Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Morris.
Hi Madison, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My career did not begin in real estate. I started in advertising and had the opportunity to work with some of the industry’s leading agencies and brands, including CP+B in Boulder and Leo Burnett in Sydney. That experience gave me a strong foundation in branding, strategy, storytelling and understanding what makes people connect with a company, person, or an idea.
I transitioned into real estate in 2020, during the pandemic. At the time, I simply knew that I had always been drawn to real estate, architecture and interior design, and I was ready to work hard and build something of my own. One of the things I quickly came to love about the industry is that your path is truly what you make of it. There is no single starting point and no ceiling on what you can create if you are willing to keep learning, work hard and surround yourself with the right people.
I joined MODUS Real Estate in Denver and began learning more about real estate & development through its founders Skyler Moore, Ben Gearhart, and Chuck Moore. They had created something that felt genuinely different: a collaborative brokerage built for entrepreneurial agents, with a strong connection to development and a culture that encouraged people to think beyond a traditional real estate career. I was fortunate to learn from them and eventually become their business partner as we expanded MODUS into Austin.
Austin was a natural next chapter for me personally and professionally. My husband was born and raised here, and we believed MODUS could bring something unique to such a fast-growing market. Alongside my Austin business partners, Lawrence Pritchett and Phillip Chang, we began building the Austin brokerage while staying closely connected to the strong foundation the team had already created in Denver.
As we became more involved in Austin’s growth, we saw a clear need for a more integrated way to support builders and developers. That led us to expand MODUS Development Services, or MDS, as a platform that could help guide projects from acquisition and early strategy through positioning, marketing, sales and final sellout. We are continuing to build MDS in both Austin and Denver, supported by the established MODUS brokerage and the development experience of GM Development.
I feel incredibly grateful for the partners, agents, clients and developers who have trusted us along the way. We are still learning and evolving, but that is part of what makes this chapter so exciting. MODUS and MDS have allowed us to live out what first attracted me to real estate: the opportunity to work hard, build alongside great people and create something with no predetermined ceiling.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road, but I think every challenge has helped shape the business we are building today. Starting a real estate career in mid-2020 was an interesting time because no one really knew what to expect or what the market would look like. Fortunately, I had a strong network of people in Denver who already knew and trusted me, which helped me build momentum and get my career off to a great start during those first few years.
Expanding into Austin brought a different set of challenges. It was a new market for me, but I was incredibly fortunate to partner with Lawrence and Phillip. Their relationships, knowledge and experience in Austin made the transition much smoother. Even with great partners, opening a second office and growing a small business is never easy, especially in 2023, when the market had shifted significantly from the rapid pace of 2021 and early 2022.
In many ways, though, that timing was a blessing in disguise. The slower market gave us the opportunity to be more intentional and focus on building the business we truly wanted. We were able to spend time developing our culture, team, systems and long-term vision instead of feeling pressured to grow too quickly. Being named one of Austin Business Journal’s Best Places to Work within our first year was an incredible honor and made us feel like we were building something meaningful.
Like most small-business owners, we have learned that there is always more work to do. We are continuing to build the right team, processes and systems to make the experience as seamless as possible for our agents, clients and development partners. Real estate is always changing, especially in markets like Austin and Denver, so we are continuing to learn, adapt and grow while staying thoughtful about the kind of company we want MODUS to become.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about MODUS Real Estate?
MODUS is a real estate company with offices in Austin and Denver, built to empower agents, support developers and create a positive impact in the communities we serve. We work across residential, commercial, investment and new-development real estate, so our clients range from first-time homebuyers to experienced investors and developers bringing entire communities to market.
At the brokerage level, we focus on helping entrepreneurial agents build profitable, sustainable businesses. We provide the technology, marketing, mentorship, operational support and collaborative environment they need to grow while still giving them the freedom to create a career that fits their individual goals. We believe that when agents are supported and able to focus on serving their clients, everyone has a better experience.
MODUS Development Services, or MDS, is a major part of what sets us apart. Through MDS, we partner with builders and developers from acquisition through disposition. Our team helps with feasibility, product and pricing strategy, positioning, branding, marketing, lead generation, sales execution and transaction coordination. We also bring together resources across mortgage, title, marketing and operations to create a more seamless process. We currently have more than $1 billion in combined closed and active pipelines across more than 20 projects in Austin.
What makes MODUS different is the combination of local expertise, integrated services and a truly collaborative culture. Our ethos is, “Go fast alone. Go far together.” We believe there is enough opportunity for everyone, and we are better when we share knowledge, support one another and bring different areas of expertise to the table. Participation in development is an opportunity for our agents, not a requirement. We want people to be able to grow in the direction that best fits their strengths and goals.
Within MODUS, Lawrence, Phillip and I lead our production team, Austin Locals Group. We are supported by our executive assistant, Alison Wingate, and agents Daniella Garza, Lauren Holamon and Stefano Chavez. Together, we specialize in helping buyers, sellers, investors and developer clients across the Austin and Denver markets. Each person brings different strengths and expertise, allowing us to provide thoughtful, hands-on guidance across traditional residential sales, investments and new development. We are proud to be recognized amongst the top-producing real estate teams in Central Texas.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that MODUS feels true to who we are. We care about innovation and strong marketing, but the foundation is our people and the experience we create for our agents, clients and partners. Being named the Austin Business Journal’s number one Best Place to Work in our first year was incredibly meaningful because it reflected the culture our team helped us build.
Ultimately, we want people to know that MODUS is about more than completing transactions. We are building careers, helping shape thoughtful developments and creating a company that can grow without losing its local relationships or sense of community. Our goal is to elevate how real estate businesses are built and sustained while continuing to learn, improve and serve both Austin and Denver at a high level.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned is to surround yourself with ambitious, smart and hardworking people who challenge you to keep learning, work harder and think bigger. Just as important, I have learned to look for people who lead with optimism, leave their egos at the door and are genuinely willing to support one another.
Our ethos at MODUS is, “Go fast alone. Go far together,” and that has proven true throughout my journey. I believe I could have built a successful business on my own, but I could never have created the same level of impact that we are building together. Our six-person leadership team across Austin and Denver brings different strengths, experiences and perspectives to the table. We complement one another well, which allows us to think big and move quickly on ideas that can positively impact our business, agents, clients and development partners.
I have also learned that I will never know everything there is to know about real estate, which is one of the most exciting things about the industry. There are always new facets, specialties and opportunities to explore. I am grateful to keep learning from the people around me, especially my supportive family and friends. I am particularly thankful for my husband, Michael, who is always the first to step in and support me, both personally and professionally. I am excited to continue learning and growing in Austin, Denver and eventually beyond.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://modusrealestate.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modusatx/
