The Joy is in the Journey

From international club DJ to real estate agent, Roger Drakes has walked the path to success.

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Like many dream chasers before him, Roger Drakes arrived in Los Angeles in 2007 from Britain full of raw energy and enthusiasm—ready to embark on this new chapter in his life. Until that point, Roger (as DJ Dodge) lived the dream for 20+ years producing music in the United Kingdom for hundreds of artists—some of whom enjoyed certified gold records and chart success. This detail-oriented, creative career stuck in his DNA and would later find its way into his real estate business.

After all those years creating music, Roger never thought he would do anything else. However, out of financial necessity he found himself in 2010 at a foreclosure auction in Pomona, live-bidding on distressed properties that were being sold cheaply by banks to the highest cash bidders. The energy and adrenaline of that environment excited him greatly. What followed was a five-year stint as a buyer for one of California’s largest purchasers of distressed properties.

This was Roger’s introduction to the real estate market in the United States, where he gained valuable knowledge about homes, ownership rights and financing. By 2014 he was a licensed agent at Keller Williams—soaking up every aspect of selling homes.

Today he is a broker associate with the mighty Sotheby’s International Realty and a (south-of-the-Boulevard) Sherman Oaks resident. With over 10 years of home-selling experience and a genuine love for the process, Roger is always available to help his clients make the right decision and reach their real estate goals. From the first thought to the closing day, he likes to be immersed in every detail of his work—focused on the ideal outcome for those who use his services.

Based on personal experience, he understands the needs of his clients from a whole-family perspective. He is a husband and father of two young children, so he understands the many ways a home should function to serve its occupants best—especially for growing families. He brings a keen awareness of the importance of neighborhoods and schools.

Roger’s wife, Natalia, is also an expat from Britain and also works in the service industry—placing nannies and general household staff with some of the world’s most celebrated individuals. In 2021 Roger and Natalia realized their personal goal of buying a home with a pool in Sherman Oaks. In true investor fashion, they snagged the cheapest one on their street with a clear vision of what the home could be. Two years later they are still remodeling—attempting to renovate the home without additional borrowing.

This savvy financial approach is something Roger takes very seriously. “The dream of homeownership can quickly become a nightmare if your numbers don’t work,” he explains. Now as an owner and landlord of three homes in the Valley, Roger sees himself as perfectly positioned to guide buyers and sellers when they make this monumental step in life.

Sotheby’s International Realty is a brand synonymous with quality and luxury throughout the world. It’s a place where those with the finest taste look first when home-hunting. It’s where superior presentation is a minimum expectation and exceeding the goal is usually the outcome. Roger’s good energy and experience combined with this tailored approach to luxury marketing result in what you would expect from a brokerage with 279 years of global heritage and history.

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