HOUSTON – (By Michelle Leigh Smith for Realty News Report) – Nancy Almadovar, CEO of Houston-based Nan and Company Properties, and her team will host more than 200 top brokers from Christie’s International Real Estate at an invitation-only reception Monday night. The gathering, held at one of Nan and Company’s multi-million-dollar listings in Hunters Creek, is designed to introduce international guests to a new level of Southern hospitality and highlight Houston’s cultural and real estate strengths.
The visitors are in Houston for a three-day Luxury Specialist Conference at The Post Oak Hotel. These agents were selected from across the Christie’s International Real Estate network and represent the upper echelon of residential brokerage. Christie’s listings range from historic estates and sprawling countryside properties to urban pied-à-terre on Billionaire’s Row. The conference aims to broaden attendees’ knowledge of luxury real estate and related asset classes so they can better serve discerning clients.
International participants will travel from countries including Argentina, the Netherlands, Portugal and Taiwan, while domestic attendees come from markets such as Colorado, New York and Miami.
“Most guests will arrive Monday, but the buzz has been building for weeks,” Almadovar said. “Our Nan family is eager to welcome everyone to Houston and showcase everything our city has to offer — its culture, art, cuisine, and, of course, exceptional real estate.”
Nan & Company was chosen as the local host in recognition of its strong performance and creative use of Christie’s global platform to benefit clients buying and selling luxury properties. The invite-only conference, open only to members of the Christie’s International Real Estate global network, delivers up-to-date insights on an evolving luxury market. Attendees will hear from Christie’s International Real Estate executives, including CEO Dan Conn, and leading residential brokers who will share best practices and strategies. In addition, Christie’s specialists and luxury partners present deeper perspectives on categories such as jewelry, watches, wine and interior design.
Upon completion of the program, participants receive the “Christie’s International Real Estate Luxury Specialist” designation from Christie’s Education. This credential recognizes agents who demonstrate a commitment to exceptional client service by continuously expanding their expertise in the luxury sector.
Natalie Hamrick of Christie’s International Real Estate described the conference as “a master’s program for agents working at the luxury end of residential real estate.” She added that Houston, as one of the nation’s wealthiest and most culturally vibrant cities, provides an ideal setting and that Nan & Company will be an exemplary host, showcasing the city while contributing their brokerage’s luxury and real estate expertise.
Christie’s operates offices in major global markets, including London, New York City, Hong Kong, Moscow, Los Angeles, Chicago and Palm Beach. Its affiliated brokerages have recorded approximately $500 billion in real estate transactions over the past five years (data as of September 30, 2019).
Almadovar has worked in residential real estate for more than a decade. Recognizing a gap in the market for a dedicated luxury service, she set out to create a company that could serve as a single, trusted resource for foreign nationals and other clients unfamiliar with the U.S. home-buying process.
Her interest in real estate began under the influence of her father, José Arreguín, whose relationship-driven approach to business left a lasting impression. “My dad used to flip houses and I was his Realtor,” Almadovar said. “It helped pay for college and he was my first client. That experience showed me a future in real estate.”
After several years working for another firm, she launched Nan & Company in 2014 from her kitchen table with her husband and a close friend. The company has since grown to 72 agents.
Almadovar plans to open a second office in 2020 at 725 Yale in The Heights. She cited the neighborhood’s location, investment potential and current market momentum as reasons for the expansion. The new office will add roughly 7,000 square feet to the firm’s footprint.
Asked about the Houston market for 2020, Almadovar noted steady growth since becoming Christie’s International Real Estate’s Houston affiliate in 2017. “Our sales have doubled year over year,” she said. “This year we’re on track for $250 million in sales and we’re optimistic about 2020.”
Almadovar is a graduate of the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business.
Nov. 11, 2019 Realty News Report Copyright 2019
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