Meet the New Home Counselors
Belinda Yen,
Family: My amazing husband Jimmy does so much for our family – I couldn’t do what I do without him. We have three fantastic boys – two are in college, and my youngest son is a Submariner for the US Navy. Our only daughter is attending college and is also the Kempner High School Color Guard Director. We enjoy our larger family, and they keep us busy.
How long have you worked in real estate? I received my first real estate license back in 2001 in Louisiana, and then I moved to Arizona and received my second license in 2003. This was when I discovered how much I love selling homes and changing lives.
Favorite part of the job: The best thing is seeing my buyers’ wonderful smiles on closing day – there is nothing like it! They are starting a new phase in their lives, and I love knowing I played a part in making it happen. It makes all the long hours and hundreds of emails so worth it!
Favorite floor plan/style: For families who need lots of space and flexibility on a smaller footprint, I love our Rutgers floor plan. It’s a 4 bedroom and 3.5 bath with a separate study and small loft, and at 2436 sq. ft., it feels much larger. The kitchen is amazing, with lots of spacious cabinetry and a buffet area that’s perfect for hosting dinner parties. People love that the stairs are behind the family room in the mud room area. Also, the Primary bath connects to the laundry area and mud room. I can’t say enough about this gorgeous home!!!
What do you tell people about Brookfield homes and/or Elyson? I tell my buyers there’s no other builder like Brookfield – we get just as excited about how we build and what’s inside the walls as what you see when you walk inside the home. We just take that extra step in making the home fabulous for their families.
And Elyson is just such an amazing family community with so many ways to make memories. There is something for everyone, from how you can pick fruit at the fruit orchard to playing at the many parks, swimming in the pool and working out in our amazing gyms to taking your pooch to meeting up with his pooch friends at the dog parks. And then there’s the easy access to Grand Parkway 99. Here at Elyson you’re so close to so many restaurants and shops, and even more are coming!
Any insider tips or things you think folks should know? Buy your home now, don’t wait. History shows the prices will always go up, so there’s no better time to start your family memories here in Elyson!
Family: My beautiful wife Theresa and I have a beautiful, blended family of 6. Theresa is a full-time mom and wife, a full-time nurse, and a part time Realtor who takes care of the rest of us. Our oldest son Brandon works in the new home industry as a warranty customer care representative and is also going to school to major in construction management. Our daughter Ashley is a senior, Leah is a freshman, and Courtney is in the 5th grade.
Hobbies: I am a people person, and because of it, I love to practice and teach martial arts and nutrition. I love to go on dates with my wife. I love to eat out with family and friends, and we love traveling when we have time!
Favorite local spot: There are all sorts of places to meet up with friends! Theresa and I love the Sugarland, Katy, and Memorial City area. We like driving and sight seeing since there are a lot of different restaurant options!
How long have you worked in real estate? I’ve been in sales for more than 20 years! I’ve gone from having my own gym to being in the car industry to real estate. I really wanted to make a bigger impact in people’s lives, and after some thoughtful thinking, I knew that real estate was the way I wanted to go. I’ve been in real estate for 5 years now, and I’ve never looked back.
Favorite part of the job: Personally, for me the best part is knowing that I’m helping families achieve their goals, whether that’s becoming first-time homeowners or getting into their dream home. It’s an honor to witness all the exciting moments that happen throughout the process, especially when we get to hand them the keys! It makes all the stress and the occasional rough day well worth it.
Favorite floor plan/style: I really love our Norwich floor plan, which happens to be one of our model homes here in Elyson. It really has a wow-factor when someone first comes in: it’s open, spacious and welcoming, and it just calls out for hosting gatherings and get togethers.
What do you tell people about Brookfield homes and/or Elyson? I always tell my buyers that Brookfield is one of a kind and there are very few builders that can compete with our modern look out here in the community. We take so much pride in how we build our homes, and it’s not just about what it looks like but also that they will be getting a quality product for the long term. During my time here at Elyson, I have grown to appreciate what an established community it is and how much it has to offer people, from the swimming pool and the onsite school to the tennis courts, playgrounds, and soccer fields. Residents love it here!
