About New Leaf Real Estate · Houston
New Leaf Real Estate, LLC is a Houston-based residential real estate brokerage serving the city's Inner Loop neighborhoods since 2006. Founded by broker David Houston, the firm focuses on Memorial, West University, Southampton, Bellaire, Rice Military, Midtown, the Medical Center, Washington Corridor, Montrose and the Houston Heights. New Leaf is widely recognized as one of the most productive single-office residential firms in Houston, and it distinguishes itself by offering a commission credit back to clients at closing rather than collecting the traditional full 3% fee.
Founded in 2006 by broker David Houston, New Leaf Real Estate, LLC operates as a single-office residential brokerage out of 3100 Richmond Avenue in Houston's Upper Kirby/Greenway area. The firm's stated mission is to deliver high-level expertise and personalized service while reducing transaction costs for buyers and sellers. Instead of the traditional full 3% commission, New Leaf returns a portion of its commission to the client as a credit at closing, applied toward closing costs and prepaid items, while still providing full-service representation including showings, inspections, negotiations, closings, and access to a vetted network of inspectors, contractors, landscapers and designers. The brokerage serves Houston's most desirable Inner Loop neighborhoods — Memorial, West University, Southampton, Bellaire, Rice Military, Midtown, the Texas Medical Center, Washington Corridor, Montrose and the Houston Heights — with a focus on luxury and move-up residential homes. Per HAR.com data, the office has been involved in more than 540 closed sales and over 85 leases, and David Houston individually has more than 190 closed sales to his name. Agents hold a dense stack of professional designations (ABR, ALHS, CIPS, CNE, GRI, PSA, BPOR) and the office maintains multilingual (Spanish) and multicultural capabilities to serve Houston's diverse clientele. David Houston is also active in the Houston community, notably executing a NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) deal with University of Houston point guard Jamal Shead and supporting youth basketball through the PUSH Sharks AAU program.
- In business
- Since 2006
- Owner
- David Houston, Broker of Record and Founder
- Serves
- Houston Inner Loop — Memorial, West University, Southampton, Bellaire, Rice Military, Midtown, Texas Medical Center, Washington Corridor, Montrose and the Houston Heights, Texas
- Rating
- 4.98/5 on HAR.com based on 67 client experience surveys (David Houston individually 4.97/5 across 49 surveys); individual agents routinely score 5/5 in recent surveys
About New Leaf Real Estate
New Leaf Real Estate, LLC is a Houston-based residential brokerage founded by David Houston in 2006 and operating from a single office at 3100 Richmond Avenue. The firm is built around the idea that today's buyers and sellers are informed and technology-savvy, so the brokerage focuses on the central business transaction rather than padding marketing budgets or running clients through dozens of unnecessary showings. According to the company's own messaging, it combines client ambition with broker expertise to deliver 'the best real estate transaction possible.' New Leaf still provides the full suite of services clients expect from a traditional brokerage — showings, inspection coordination, attendance at meetings, and introductions to a vetted network of inspectors, contractors, landscapers and designers — but it does so at a reduced cost via a commission credit returned at closing.
- Founded 2006 by David Houston
- Single-office residential firm in Houston
- Recognized as one of the most productive single-office residential brokerages in the Houston market
Commission Credit / Rebate Model
The defining feature of New Leaf is its commission-credit structure. Historically a full-service real estate agent collects a 3% commission when a buyer or seller closes a home. New Leaf instead returns a portion of that commission to the client as a credit toward closing costs and prepaid items, while still providing full-service representation and accompanying the client to closing. Individual agents may have different fee structures, so clients are advised to confirm terms directly with their agent.
- Credit at closing instead of full 3% commission
- Credit can be applied to closing costs and prepaid items
- New Leaf agent attends the scheduled closing
- Clients are not required to use a specific mortgage lender
Houston Inner Loop Neighborhood Specialization
New Leaf concentrates on Houston's Inner Loop luxury and move-up residential market. Their area of market expertise explicitly includes Memorial, West University, Southampton, Bellaire, Rice Military, Midtown, the Texas Medical Center area, the Washington Corridor, Montrose and the Houston Heights. The brokerage claims to consistently outperform top national firms in marketing and selling homes in this core area.
