Member Focus: Nick Kallman
Where are you from?
I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Like many people, I loved my hometown but needed a drastic change of scenery to see what other places had to offer. That said, most people I knew back home never considered or wanted to branch out, which is part of the reason I moved 1,000 miles across the country for college. I ended up in New Orleans to attend Tulane University. My uncle joked that I needed to apply to Tulane since he wanted to go to Mardi Gras, and Tulane must have a decent architecture program since it was in New Orleans. When I toured the campus, it was in the middle of a tropical storm, half the city was shut down or flooded, and I had walking pneumonia - yet I still loved everything about New Orleans. It was the perfect recipe to hate the city, but it felt like home. I graduated a couple of months before Covid hit, so it made no sense to attempt moving and search for a job in that market. I planned to stay in New Orleans for another year or two since I had plenty of networking connections and friends in the city, and then I would consider a transition. I never thought I would still be here, but I am incredibly happy with that decision and outcome.
What’s your favorite part about living here?
Is it cliche to say I have a really tough time answering that? It’s like asking someone what their favorite song is, for me, it changes all of the time. It feels like I have a different answer for why I love New Orleans every season. The food is amazing everywhere you go, and the people are great; welcoming, and easy to get along with. There’s always something going on (events, festivals, etc) every weekend, nearly every day, honestly. The lifestyle is wonderful. That said, there are times I wish it were a little more hectic, like a NYC or Chicago rush, but at the same time, the city’s laid-back nature is refreshing. If you want to be outgoing and push the envelope, you can. No one will question or have a problem if you do things differently than others. Nearly everyone can find their niche here.
What’s your professional background?
I started in architectural design and quit that job after 11 months - I always joke that I could not even give it a full year. That was my educational background, and it was nowhere near as creative or flexible as I had hoped. I was practicing real estate on the side then, and everything I loved about that industry was what architecture lacked. It’s extremely people-facing, it is social 24/7; you are constantly showing properties, meeting new people every day, negotiating life-changing deals for people... and every day is different from the last. Photography was another passion of mine when I was younger, and real estate allows me to incorporate that creative outlet into my profession. I’m primarily a residential agent, but I have been expanding into commercial real estate as well. Many agents try to specialize in one or the other, but I am trying to bridge the two which has been pretty exciting so far.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
The flexibility I have is unparalleled. At the end of the day, I am essentially on call, basing my schedule around my clients’ needs. That said, I can travel spontaneously or take a random day(s) off. It can be a blessing and a curse, but I have total freedom over my schedule. It can be chaotic and stressful, but I love it and I don’t think I could ever go back to a traditional office job.
How did you hear about Common House?
Purely by word of mouth! I have close friends who interviewed to work there and be a part of the club early on. They recommended it to me, saying I would love the space, the people, the events, and the concept as a whole, and they were right. I’m extremely excited to get more involved and see how things go this year!