By: Matt Emma

Susannah Montgelas, known to most as Susie, has spent more than 35 years in real estate. She works in the Mid Peninsula cities of California, including the coastal communities around Half Moon Bay, where she lives with her husband.

Her path to real estate was not a straight line. Susie started as an elementary school teacher and educational consultant, spending a decade helping young people learn. That experience shaped how she approaches her work today. “I realized early in my life that helping people and doing something of value was most important to me,” she said. The skills she developed in the classroom, the patience, the ability to explain complex things simply, and the focus on individual needs became the foundation of her real estate career.

A Move That Changed Everything

After establishing her business in Indianapolis, Susie made a major decision in 1994 to relocate to San Francisco. That move gave her firsthand experience with the challenges buyers face when coming from outside the area. She understood the sticker shock. She had lived it herself. The Bay Area market can be overwhelming for newcomers, and Susie uses her own experience to help clients navigate that transition with realistic expectations and steady guidance.

That personal understanding of relocation has become one of her strengths. She knows what it feels like to arrive somewhere new and face housing prices that seem impossible. She also knows how to work through that initial reaction and find the right fit. But her support doesn’t end once the keys are handed over. Recognizing that clients who are new to the area often feel untethered, she goes beyond the transaction, introducing them to friends, inviting them to local events, and helping them establish roots in their new neighborhood and community. This kind of empathy cannot be taught in a training seminar. It comes from lived experience, and it transforms a business relationship into something far more meaningful.

A Commitment to Education and Growth

Within five years of starting her real estate career, Susie earned her CRS designation, the Certified Residential Specialist credential. She is a strong believer in continued learning, and the CRS network has allowed her to connect with colleagues outside her local market and bring back new ideas and trends to her business.

Susie is affiliated with Compass, which has been recognized as one of the top leaders in the real estate industry nationwide for the past ten years. Recently, Compass announced a partnership with Rocket Companies, including Redfin, which gives access to all Compass “Coming Soon” listings to 60 million viewers before those homes go live in the local MLS. These tools and technologies support her work, but Susie’s approach remains personal. The systems are there to serve her clients, not replace the human connection.

Personal Service at Every Step

Her slogan is “Sold on Personal Service,” and she means it. For buyers, she focuses on education, walking them through the process and making sure they are pre-qualified with a mortgage lender before they start looking seriously. This preparation means they are ready when the right home appears, which matters in a competitive market.

For sellers, she develops a strategy around timing, preparation, staging, and negotiation. Every home is different, and every seller has different goals. Susie takes the time to understand what her clients need and builds a plan around that. “I am with them every step of the process so buyers and sellers are confident in their decision,” she explained. “Many times, my clients end up being very good friends.”

That sentiment is echoed by her clients. As one recent buyer shared: “Susie showed us many homes and was thoughtful, professional and kind during the process of looking for our home. I feel like I got more than a realtor; I got a new friend as well. Thank you, Susie, for your support. Well done for making this transaction work!”

Real estate transactions can be stressful, but when clients walk away feeling like they have gained a friend, it speaks to the kind of care and attention Susie brings to her work.

Rooted in Community

Outside of work, Susie is on the Board of Boys and Girls Club of the Coastside and stays involved in local community organizations and events. She is an avid golfer and enjoys traveling, gardening, hiking, and doing crossword puzzles. Her life on the coast is full, and her connection to the area runs deep.

What sets Susie apart is not a flashy pitch or a complicated system. It is consistency. It is showing up, paying attention, and treating each client like they matter. With more than three decades of experience, a background in education, and a genuine commitment to personal service, she has built a reputation grounded in trust. For buyers and sellers on the Mid Peninsula and the Half Moon Bay coast, that kind of reliability makes all the difference.

Through dedication, market knowledge, and genuine care for her clients, Susannah Montgelas has built a reputation for trust across California’s Mid-Peninsula.