If you have lived in the Memorial area, then you’ve probably noticed the many “face-lift” projects, homes for sale (that don’t stay on the market long) and the many new businesses popping up monthly. This is because Memorial is a “HOT” market! Being part of such a fun, rapidly growing community is one of the best things about Memorial. We’re excited to see what the future has in store and how we can share it with our community.
In this feature we will introduce you to some local rockstar realtors. These professionals have a lot of experience serving the Memorial, Hedwig Village, Piney Point, Spring Branch, Spring Valley and Energy Corridor areas. They are a wealth of knowledge and bring you a few tips on buying/selling, hot market trends and so much more!
Alex Loyd
Alex Loyd is a native Houstonian and was inspired at an early age to go into sales. At 15, she would wake at 5 am three days a week and walk to work at a local bagel shop in Highland Village. Throughout the years, she worked for many retail companies. After attending college, she packed her bags for LA to work in a designer showroom for two years. Lucinda Showroom carried 15 clothing lines and sold to over 400 stores all over the country. Alex says, “It was one of the most exciting times of my life. I was finally on my own, in a new city, managing hunderds of accounts and I was traveling around the country quite a bit.”
Missing family and friends, Alex moved home to Houston. She wanted to stay in sales, but she was tired of the retail life. Alex remembers, “I was at my house talking with some friends and one said to me, ‘You should get into real estate. You would love it!’” That was it for Alex. At 26 she took real estate classes passed the exam, and the rest was history! She has loved her decision ever since. Alex takes the most pride in the relationships she has with her clients. “They can always reach out to me, even after the transaction is over. I am always here for questions, recommendations, or just to talk. I am not an agent who looks at a client as just another transaction.” When I asked her what sets her apart from others, she said, “My goal is to go above and beyond. I give advice on paint colors, staging, and decluttering. I love helping with the preparation of a home for the market. getting a home prepared for the market. I have not shied away from cleaning the occasional window and planting flowers. I have also been known to bring my own personal furniture over for staging, much to my husband’s dismay!”
Alexandra and her husband, Casey have been married for more than 10 years and have two beautiful daughters, Emerson (9) and Abby (7). Their pets include: their dog Murphy, Marley, their cat, M&M and Thor, their two lionhead bunnies, their two hermit crabs, Shelly and Sandy.
For fun, Alex loves to exercise and play tennis to rejuvenate from her very hectic schedule. She plays on the ROCC n Rollers team on the Memorial Tennis League, where she is co-captain, they placed first this past year. She also loves to explore the new restaurants and businesses we have here in Memorial as it has grown so much over the years.
Alex is grateful for her journey so far and knows it’s based on a foundation that was established in her youth. “My parents, from an early age instilled in me that it’s important to work, to be independent, and not to rely on others for help. I was an Olympic hopeful for the 1996 gymnastics team, training under Bela Karolyi. During my 10 years of gymnastics, I was taught discipline, especially punctuality.”
Clayton Katz
Clayton Katz is diligent, hardworking and well-versed in the latest trends in the market and in technology. That Approach earned him over $38 million in closed transactions in 2018 and has led to numerous accolades, including being names Houston Business Journal’s 2019 top luxury real estate agent and consistent Five-Star Broker ratings from Texas Monthly. Throughout his 10 years in business, however, his greatest achievement has been his clients’ complete satisfaction and his strong repeat and referral business.
Holley Madden
Holley Madden, a Houston native with 22 year’s real estate experience delivers a wealth of know-how and a healthy dose of passion to every transaction. After people meet Holley, they see firsthand her confidence and great selling abilities. They quickly know she is the individual they want representing them. Her consistent and natural principles of honestly and never-ending pursuit to learn more drive her business forward. She truly thrives on meeting new people and helping them find their place in the community. Sellers can count on her ability to price homes correctly and present them beautifully. Her clients repeatedly commend her positive attitude, and Holley firmly believes in making the process of buying or selling a home as successful, joyful and stress-free as possible.
