Luxury. Hustle. Legacy.

San Francisco luxury real estate for founders, creators, and visionaries who demand excellence, discretion, and results.

About David Ray

David Ray - San Francisco Real Estate Agent

Strategic Insight and Human Connection

With over 16 years of experience in real estate — spanning sales, investing, property management, and client advisory — I bring a rare blend of strategic insight and human connection to every transaction. My journey began in college, helping international students find housing, and has since evolved into a multifaceted career grounded in service, vision, and results.

Clients value me not only for deep market knowledge and negotiation expertise, but also for the grounded presence, integrity, and thoughtfulness I bring to every interaction. Whether advising investors or guiding buyers and sellers through life's big transitions, my focus is always on delivering meaningful results with clarity, discretion, and heart.

At The Nolan Group, I play a dual role: serving clients directly with white-glove advisory and negotiation support, while also driving operational innovation, streamlining systems, and elevating team performance to create experiences that consistently exceed expectations. My "superpower" lies in building genuine trust and empowering clients to move forward with confidence.

Beyond real estate, I'm deeply committed to causes centered on mental health, healing, and community resilience. I actively support organizations like MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), the National AIDS Memorial Grove, and local grassroots mental health networks. A long-time member of the Burning Man community, I am guided by values of radical inclusion, civic responsibility, and gifting — principles that shape both my professional approach and personal philosophy.

I am based in San Francisco, where I focus on helping HNW individuals, tech professionals, and investors make confident, well-informed real estate decisions. Real estate is more than transactions — it's about strategy, leverage, and building long-term wealth.

I write regularly about real estate strategy, market insights, and wealth-building through property investment. Explore my insights →

Tech Founder

Former startup founder & Salesforce executive

Top Producer

Member of The Nolan Group luxury team

Creative Vision

Burning Man participant & art enthusiast

Relationship Focus

Building trust through discretion & results

Insights & Stories

Featured
September 2025

Roots, Resilience, and the American Dream: My Journey Into Real Estate

From my grandfather's survival in Ukraine during WWII to my family's immigration to Boston, and my path through Silicon Valley startups to San Francisco luxury real estate—this is the story of how immigrant resilience shaped my approach to serving clients.

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Strategy
September 2025

Buy, Borrow, Die: How the Ultra-Wealthy Use Real Estate to Build Wealth and Minimize Taxes

Learn the sophisticated strategy used by celebrities like Beyoncé and Jay-Z: buying luxury properties, borrowing against them, and leveraging that capital for tax-efficient wealth building. A deep dive into real estate as financial engineering.

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Market Analysis
September 2025

🏡 Rent or Buy in San Francisco?

Should you keep renting, or is it time to buy? The economics look very different depending on the price point. Walk through two scenarios comparing $10K rent vs $2M purchase, and $30K rent vs $7M purchase, with real numbers and tax implications.

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Analysis
September 2025

How One San Francisco Home Outperformed the Stock Market (and What It Means for Your Wealth)

A comprehensive analysis comparing $150K invested in a San Francisco home versus stocks from 2009-2025. Discover how leverage, tax benefits, and rent savings can make real estate a powerful wealth-building engine that outperforms traditional investments.

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Wealth Building
September 2025

Chasing the American Dream: Why Real Estate Is the Ultimate Wealth Builder

From house hacking to leveraged investments, discover why real estate remains the most powerful path to financial freedom. Learn the strategies that create cash flow, build equity, and replace traditional income—inspired by lessons from Rich Dad Poor Dad.

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Education
September 2025

The First-Time Homebuyer's Guide: Step by Step Through the Process

From browsing online to getting keys in hand—a complete walkthrough of the home buying process with timelines, insider tips, and everything first-time buyers need to know.

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Personal
September 2025

From Silicon Valley to Real Estate: My Unconventional Journey

How my background in tech entrepreneurship, 23 patents, and Salesforce leadership uniquely positions me to serve San Francisco's tech elite in luxury real estate.

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Market Insights
August 2025

San Francisco Luxury Market Trends: What Tech Founders Need to Know

Data-driven analysis of SF's luxury real estate market, including emerging neighborhoods and investment opportunities for high-net-worth tech professionals.

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Education
August 2025

The Tech Professional's Guide to Luxury Home Buying in SF

Essential tips for navigating San Francisco's competitive luxury market, from pre-approval strategies to negotiation tactics that work for busy executives.

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Lifestyle
July 2025

Burning Man to Boardrooms: How Creativity Shapes My Real Estate Approach

Insights on how participating in creative communities like Burning Man brings a unique perspective to serving discerning clients in luxury real estate.

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Analysis
July 2025

Investment Strategies for Tech Wealth: Real Estate as a Portfolio Diversifier

How successful tech entrepreneurs and VCs are using San Francisco luxury real estate to diversify their portfolios and hedge against market volatility.

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Behind the Scenes
June 2025

The Nolan Group Advantage: Why Team Matters in Luxury Real Estate

An inside look at how The Nolan Group at Vanguard Properties achieves over $100M in annual sales and what it means for our clients.

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Let's Connect

Get in Touch

(415) 517-7071
davidrayre@gmail.com
San Francisco, CA
The Nolan Group at Vanguard Properties