Driving down the tree-lined roads of Toluca Lake with his family before moving here from Studio City in 1994 is still ingrained in Steve Hampar’s memory. As he admired the character of the homes and the original 1920s vintage streetlights, he saw the shades of old-time Los Angeles, yet mixed with a friendly, small-town feel — the perfect setting for him and his wife, Sandi, to raise their two young children. He knew from that moment there was something special about Toluca Lake.
Over 25 years later, the neighborhood continues to be his home, as well as being the birthplace of his business. Hampar had already been a top-producing broker, listing, marketing, selling and leasing residential and commercial properties throughout Los Angeles for nearly 10 years before launching Hampar Properties in 2010. Being the broker/owner of a boutique brokerage with a small team of Realtors and marketing support specialists allows the flexibility to serve clients with what he describes as “a high level of collaboration, communication, trust and responsiveness. With the magnitude of competition in our profession, giving the absolute highest level of service is how I try to differentiate myself from the rest of the field.”
Hampar attributes his success in real estate in part to his varied background. Upon graduation from USC Marshall School of Business, he became a CPA, followed by a career in the manufacturing/packaging business until the business was sold. He spent time rehabbing vintage and Victorian homes, which began his passion for real estate. Before launching Hampar Properties, he was a broker associate with Keller Williams World Media Center in Burbank.
In addition to building a business, Hampar has also made an impact through community involvement. His first taste came in 2005, when he received a letter from the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce requesting volunteer help with future events. He attended the small meeting that was held soon after, where it was suggested that the Chamber host a pancake breakfast to support local Fire Station #86. “I volunteered to chair the event,” Hampar says, though he attributes much of its success to a close-knit committee of Chamber directors. “Fifteen years later, the Pancake Breakfast remains a popular Toluca Lake family tradition. Best of all, we’ve raised over $80,000 that directly benefits our local fire station and the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund.”
Hampar’s community involvement didn’t stop there. He served as president of the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce from 2012 to 2014, is the immediate past president of the Toluca Lake Homeowners Association and is currently a board member of Toluca Lake Beautification Partners. Since 2005, Hampar has also spent countless hours working alongside the Public Safety Committee of the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council to revamp and revitalize the Toluca Lake Neighborhood Watch Program. Watch captains were set up by street with a streamlined system of email communications, and the group also created the branded Toluca Lake “No Solicitors” signs seen in many yards throughout the neighborhood. “Now, the program is stronger than ever, with over 50 dedicated watch captains throughout the area,” Hampar says. “It has often been touted by the LAPD as one of the premier neighborhood watch programs in the city.”
Local volunteer work has allowed Hampar and his business to connect with the community at an even deeper level. “Hampar Properties takes pride in volunteering and supporting numerous organizations and events in and around Toluca Lake,” he says. “This involvement has given me the opportunity to meet and work with many of the residents, merchants and community leaders, which I feel helps Hampar Properties better serve the community and its clients. The common goal has always been to make Toluca Lake a better and safer place to live.”
When Hampar isn’t working or giving back to the community, you can almost guarantee that he and Sandi aren’t too far from the nest. “We feel fortunate that we are able to walk from our home to the many great restaurants and shops along Riverside Drive, such as á la Mutt, Generales & Generales, Pergolina, Tamara Dahill Salon, Priscilla’s, Patys, Prosecco and Forman’s,” he says.