Pleasanton, CA — January 17, 2025 — NextHome is proud to announce our newest addition to the franchise, NextHome New Phase Realty, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The brokerage joins the growing NextHome franchise, which currently has over 600 active office locations across the country.
NextHome New Phase Realty serves clients throughout Lake Charles, Moss Bluff, Sulphur, Carlyss, Westlake, Ragley, and the remainder of Calcasieu Parish.
NextHome New Phase Realty is owned by Mark Fontenot, a Lake Charles-area native and high-producing real estate professional.
Mark spent almost two decades in public service before becoming a licensed real estate agent in 2020. Mark’s lifetime in the area and his community-focused career makes him an invaluable resource for every client.
“As a real estate professional, I am able to serve people and elevate their lives in a really tangible way,” Mark said. “That’s what attracted me to real estate in the first place, and that’s what drives me to work relentlessly for every client. You will not find anyone with a stronger work ethic.”
Mark’s solid work ethic helped him achieve top-producer status starting his first year in the business. Working with local franchises, Mark has consistently ranked among the top 25-30 agents in his region. This achievement is especially remarkable in a small region saturated with more than 800 active agents.
“While I am honored to be recognized as a top producer, I am even more proud that I achieved that distinction because of continuous client referrals,” Mark said. “The support I’ve received from my clients has been incredible, and it’s really what drives me. Even just four years in, I’ve been able to stay at the top of my industry and compete with people who’ve been doing this for 15 years or more. Having a business that can thrive on referrals shows me that people value what I do, and it motivates me to keep doing my best.”
Eventually, Mark knew that opening his own franchise was the next step for his ever-evolving career. After hearing about NextHome from a colleague, Mark knew the franchise stood out among real estate companies.
“NextHome leans into the real reason real estate exists as a career: the people who buy and sell houses,” Mark said. “Without clients, we don’t have a business and NextHome was willing to be honest about what the core of our jobs really is. No other company anywhere in the world puts its focus so specifically on putting Humans Over Houses. It takes courage to be authentic in a world filled with corporate double-speak, and that resonates deeply with me.”
Today, NextHome New Phase Realty is a brokerage where clients can experience relaxed real estate experiences with down-to-earth agents who always put people first.
“No one will work harder for you and your dreams than NextHome New Phase Realty,” Mark said. “We understand the area, we understand the market, and we can’t wait to help you find the perfect property.”
As the brokerage continues to grow, NextHome New Phase Realty is a home for driven agents with a passion for helping other people.
“On a corporate level, NextHome is a company that is going to stand behind their people and do what it takes to help them succeed, and NextHome New Phase Realty is an extension of that approach to agent support,” Mark said. “Whatever has to be done to help you get to where you need to go, I’m behind you, the company is behind you, and our clients can rest assured that their transaction is a team effort.”
As a lifelong local, Mark is dedicated to his community and serving the people who live here. Mark has an extensive history of coaching youth sports and also enjoys helping local animal shelters.
Mark and his wife, Noel, have been together for 25 years and are the proud parents of three daughters: Julia, Raelyn, and Kinsley, and the proud grandparents of Colson Mark.
Please join us in congratulating Mark on the opening of NextHome New Phase Realty in Lake Charles, Louisiana!
Interested in being a part of the NextHome Real Estate Franchise? Contact VP of Sales Charis Moreno at Charis@NextHome.com.
Each office is an independently owned and operated business.