Julia Spillman was working at Merrill Lynch but craved more flexibility and connectivity which led to her exit from finance into the world of real estate deal-making. After joining the Eklund Gomes team at Douglas Elliman she was appointed CEO and is behind their expansion into multiple luxury markets. 

Julia is super organized and an overachiever “I pride myself in having the ability to scale an agent’s business further than they could ever imagine” says Julia, her success can be attributed to seeing each individual transaction as a multimillion-dollar business.

Rendering of The Waldrof Astoria Tower being build in Downtown Miami and Marketed by Eklund Gomes

Originally from Kentucky, Julia made the move to Miami three years ago. The incredible weather, beach lifestyle, and amazing food scenes are all things that have attracted her to Miami. Currently, she is splitting her time between Miami and NYC, but if she had to choose one location it would be Miami.

 Tell us about a deal you did in 2021 that you are proud of.

The opening of the Waldorf Astoria in Miami – this was a project that we worked on securing for years. This deal essentially was the pinnacle of my career (especially in Miami) and with the tallest building south of Manhattan. Currently, it’s my favorite building on the market, and being able to work on a project like this felt like a groundbreaking moment for me and my team.

Top 3 places to take friends or clients that are new to Miami?

 Carbone, Prime 112, and Sunset Harbor.

What is the biggest challenge you see buyers nowadays facing?

Inventory and WHERE the inventory is.

Julia Spillman, CEO of Eklund Gomes

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

My father for sure; He dreamed of a world for me where I could do anything a man can do and beyond. He armed me with the confidence to dream big and let no one but myself stand in my way.

What is the biggest lesson you learned from a mistake?

I think we learn lessons from mistakes every day – that’s why our big motto is proactive vs. reactive so we can get in front of as many mistakes as possible.

What is the best piece of advice you received?

You need to be able to manage up as well as you manage down.

How are forward-thinking developers designing for the future?

I would encourage everyone to keep looking at our upcoming listings this 2022. You will see some design and feature trends that you have never seen before! My favorite architect at the moment is Kobi Karp! 

How has social media contributed to your success as a realtor? 

As a female leader especially, social media has been such a game-changer.  Now, future clients and team members have access to me as I tell my story and business journey through my personal social media. For example,  Jackie, who is a part of our Florida team, was someone who reached out to me through social media and I became her mentor because of it. One thing led to another and now she runs our marketing in Florida. This access wasn’t so easy before social media.

Is there a non-profit or cause that you are involved in and is close to your heart? 

Second Chance Rescue – I am forever grateful for my adorable one-eyed dog that wouldn’t have made it without organizations like them.

What’s an app or tool that you could not live without?

Calendar App, of course! I love being organized and making sure I am on top of it all!

If you were not working in Real Estate, what would you most likely be doing?

I am an entrepreneur at heart. I would have started a business in something else.

Fredrik Eklund, John Gomes and Julia Spillman

What is the most memorable experience in your career? 

My first project was with Fredrik Eklund and John Gomes. We were able to sell this building out in record-breaking time and at record-breaking prices – which led me to be chosen as the lead and CEO of our organization.

What markets do you specialize in? 

I run a team that specializes in 4 states: NYC, Miami, Texas, and California. 

What is the biggest mistake you have seen luxury buyers make?

A major mistake I see buyers making when they purchase a property is not understanding all the operating costs.

Are you seeing more local or out-of-town buyers?

Because of our connection to NYC, TX, and California we are definitely seeing a lot of buyers come from these areas into the Miami market. 

Highest recent sale?

We just launched in Orange County this year and were presented with a listing that had been on the market for years. We were beyond proud when Calle Isabella in San Clemente sold for a record-breaking price. The last asking was $38M.

Let’s give a shoutout to an agent who was incredible to work with? 

Dan Hechtkopf – He did my personal transaction in Florida.