Valerie Upham is a Certified Senior Advisor®, Podcast Host, and Top 1% REALTOR® in San Diego with Compass, known for guiding individuals and families through the emotional and practical realities of aging and home transitions. With more than 20 years of real estate experience, Valerie has sold over 350 homes and closed nearly $300 million in volume, earning recognition from Real Trends as one of the top 1% agents nationwide.

Rooted in her Midwestern values of hard work, integrity, and service, Valerie brings both expertise and compassion to the families she serves. She supports seniors and their families through major life transitions, including downsizing after decades of homeownership, trust and probate sales, and gray divorce. Valerie orchestrates the process by connecting clients with the right professionals, resources, and solutions at the right time, ensuring decisions feel informed, supported, and aligned.

Valerie is the host of The Unapologetic Caregiver podcast, where she and her guests explore the conversations families need to have around aging, caregiving, and end-of-life planning. She also leads highly regarded workshops such as Everything You Need to Know About Selling Your Home and Downsizing After Decades, providing practical guidance around real estate decisions. Through her Home-to-Home Roadmap sessions, Valerie offers creative ROI strategies that help older adults and their families move from emotional and financial uncertainty to confident, informed outcomes.

A recognized thought leader in the senior real estate space, Valerie is a trusted resource for families and professional advisors alike. She holds advanced credentials including Certified Senior Advisor® (CSA®), Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®), Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist, and Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert. Valerie collaborates closely with elder law attorneys, estate planners, fiduciaries, and senior service providers, and co-created the Exactly What to Say Roleplay Cards with Phil M. Jones—practical tools that help families approach sensitive aging and transition-related conversations with clarity and compassion. Known for bringing calm and structure to emotionally charged situations, Valerie helps people move forward with confidence and peace of mind.