“I wanted to market and sell properties on some of the prettiest beaches in the world. What I didn’t realize is that the world is moving to Texas.” Ed Eakin, Jr.
Earlier this year, HAR member Ed Eakin, Jr., CIPS, CLHMS, ABR, ALHS, RENE, SRS, broker/owner of Eakin Group – with agents in Houston, Dallas and Austin – was selected to be honored for the 2019 International REALTOR® Profile. This recognition is bestowed upon an outstanding member of the HAR International community that has helped sell or purchase a global property, or a local property to an international client. Eakin has been a HAR member for approximately eight years. He is also serving on the Board of Directors for NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) Dallas.
Houston REALTOR® magazine sat down with Eakin to discuss his distinguished real estate career.
Q: What was your reaction when informed that you had been selected for HAR’s International REALTOR® Profile?
A: Extremely excited as we work very hard at building our real estate brokerage brand with our participations in Global Committees across the state of Texas, including TAR, METROTEX, ABoR, CCAR and especially HAR.
Q: How long have you worked in real estate and specifically international real estate?
A: After 25 years as a luxury homebuilder, I moved to Playa del Carmen in 2007 to begin my real estate career. I then came back two years later and earned my real estate license with Coldwell Banker before moving to South Padre Island and working for Personette and Associates in Houston. After a year on the Island, I was asked to come to Houston as their Director of Sales. My biggest responsibility was to help market and sell a property on the Island of Roatan. Fast forward and we now own the Eakin Group with seven agents.
Q: Tell us a bit about your business/brokerage, including name, where it is located, number of agents, housing type/location specialty, etc.
A: Eakin Group. Our office is located in Dallas and we currently have seven agents in Houston/Dallas/Austin. Our daily real estate includes everything from first time homebuyers to luxury properties throughout Texas including some ranch sales. Our niche market is working with developers to help them market and sell their beach properties throughout the Caribbean including Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Grand Caymans and the BVI’s.
Q: Describe your most memorable global transaction that closed during calendar year 2018 (this should have been part of your original nomination).
A: My favorite global transaction started six years ago when Jason and Xiomara Cochran reached out to me to purchase a home in Las Colinas and a condo for their extended family moving to Texas. Xiomara, mother and brother all from Colombia moving to Texas with Jason and their boys was the start of a great friendship. Our 2018 transaction has them calling and asking for help to purchase a $4 million-plus property in Orange County, California. We then scheduled a trip out to meet up with Rodeo Realty’s Barbra Stover and Josh Flagg from Bravo TV’s Million Dollar Listing. I choose them to help in our search as I wanted to work with the best brokers in California to find Jason and Xiomara a new home. The entire real estate process working with Barbra and Josh to find a great home for the Cochran’s went extremely well as they found an amazing property to purchase. I now have one of the best referral partners in the business!
Q: What do you find most gratifying about international real estate?
A: I have always loved my time on the beach much the same as my dad. I jumped into international real estate as I wanted to market and sell properties on some of the prettiest beaches in the world. What I didn’t realize is that the world is moving to Texas. Much of our business today is helping foreigners buying/selling real estate for the first time in the U.S. The positive emotions of a closing can be seen so much more than the normal American buyer, which really makes me feel good to be a part of their real estate transactions.
Q: What do you think about the work that HAR’s International division does?
A: As the current vice chair of HAR’s International Advisory Group, I have to say that all the efforts within our group are absolutely amazing. It was a huge honor to represent IAG group last year in Boston as we earned the Diamond Award from NAR. I can’t wait to see all the great things that our IAG will accomplish to keep our Global committee recognized around the world.
Q: Any additional thoughts to share with our readers?
A: I just want to thank everyone at HAR for recognizing all of our global efforts, and to my team at the Eakin Group. Thank you, Barbra and Josh, for all your help. Also, thank my MOM for all of her support. I am truly blessed!
