High-end happenings

Luxury real estate firm moves into Texas with stars of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing

The Million Dollar Listing star is headed to Texas.

Bravo TV

Three reality TV stars are coming to Texas as part of Douglas Elliman Real Estate’s expansion in the Lone Star State.

Douglas Elliman Real Estate, which already handles deals for high-end homes and condos in Houston, said April 15 that it has opened offices in Austin and Dallas. Douglas Elliman says Fredrik Eklund, John Gomes, and Julia Spillman of Bravo TV’s Million Dollar Listing — which airs New York City and Los Angeles editions — will work from the firm’s Houston, Austin, and Dallas offices. The trio most recently were based at the firm’s New York City location.

No word on where in Texas the Million Dollar Listing stars are setting down roots.

“I am proud to be entering Texas with the support of Douglas Elliman,” Eklund, co-founder of The Eklund | Gomes Team, says in a company news release. “Texas is the most exciting market in the country right now, with buyers from California, New York, and Florida relocating here. We are looking forward to making real estate history with our new colleagues.”

Aside from Texas and New York, The Eklund | Gomes Team maintains a presence in California, Florida, and New Jersey.

New York City-based Douglas Elliman’s new offices in Austin and Dallas join the Houston office, which opened in 2019.

“Austin’s luxury market is booming,” Jacob Sudhoff, CEO of Douglas Elliman’s Houston-based Texas division, says in the news release. “As the premier luxury brokerage and No. 1 seller of new development in the country, entering into the Austin market was a natural fit.”

Matthew Ditlow, formerly of DEN Property Group, leads the firm’s Austin office, at 500 W. Second St. The office is hiring agents in Austin, where it already has more than $1.3 billion in new condo projects in the pipeline.

Douglas Elliman also is adding agents in Dallas. There, the firm has about $1.1 billion in new condo projects in the pipeline.

“Dallas is the largest luxury real estate market in the state of Texas,” Sudhoff says. “As the premier luxury brokerage that sells the most expensive homes in the U.S., we have an amazing opportunity not to just raise the bar, but also do something different. Our technology advances, combined with our national footprint and international reach, [are] going to bring [an] unprecedented platform to Dallas like no other firm.”

Michael Reddell heads the firm’s new Dallas office, at 4514 Travis St. in Highland Park.

Later this year, Douglas Elliman plans to open a retail store at the Shops at Arrive in Houston’s River Oaks neighborhood that it says will be similar to an Apple store’s Genius Bar and a Starbucks coffeehouse.

Established in 1911, Douglas Elliman is the second largest independent residential real estate brokerage in the U.S. as measured by sales volume. Douglas Elliman, a subsidiary of Miami-based Vector Group Ltd., posted revenue of $774 million in 2020 on sales of $29.1 billion.

home-for-sale

Heights charm

Spacious Heights home with modern touches hits market for $1.9 million

TK Images for Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

1039 Harvard Street is a custom home in the center of the Heights. It's listed at $1.995 million.

In the heart of the Houston Heights is 1039 Harvard Street, a 4,300-plus-square-foot home that must be seen to be properly appreciated. It is listed by David Atkins of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty.

Photo by TK Images for Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

1039 Harvard Street is a custom home in the center of the Heights. It's listed at $1.995 million.

The home instantly fits within its surroundings, with spacious living areas and modern amenities that will appeal to many homebuyers. 1039 Harvard Street blends function with form, offering several gathering spaces, four oversized bedrooms, spa-like baths, and a stunning backyard pool.

The spacious master bedroom is a private oasis, with a framed separation prior to entering the sleeping area. It creates a space to enjoy morning coffee or a mid-day read while overlooking the pool. The Hunter Douglas Vignette Modern Roman shades add to the room’s calming feel. Its adjoining bathroom is like stepping into a spa, with a deep Jacuzzi tub that sits within an open shower area. Built-in dressers line the wardrobe closet, which offers plenty of storage space and a vanity.

An upstairs TV lounge is perfect for kids’ movie nights or an adult gathering. Meanwhile, a center corridor is lined with built-in bookshelves and a tech closet from which to run a modern home.The east-facing bedroom has a window seat for lounging, and its bathroom offers a frameless shower enclosure and quartz counters. The front bedroom has its own bath, and the two middle bedrooms have a shared, ensuite Hollywood bath. On the top floor, a game room offers another place for entertaining.

The home’s kitchen features a waterfall island as its centerpiece, complete with Asko dishwasher and deep sink. There’s a gas fireplace in the living room, and the open floor plan allows for plenty of space and natural light.

Outdoors at 1039 Harvard Street is just as impressive as the inside. Patios offer space for outdoor dining and entertaining, while the in-ground Platinum Pool is a great way to cool off in Houston’s heat.

Located in the center of the Heights, 1039 is close to Harvard Elementary School, as well as the neighborhood’s many amenities. This is truly a home that is move-in ready, and will make its owners want to stay a while.

home-for-sale the-heights