The only thing constant in life is change, and there is no other industry more full of change than the real estate biz. Realtors and brokers constantly have to keep up with changes — rules, laws, technology, trends, marketing, along with people and leaders. News comes from Ebby’s corporate office that Keith Newman has been named the new sales manager of the prize Preston Center Ebby office at the corner of Northwest Highway and Preston Road in Dallas, affectionately called Ebby’s Little White House. Don Davis was the office manager for five years and has apparently retired. The “Little White House” is so named because of it’s historical significance and location right next to the personal residence of Ebby Halliday herself.
Ebby’s “Little White House” was also the town hall of the Village of Preston Hollow, before it was incorporated into the City of Dallas to ensure the area’s water supply.
Who is this dashing Keith Newman? He has extensive real estate experience, as well as a desire to assist other “Little White House” agents in taking their career to the next level, according to Ebby Halliday President and CEO Mary Frances Burleson. Which is generally what real estate office managers are all about: they smooth over transactional bumps and inspire as well as mentor agents.
Keith comes to the Little White House from Ebby’s Plano/Willow Bend office, where he was the sales manager. Betty Misko, executive vice president and director of sales offices for the Ebby Halliday Companies, is currently managing the Plano/Willow Bend Office. Recognized as a top real estate producer, Keith first began selling real estate in 2001, which really wasn’t that long ago. He has represented buyers and sellers in a number of Dallas neighborhoods.
Prior to real estate, Keith was a headhunter, a career whose model changed with the internet.
“But I always just knew I was a fit for real estate,” he said.
First he worked with Mark Shekter’s Surrealty, a one-man brokerage, for a brief time before moving to a larger company, David Griffin & Company.
“It was great, I learned a lot there. Then I joined Briggs Freeman for five years, what a great company. Charles and Robbie were both great mentors.”
Then management called his name as a friend urged him to mentor agents, put him in touch with Betty Misko, and it all unfolded. Keith took over the Plano/Willow Bend Ebby office and together, they knocked it out of the park.
“We have great agents and we have a great market,” he says. “I could not have done it alone.”
Keith was born and raised in Dallas, and lives near Hillcrest and Forest, putting him closer to the new office. He plans to use technology to enhance the customer experience.
“We are a people business,” he says, “and it’s all about relationships. But technology can help that.”
He also plans to pump up Ebby’s Luxury Portfolio affiliation, and shout out the power of the LP branding. I had the pleasure of attending February’s Luxury Portfolio Summit with Keith. As strong a global brand that LP is, Keith loves that Ebby Halliday is locally owned and the company can make decisions without reporting to another market or a big corporate machine.
And we always have to ask: Keith’s favorite spot for a second home market would be Europe: Italy or Spain. We’ll definitely come visit!
