Another lawyer has high praise for Brad Korb's skill in helping with probate sales of inherited properties. Kathryn Van Houten, an attorney with Irsfeld, Irsfeld, & Younger LLP in Glendale, recently joined colleague John Brink in extending commendations to Korb for making a potentially problematic probate case go smoothly and profitably for the heirs.

Van Houten's case involved two properties. When she got the property value from the probate referee on the first one, it had already been spruced-up and made pretty by Korb and his team. It was listed immediately and quickly sold for the appraised value - an unusual event in the current mushy market.

The second property was a rental whose tenant was a family member but not an heir; Van Houten reluctantly had to take steps to implement an unlawful detainer in preparation for forcing the unhappy tenant to leave.

"But above and beyond the call of duty," Van Houten noted, "Brad maintained a friendly relationship with the tenants, who moved out prior to the hearing on the unlawful detainer. In a market where nothing was selling, Brad diligently worked through several offers and sold the remaining property much sooner than I was expecting."

Korb said working with conscientious attorneys such as Van Houten is a natural fit for him because his entire real estate success has been built on the guiding principle of compassion and caring. For example, with the unhappy tenants, he did his best to help them comfortably transition out of the property.

"Kathy Van Houten was always there when we needed her, she was compassionate about taking care of business but also understanding and caring about the emotional hardships facing the heirs," he said. "She was a joy to work with."