- Memorial
- West University
- Southampton
- Bellaire
- Rice Military
- Midtown
- Texas Medical Center
- Washington Corridor
- Montrose
- Houston Heights
Buying a Home with New Leaf
New Leaf positions itself for buyers who have already done their own research online. Once a buyer has narrowed down properties, the New Leaf agent schedules showings, accompanies the buyer, and negotiates the offer. Buyers may receive a credit toward closing costs and prepaid items rather than paying a traditional 3% agent fee. The brokerage also provides an 'exhaustive list' of experienced mortgage companies, and unlike many competitors, does not require the buyer to use any specific lender.
- Showings scheduled after buyer has narrowed selections
- Negotiation on buyer's behalf
- Credit toward closing costs and prepaid items
- No required mortgage lender
Selling a Home with New Leaf
On the listing side, New Leaf focuses on running the business transaction efficiently rather than over-inflating a seller's marketing budget. Agents provide staging and pricing-strategy guidance (supported by PSA and BPOR designations), professional photography, listing design, and full negotiation through closing. Recent client surveys describe homes that went under contract in days with multiple offers after strategic preparation.
- Pricing strategy and staging advice
- Professional photography and listing design
- Full negotiation and closing management
- Network of vetted inspectors and contractors
Agent Team and Designations
New Leaf's roster is a small, highly designated team. Broker of Record David Houston holds Platinum-level status on HAR.com and personally carries credentials across buyer representation, luxury home sales, international property, negotiation and pricing strategy. Other named agents include Michelle Rainwater, Yvonne Cosgrove, Lindsay Mericli, Anne McAllister and Mayda Salgado. Per HAR.com, the firm has multi-lingual Spanish-speaking agents and a multi-cultural roster drawn from England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico and more.
- David Houston — Broker of Record, Founder (Platinum status, 4.97/5 across 49 surveys)
- Michelle Rainwater — Seller/buyer representation
- Yvonne Cosgrove — Leasing and sales (5/5 recent reviews)
- Lindsay Mericli — Moving Medicine Partners partner for physician relocations
- Anne McAllister — Buyer and seller representation
- Mayda Salgado — Relocation and Spanish-speaking representation
- Spanish-speaking multilingual agent(s) on staff
- Multicultural agents from 7+ countries
Reputation and Reviews
New Leaf maintains exceptional ratings on the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR.com) Client Experience program. The office as a whole averages 4.98/5 across 67 surveys, with sub-scores of 4.97–4.99 across market knowledge, competency, communication and experience. Individual New Leaf agents regularly earn 5/5 in recent surveys. Recent client testimonials (verbatim from HAR.com) praise patience, market knowledge, responsiveness, staging advice and the savings from the commission-credit model.
- Office rating: 4.98/5 across 67 surveys (HAR.com)
- Sub-scores 4.97–4.99 across market knowledge, competency, communication and experience
- T. McCord (Midtown homeowner): 'After using New Leaf Real Estate I am certain that I made the proper decision. Service was top shelf and the money saved through both my home sale and purchase was huge.'
- M. Thompson (Montrose): 'Once I identified properties I wanted to look at, New Leaf helped me set up appointments, get inspections and explore financing options…all at a fraction of traditional realtor rates.'
Community Involvement
Beyond real estate, David Houston and New Leaf are visibly engaged with the Houston community. David Houston is associated with the PUSH Sharks AAU basketball program, and New Leaf executed an NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) deal with University of Houston point guard Jamal Shead, which was covered by the Houston Chronicle. The firm also publishes 'The New Leaflet,' a periodic market newsletter, and offers a free Neighborhood Tracker market-price study for any Houston neighborhood.
- NIL deal with University of Houston's Jamal Shead (2023)
- Sponsor / supporter of PUSH Sharks AAU youth basketball
- Publisher of 'The New Leaflet' market newsletter
- Free Neighborhood Tracker market-price study for sellers and buyers
Contact and Office
New Leaf Real Estate's sole office is located in the Greenway / Upper Kirby area of Houston, easily accessible to the Inner Loop neighborhoods the firm serves. Clients can reach the office by phone, fax, email, or through the contact form on newleafre.com.
- Address: 3100 Richmond Ave, Suite #500, Houston, TX 77098
- Voice: 713.820.4017
- Fax: 281.966.1633
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.newleafre.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newleafre
- HAR profile: https://www.har.com/new-leaf-real-estate/broker_NLRE01