Houston Real Estate Star Believes in The Heights’ Staying Power, Old Neighborhoods’ Rebirth and Getting Involved in Schools

This article is part of a promoted series and not produced by the editorial staff.

Houston’s real estate market helps drive the city — and the realtors leading the way are true impact makers. In this new regular series, we profile some of the Bayou City’s most interesting realtors.

Today, we get to know Holley Madden of Compass.

Number of years in real estate business: 20.

Area of expertise. Making sure every one of my clients gets the best chance of closing a deal successfully and happily. Whether they are buyers or sellers, I make sure they walk away happy and feel that they have found the right home for their family at a good market value

A favorite listing. My favorite listing that I have ever sold is 9 Gage Court in Houston.

Hottest up-and-coming neighborhood in Houston. I think it’s still The Heights.

Best location for purchasing a second home or vacation home. Austin Hill Country on the water, or in the Colorado mountains near or in a resort area. There are great rental markets in both of those areas, and they both provide a great way of life.

Best advice for buying a home. Location, location, location.

Best advice for selling a home. Clean out your home, freshen it up, and stage it.

A real-estate trend you’re currently excited about. I’m excited to see how so many of the old neighborhoods have rebuilt after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. A lot of beautiful neighborhoods have been forced to renovate — and even though a lot of hardship has been entailed through these things, it has produced many beautiful rebirths.

Predictions for where the market is headed. The market is headed for a steady, consistent year. Houston is a great place to invest in real estate. Buyers coming from other areas of our world feel we have great values here — and I believe this is one of the things that will keep our market ticking throughout 2019.

The No. 1 thing all homebuyers should know. Use a real estate agent that has the experience and knowledge needed for a successful transaction. Find an agent that has a history of success in our market and has a great referral basis. This will assure you a less stressful transaction.

I am a firm believer that all things in real estate happen for a reason. You will end up in the home you are meant to live in.

The zip code/neighborhood you call home. 77042.

The most-used room in your house. The kitchen.

How to make a house a home. By choosing to decorate it with things that have memories and provide comfort to you.

Your dream house, if cost is no object. My dream home is in Crested Butte, Colorado. It’s a small town with so much charm, a little out of the way of other ski resorts. There is something about Crested Butte that blends the tourist attractions in with the real-life living feel and makes it feel like one of those perfect places to live.

Community involvement/philanthropic affiliations. My involvement has a lot to do with the schools my five children attend. They all attend private schools that we have chosen for important reasons. My husband and I love to help these schools to grow and develop.

We have become intimately involved in supporting the schools and the people who work there. These schools take and deserve a lot of our time, talent and treasure.

Your home away from home. Lake Travis.

What you love most about living in Houston. It’s my home. Yes, it has grown before my eyes and continues to grow and change, but it is still where I grew up and became the person I am today. There are memories on every corner and area of town. Houston is a part of me.

Describe the perfect day. To wake up with my family, have breakfast together, enjoy doing something outdoors, and end the day with a nice dinner with my husband.

Items currently on your coffee table. Coffee table books, flowers and a rosary.

Houston restaurant you couldn’t live without. Mandola’s Deli. My husband’s uncle has run this family-owned restaurant in the East End for over 40 years. The walls are lined with family pictures and memorabilia. It really has the best food in town. The whole family loves Mandola’s Deli. It is always something we can agree on, and that is quite a feat.

Most-shopped store in Houston. Nordstrom. It has all the things I need and like in one place for myself and for my family.

If you weren’t in your current profession what you would be doing. I would probably be doing a thousand different things at the schools my kids go to and the church where we belong. I am a multitasker, and I love to help organize and make everyone feel at home.

Secret skill. Getting people to live life to the fullest. My husband tells me that I have that effect on people, so I guess that might be it.

Guilty pleasure. I would say my guilty pleasure is going to the spa with my close friends in the middle of the week. I don’t get the chance to do that very often, but when the chance arrives, it’s hard to pass up.

Realtor 411

Holley Madden

832.419.1626,

holley.madden@compass.com