By Meredith Knight | Photos by Kelley Sweet Photography
When J. Carter Breed first got his feet wet in real estate, he began with a simple strategy. Rather than the sale being his end game, he’d concentrate on meeting the needs of his clients and truly working to find the best home for them, their lifestyle, and their preferences. His motto became, “Serve ’em. Don’t sell ’em.” It was a winning approach, and soon he was happily flooding with repeat and referable business.
Then a funny thing happened. As Carter recalls, “As my hair got grayer, my clients and friends got wealthier.” They started looking for larger homes, second homes, and investment properties and Carter’s real estate business pivoted to meet their needs. Before he knew it, he was a local expert on the luxury home market, selling hundreds of prime properties in and around Tanglewood, Spring Branch, Memorial, and Memorial Village.
After years working with a partner, Carter went out on his own in 2010, establishing J. Carter Breed Properties. As all those wonderful referrals kept rolling in, his business grew, his client base expanded, and he was happy to welcome son-in-law, Christopher Stelly, to the team. “Chris is taking on some of the leadership of the agency,” Carter said. “We decided to rebrand ourselves as NewTrust Real Estate.”
Then four years ago, when Carter bought himself property out in the country, he realized how much that property was enhancing his life and wanted to do the same for others. Soon, NewTrust had a farm and ranch division. “Most of the country property we sell is for second homes, but often clients realize how much they’re enjoying quiet, country living and decide to make the ranch or farm their permanent residence,” Carter said.
With several investment properties himself, investment real estate has become another active niche market for NewTrust Real Estate. “There’s a knack to looking for and finding those properties that will have a good return on investment,” he said. “Fortunately, I made all the mistakes on my own nickel and have become much savvier about the best property for generating income and diversifying a portfolio. I truly enjoy this side of the industry, enjoy helping my friends and clients be successful with their investment properties.”
Meet Carter
J. Carter Breed is a native Houstonian, born and raised in the Memorial area. His mother was a successful real estate agent, exposing him to real estate at an early age. Carter became a licensed real estate agent in 1993 and has enjoyed a successful career garnering awards along the way including being named Top 25 agents in Houston by the Houston Business Journal, among the 10 Most Dependable Real Estate Agents in Texas in Texas Monthly magazine, and even Top 10 Agents in the State of Texas.
In fact, his expertise and exceptional service place him in the top 1% of all real estate agents in the country. Known for his superior negotiating skills, he sets the standard for the successful conclusion of the most daunting of circumstances with his problem-solving skills and “can-do” attitude. A marketing specialist who guarantees his clients 100% satisfaction, Carter wants to make every transaction a positive experience.
Carter says his passion has always been God, family, kids, and education., He has targeted his philanthropy accordingly, serving as a trustee for Spring Branch School District and supporting many local charity events and school programs.
Meet Christopher
Christopher Stelly was born and raised in Houston’s East End. Humble beginnings have shaped him and provided the opportunity to build an extensive network and form close relationships with local businesses and people.
Before coming to real estate, Christopher spent five years as a wireline operator in the oil and gas sector as well as studying petroleum land management. In 2015 after being laid off from two different operations companies, he obtained his real estate license.
“All the successful people I know — like my grandmother — built wealth through real estate,” Chris said. “Growing up in a bit of a rough area really motivates me to help others find their biggest investment — their home. I truly enjoy helping other people succeed. A rising tide raises all boats. I want to help other people and share in the growth myself.” Understanding the complexity of a real estate transaction and how overwhelming it can be for the average person drives Christopher to be a trusted guide for his clients.
His work in oil and gas taught him the potential for market swings and the requirements this type of client expects and deserves. He currently resides in the Energy Corridor and has helped many companies place their employees in local housing.
For these two family men, the secret to success lies in one word — service. “We’re not just in the business of selling real estate,” Carter said. “We want to help people better their lives. Whether you’re looking for a forever home, a second home, or an investment property, we’d love to show you the difference NewTrust Real Estate can make.” Find out more and view some available luxury properties at NewTrustRE.com
CONTACT
7413 Westview Drive
Houston, Texas 77055
(713) 482-2222
NewTrustRE.com
