Mark McDougal has been working in Real Estate since 1986. In 1985, he earned an AAS degree in Real Estate; the curriculum included real estate law and finance, construction, appraisal, property management, real estate investment strategies, as well as other coursework. Additionally, Mark has completed the required coursework, and has been awarded the National Association of Realtors’ Short Sales and Foreclosures Certification. Mark worked as a licensed REALTOR until 1992, when he began acquiring, developing and reselling properties (22 to date) on his own. Concurrently, Mark went back to school (UCSD) and took two more years of software engineering courses. While he enjoyed software engineering, and acquired useful skills such as negotiating, presentation, and understanding complex systems, real estate was his real passion. Mark’s expertise includes handling a wide range of property types, from single and multi-unit residential to industrial and investment properties. He enjoys interacting with people, as well as the challenges of improving property, as well as staying on top of the constantly changing and always exciting California real estate market.

Mark’s 24 years of experience, in-depth real estate educational background, and experiences from all vantage points –being the REALTOR®, buyer, renovator, developer, and seller, makes him a very knowledgeable, well rounded and valuable real estate professional. It has also given him insight and sensitivity to the sometimes emotional and difficult processes and decisions homebuyers and sellers must undertake – in other words he’s been there.

Mark’s excellent communication skills, integrity, sense of fairness, and desire to understand his client’s needs, coupled with his attention to detail and professionalism allows him to quickly establish a good working rapport with his clients, many of whom are repeat customers and referrals.

Mark first came to Pine Mountain Club in 2006, bought a home and stayed for two years. He then moved to Dana Point for a work project, but the peace and quiet of the mountains, the beautiful pine-filled panoramic views, the music festivals, the wonderful, down to earth people, and the million stars in the night sky never left his mind. So, in February of 2010, he decided to move back to Pine Mountain Club permanently.

Mark has always been interested in the preservation of our planet, the protection of our natural resources and wildlife, as well as developing alternative and environmentally sound energy policies. He has, for the past 3 years, been a member and active participant in the “San Clemente for Change” a local political action group that advocates and facilitates legislation designed to better our environment and our community.

Mark’s hobbies are astronomy, astrophysics and hiking, but his favorite hobby is playing jazz guitar. And although Mark loves animals, he doesn’t yet have any rescue cats. That could change, however.