How long have you been an agent, and why did you chose this career path? I have been a realtor since 1999…..22 years! I love real estate because every deal is different. I like to make each deal a happy experience for each client. I know that buying and selling can be very stressful and I am there for my clients to help alleviate that in each transaction. Selling homes is my passion and hopefully that comes through to each person with whom I do business.
What are some good tips that you could share with someone looking for a new home? I would of course advise you to find a good, knowledgeable, accessible realtor, that you personally can connect with and you feel gets and can meet your needs. This is a fast moving market and it is imperative that you find someone who can stay on top of things and help you find something that meets most of your needs and wants
Is the market good for home sellers or home buyers at this time? Right now I am seeing a seller’s market on homes that are in good locations AND priced correctly. We are seeing low inventory and that will produce a seller’s market.
What are some of YOUR favorite spots around Memorial? I love to shop at Frock Shop and Robert’s China! I love to have lunch on the patio at Dish Society. For dinner, I like Jonathon’s the Rub! Oh and Tres Market is good for a quick take out!
What is one of the HOTTEST markets in your territory? The hottest market in the Memorial area right now is anything in the Villages under 2m, Nottingham Forest, and just outside of the Memorial area…..Briargrove Park and Walnut Bend!
How many homes do you sell on an average year? I sell around 40 homes a year!
Kim Zander
Kim Zander and her husband, Chris, have lived in the Memorial West area for nearly 2 decades. They, along with their son and twin daughters (and Labrador Retriever) have been active in SBISD for 16 years. With 100+ transactions, Kim is a consistent and seasoned top producer with the Perdomo Group at Compass RE, Texas.
How long have you been a Realtor, and why did you choose this career path? I’ve been in a sales role my entire adult life and in 2012, after I took several years away from the workplace to stay home with my 3 babies, I decided to go to real estate school and become licensed. My goal was to carve a path where I could truly love my career; sales is familiar but I wanted more of a human aspect to it. For me, it’s not about the “product” but about the people. That’s what motivates me to keep going and loving what I “get” to do every day.
What are some good tips you could share with someone looking for a new home? Hands down, number one recommendation is engage the help of a real estate professional, one you trust and is familiar with the areas in which you’re interested. This person will be your go-to for every question during your search and even AFTER closing. In the end, this single most important decision can help save you loads of money, time and a lot of heartache.
Is the market good for home sellers or home buyers at this time? As I’m answering this, inventory is very low. There are a lot of buyers waiting for properties to come on the market and not willing to list until they find something. It’s sort of a gridlock but by spring I expect it to shake out ok for both sides.
What are some of YOUR favorite spots around Memorial? My husband and I love to dine at Urban Kitchen, White Elm, Guadalajara, Ciro’s and Bacaro. I’m a huge PepperLou fan for inspiration & gifts and love Anything Bling for fun clothes. I’m all about supporting small and local and these businesses personify excellent customer service and the owners/employees are wonderful people from the neighborhood. They’re why Memorial feels like a small town in a big city.
Marie Dupre
For as long as she can remember, real estate has been a part of Marie Dupres’ life. As granddaughter of a reputable builder, Marie grew up exploring construction sites by day, and trading market insights around the dinner table by night. After graduating from college, Marie started buying investment properties, a move that reinforced her first-hand knowledge of the intricate buying and selling process. It didn’t take long for word of Marie’s prowess to spread amongst friends, who would seek out her advice as they began to navigate any and all real estate adventures of their own. For Marie, the habit stuck. She officially got her license in 2008, and hasn’t looked back since.
How did you get into real estate? For as long as I can remember, real estate has been a big part of my life. One of my first memories is wanting to be just like my grandfather, a successful Canadian builder. As his only grandchild, a lot of our time spent together, besides watching wrestling and eating ice cream, was spent visiting construction sites. This sparked an interest in me that turned into a lifelong passion. I have been an investor,developer and landlord for the past 20+ years. Finally in 2008, I got my real estate license and haven’t looked back since!
