Some Dreams Take Twenty Years
For almost twenty years, I dreamed of moving to New Orleans. This is the story of how I finally got here, and why I believe every home has a story worth telling.
For almost twenty years, I dreamed of moving to New Orleans.
It started in the early 1990s, after my brother and sister-in-law moved here. Every visit made it a little harder to leave.
I fell in love with the neighborhoods, the architecture, the history, and the unmistakable character of the city. There was something about New Orleans that always felt different. It wasn’t just beautiful; it felt authentic. Every street, every corner, every home seemed to have a story to tell.
My wife and I talked more than once about making the move ourselves. But there was one challenge.
The one thing standing in the way
My career was in technology and executive communications. For more than twenty-five years, I worked with technology companies and executive leadership teams, helping organizations communicate change, shape their narratives, and bring new ideas to market. At the time, New Orleans simply wasn’t the place for someone in that field, and the economics of making the move never quite worked.
So we waited. Years passed, careers evolved, and life moved on.
The day everything changed
Then one day, everything changed.
Remote work opened new possibilities, and thanks to a manager who trusted me enough to work from anywhere, geography was no longer the obstacle it once was.
Around that same time, my wife returned from visiting her sister and said something I’ll never forget.
“I think a move to New Orleans could actually work for us.”
Our children had graduated from college. We no longer needed to stay in-state. Within a month, our house was on the market.
Looking back, I realize I wasn’t just moving to another city. I was finally moving to the place I’d wanted to call home for nearly two decades.
The house that reminded me every home has a story
Since then, we’ve purchased two homes in New Orleans, including our 1923 Broadmoor bungalow. As I began restoring it, I found myself drawn to its history. I started researching the people who lived there before us and discovered it was built by Oscar Elmer, of Elmer’s Fine Foods, the family behind Chee-Wees, decades before Cheetos became a household name. Later owners included a prominent New Orleans produce merchant whose family called the house home for many years.
That experience reminded me of something I’ve come to believe. Every home has a story. Sometimes it just needs someone willing to uncover it.
Where the two halves of my life finally met
Today, I have the privilege of helping buyers, sellers, investors, and families write the next chapter of their own New Orleans story.
After spending more than twenty-five years helping organizations tell their stories through strategic communications and marketing, I discovered those same skills have a natural place in real estate. Every home has a story. Every neighborhood has a personality. Every seller has a reason for moving, and every buyer has a vision for what’s next.
Helping people connect those stories has become one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
Some dreams simply take a little longer than others. I’m grateful this one finally came true.
If you’re thinking about a move of your own, whether you’re buying, selling, or just starting to imagine the next chapter, I’d love to hear your story.