Any insider tips or things you think folks should know? I would just say if you think you’re interested, there’s no advantage in waiting; prices and interest rates are continuing to increase; and there are so many great opportunities right now. If you’re not sure what you can afford, talk to us – we, as a builder, are always offering incentives to anyone who is interested or ready to buy a home with us to help get them into a new and beautiful Brookfield home.
Hometown: I was born in Houston and raised in Sugar Land, and I moved to Katy 3 years ago.
How did you get into real estate? I went to the University of Houston, where I actually studied food and nutrition! I love working with people, and after I got my degree, I fell into real estate and it was a great fit.
How did you come to work at Brookfield Residential? I was with a real estate team, and we worked with a lot of new construction builders here in the Katy and Cypress area. Our clients wanted to buy new homes, and all of my sales were coming from builder sales, so I was heavily involved with the Elyson community. When Brookfield Residential joined Elyson 2 years ago, I got involved with this team and sold many homes with them — that’s how I got to know Brookfield. After seeing lots of other builders, I really loved the culture here more than I did everywhere else!
What was it about the Brookfield culture that you liked? Brookfield really provides care and support throughout the home buying process. When I was a Realtor, they were always offering solutions to get customers to the finish line. It just seemed like a positive and healthy environment! I felt right at home and very welcome, and as a builder, their quality, style, and design stood out. It’s a great product, and I believe in it.
What’s your favorite part of your job? I like to give that support and empathize. Buying a home is very emotional — people are investing hundreds of thousands of dollars, so I want to make sure they’re in good hands. I always take the time to make that connection and help with options.
Why did you decide to work for a builder? I’m an advocate of buying a new home. For me, it’s a personal experience. We moved to Sugar Land when I was 5, and I grew up in that home. My parents had to fix everything — we remodeled the first floor; they had to replace the water heater and the HVAC system. I have sold resale homes, and there are always things to fix. There’s no perfect home. Even with a new home, things come up, but at least with a new home, you know what you’re getting. You know the AC and roof are brand new and the foundation is good. You can sleep well at night knowing you have a warranty and someone you can call.
Why do customers like Brookfield homes? We have modern designs that really fit what people are looking for. The floor plans have a uniqueness and they seem to really like it. They’re great for younger families or young couples who are coming from the city, and they really like the style.
What is it about Elyson that buyers like? Our neighborhood has a great lifestyle! There are lots of amenities, and the retail out here is amazing — great shopping and restaurants. And the school districts are excellent.
Any local restaurant recommendations? I love to try new restaurants, so my favorite place in Katy is Asian Town. There are so many great places there, even I don’t know where to go sometimes.
Any pets? No pets, but I love cats.
Hobbies: I like playing golf and watching sports. I’m a diehard Browns fan, and I love the Buckeyes, so I’m happy that C.J. Stroud is playing for the Texans. I also love the Astros!
Favorite local spot: I feel like good Italian food is hard to find down here, but my favorite spot is Coltavare in The Heights. I also like EZ’s Liquor Lounge – it’s a newer bar, but they made it feel like an 80s hole in the wall.
How long have you worked in real estate? Since 2016! I have a finance background, and I started working for a builder in The Heights who was flipping houses; it was very numbers driven. After 2 years, I got my brokers’ license and began working for an investment firm that had a real estate portfolio. When Covid hit, I took over managing a huge residential building for them, but I missed the structure side of things, so I’m happy to be here at Brookfield.
Favorite part of the job: It might be cliche, but I love the people. Jay and Belinda are great, and our builders are all amazing. There’s a very collaborative approach here – everyone is working together to get things done right for the customers.
Favorite floor plan/style: I really love the Hollins. The flow is great, and it has a two-story entryway that’s nice.
What do you tell people about Brookfield homes and/or Elyson? Because Brookfield as a company is newer to Houston, a lot of people here don’t know about our long legacy as a home builder and developer, so it’s fun to share that with them.
Any insider tips or things you think folks should know? Don’t be afraid to ask questions and to talk to our NHCs about what you need. The reason we call them New Home Counselors instead of sales people is because they’re here to work with you. They know about all of our pricing and incentives, and they can work with the financing team to help you figure out how to structure your down payment and your monthly payments to make things work for you. They really want to help you get the home you want.
Ready to find your perfect home?
Come see Belinda, Jay, and Andrew to find out about the latest deals, incentives, and availability here in Elyson.
