Barnard Group  ·  San Jose, CA

Are you the right fit for our team?

We're not looking for everyone. We're looking for the right one.

Before you go any further

You need to have an active California real estate license, or have already passed your exam and be waiting on your license to issue. If neither of those applies to you right now, this isn't the right time. Bookmark this page, come back when you're licensed, and we'll be here.

Who we are

Kip and Tam Barnard have been building their real estate business in San Jose and the surrounding communities for over 35 years combined. We're not a large team. We're not a lead generation machine. We're a small, intentional operation built on relationships, reputation, and radical honesty.

Kip spent years not just selling real estate but leading it. As a former Compass office manager overseeing more than a billion dollars in sales volume, he coached and mentored dozens of agents. He served on the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors Board of Directors and sat on the Ethics Committee for a decade. That same standard of professionalism and accountability applies to everyone on this team.

We've also built a legitimate media presence: a growing YouTube channel, active social media, and a content strategy that positions our brand as a trusted local authority. If you join this team, you plug into that infrastructure from day one.

What we're not

We don't buy Zillow leads. We don't purchase online lead packages. And we don't pass them out to team members. That's a deliberate choice.

Agents who rely on purchased leads never fully develop the skills to build a sustainable business. They get comfortable waiting for the phone to ring instead of learning how to make it ring themselves.

What we've built over 35 years is a business rooted in relationships, reputation, and community. We figured out what works and what doesn't, sometimes the hard way. What we want to pass on to the right person isn't a lead sheet. It's a blueprint.

If you're looking for a team to hand you business, we're probably not your people. If you're looking for a team that will invest in helping you build something that's actually yours, keep going.

What we offer

Mentorship from agents with 35+ years of combined experience
Coaching rooted in real transaction experience, not theory
Access to Compass tools, technology, and programs
A content and marketing infrastructure already in place
Help identifying where you can maximize your potential
A team culture built on honesty, accountability, and growth

One more thing

If you're newer to the business or don't yet have a consistent transaction history, we're going to ask you to participate in the Compass Masters program. It meets weekly, there's a small cost involved, and participation isn't optional. We've seen what it does for agents who are serious about growing, and we believe in it enough to make it a condition of joining the team.

If that's not a commitment you're ready to make right now, that's okay. But this probably isn't the right fit.

Still here? Good. That means you're serious. So are we.
Take a few minutes and answer honestly. We'll take it from there.

Question 1 of 11

Someone corrects you in front of a group and they're right. Your reaction?

Question 2 of 11

What does your real estate career look like right now?

Question 3 of 11

Where do you want your production to be in three years?

Question 4 of 11

When the market slows down and your pipeline dries up, what do you do with the extra time?

Question 5 of 11

Quick one. When you're done with your cart at the grocery store, what do you do with it?

Question 6 of 11

What do your closest friends give you a hard time about?

Question 7 of 11

When it comes to technology and new tools, be honest...

Question 8 of 11

Why did you get into real estate?

Question 9 of 11

What are you looking for in a team?

Question 10 of 11

How do you feel about your current skill level as an agent?

Question 11 of 11

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Thank you for your time

We don't think we're the right fit.

There's nothing wrong with you. We have a very specific team culture and a particular kind of agent in mind. Based on your answers, we don't think the match is there right now.

We genuinely wish you all the best in your real estate career. The right team for you is out there.

You made it

We think we might be a good fit.

Your answers tell us you're the kind of person we built this team for. Ambitious, principled, and ready to do the work.

The next step is simple. Send us an email, introduce yourself, and tell us a little about where you are in your career and where you want to go. We'll take it from there.

Apply to Join