because I knew her to be a savvy agent with an extensive knowledge of South LA residential real estate. It was our wish to find a home that checked off all our boxes and it was a tall order, particularly with our insistence in staying on our hill which always has very little turnover/inventory. We knew we could be looking at a long process with so many specific requirements. That did not discourage Lorin. She believed in us and in helping us find our match through patience and dedication. Over the years we went through two escrows with Lorin that were not meant to be. Then Lorin called us with an off market property (on our street of all places) and it was the perfect fit. Our new house is a very unique property, truly an architectural gem, and could only be found by the right agent who appreciated the house and the neighborhood. I firmly believe that AOTC’s on-the-ground approach and dedication to keeping in very close contact with existing owners (who could become potential sellers) is what sets AOTC apart. Many agents sit from their computers telling you what’s out there. But this team spends a large part of their time building and cultivating relationships in-person. Lorin and Erica’s knowledge of the properties and area is a remarkable gift. Special shout out to Rodney, who is a fantastic support to the agents’ team. Thank you AOTC for finding our glass slipper!

When Lorin introduced herself at the front door of my parents' home I was impressed by her commitment; at the time realtors were still reeling from the 2008 crash and it took real confidence for her to put herself out there. When it came time to sell my parents' house this year we chose her both because of her energetic spirit and because of her quick appraisal of the potential value of the home; we knew it was a diamond in the rough, but very rough after years of elder care! Lorin saw right through to its essence, and more importantly had the contacts to match up a buyer ready to see the same potential. She also brought critical problem-solving and management skills that kept everyone moving past the inevitable escrow hiccups and toward closing. A true professional.

Lorin Ruttenberg, Erica Lockhart and their team at Ahead of the Curve are absolutely top-notch. Anyone who is shopping for a home in LA at the moment can tell you how feverishly competitive the market is, with reduced inventory and high demand. For a first-time home buyer like me, that made it essential to work with seasoned professionals who were able to pinpoint the best properties that fit my criteria and provide expert guidance throughout the deal-making process. I was lucky to find that in Lorin and Erica. They were responsive, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with -- and most importantly, they gave sound advice and always put my interests first. Happily, I just closed on a terrific condo thanks to their help and I am excited to move into my new home. I will be recommending them to friends and colleagues who are buying or selling their homes.

As trustee, I had no idea of the value of my father's house nor the detailed condition of it as I haven't lived there in 35 years. Ahead of the Curve Homes knew the neighborhood really well and was able to guide me through the process of determining the condition of house prior to listing it, provided comparables for as-is condition and for post-fix-up condition, provided a loan and project management to get the house ready for listing, and was able to get us a very good, over-asking offer. I couldn't have achieved this on my own.

Lorin Ruttenberg and her team at AOTCH did a super professional job with every aspect of our condo sale, and helped us get an offer that was beyond our wildest dreams. Lorin oversaw and carefully managed every detail of the entire process - staging, photos, open houses, buyer negotiations, inspections, closing, etc. Any time we had a question or concern, she would call or text us back within minutes. She is also super smart, kind, and hilarious (important when you’re going through a home sale). She and her partner Erica are a joy to work with and we would recommend them to anyone looking for an LA agent.

Simply put? Lorin is the best. She helped me buy my first home and now she has helped me sell it with ease. Lorin, and her partner Erica, have the experience, attention to detail, and the heartfelt connection needed for excellence in real estate. This care and consideration is why my home sold for well over asking price. Lorin is always available to communicate with and she made my entire experience a dream. She does it all with a razor sharp sense of humor and I cannot thank her enough. Thank you!

Lorin helped my wife and I buy our dream home in Manhattan Beach. I have bought and sold many homes over the years and I can say this with all truth, sincerity, and honesty, she is the best Realtor I have ever had. She is thoughtful, honest, thorough, always available, extremely knowledgable and tough. During the entire process she was always well ahead of any situation and problem that arose. I had never been blown away by a Realtor, she definitely did that and more. I highly recommend her if you are buying or selling a home in Los Angeles.

I have worked with Lorin Ruttenberg and Erica Lockhart on multiple transactions over the past few years -- both buying and selling. Every experience has been fantastic. Lorin and Erica are consummate professionals -- knowledgeable, organized, efficient, and dedicated to their work. They know how to get things done and whom to call (inspectors, tradesmen, mortgage brokers and lenders, etc.); they address all the details of inspections, appraisals, showings, staging, negotiations – in short, truly full-service. And on top of all that, they are delightful people and great fun to work with. I recommend them highly to both buyers and sellers and will certainly use them again.