Hello

Hi, I'm Derek Vaughan

Over the past decade I have established myself as one of the top real estate investors and a top realtor in South Pasadena. I pride myself on the highest levels of service and local real estate knowledge. My work ethic is epic. Hereโ€™s a bit more about me and my South Pasadena real estate expertise.

Resident of South Pasadena since 1998 โ€“ I first moved to South Pasadena in 1998 when we bought a 1903 Craftsman home near Trader Joeโ€™s. My children attended South Pasadena Schools (Arroyo Vista Elementary, South Pasadena Middle School, South Pasadena High School) through until graduation. As a long time resident of South Pasadena I am intimately familiar with every street and neighborhood here. Iโ€™ve been in a lot of the homes here and helped to buy and sell many more.

My Grandfather was a real estate developer and my mother owned a real estate brokerage. I have been around and involved with real estate since I was a child. My personal experience in real estate investing started in 1993. I have been a real estate investor, landlord, developer and now a residential realtor in South Pasadena.

Prior to my career in real estate I owned and sold several businesses as an entrepreneur and also worked as a digital marketer at The Walt Disney Company.

I am a huge fan of education and hold undergraduate degrees from both Purdue University and Indiana University. I have also obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Vanderbilt University with a dual focus in marketing and finance.

a selfie of Derek Vaughan wearing blue sleeves shirt in front of a house
My Track Record

My Accomplishments

Charitable and Foundation Work in South Pasadena

Board Member of The Oneonta Foundation โ€“ The Oneonta Foundation distributes over $30,000 in scholarships each year to South Pasadena High School students to pay for college.

Board Member of Vecinos de South Pasadena โ€“ Vecinos is a group that focuses on Latino high school students in South Pasadena. Last year we granted $8,000 in scholarships to Latino and Latina graduating South Pasadena High School seniors.

Contributor to SPARC for arts scholarships โ€“ The South Pasadena Arts Council is an organization focused on the arts in South Pasadena. I have donated countless hours to SPARC to help with art openings and fundraising events. I have also donated monies that go to fund scholarships for South Pasadena students attending college and studying the arts.

Contributor to SPEF โ€“ The South Pasadena Educational Foundation helps close the gap between public funding and the true needs of our South Pasadena Schools. I have been a contributor and sponsor of SPEF for decades.

Member of the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and a volunteer at The Chamber of Commerce information booth at the South Pasadena Farmerโ€™s Market each Thursday โ€“ The South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce promotes and assists the businesses which reside in South Pasadena. The Chamber also organizes and oversees the weekly Farmerโ€™s Market. I donate my time each Thursday to work at the Chamber of Commerce booth at the market. You can easily find me there on any given Thursday.

Volunteer at Union Station Homeless Services in Pasadena โ€“ Union Station Homeless Services is our local resource for those who donโ€™t have a stable living situation. There is so much need in Los Angeles for housing, and my efforts are part of the push to make sure everyone is properly housed โ€“ regardless of their current income.

Real Estate Editor for The South Pasadena Newsย โ€“ I am out and about in South Pasadena every day talking with residents about real estate for sale and trends in local real estate. You can check out a few of my articles here:

539 Grand Avenue is For Sale

424 Fremont Avenue is For Sale

415 Oaklawn Avenue Transitions South Pasadena History to new owners

In my youth, I was a High School All-American in swimming. I was a CIF Gold Medalist, held U.S. Age Group records, state records, and was also a multiple National Junior Olympic gold medalist. I know what it means to make a commitment and accomplish goals.

What they say about me

Client Testimonials

Olivia Oshimo
3 months ago
Purchasing a home is a life goal and a dream. For some of us it comes soon, for some of us it takes a little longer. When the opportunity, thankfully, presents itself; you can look at homes that are turn-key gems but yet, it does not feel like it's "the... read more
Maria Schneider
5 months ago
If you are looking for the best in South Pasadena - Derek is your top choice. His knowledge and enthusiasm superseded the expectations in the resent sale of our property. We felt truly privileged to work with Derek and were able to have a smooth and fast transaction.
Caitlin Allen
6 months ago
My husband and I just moved to the Pasadena area and got connected with Derek as we started a search for a rental in the San Marino area. Although Derek specializes mostly in house sales, he spent nearly an hour chatting with me about the ins & the outs... read more
LAUREN GOLD
1 year ago
Derek Vaughan. DEREK VAUGHAN. I cannot believe that there is someone out there in this material World, where owning a home is every American's dream and it has already been the experiences of everyone that you don'tt know who to turn to, who to trust. Meeting, working with, and knowing... read more
City of Hope Marcom Video
1 year ago
Derek is a true expert when it comes to the South Pasadena housing market. His advice is sound, his knowledge is deep, and more than that, he took time and care to explain to novice home buyers all we needed to know about what can be a very daunting process.... read more
Ben Grossi
1 year ago
I was facing a difficult crossroads in my life and needed to find a place quickly. I was lucky enough to find Derek who came to my rescue. He immediately went to work on my behalf and presented numerous available properties that fit my criteria. He coordinated visits, acted as... read more
Mary McGrail
1 year ago
Derek is a knowledgable, reliable, prompt, proactive, and thorough realtor. He walked me through the nuances (and apprehension!) of first-time home-buying with patience and wisdom. If youโ€™re looking for a personable expert and advocate, I recommend Derek.
Tyler Gabriel
1 year ago
My wife and I bought our first home with Derek's help - he was excellent. Knowledgeable, thorough, proactive, easygoing, responsive, and with plenty of stories to share. He knows the Pasadena area extremely well, and in our case knew all the things to watch out for when buying an older... read more
Aida Velasco
1 year ago
I was recently in LA house hunting. My husband and I are moving from London to LA because of our jobs. A colleague put me in touch with Derek, and it made all the difference in the world. He is a very professional realtor, who knows South Pasadena very well.... read more