Meet Richard Valdez

I am a licensed California REALTOR® with Vanguard Properties, representing buyers and sellers throughout San Francisco.

My approach to real estate is personal. I believe the best representation begins with listening and understanding what my clients are actually trying to accomplish.

Whether you’re buying your first home, selling a longtime residence, looking for an investment property, or simply trying to understand the market, my role is to provide clear information, thoughtful guidance, and honest perspective throughout the process.

Real estate can be complicated. My job is to make it feel less complicated.

My appreciation for homes goes beyond the transaction.

From 2011 through 2021, I worked as a construction project manager, where I developed firsthand experience with construction, renovation, project coordination, materials, interiors, and the many details required to transform a vision into a finished home.

That experience changed the way I look at real estate.

When I walk into a property, I don’t just see the existing walls, finishes, and floor plan. I often see what could be done differently.

Could the space be reconfigured?
Could the light be improved?
Could an outdated interior become something extraordinary?

I believe understanding design and construction gives me another perspective when helping clients evaluate a property.

My relationship with real estate is also deeply personal.

Beginning in 2004, I purchased two rental properties in San Francisco and became a full-time property manager for both. I experienced firsthand what it means to own, maintain, manage, and ultimately make decisions about an investment property.

Eventually, I sold both properties and used the proceeds to finance a full-house renovation and addition project on our home in Santa Barbara, California.

That experience taught me something I continue to carry with me today:

Real estate is never just about the property. It’s about the decisions surrounding the property.

The Philippines has always been an important part of my life, and over the years my connection to the country has evolved into something much more than personal.

It eventually became the inspiration for Casa Alon.

Casa Alon brings together my experience in real estate, design, construction, property investment, and lifestyle to create a different way of looking at Philippine property.

Through Casa Alon, I am building a platform that connects discerning buyers with exceptional properties and trusted professionals in the Philippines while providing the kind of thoughtful, concierge-style guidance that I believe real estate should offer.

For me, Casa Alon is also a bridge between two worlds—San Francisco and the Philippines.

It allows me to bring the experience I’ve gained in California into a broader vision for property, design, and lifestyle in the Philippines.

I have never believed that real estate should be treated as simply a transaction.

Buying or selling a home can represent a major life transition. It may be a first home, a move to a new city, an investment, a retirement decision, or the beginning of an entirely new chapter.

That is why I place a great deal of importance on communication and trust.

I want my clients to understand what is happening, why it is happening, what comes next, and what their options are.

I don’t believe in pushing people toward a decision simply because there is a transaction to complete.

I believe in giving people the information and perspective they need to make the decision that is right for them.

Looking back, I realize that every chapter of my career has prepared me for the work I do today.

Real estate taught me how to navigate the market.

Construction taught me how homes are actually built and transformed.

Design taught me to see possibility.

Property ownership taught me the responsibility that comes with an investment.

And Casa Alon has given me the opportunity to bring all of those experiences together.

Today, whether I’m helping someone buy or sell a home in San Francisco or developing the Casa Alon vision for the Philippines, my philosophy remains the same:

A home should be more than an address. It should support the life you want to live.

That is the perspective I bring to every property, every client, and every conversation.