myCSUSM
Michael Winter
Michael Winter is a real estate broker, educator, and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building systems and guiding professionals in residential real estate. He is the Broker/Owner of 1st Class Real Estate SD|North and currently serves as Area Director for BNI San Diego, where he leads the launch of new business networking chapters across the region.
Michael has founded and led multiple ventures in the real estate sector, including Hillside Properties, WinRidge, Inc. (mortgage and financial services), and Palomar Property Management, a residential property management firm he co-founded and later sold in 2016. His current focus is building a brokerage that supports thoughtful, relationship-driven agents who value long-term reputation over transactional volume.
Beyond real estate, Michael serves on the Board of Directors for the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, where he co-created and facilitates the Chamber's Leadership Development Program in partnership with CSUSM's College of Business Administration. He is also a member of the San Diego Mountain Rescue Team, where he contributes both operationally and organizationally.
At CSUSM, Michael has served as an Executive-in-Residence coach and currently teaches BUS 203 (Business Communication). His teaching emphasizes clarity, professional judgment, and the ethical dimensions of business decision-making — principles he has refined over decades of practice in high-stakes, relationship-driven environments.
Michael and his wife have five adult children, several of whom work in public service and education in North County San Diego. Born and raised in Escondido, Michael has lived in San Marcos since 1995 — continuing a family presence in North County that spans multiple generations.