The Golden Rule

At Hammond International Properties, a people-first philosophy reshapes luxury real estate—where relationships, not transactions, define the experience.

By Christina Armanious | Photography by Tyler McKeag

There’s a certain kind of trust that forms when you really get to know the person behind a business—not just the work, but what drives it. It’s the same instinct that draws you into a particular boutique, hoping to work with the person who left that impression in the first place.

Jerry Hammond is exactly that kind of figure. As the founder of Hammond International Properties, a boutique luxury real estate brokerage, he represents a markedly different side of the industry—one that feels far removed from the dramatized portrayals I’ve come across on shows like Selling Sunset, where agents are pitted against each other in pursuit of a sale.

Instead, Hammond’s brokerage operates as the antithesis: a carefully cultivated, collaborative environment shaped by his considered leadership and grounded in a shared commitment to exceptional, white-glove service and a spirit of optimism.

What ultimately defines Hammond’s approach is a deliberate departure from the traditional, transaction-driven brokerage model—toward something far more relationship-focused. That vision was established from the outset: “I wanted to build a boutique firm that prioritizes relationships, trust, and exceptional service rather than volume,” Hammond says.

Within the brokerage, that thinking shapes a distinctly people-first culture. “Our culture is grounded in the Golden Rule—treating people the way we would want to be treated,” he says. “A good attitude and genuine care for people are essential to success in this business.”

That begins with hand-picking every member of the team through a highly selective process, ensuring each agent is fully aligned in both mindset and focus. Everyone operates exclusively within the luxury market, creating a shared standard across the brokerage and eliminating the disconnect often found in more generalized firms. 

The structure is intentionally collaborative. Agents work across distinct neighbourhoods but remain closely connected, sharing insights, opportunities, and off-market knowledge, resulting in a dynamic where success is often driven from within the team itself.

This same attention carries through to the client experience. For Hammond, luxury is not defined by price point alone, but by the level of care that surrounds every interaction. “It’s strictly white-glove service,” he says. “We’re constantly asking how we can improve, how we can better serve our clients—and we set the bar very high for ourselves.” That perspective extends beyond service alone. Ultimately, it comes down to this: “We connect extraordinary homes with extraordinary people and help clients imagine the lifestyle a property enables.”

Long before founding his award-winning brokerage, Hammond had already distinguished himself at the highest level of the industry, ranking among the top 25 agents worldwide out of more than 100,000 during his time with RE/MAX.

With that success came new possibilities. He was approached to launch a luxury division within the brokerage; however, the vision didn’t align. Where the company remained broadly focused, he saw the value in specialization, believing luxury demanded a more deliberate, singular approach. 

Rather than compromise, he stepped away. What followed was a period of global exploration, studying boutique firms around the world that had successfully defined themselves through clarity of purpose and identity. Those insights would ultimately shape the foundation of Hammond International Properties two and a half years later. Reflecting on that time, Hammond says, “ We got it exactly where we wanted it to be. When we launched to the public, it took off right away; there was no other company strictly focused on luxury.”

Today, his eponymous brokerage represents some of the most sought-after properties locally and internationally, with average sales between $6 million and $7 million, and listings reaching up to $25 million.

Since then, that trajectory has only continued to build. This year, the company’s success was affirmed on a global stage. Hammond International Properties was named the world’s best luxury real estate firm in the single-office category at the International Property Awards in London, U.K.—an honour judged by a panel of more than 100 industry experts, including four members of the British peerage. For Hammond, the recognition carries particular weight. “It’s like the Oscars for us,” he says, reflecting on the achievement. “Our team is so focused on moving forward that sometimes, we forget to stop and really celebrate the achievements. This was a proud moment for the team and me, and we were incredibly honoured to receive this recognition on a global stage.” 

But for Hammond, that accolade is only part of the story. The broader ambition lies in reshaping the industry. Internally, the brokerage has developed a masterclass, set to launch in October 2026, designed to break down not just what they do, but how and why they do it. “We’ve changed the way our business operates—our entire model is different from most organizations,” he says. “The goal is to raise the standard of the industry and how people perceive real estate agents.”

In many ways, his vision speaks to something larger than the homes themselves: a rethinking of what luxury real estate can be. In place of spectacle or scale, Hammond has built a model defined by intention—one that prioritizes discretion and a deeply considered client experience. And at its core, it remains rooted in something far simpler: how people are treated will always matter most.