S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

• Tweet

• Tweet

George Jonilonis was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 14, 1934. He is the eldest of two sons. His father, Antone, was of Lithuanian decent and worked as a printer. While a young girl, his mother, Catherine, immigrated to the United States from Hungary with her parents and four siblings. Antone and Catherine met in Chicago and were married in September 1933.

At an early age it was obvious that George was bound for success. He graduated from Lane Technical High School in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois.

George joined the U.S. Air Force in 1952, completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and electronic training at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. He was promoted numerous times in the Service, achieving the rank of Airman, First Class. After assignments in the Arctic regions of Canada and two years of duty in Europe, George was discharged in 1956. Returning to Chicago, George enrolled in Devry Technical Institute and was awarded an Associate of Science degree in Electronic Technology and Design in 1959.

In 1960, George moved West to accept a job offer “too good to refuse” in San Diego, taking a position as an engineering technical writer for General Dynamics Corporation for their ATLAS Missile and CENTAUR Moon Probe programs. His brother, a computer guru, followed him to San Diego for a position with IBM. When IBM wanted to transfer him from San Diego, his brother opted to remain there. Their parents followed them shortly thereafter. It seems that the Jonilonis family has staked out their spot of paradise in Southern California.

At General Dynamics, George’s ingenuity, quick wit and superb command of the English language were immediately challenged in his job as he successfully described to NASA, in excruciating detail, the effort being performed to justify their fees. However, George’s “free spirit” could not be satisfied in the corporate environment. As a stress reliever, he read Nickerson’s book, “How I Turned A $1,000 into $1 Million in Real Estate in My Spare Time.” He started buying real estate in San Diego in 1960 with his own $1000 cash investment.

“I DIDN’T KNOW ANY BETTER, SO I THOUGHT I’D TRY TO DO THAT BY OWNING ONE HUNDRED UNITS BY AGE FORTY (I WAS THEN TWENTY-SIX). I BEAT MY GOAL BY THREE YEARS. I LEARNED BY DOING SO THAT I KNEW MORE ABOUT REAL ESTATE THAN MOST PEOPLE IN THE BIZ, SO I THOUGHT I’D CHANGE JOBS. FORTY-TWO YEARS LATER I’M STILL AT IT, AND LOVE EVERY DAY AND EVERY TRANSACTION.”

His life goal to own one hundred units was certainly exceeded, and over the years he has owned and managed hundreds of units, office buildings and shopping centers.

George studied for, was licensed and became a Realtor in 1967, and with a partner founded PYRAMID Real Estate Company, a firm that grew to over twenty-five Associates specializing in investment and commercial properties and property management. In 1979, he sold PYRAMID and now serves as a Consultant, Exchange and Investment Broker and Real Estate Problem Solver. He has numerous clients throughout the country. He is also a qualified expert witness, and has taught real estate exchanging and taxation at the University of California at San Diego and at seminars throughout the country.

George holds membership in the following professional real estate associations:

• National Association of Realtors
• California Association of Realtors
• San Diego Association of Realtors
• Society of Exchange Counselors
• National Council of Exchangers

George has served in many demanding and important leadership positions including:

• Member, Board of Directors, National Association of Realtors
• Honorary Director For Life , California Association of Realtors
• Regional Vice President, California Association of Realtors
• Member, Board of Directors, San Diego Association of Realtors
• President, San Diego Association of Realtors (1978)
• Chairman, California Association of Realtors, Investment Division

George is particularly well known for his “Green Sheet,” which is always offered as a source of investment opportunities to Brokers and Investors alike. Clearly, he serves his clients’ best interests in his professional practice.

George and his wife, Mary, have two adult sons. One is a chef and the other is a ship’s captain.

Snow skiing was high among George and Mary’s recreational interests, but for the last few years they have also taken the opportunity to explore undersea wonders by diving along many shores and reefs around the world. Mary is a successful professional underwater photographer and writer of magazine articles on the subject.

George has returned a substantial gift of himself to his community through twenty years of voluntary support to the Boys & Girls Club of San Diego, and is a Past President of that organization.

George describes his real estate and business philosophy in clear, direct terms. “DO IT RIGHT AND YOU WILL BE AROUND FOR THE LONG HAUL. YOUR PAST CLIENTS WILL RETURN FREQUENTLY AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU REFERRALS.”

George counts among his “best” moments in real estate, the culmination, after four arduous years, of a major exchange of 30 condominiums in Acapulco, Mexico, for four lots in Palm Springs, California. Only perseverance and strong focus allowed a multitude of conflicting issues to be addressed and resolved in this multinational exchange. Throughout the process, George oversaw and solved numerous problems related to timing of the transactions, due diligence, and financial needs.

“THERE IS NOT ONE SIGNIFICANT EVENT MORE VALUABLE THAN THE OTHER,” he states as he describes his association and involvement with the Society of Exchange Counselors. “I LOVE THE TRAVEL TO NATIONWIDE MEETING VENUES, AND THE CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH ALL MEMBERS. THEY ARE A TRUE INSPIRATION, PROVIDING THOUGHTFUL INSIGHTS AND IDEAS. THEY CAN BE COUNTED ON TO MAKE ANY TRANSACTION SMOOTH AND PRODUCTIVE.”

George’s overall philosophy can be summed up in his three words, “ENJOY EVERY MINUTE.”