Our Story WESTSIDE ESTATE AGENCY
AboutOurAgency OUR INCEPTION
Westside Estate Agency (WEA) is an independent, boutique brokerage founded by Stephen Shapiro and Kurt Rappaport to deliver client-first service for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth buyers and sellers in Los Angeles’ most desirable neighborhoods.
In 1999, Stephen Shapiro and Kurt Rappaport were two of the most well-known, highly compensated real estate agents in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, they felt there had to be a better way to meet the expectations and individual needs of their high-net-worth clientele. It wasn’t long before the two began making plans for a different kind of brokerage — one committed to putting client service first, with the goal of completely satisfying the needs and desires of each client.
Founded in 1999, WEA ranked #1 in Los Angeles County by sales volume in 2024, closing $1.597 billion across 33 transactions — a track record built on discretion, deep market intelligence, and a client-first approach. In The Real Deal’s 2025 ranking of Los Angeles’s top residential brokerages, WEA posted the highest average sale price among the top 20 firms — $12.3 million across 66 deals in the 12 months ending July 2025.
OurClient-FirstService OUR PHILOSOPHY
In the words of Stephen Shapiro, “Negotiations conducted with intelligence and integrity result in what we call the ‘triple win.’ Great results for the buyer, the seller, and WEA.”
At Westside Estate Agency, we believe that every home is unique. We also recognize that no two buyers or sellers are alike — an understanding that shapes how we work with our highly distinguished clientele.
“When Kurt and I set out on our own, we had the goal of offering bespoke service and knowledge to the high-priced Los Angeles marketplace. After over a quarter of a century, Westside Estate Agency has exceeded our goals.” — Stephen Shapiro
Our Listings& Our Clients OUR METHODS
Our agent-advisors do not simply list the homes we represent. They get to know each home intimately, from its one-of-a-kind features to its finite details. We combine this knowledge with an inherent understanding of our clients, their goals, needs, tastes, and interests to ensure a precise, well-curated sampling of prospective homes—avoiding anything we don’t think will fit.
#1 in Los Angeles County
Average Price Per Transaction
A concentration in the region’s most significant estates, from Beverly Hills to Malibu.
Our Track RecordOf Excellence OUR NUMBERS
REAL ESTATE
ACROSS OUR MARKETING AREA
PER TRANSACTION
SINCE OUR INCEPTION IN 1999
OurFutureForwardMindset OUR MINDSET
That growth has never come from volume alone. WEA has always led the industry in adopting technology that serves the client experience rather than replacing it. Our website is designed to bring the same discretion, detail, and craftsmanship we bring to every transaction to how the world discovers our listings — accessible and easy to navigate, wherever a buyer is searching from.
