Marilyn Elam

Those who know Marilyn say she is a modern day entrepreneur, currently operating as a Mother/Daughter Team for Elam, Crystal & Associates, Marilyn co-owns the company with daughter Danielle Crystal. Danielle joined the firm right out of college and became a partner in 2011. 

With 31 years in the real estate business, Ms. Elam established the company in 2006 in order to fill a niche. In addition to the "normal" real estate transactions, Ms. Elam perceived a need for a small boutique firm to serve a high-end clientele in the Santa Ynez Valley of California. 

The Santa Ynez Valley is 2 1/2 hours’ drive north of Los Angeles and is in high demand by those in the movie industry, corporate executives, horse aficionados, as well as vineyard and winery owners. The area is best known for the green rolling hills scattered with vineyards and horse farms. It takes a unique kind of marketing and creativity to be successful in this specialty niche.

Ms. Elam was formerly Owner/Broker of a large real estate brokerage firm and a mortgage company, also based in the Santa Ynez Valley. As owner, she managed up to 27 employees, mostly real estate agents, but also advertising, mortgage personnel, accounting, etc. She grew the company from 2 agents in the beginning (1984) to becoming the largest and most successful real estate firm in the area.

With a longstanding history of being the top in the area, her company attracted the large corporate conglomerates that were purchasing top companies in every market across the nation. After 4 years of courtship by the big national firms, Ms. Elam accepted their offer.

Ms. Elam spent the following 5 years under contract with the new company as “just a salesperson”. But when her contract ended in 2006, she established the independent boutique firm she runs today.

Along with running a real estate company, Ms. Elam has served her industry, her community and her church in various positions including being elected President of the local Board of Realtors. Marilyn and her husband have traveled to India, Africa, Asia, and other places on mission trips.

Marilyn has enjoyed being a traveling companion and wife of Dr. Jim Elam, an Animal Scientist/Consultant who travels the world in his profession. Although they were required to spend a week every three months in Hawaii, the favorite travels have been to Australia every year for the past 14 years. Both Jim and Marilyn are tennis buffs and take advantage of the business trips to Australia by attending the Australian Open Tournament in Melbourne.