A Second Heart, A Renewed Purpose

A second chance at life arrived for me on October 10, 2025, when I received my second heart transplant nearly three decades after my first, an experience that profoundly shaped the way I serve my real estate clients today. Moments like this change the way you see the world. They deepen your gratitude, sharpen your priorities, and remind you how important it is to serve others well.

Recovery required patience, isolation, and rebuilding strength step by step. Today I feel stronger than ever, and I’m grateful to emerge this spring from that cocoon of recovery and return to helping clients navigate the coastal real estate market I’ve proudly called home for decades. Having worked in Laguna Beach real estate since the 1980s, I’ve had the privilege of watching our coastal community evolve while helping clients find their place within it.

Living with a donor’s heart brings a deep sense of purpose that shapes every part of my life, including the way I guide clients through one of the most meaningful decisions they will ever make. Buying or selling a home is never just a transaction. It is a personal milestone, and I’m honored to help people through that journey.

My life outside of real estate has shaped my perspective in meaningful ways. I became the first person in the world to climb several major mountains, including Mt. Kilimanjaro and El Capitan, with a transplanted heart, demonstrating that life after transplant can still be bold, adventurous, and full of possibility. I’m also the author of The Climb of My Life, co-founder of MovingHearts.org, and co-inventor of HydraCoach, all of which have had a global reach.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking to audiences around the world about resilience, purpose, and second chances. In 2017, I delivered a keynote in Johannesburg during the global celebration of the 50th anniversary of the world’s first heart transplant in South Africa.

After attending the University of Oregon then graduating from San Francisco State University, I began my career here in Orange County as one of California’s first certified real estate appraisers. Working with national lenders throughout the 1980s and 1990s gave me a deep understanding of property values and coastal market dynamics, insight that continues to benefit my clients today.

Clear communication, thoughtful strategy, and steady guidance remain the foundation of my work. My goal is always to create a process that feels transparent, informed, and stress-free.

Living with a second donor heart, my third heart in this lifetime, is a daily reminder that life is precious and that serving others with integrity truly matters.

If you’re considering a move along the coast, or would like to learn about off-market opportunities, I’d be honored to help guide you.

Kelly can be reached at 949.310.3754 and at kellyperkins@compass.com.
Kelly Perkins, REALTOR®
DRE# 01932146