What are some of your approaches to helping someone buy or sell? I guide each client with compassion, active communication and arm them with the information they need to make the right decision for their circumstances. I am known to be proactive and resourceful and have a deep knowledge base for finding solutions to even the toughest roadblocks during negotiations . I leverage my creative instincts and design skills to position every listing in its best light, and educate my clients on the intricacies of their transaction. I also hold particular expertise in navigating new builds by helping clients find a lot, connecting them with a reputable builder and acting as a liaison during the build process.
What do you think drives your excellent client reviews? I treat every client the way I would want to be treated. Real estate transactions are both financial and emotional decisions and I counsel my clients on the best options for their family. I truly listen to my client’s needs and strive to be a facilitator, getting things done and moving past problems quickly. I am authentic, reliable and experienced. I go above and beyond to deliver a premium experience to every client.
Why should someone use a licensed realtor like yourself, as opposed to a discount brokerage or FSBO? An experienced realtor saves you time, stress and money by expertly navigating the complex process of selling. We provide expert guidance in all aspects of the sale( negotiation, inspections, qualifying buyers, marketing ) while reducing your exposure to risks.Discount brokerages offer minimal support, and for a highly complex transaction this can never be in your best interest.
Melanie White
Melanie White was born and raised in Houston, she grew up in Memorial and is raising her family here. In addition to being a consistent top producer listing and selling homes, she is also highly experienced in interior design, remodeling, flipping, staging and the mortgage business.
How long have you been a realtor agent, and why did you chose this career path? 20 years- I realized I have a passion for buying and selling homes as well as design and remodeling which come in handy when trying to help people make one of the biggest decisions of their life.
What are some good tips that you could share with someone looking for a new home? Put your best foot forward. Be creative on how to beat out other potential offers. Find a community that fits your needs. Find a specialized agent who knows the area well and maintains good relationships with other agents and the community and who may also be aware of homes coming on the market.
Is the market good for home sellers or home buyers at this time: It’s a seller’s market 100%
What are some of your favorite spots around Memorial: Lupe Tortilla, City Centre, La Hacienda, Terry Hershey Park, Katy Woods Boot Camp in Nottingham Forest and athletic events (Tully Stadium, SBMSA, Albion)
What is one of the hottest markets in your territory: Memorial West – 77079
How many homes do you sell in an average year: $21 million – 35 transactions in 2020
Shelly Porter
As a native Houstonian, Shelly Porter has lived in several different neighborhoods but chose Memorial when it came to raising her own family. She loves that Memorial Drive retains the feeling of a pleasant country road dotted with beautiful homes and mature trees. Memorial offers a laid-back, relaxed lifestyle with great shopping, restaurants and excellent schools, making it a number one choice for families. It’s also the home of “The Villages” which offers a unique form of amenities with its own city halls, police and fire departments. Shelly is a marketing specialist focusing on luxury real estate and enjoys serving families in Memorial with her expertise and exceptional service.
What are some good tips that you could share with someone looking for a new home? I would recommend that buyers make a thoughtful list of their needs. So much has changed since Covid. The current trends that buyers are looking for is Zoom rooms, guest suites for grandparents, gourmet kitchens, a backyard oasis, smart/safe technology and health/wellness at home. I also highly recommend that you are pre-approved. Because we are experiencing multiple offers in many cases, it’s important to be prepared so you can act quickly.
Is the market good for home sellers or home buyers at this time? Honestly, the market is great for both buyers and sellers! With low interest rates, buyers are in a great position to purchase. For sellers, it’s particularly good as homes are in demand more than ever. Because of Covid, homeowners are really assessing how their home fits their lifestyle.
What are some good tips for sellers looking to list their home? For sellers, it’s important that your home look well maintained, de-cluttered, and has a fresh, neutral palette. Staging is also important, whether its staging with your own furniture and décor or total staging. There are so many things that can be done to put your house at the top of the list. Having a good realtor to help you prepare your home and advise you on pricing is so important and will most likely result in your home selling quickly and for more money.
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