Born and raised in Claremont, Paul grew up in real estate. His father Art Steffen and his partner Roger Wheeler founded Wheeler Steffen Real Estate in 1960. Paul returned to Claremont in 1988 to operate the Property Management company. As his father's health declined, Paul began helping with the real estate business. In 2004 Paul purchased both businesses from his father. In 2013 Wheeler Steffen entered into a franchise agreement with Sotheby's International Realty and has enjoyed the growth resulting from the extraordinary quality of the marketing systems offered by the Sotheby's International Realty brand. Wheeler Steffen Sotheby's International Realty now has offices in Claremont, Big Bear Lake Village, and Blue Jay Village.