The San Diego State University (SDSU) Aztecs football team has called “Monty” Montezuma their mascot since 1944. That all changed in 2000 amid a cloud of controversy from student groups about the political correctness of the university’s depiction of Aztec culture.
When a group of alumni and fans stepped in, they formed the Aztec Warrior Foundation to revive the spirit of a warrior mascot to represent San Diego State.
“We came up unofficially in 2001 and then went to all the football/basketball parades, hosted some schools,” said Carlos Gutierrez, who served on and off as the SDSU mascot for 16 years. “We got the president to adopt it about a year and half later and then I became the official Aztec Warrior, due to student and alumni vote.”
Gutierrez retired last year and a new student has taken over the role.
“I taught him the ropes,” he said, adding, “and then I do real estate for the last two years down in the beach area and I do a lot of charity work with Challenged Athletes Foundation.”
As CEO and real estate consultant of Paradise Found Inc. (www.paradisefoundsd.com) under RE/MAX Coastal Properties, based at 4444 Mission Blvd. in Pacific Beach, Gutierrez will help you find your dream home.
“My dad was a cop for 27 years in San Diego, and he just bought little rentals here and there and held them, and I kind of started doing the same thing,” he said.
With a background in media, marketing and advertising for Clear Channel Communications and J-Corp. radio network, Gutierrez left radio and decided to focus on professional real estate.
“From there I started working at Prudential, and then I went to RE/MAX down at the beach because I live at the beach, and it’s an amazing place,” he said. “I’m very passionate about the beach area and the people that I work with and get a chance to work with and help invest and reinvest.”
The multimillion-dollar properties Gutierrez sells are primarily in Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla, but he also has investors looking into Point Loma, and a multi-unit space in North Park. He also owns a commercial building in Logan Heights with his father.
“It’s kind of the ‘hood, but it’s a cool area,” he said. “It’s up and coming and in Vegas as well; so wherever we can make things really happen.”
Paradise Found is a small referral-based business with experienced agents who will cater to your needs.
“I support the business program out of San Diego State so I have an intern working with me now as well,” Gutierrez said.
For those looking to invest, he suggests setting goals for what you want to achieve and enjoy everyday to the fullest.
“Get a good team of people to work with you, starting with a real estate consultant. Other than that you need a good financial advisor, and when you do that, you strategize and you build your small network around you,” Gutierrez said. “I like to consult with clients, I like to be low pressure, I want to make sure that they know what they’re doing and feel comfortable with what they’re doing.”
Overlooking the Mission Bay Yacht Club, Bahia Bell and the Catamaran Resort Hotel, 3343 Bayside Walk is the type of prime real estate Gutierrez sells.
“That’s a redwood house but it’s two units, an upstairs and a downstairs, and it’s totally Tommy Bahama,” he said. “It’s just totally tropical, and it’s probably one of the most unique bayside properties in all of Mission Beach.”
With a $1.75 million price tag, it’s not the most expensive property in the area, “but on the bayfront, it’s one of the most beautiful,” Gutierrez said.
For attorney Michael Angeloff, it was a vacation rental and second home for less than two years. It was exactly what he was looking for.
“It was the very first property that he (Gutierrez) showed us was the property we ended up buying, but only after a thorough market analysis,” Angeloff said. “Carlos has generally been right on the money, and his services are superlative.”