Some people discover real estate later in life.

For Avery Johnson, it was part of growing up.

Long before contract negotiations, inspections, and appointments with clients became part of his daily routine, Avery was watching Placitas take shape alongside the people who helped build it. A born-and-raised New Mexican and lifelong Placitas resident, Avery comes from a family whose roots run deep in the community.  It's a connection he doesn't take lightly.

Growing up on job sites with his great uncle, renowned custom home builder Tom Ashe, and helping his grandmother, longtime Realtor Pepi Strahl, with listings, Avery absorbed the business early on. Looking back, those moments quietly laid the foundation for a career he didn't know he had coming.

"Placitas real estate is in my blood," Avery says. "You could say I've been doing it since I was a kid."

Today, Avery is a real estate broker serving Placitas and the Albuquerque area with The Shaffer Group at Keller Williams Realty. While nearly everything in real estate has changed over the years, the heart behind his work hasn't.

"I run my business on referrals from happy clients and my sphere of influence," he says. "I operate on principles that keep me top of mind, provide excellent service, and above all, I really do care."

That last sentence may be the simplest description of Avery's approach.

In an industry where transactions can easily become just another file on someone's desk, Avery refuses to lose sight of the people behind the paperwork.

"It's easy for this business to become overly transactional," he says. "The key is realizing that this is our customers' lives we're dealing with."

Whether he's guiding first-timers through unfamiliar territory or helping longtime homeowners prepare for their next chapter, Avery sees each client as someone trusting him with one of life's biggest decisions.

"My favorite part of what I do is being an integral part of such an intimate chapter of someone's life."

That perspective didn't happen by accident. After a stint in customer service at a tech startup, Avery decided to build something of his own.

“It seemed like a no-brainer to get my license,” he says. "After all, it’s the family business!”

He joined The Shaffer Group, finding stellar mentorship and a high-level of support. Avery hit the ground running, earning the 2022 Keller Williams Rookie of the Year Award. 

"They've given me the tools not only to succeed, but to provide outstanding service and to live a big life."

Outside of real estate, Avery's life remains firmly rooted in the community that shaped him.

His parents continue to operate Albuquerque's SWEAT Yoga Studio. Yoga remains a significant part of Avery's life, eventually leading him to something even more meaningful. During a SWEAT Yoga Retreat in Puerto Vallarta, he met Jasmine Sanchez who later became his wife. Jasmine is a safety analysis engineer for Boeing commercial airplanes and together, Avery and Jasmine are quite the dynamic duo. 

When he isn't working with clients, Avery enjoys fly fishing in New Mexico's rivers, taking walks with Jasmine, and practicing the discipline that earned him an unforgettable nickname: The Handstanding Realtor.

For Avery, hand balancing isn't just about physical strength.

"A handstand practice is both a beautiful expression of physical form and a test of how present and focused you can be," he says. "It's a mirror that reflects how you show up to life."

Perhaps that's also a fitting description of the way he approaches his profession.

Focused. Grounded. Intentional.

When asked what he hopes every client experiences, his answer tells you what kind of professional he is. 

"My mission, above all, is to be useful."

It's a simple philosophy, but one that has helped build a thriving business of trust. In a town where reputation travels quickly, that is the most valuable thing a real estate professional can offer. And after all, who you work with matters!