Bisnow Client Success Manager Ashley Seeberger Provides An Insider’s Look Into Houston CRE

While changes to familiar neighborhoods can often come with mixed feelings, Houston native and Bisnow Client Success Manager Ashley Seeberger has always been enthusiastic about the new commercial developments in the region. 

“Placemaking is driving growth in Houston right now, and I’m excited to continue to see what it does to popularize neighborhoods and make the area more hip and trendy,” Seeberger said. “If certain areas aren’t expanding, they’re redeveloping, and there’s so much opportunity for our clients to tap into.”

In a conversation with Bisnow, Seeberger discussed how Houston’s neighborhoods have transformed in recent years, the benefits of revitalization and why Houston CRE professionals should capitalize on networking opportunities if they want to build lasting relationships.

Bisnow: What is working for clients in Houston right now? What marketing approaches are driving deals and creating more business?

Seeberger: We always get positive feedback about our speaking engagements. Our clients say that they were able to develop a great relationship or that they had meetings or deal-making conversations with someone they met at our events.

Houston is also home to many CRE networking organizations that are always looking to organize events and happy hours to get people together. The network in Houston is extremely tight. It’s a large market, but everyone knows each other and the clients have relationships that go on for 20 or so years.

Combining digital marketing with content creation and participating in speaking engagements is a powerful way to interact with people. Houston clients value being in person and enjoy shaking hands and meeting face-to-face. It allows them to put a face to a name and put a person behind their contact information.

Bisnow: Where do you see the Houston market heading in the next year? What trends are you seeing that you’re most excited about?

Seeberger: Houston is continuing to expand master-planned communities in more rural areas. These communities allow for other types of real estate, such as retail, to emerge where there was once mostly just residential buildings. I’m also seeing the redevelopment of older or historic neighborhoods. For example, five to 10 years ago, the Heights used to be more of an arts-focused area, whereas now, some of the most popular bars are between 18th and 20th streets, which has fed the development of large, high-end multifamily projects. 

Houston has been focusing on creating attractive areas with an array of activities and multifamily developments, with the goal of drawing people in who want to stay put. I’m excited to see the opportunities that these revitalization projects continue to bring.

Bisnow: What inspired you to pursue a career at Bisnow? 

Seeberger: My father and brother work in the CRE industry, but I actually mostly learned about CRE through my first job. I worked for a real estate company helping to lease multifamily and mixed-use properties in Houston. As I spent time at the properties and learned more about the market, I realized how fascinated I was with how people made decisions about where to rent and why they wanted one particular area over another. Within my sales pitches, I was educating people about the market and the aspects of particular areas that make them attractive. 

Without realizing it, I was asking myself questions about CRE and found myself wanting to learn more about development and the Houston market. Bisnow was a culmination of everything I was interested in. I loved getting more involved in the industry, by working with subject matter experts and professionals in high-level roles as well as developing a strong rapport with our clients. I want to continue to develop an understanding of how all of the different moving pieces come together and interact, especially in the process of building a campaign.

Bisnow: What do you like most about your role at Bisnow?

Seeberger: Within my role as a client success manager, I get to build more on the relationships with my clients. In addition to making sure they have everything they need for their campaign to run smoothly, I get to know them on an individual basis and learn more about their goals. It’s been really meaningful for me to figure out how I can add value to clients, and I genuinely want to see them succeed.

Bisnow: What makes you unique?

Seeberger: I was born and raised in Houston, in the part that’s now known as the Energy Corridor, where all of the oil and gas companies are. It wasn’t known by that name when I was growing up, so I got to experience watching development in the region grow. I also lived in various parts of the region, so I know that each area is so unique and has its own character and story to tell. I love Houston, and I genuinely care about what goes on in the area and helping our clients discover new opportunities.

Bisnow: What is one life goal you want to accomplish?

Seeberger: I’d like to be involved in developing my own property one day, ideally in Houston, and be able to contribute to the city I grew up in. I want to make a positive change within the community.