I am a San Diego REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker West who has lived, built and worked in the city's core neighborhoods for more than 30 years. I help buyers and sellers in Mission Hills, Hillcrest, North Park, South Park, University Heights and Golden Hill, as well as La Mesa and La Jolla, bringing a developer's eye for what a home could become and a listener's patience to every step of the sale.
- Accredited Buyer RepresentativeAdvanced buyer training from the National Association of REALTORS®
- Orchid Award, 2011San Diego Architectural Foundation, for Meshuggah Shack
- Small Business Owner of the Year, 2017Presented by State Senate President Toni Atkins
- Master’s in Architectural StudiesUniversity of Texas at Austin. LEED Certified.
Me
I grew up drawing imaginary towns in a West Texas sketchbook, and I have been building real pieces of San Diego ever since. I developed two contemporary homes on a canyon lot in Mission Hills and Cairo, a live/work building on Park Boulevard, and for ten years I pulled espresso at Meshuggah Shack, the coffee bar I made out of an old ATM hut.
Building taught me that most people can’t picture a house as anything other than what it is today. I can, and I bring that to every buyer and seller I work with, along with my full attention and a calm head when a negotiation gets tense.
My storyWhat I've built
Two canyon homes in Mission Hills, a live/work building on Park Boulevard, and the renovations I have guided since. See the before and after.
W. Lewis Street, Mission Hills
Two contemporary homes on a canyon lot.
Cairo, Park Boulevard
A 16-unit live/work building in Hillcrest.
Felton Street, North Park
A dowdy 1950s house turned sunset-worthy home.My Neighborhoods
I have lived, built or run a business in San Diego’s central neighborhoods for decades, and I work with buyers and sellers well beyond them. Each guide covers the history, the housing and what buyers should know, with live listings and market data.
Mission Hills
A historic streetcar suburb that catches some of the best ocean breezes in central San Diego.Hillcrest
The historic heart of San Diego’s LGBTQ community, with a Sunday farmers market and restaurants up and down University Avenue.North Park
A streetcar suburb beside Balboa Park, revived block by block.South Park
A small business district under a canopy of old trees, once part of Golden Hill.University Heights
Trolley-era history and a busy restaurant strip on Park Boulevard.Golden Hill
One of San Diego's oldest neighborhoods, on Balboa Park's eastern edge.La Mesa
A walkable downtown east of San Diego, with hillside ocean views.La Jolla
A coastal village of tide pools, research institutes and morning marine-layer fog.What Clients Say
We recommend John Bertsch with no hesitation. He is a very knowledgeable, experienced and professional realtor who, due to our circumstances, took on a lot of work to sell our property. Readily available to answer questions and always a pleasure to speak to. Thank you John.
Craig Guillou
John Bertsch was a tremendous help to ne in selling my home. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience that I relied on. He knew contractors to help me get the property ready for showing. John was very attentive and responsive, and so pleasant to communicate with. I would hire John Bertsch again and recommend him whole heartedly.
Margaret Day
I talk for a few minutes. You decide if you want to know more.
Let's chat!
Call or write with whatever you are considering: a first offer, a sale, or what an older house could become with the right work.