We are in the business of excess. It is not uncommon for us to sell second, third, or even fourth homes. We solve a business problem for high-net-worth sellers and offer affluent buyers the world's finest homes in our luxury real estate marketplace. That is the reality of our business.

There is nothing wrong with the business we have chosen to be in. We identified a problem in the market and created a solution. But while we are curating the world’s most elite properties for the wealthy, there are millions living in poverty who still need their first home.

Facing that hard truth left us wondering: is this another problem we can solve?

Our History of Giving Back 

This is a conversation that President Laura Brady and I have been having since the founding of Concierge Auctions. In our early years, our team gave back by volunteering on Habitat For Humanity builds. Then in 2015, we met Blake Andrews and Caroline Pinal.

Andrews and Pinal are former employees of TOMS, the company founded by Blake Mycoskie, who pioneered the One for One® giving movement. On a giving trip in El Salvador and Nicaragua, Andrews and Pinal saw firsthand the dismal living conditions of the people of Nicaragua. They were inspired to do something about it.

The pair founded Giveback Homes to infuse social responsibility into the real estate industry. Their trusted network of real estate professionals is dedicated to creating social change. Their members help families in need build new homes through membership and donations to organizations such as Habitat For Humanity.

When we learned about Giveback Homes, we knew we had to get involved. We began partnering with them at events and funding builds. But the real shift happened winter 2016, when part of our team, including myself, traveled to Nicaragua to aid in the construction of a home for a family in need.

As part of our participation in the 2016 Nicaragua build trip, we created a documentary film, La Esperanza, telling the life-changing story of Carla Sanchez and her family, the home’s recipients.

Our New Key For Key™ Program

Going to Nicaragua on a build project was life-changing for me. Since that experience, I’ve been working with our team to create a program to maximize the good we can do in this region, which really needs our help.

We are proud to announce that we have launched the next level of our ongoing work with Giveback Homes. Our new program, named Key for Key™, guarantees that a new home will be built for a family in need for every property that we sell this year. Our initial commitment will equate to over 100 homes through the balance of this year. Many of these projects will be concentrated in Nicaragua, where the need for safe housing is critical.

So far, Giveback Homes and their agent members have funded over 50 houses in areas where housing is desperately needed, including Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador. Our new Key for Key™ program, which will dramatically accelerate the good work being done, was directly inspired by the TOMS One for One® giving model.

“Giveback Homes has created an opportunity in real estate that goes far beyond donated dollars,” says Blake Mycoskie, Founder of TOMS. “The collaboration with Concierge Auctions will dramatically improve the lives of families living in poverty and set a new standard for business in real estate. I applaud every member of Giveback Homes, and all future companies that join the Giveback Homes movement.”

“There are a lot of people who say they’re going to do something and then never do. Ever since we first connected with Chad Roffers and Laura Brady, they’ve done exactly what they said they would do. Whether it’s mobilizing their Austin team on a build day, or sending team members to Nicaragua, they’ve continually deepened their giving. This new program will change the lives of over 100 families, for generations,” says Blake Andrews, founder of Giveback Homes.

Thank You For Making This Possible

We look forward to transforming the lives of many families, not only by providing roofs over their heads, but also by granting the empowerment and financial stability that comes with homeownership.

Key for Key™ would not be possible without the clients that we work alongside. Each donation will be made on behalf of the seller, buyer, and agents in our corresponding sale. We’ll also be actively inviting our clients, vendors, and friends to participate with us to make this an even greater movement.

We believe that every business has a responsibility to make a positive impact on the world. We are blessed to have the resources to be able to fund an impactful program of this magnitude, and we are humbled to stand alongside our partner, Giveback Homes, who has already made great strides in this movement.

Key for Key™ will begin with the sale of MLB player Matt Kemp’s San Diego County home on April 20th, and continue with every property we sell in 2017.

If you would like more information or to participate in Key for Key™, please call 212.202.2940, reach out to me, Chad Roffers, directly, or visit www.conciergekeyforkey.com.