Top Real Estate Execs Share Thankfuls

With such a killer economy, Houston real estate pros have a lot to say grace over. We asked some of the industry’s top execs what they’ll be thankful for as they dig into turkey tomorrow. 

Boxer Property CEO Andrew Segal said he used to be thankful for high oil prices, but now he’s thankful Texas licensed Boxer to sell cars (“are we hedged yet?”). All joking aside, Andrew's glad he’s been absolutely wrong about imminent, massive inflation for seven years now. He’s also thankful Boxer got into the ski and golf resort business, because now his family (pictured) doesn’t complain when he works on vacations!

Cresa principal Steven Heal is thankful to still be in a growing market and working on deals that involve multinational clients, and that utilize the collaborative environment at Cresa. He’s also grateful for a well-made martini that makes him appreciate colleagues, friends and family just that little bit more. 

Stream Realty managing director Matteson Hamilton is thankful his team has been able to grow its industrial leasing and management portfolio by over 4M SF this year and that supply and demand fundamentals have stayed in check. He’s also so glad that his brother Thomas—pictured here with Matteson (not to spark sibling rivalry, but Thomas is the taller one)—is now back in Texas after six years out of state.

Colliers principal/director Chris Winters is most thankful for the opportunity to experience one of the most exciting real estate markets in the world. From the boom days of the '70s through the nightmare of ’08 and ’09, the lessons of Houston’s economic cycles have strongly influenced his personal life and career. He says none of it would have been possible if his father didn’t have the foresight to move to a small town called Houston in the ‘60s—Chris and his family moved from Philadelphia to a house here with water from a well. Pictured, he’s with wife Marilyn (he’s thankful to his brother and sister-in-law for that introduction) and sons Andrew (playing on the Wake Forest golf team) and Christopher (now working for AmREIT).

Marcus & Millichap regional manager of Houston and The Woodlands Dave Luther says he’s privileged to be in a fundamentally strong market with both local and out-of-area capital competing for his investment sales deals. On the personal side, he’s thankful he has an awesome wife who puts up with the life of a broker, and loving kids who keep him energized.