‘Selling the Big Easy’ Star Brittany Picolo-Ramos is the TV Best Friend You Didn’t Know You Needed
If you know me even in the slightest, you know that I am completely obsessed with the city of New Orleans (Pronounced—New OR-lins, don’t play with me). After celebrating my 26th birthday in the city, it was like a fire was lit within me, and I knew that Nola was the place I was meant to be. So until I could move there, I visit any chance I get, and I even got married there. So being the Nola obsessive that I am, when I found out there was going to be a new HGTV show based on the cities beautiful real estate, I had to know more and I had to find its host! Luckily, my investigative journalism skills came in handy, and I soon connected with Selling the Big Easy host and New Orleans native Brittany Picolo-Ramos.
Hilarious, slightly awkward, and always willing to laugh at herself, Brittany and I clicked instantly. I very quickly realized how fortunate I was to have generated a friendship with someone, who regardless of their success, is truly just a grounded and grateful person. This woman, who started her own brokerage, Godwyn & Stone Real Estate with husband of 13 years Marco, is a as hard working and kind as they come. She’s a wife, mother, broker and agent, daughter, friend, sister, and now the unofficial ambassador of New Orleans.
Somehow, with all that she’s got going on, she’s present enough to treat all of those titles with equal respect and focus. (Seriously, as soon as you text her, not 5 seconds will go past before you see those little 3 dots dancing at the bottom of your text thread, it’s amazing). She’s only had her own brokerage since the beginning of this year—previously working for Keller Williams where she had her own team, but she’s already a household name in Nola, and soon to be throughout the country. I wouldn’t be shocked if this show and Brittany's lively personally sparks a boom in Nola transplants, with each of them flooding to Godwyn & Stone’s doors seeking help.
Originally, Selling the Big Easy was supposed to premiere back in April, but because of COVID production was halted, and the shows season got sidelined. But now that premiere day is finally here, viewers can expect a show with effortless charm and some seriously gorgeous Nola properties! Brittany’s personality was created for TV, but it’s her passion for New Orleans, and her extensive knowledge of real estate that’ll make folks stick around. Unlike the most recent real estate shows driven by drama and antics, like Netflix’s Selling Sunset and Million Dollar Beach House, Selling the Big Easy is happily taking it back to the basics—incredible properties, and a team enthusiastically matching clients with the perfect home.
Over the season, viewers will watch as Brittany and her team not only sell gorgeous New Orleans properties, but also help their clients stage and spruce up existing properties in order to sell them. Like most HGTV shows, Selling the Big Easy will be character driven, but it’s not just Brittany’s self-deprecating humor driving he show, but really the endearing je ne sais quoi about New Orleans and it’s residents.
Before you watch, get to know Brittany a little bit better. We talked what viewers can expect from this season, how it differs from any other realty show, and how it could give people the joy we’re all desperate for right now. The following is an edited version of our conversation.
You started off in telecommunications, how did you get interested in real estate?
I hurt my back and couldn’t walk –after slipping and falling while working in a restaurant. For years I had a feeling that I should reach out to a realtor friend I knew. And one day she randomly called me asking if I’d like to sell a skincare line, and I was like no, but actually I’d like to get into real estate.
You had a rocky start to your real estate career, tell us about that?
A family member was selling a property, and she didn’t know any better, she was just trying to get as much money as she could get—but we probably paid $30k over market value. We had to put thousands of dollars into the renovation, and when we went to sell it, it appraised lower than we bought it for—and the appraiser said that we made a bad deal. I was able to forgive the family member and move on, but we lost money. And I didn’t want anyone to go through that. In the beginning I felt like a fish out of water.
Do you remember your first sell?
One of my first deals, I was helping a single dad, become the first person in his family to own his own home. It’s not the selling part or the commissions it’s all about helping people build happy and fulfilled lives. (She modestly drives a Honda Pilot so when she says she’s not in it for the commissions, believe her).
You’ve only been in the business 7 years, how’re you in the position you’re in now?
I’ve been in real estate for 7 years—since 2013. I used to be with Keller-Williams, and had my own team, (among those who joined her new brokerage were her husband—a co-owner of Godwyn & Stone, brother, and her best friend) everything has been so organically built, it’s almost laughable. Selling the Big Easy began when I was still at Keller Williams, but due to restrictions and other things—I’m still on such great terms with everyone and they are so supportive, I decided to branch out on her own, and create my own Brokerage.
Why do you think you’ve been so successful in New Orleans?
New Orleans really is my heart and soul. I’m born and raised here. I’m unsure how our brokerage would do in other markets, but in New Orleans--a city about authenticity and kindness, I’ve been able to build something special.
When we think about commission based professions, like real estate, how does someone maintain passion for the job, and not just for making the commissions?
We have a steady stream of business and we’re very successful. So I’ve told my team, don’t ever let your financial needs hinder you from making the best decision for your client. If I gotta spot you and pay a couple of bills, whatever you need I’ll do it. But reputation is everything, especially in a city like New Orleans, and any good you do comes back to you.
We’re inundated with shows about real estate and home renovation, so how does Selling the Big Easy differ?
What makes Selling the Big Easy different is that the show is driven by the characters of the city. I of course am the host, and a huge personality, but the cities amazing architecture and delicious food is another selling point, we’re focused on the city and its people.
As a millennial woman, I find it completely daunting the thought of looking for a house. Is this a good time to begin looking for your first house?
This is such a good time to buy. If you can get locked into a great interest rate—even if the rates change a little, you just gotta make sure your monthly note is a place you’re comfortable with.
When you’re talking clients on, how is it that you get to know them in order to find them the best property?
First, I’d want to get to their your personality, what’s important to them as far as neighborhood and walk-ability, so I’d start with a buyers analysis. Then I look at what I call, “what’s in your wallet” –which is how much can you afford. It’s not really about how much you’re approved for, as much as what you can actually afford to pay each month.
What’s the biggest hurdle you see in young adults preparing for home ownership?
The biggest thing is just knowledge, and figuring out what their best monthly note is. A lot of times people come in wanting the sun, the moon, and the stars, but they can only actually afford the moon and maybe one star! It’s compromising and saying you know what—you’re not in this range yet, I know you want to be, but I don’t want to make you house poor. So it’s having a good agent that actually loves you, and to walk you through, and say look at your bills and be conscious about it.
Godwyn & Stone is an interesting name, where did it come from?
I love that you asked that. I had originally wanted to call our company Picolo-Ramos Realty, but it just wasn’t sitting well on my heart, so I was just praying about it. I had been in Nashville with my sister, going through some family albums and all of a sudden I noticed what ended up being an old family crest. Godwyn was my 3rd great-grandfather, and the name means God-friend. I knew then that was the name for our brokerage.
What do you hope Selling the Big Easy does for the city of New Orleans?
As a city, New Orleans has been through so much pain. I hope that the show opens the door for people to experience the joy, strength, and community of New Orleans. Not only for the people who live here, but for folks who’ve never even been to the city. There is something about New Orleans, and it’s gonna introduce to people, the charm and the beauty, and place the attention on the things that need attention—the history, the people, the food, the music, the culture.
Is there a takeaway you’d like the viewers to have after watching the show?
Hopefully when people see all this love, hope, joy, and all this goodness, it will bleed through the rest of the United States and bring healing.
Selling the Big Easy premieres Friday, September 11th at 9pm ET, with two back-to-back episodes, on HGTV and HGTV GO.
