About David
Real estate, learned from every angle.
David Celaya is a San Diego native and licensed REALTOR® with Compass, serving buyers, sellers, and investors across San Diego and Southern California. What sets him apart isn't just local knowledge — it's nearly two decades spent learning real estate from every possible angle.
Track record
- 2007Licensed in California real estate
- 14 yrsNational franchise leadership
- $14.3BAnnual sales volume of the franchise he helped lead
- 2021RISMedia Real Estate Newsmaker
Nearly two decades, every angle of the business
David has been licensed in California real estate since 2007. From 2007 to 2010 he worked as an active agent and loan originator in San Diego, before transitioning to a national leadership role in real estate franchise development and training. Over a 14-year tenure he rose from Director of Training & Product Development to Vice President of a top-20 U.S. real estate franchise, helping support and grow an organization responsible for over $14.3 billion in annual sales volume across hundreds of offices in the United States, Canada, and internationally. He has trained the trainers and built the programs that teach agents how to negotiate, market properties, leverage technology, and serve clients at the highest level. David returned to full-time residential sales in January 2026 and is actively building his transaction record in San Diego County.
Home is San Diego
David was born and raised in San Diego and launched his real estate career here in 2007. His kids attend the same schools he did. This isn't a market he relocated to or discovered — it's the community he has always called home. That connection informs everything: how he reads a neighborhood, how he talks to clients, and why he takes every transaction personally. When David says he knows East County and South San Diego, he means it the way only someone who grew up there can.
Awards & recognition
RISMedia 2021 Real Estate Newsmaker — Achiever
A national honor recognizing thought leaders and contributors to the housing industry. Nominated by RISMedia readers and editors, David was one of only a handful of leaders from his organization honored nationally that year.
Vice President, Top-20 U.S. Real Estate Franchise
Over a 14-year tenure in national real estate leadership, David helped guide an international franchise organization ranked among the top systems in the country — $14.3 billion in annual sales volume, with offices across the U.S., Canada, and beyond.
National industry press
David has been quoted and featured in national real estate publications including RISMedia and RealTrends as a thought leader on agent technology, digital marketing strategy, and professional development.
Specializations
- Buyer representation
- Seller representation
- First-time homebuyer representation
- Investors & investment property
- Commercial sales & leasing
- Relocation
- VA loans
- 1031 exchanges
- Probate & trust sales
- Home financing strategy
- Seller digital marketing
- Spanish-language service
Credentials & memberships
- California DRE #01817176
- Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR)
- California Association of Realtors (CAR)
- National Association of Realtors (NAR)
- Compass · Lyle & Grace Team
The easiest way to reach me? Just call.
Whether you're buying your first home, selling one you've owned for years, or exploring an investment — pick up the phone. I answer personally, seven days a week.