As talk of tech and financial companies fleeing high tax states such as California and New York hit a fever pitch during the pandemic, the Houston market quickly became one of the go-to hubs for the influx of entrepreneurs and remote professionals alike who were moving to the state in search of more space, lower costs and less taxes. As a result, Houston home sales saw a remarkable rise of nearly 50% over the prior year as bidding wars over houses increasingly became the norm. With tech making real estate investing even more accessible to all, the boom is unlikely to end. Top Houston broker Nancy Almodovar is the advisor many are turning to when entering the market.
The brokerage firm leading the growth wave, Nan & Company Properties, is the largest local real estate firm in Houston, founded by the city’s top broker, Nancy Almodovar. Her reputation as a broker to the rich and famous with some of Houston’s most glamorous listings has made her a mini-celebrity in her own right, with more than 20,000 people following her on Instagram as she documents her lifestyle as the CEO of a top real estate company and a mom.
Grit Daily: How did you get started in real estate?
Nancy Almodovar: I got my start in real estate by watching my Dad flip houses when I was growing up. From there, my husband and I began flipping houses ourselves, and actually used the money we made from one of our first house flips to pay for our wedding!
Grit Daily: Today you’re the largest independent brokerage in the Greater Houston Area, having closed millions in deals – What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
Nancy Almodovar: Nan and Company Properties stands out because of how we market ourselves and our properties. I consider us a marketing company that happens to sell real estate, differentiating ourselves by staying a step ahead in marketing and technology.
Grit Daily: None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. How do you attribute the success of Nan?
Nancy Almodovar: I started out in real estate as an assistant for a top producing agent, which was invaluable. Being an assistant was and still is, in my opinion, the best way to dive headfirst into any industry, especially real estate. Breaking into a group of experienced professionals taught me so many lessons – surrounding yourself with successful, hard working people pushes you to grow and helps you level up.
Grit Daily: The housing market is on fire right now, are you working on any exciting new projects now?
Nancy Almodovar: We have a LOT of big and exciting projects going on right now, including the opening of three new offices, including locations in Sugar Land, Galveston and a new Houston headquarters, which my husband Jose is overseeing and promises will be ready by thanksgiving!
We are so excited to be able to reach a broader spectrum of people around the greater Houston area.
Grit Daily: What advice would you give to other female leaders to help their team to thrive?
Nancy Almodovar: I know it sounds cliche but don’t take no for an answer. Everyone told me not to start a company because it was too risky, and I believed I would bring something different and I did. If you want something bad enough you have to work for it and put it out in the universe. Over-prepare. You have to have thick skin.
