When Nicole Handy and Jermeshia Goudeau became licensed real estate agents in 2012, they didn’t set out to start a business.
They just wanted to understand the family business.
Their grandmother, Oscarene Braden, owned rental homes across Northeast Houston—a real estate entrepreneur without formal training, but with deep instincts for ownership and long-term value. For these first cousins, getting licensed was about becoming better investors.
It was personal. It was a legacy.
“She [Oscarene] handed us the checks to go to real estate school,” Handy says. “She didn’t just support us—she put her money where her faith was.”
However, once the cousins entered the industry, they quickly saw a bigger problem.
“There weren’t many people who looked like us in the room,” Goudeau says. “Black women brokerage owners are rare. Black brokers? Even rarer. And that absence impacts everything—access, representation, knowledge.”
So in 2019, they launched Braden Real Estate Group (BREG), named in honor of their family matriarch, with a clear mission to empower their community through real estate education and action. BREG is now one of Texas’s few Black woman-owned brokerages, with a strong presence in Houston and a growing reputation beyond it.
Rooted in family, built on purpose
BREG is more than a business—it’s a family operation. Their sisters are agents. Their aunt manages compliance. Husbands, cousins and even in-laws pitch in. It’s not just about proximity—it’s about values.
“Everybody has a role,” Handy says. “Just like in our family, we bring those dynamics into the business. Respect, clarity, alignment.”
We’re not in this to sell houses. We’re in it to build legacy.
Nicole Handy, Co-Founder of Braden Real Estate Group
This familial structure sets them apart in an industry saturated with independent agents and viral influencers. Handy was a management consultant and Goudeau spent over ten years in publicly and privately held corporations before leaping into entrepreneurship.
“People say, ‘I’m in real estate,’ but they’re not in the business of it,” says Goudeau. “We took our corporate backgrounds and built something structured, sustainable and rooted in excellence.”
In 2024, their family story reached a national audience as stars of Family Empire: Houston on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). The unscripted series follows their family building legacies and Braden Real Estate Group is at the center.
“Being on Family Empire was surreal,” Goudeau says. “We got to show the world not just our success, but the real work behind it.”
And they brought their grandmother with them. Oscarene, now 89, appeared on the show—proof that this story isn’t just aspirational, it’s generational.
“She got her flowers while she’s still here,” Handy says. “That meant everything.”
Visibility on OWN helped amplify their mission: showing viewers that real estate isn’t exclusive. It’s attainable—with the right mindset, tools, and support.
Facing the gap—and fighting it
The mission behind BREG runs deeper than sales. At its core is a commitment to closing the Black homeownership gap—a gap driven by historical exclusion, misinformation and a lack of intergenerational wealth transfers.
“People think they can’t buy a home because their credit isn’t perfect or they don’t have 20% down,” says Handy. “But that’s a myth. You can start with much less. The key is knowing how.”
To address this, BREG hosts frequent homebuyer workshops, educates its agents to become community advocates and promotes a philosophy centered on what is called the “one-home rule.”
“There was one home in our family that changed everything,” Goudeau explains. “That one rental house in Kashmere Gardens gave my family a place to live, save and grow. One home created space for legacy.”
“It wasn’t glamorous,” Goudeau says bluntly. “But it gave us breathing room. And now look where we are.”
That honest, no-frills message is at the core of their strategy: start small, start smart, start now.
Strategic insight in a shifting market
With rising interest rates and increasing skepticism about affordability, Handy and Goudeau are realistic—but not pessimistic.
“The market has changed, yes,” says Goudeau. “But that can benefit buyers. There’s room to negotiate now. You’re not fighting ten other offers. It’s about positioning.”
They stress the importance of working with professionals who understand not just the numbers, but the nuance. “We want clients to buy smart, not fast,” Handy says. “This isn’t about flexing on social media. This is about building equity and options.”
Wealth is more than money. It’s knowledge. And if that knowledge isn’t passed down, the wealth won’t last.
“Generational wealth without education is temporary,” says Handy. “It’s not just ‘here’s a business’—it’s ‘here’s how to run it, grow it, and pass it forward.’”
Their agents are trained to carry this mindset into the field. BREG is expanding, but Handy and Goudeau aren’t rushing. Their focus is still on the impact of shifting mindsets and rewriting the narrative around Black homeownership.
“It starts with one home,” they say. “One move that can change the future for your family.”
4 Real Tips for First-Time Buyers from BREG
1. Start With One.
You don’t need your dream home. Start with what you can afford and build from there.
2. Explore Down Payment Assistance.
Texas has multiple programs that offer grants or deferred loans for first-time buyers.
3. Think Equity, Not Aesthetics.
A less glamorous home in a transitional neighborhood may offer greater long-term value.
4. Work With People Who Understand Your Vision.
Find a culturally competent real estate team that knows your challenges and your goals.
