Globe-trotting Austin Realtor knows how to jazz up buying and selling

Though he enjoyed a college stint in New York, Bryan Montemarano has always been a Texan at heart.

After becoming a licensed real estate agent in 2015, he chose Kuper Sotheby's International Realty to grow his career, based on the company's local and global reach and commitment to its communities.

Known for his analytical approach to real estate, Montemarano pairs very well with clients such as engineers, architects, doctors, and accountants. Instead of "the quick hard sell," he prefers to build long-lasting relationships with his clients. His arts background has bolstered his communication and negotiating skills, having worked with solo performers and large tour groups in the past.

In his spare time, Montemarano loves globe-trekking with his wife, Adria, and 3-year-old daughter Alina, diving into the local cultural diversities they encounter along the way. Whether it's dining in the Swiss Alps or taking in a cricket match in Australia, he believes adventure is the spice of life.

We chatted with Montemarano to find out more about his work and what drives him.

CultureMap: What's one piece of advice you'd give to people looking for their dream home?

Bryan Montemarano: I would say that your "dream home" doesn't always have to be the most expensive or newest house on the block. Look beyond what you may see with your eye and unlock the potential that there might be in some of the properties you visit. My wife and I recently bought a house that, upon first glance, maybe wouldn't be the house some would be looking for. But with a little imagination and hard work, we have turned it into quite a showplace. Don't be afraid of a little paint, moving some walls, or changing a few light fixtures to turn an ordinary house into an extraordinary house. If the house has good bones, anything is possible.

CM: And advice to those who are selling?

BM: Always try to have realistic expectations. I will do everything in my power to get my clients top dollar for their home. Between marketing, photos, staging, and getting the curb appeal just right, I will have their home showing its best when it hits the market.

CM: Sum up Austin in three words.

BM: Authentic, inviting, beautiful.

Authentic because from the first day I moved to the Austin area, I was taken with how truly authentic both the people and city are. Inviting: From the conversations with both locals and visitors at my favorite coffee shop (Mazama in Dripping Springs) to the many chats with others about the trials and tribulations of parenting, I've enjoyed how Austin has made most of its spaces and businesses very family friendly. Beautiful, because we make it a priority to visit one of the Travis County or Texas State parks for a bit of hiking at least once a week. We love going out to Pedernales Falls, Hamilton Pool, or Reimer's Ranch.

CM: What do you consider your "special skill"?

BM: I like to be relational and not just transactional in my business dealings, getting to know my clients on a personal level, know the whole family, their children's names and what their interests are. I want to be able to develop that relationship through the years and not just during a transaction.

CM: What's one thing people might not know about you?

BM: I hold an undergraduate and masters degree in music and the arts. I have a passion for the Great American Songbook, songs that were written mostly in the 1920s-'40s by composers like Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, and Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. For many years, I toured the world singing this music with various jazz ensembles including the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. I have played in all 50 of the United States, as well as Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. I have been fortunate in my music career to have played venues from Carnegie Hall to the Acropolis in Greece. I have also been a voting member of the National Recording Academy for the past eight years and have helped in selecting the Grammy Award winners.

CM: Finish the sentence: "It's a good day when…"

BM: I am able to help someone realize their real estate goals. Whether it's finding that first home, selling a current home to allow for the purchase of a new home for a growing family, or perhaps a family realizing their dreams of a lake house retreat, I get the same pleasure and satisfaction that I know my clients feel with each and every deal that I am a part of.

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See Bryan Montemarano's latest listings here, or contact him at 512-663-4584 or bryan.montemarano@sothebysrealty.com.