Greg Gunter | Luxury Broker & Owner | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Colonial Homes San Miguel
In central Mexico’s Spanish Colonial town of San Miguel de Allende—rated “#1 Small City in the World” five times by Condé Nast Traveler—expat Broker Greg Gunter, who is widely known locally as “The Dream Pro: San Miguel’s Dream Home Expert!,” is renowned for matching clients with their dream homes.
His contributions to the industry, both in record-breaking sales and innovative marketing strategies, have cemented his place as a key figure in San Miguel’s real estate landscape. We, at EliteX, are honored to introduce Greg Gunter as one of the 10 Elite Leaders of Real Estate in 2024.
“I started selling homes at age 15. With my dad, I’d then help custom-build that home we had just pre-sold. Believe me, I learned to excel at customer service at an early age!”
Let’s delve into the story behind Greg’s success as “The Dream Pro” and learn why retirees buying homes in San Miguel de Allende look to Greg for expertise in maneuvering the challenging landscape of investing in a home in a foreign country.
Greg Gunter: A Storied Career in Real Estate
Greg boasts over four decades of experience in the real estate industry. Prior to focusing on luxury residential sales, he spent 25 years in both residential and commercial development. Leveraging his M.B.A. in Real Estate from the University of Colorado, Greg previously played a key role in landmark projects like the $625 million USD Hollywood & Highland mixed-use project, home to the Academy Awards.
He further solidified his expertise by co-founding a retail development firm that contributed to iconic destinations like The Forum Shops in Las Vegas and the Houston Galleria, collaborating with luxury brands like Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton.
Greg’s background in architecture offers a valuable perspective to his Luxury Collection clients. He designed and built his own award-winning $2.2 million USD luxury home in the U.S. This Umbrian-style farmhouse, inspired by “Under the Tuscan Sun” author Frances Mayes, received recognition as Colorado Home of the Year and was featured in publications like The Wall Street Journal and The Denver Post.
Remarkably, Greg has sold up to 30 homes annually, ranked as the #2 Realtor nationally by sales volume among Mexico’s biggest real estate franchise before opening his own brokerage in 2020, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, the brand headed by the iconic Warren Buffett. Greg’s been dedicated to pairing buyers with their dream homes since 1974, having managed pre-sales of custom homes as a teenager that he later helped build with his own hands.
A Recognized Leader
Greg isn’t just a well-respected name; he’s a leader in San Miguel’s luxury market. He consistently pushes boundaries, holding the record for listing the city’s most expensive property at $6.9 million USD and facilitating sales exceeding $3.2 million.
His ability to connect buyers and sellers at all price points is unmatched. He was the only San Miguel Realtor invited to speak at eBay’s InCON Real Estate Conference. His expertise is backed by a powerful combination of education, experience, and industry recognition like:
- Luxury Lifestyle Broker, Architect, M.B.A.
- Featured in Forbes, Mansion Global, The New York Post, and other prestigious publications
- Honored as a RISMedia 2021 Real Estate Newsmaker
- Selected to represent San Miguel in the “Overseas Retirement Letter.”
- Member of invitation-only Elite 100 Agents, featuring top agents globally
- Mexico’s sole member of the Forbes Real Estate Council (now defunct)
- Exclusive member of Haute Residence in San Miguel de Allende
- #2 Realtor nationwide for Mexico’s largest franchise
- Certified Luxury Home Marketing Guild member, with multiple sales over $1MM USD
- Certified Luxury Collection Specialist
- Member of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate
- Chairman’s Circle Gold recipient for sales volume
- CIPS® Certified International Property Specialist
Greg’s Leadership Philosophy
Greg understands the power of a strong team. As the owner of the first and flagship Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices office in Mexico, he leads a team of ten agents.
Greg’s leadership style is one of mentorship and empowerment. He says, “I’ve only been a Realtor for 13 years, so I’m always sharing with my team what I had to do to grow quickly in the industry—I try to lead by example, and always share every technique and marketing outreach I use so my team can mimic my exact business model. I try to be proactive with my Realtor team, offering one-on-one time teaching them lessons and personal insight into how to read and understand American real estate clients.”
Beyond professional development, Greg fosters a culture of inspiration. He shares his personal library of motivational books, drawing insights from renowned authors like Napoleon Hill and Stephen Covey. These shared lessons fuel the team’s drive and equip them with the tools they need to excel in the competitive world of luxury real estate.
Navigating Challenges, Reaping Rewards
While Greg’s expertise is undeniable, the Mexican real estate market presents unique challenges. Pre-construction sales, a common practice in the U.S., are met with skepticism due to concerns about developer funding and the completion of ambitious marketing plans. This “see-it-to-believe-it” mentality can hinder pre-sale opportunities.
Greg, however, thrives on overcoming such obstacles. When marketing pre-sales for the Rosewood branded residences in San Miguel de Allende, he leveraged the brand’s global prestige alongside the city’s undeniable allure. San Miguel’s UNESCO World Heritage status and its consistent ranking as a top city by Condé Nast Traveler served as powerful selling points.
It eased investor concerns and ultimately led to a successful pre-sale campaign. This success story exemplifies Greg’s ability to navigate challenges and achieve exceptional results. Further emphasizing this point is his meteoric rise to become the #2 Realtor in all of Mexico within just five years of starting his real estate career.
Capitalizing on a Trend
The Mexican real estate landscape is experiencing a significant shift, driven by the growing population of American retirees seeking affordable, warm-weather havens. With over two million Americans already calling Mexico home, this trend shows no signs of slowing down.
Greg, ever the industry leader, stays ahead of the curve by actively seeking out the latest developments. He leverages a variety of resources, including online news sources, industry events, his real estate organization memberships, and the annual international Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices convention. This dedication to staying informed allows him to capitalize on emerging trends like the influx of American Boomer retirees to retirement havens like Mexico, ensuring his clients benefit from the most up-to-date market insights.
Embracing the Digital Age
The digital revolution has irrevocably transformed every industry, and real estate is no exception. This is particularly true for Greg, whose clientele often resides far from San Miguel de Allende, necessitating a strong long-distance marketing strategy. In response, Greg has embraced a digital-first approach.
“SEO remains vital in attracting website traffic,” Greg explains. “However, YouTube has become a powerful outreach tool, especially for me. Clients can feel like they know me personally even before we meet.”
He further emphasizes the importance of targeted advertising, leveraging platforms like Meta and Google for highly specific audience outreach. This targeted approach ensures his message reaches the most relevant potential buyers, maximizing his effectiveness in the digital marketplace.
Beyond Business
Greg’s passion extends beyond real estate. He has served on local charity boards and even penned a social column for the bilingual newspaper Atención. He takes pride in crafting innovative marketing materials and, in his free time, writes thriller novels.
This creativity translates to his client service, promising a thrilling exploration of San Miguel de Allende, the UNESCO World Heritage Site consistently ranked #1 by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure.
Greg Gunter’s Key Advice
Find an inspirational success model, interview them, and follow their lead!
