About Alan Mertz

Originally a Bluegrass native of Louisville, KY, I have lived the majority of my life in the Windy City (Chicago). My career path was defined early by noted artistic talents combined with my studies in Marketing/Advertising. Fittingly, a fascination for fashion illustration and interest in architectural design would lead to my future business pursuits.

 

Post college, and after having spent a few years in the corporate world (industrial sales), I found himself in the Women's Apparel Industry representing better/designer collections from New York, Canada, and Europe. Over the next two decades, from my Chicago based Apparel Center showrooms, my sales group marketed to Midwest fine boutiques, specialty stores, and major department stores. Although never directly involved with the actual design of the lines represented, I drew upon his artistic qualities to enhance my business, while having a better understanding of style, form, texture, colors and merchandising. 

 

Business travels carried me into many metropolitan markets and Midwest cities, providing great exposure to urban living, neighborhood fabric, city re-development, and architectural influence. It was during those many years of travel, and personal experiences of having lived in Chicago, New York, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Louisville, that I developed a great appreciation of the New Urbanism movement and revitalization of our cities. With a keen cosmopolitan perspective, passion for urban housing, and a desire to reinvent himself in a bold career change, I launched my real estate business in 2000.

 

Focusing on the sales of urban residential housing (single family homes, condos, loft style dwellings, and mixed-use developments), I have served the needs and helped hundreds of urban minded clients achieve their real estate investment goals, while emphasizing the principles of urban living, walkability, traditional historic neighborhoods, mixed-use and diversity, community and quality of life, architecture and urban design. And, what market could be better suited to the dream of city living than Washington DC, with its wide array of architectural home styles, neighborhoods and historical districts. My personal experience in home renovations and partnering with contractors/developers on client projects, make me a valuable source and advocate for buyers.

 

As the Lead Buyer specialist and consultant for the Joel Nelson Group (Top 10 Real Estate Agent, Washington, DC) I am committed to professional service and personal care towards clients. My wife Becky and I have made our home on Capitol Hill, where we live the urban theme of Live, Work & Play, while enjoying the conveniences and sense of community. When not working with clients, I manage to squeeze in an occasional round of golf, coach neighborhood Little League baseball, while remaining a die-hard Chicago Cub fan, and bleeding Blue for University of Kentucky Basketball!