Houman Mahboubi's Beverly Hills: Inside His World of Luxury Retail Real Estate
Written by Arielle Harris | Photography by Circumpunct Studio
With real estate in Beverly Hills being a highly valued commodity, having the top real estate agents on board is imperative. One of these names plastered across the city’s many luxury commercial real estate properties is Houman Mahboubi.
Growing up in Beverly Hills, Houman is familiar with the city’s layout, businesses, and changes. Like many Persian families during the Iranian Revolution, Houman’s family immigrated from Iran to the States for safer living conditions. His family settled in Los Angeles, a place he was already somewhat accustomed to since he had family he frequently visited. Once his family built roots in their new community, Houman’s father and brothers began to make investments for the family. They invested in Los Angeles and the Beverly Hills Triangle real estate to diversify their portfolio. Since then, Houman has been present for the changes and transformations Beverly Hills has undergone over the last 45 years. Unlike many modern-day real estate agents, Houman understands the context and history of the city, as he has seen the evolution and growth firsthand. “Beverly Hills has always been a luxurious shopping destination, but over the past two decades, it has improved even more in the areas of entertainment, restaurants, and hospitality,” shares Houman. “Top luxury brands and chefs want to own property on Rodeo Drive, so they have a long-term home in the city. Beverly Hills is now the first choice for brands to showcase their products, confirming that we’re at the epicenter of luxury.”
Upon graduating from USC, Houman entered the property management family business. Initially, he did not find his calling there and decided to pursue a career in entertainment. After ten years in the industry, Houman was drawn back into real estate as a commercial advisor and consultant. He found his niche and passion in high-street retail and luxury leasing, sales, and investments. Now 7 years at JLL, he now works as the Managing Director of Retail Advisory and has received Top Gun Achievement awards in 2021 and 2022, plus was named one of the Top Brokers in retail three years in a row by CoStar Power Brokers. Securing the highest market value for his clients, Houman has closed multimillion-dollar transactions with some of the largest commercial real estate partners. In addition to his tremendous work in real estate, Houman also launched a podcast early this year called “Business of Luxury with Houman Mahboubi,” where he hosts conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and influencers who lead in the world of luxury. Some recent guests include Anish Welwani, Todd Johnson, and Kathy Gohari.
Despite his achievements, Houman says that his most valued accomplishment is the family he has made with his wife, Maria. A friends-to-lovers romance story, the two met at Beverly Hills’s own Il Pastaio and developed a relationship built on trust and friendship. “I believe that friendship is the most important thing in a relationship,” advises Houman. “It is what keeps you excited about being with each other, the small moments and the laughter. When you genuinely like your partner in addition to loving them, the relationship is much more rewarding.” Houman and Maria have been married for almost 20 years. “I followed my heart to marry who I loved even though she was from a different culture because I knew she would be the best person for me,” says Houman. “Having a loving, caring, and happy family is the foundation for everything else we want to achieve for ourselves and the world.” Houman and Maria have three children, Hannah (17), Joshua (14), and Abigail (9), as well as their adorable Golden Cavapoo, Ryder (2).
While Houman was born in Iran, Maria was born in Ecuador and moved to the States to study communications and marketing at Loyola Marymount University; she has been a United States resident ever since. Now a real estate agent at Mahboubi Luxury Estates and one of the top 10 percent producers of the AKG/Christie’s International Real Estate Group, Maria is part of the number one luxury real estate team in Los Angeles, working alongside Houman’s sister, Haleh. In addition to her successful real estate career, Maria works independently as a Somatic Coach, helping individuals understand the relationship between emotions, sensations, and how people’s stories appear in their bodies. Initially, Maria focused on Somatic Healing, an in-person experience meant to regulate the nervous system. However, due to the restraints of the pandemic, she pivoted to remote coaching and instruction.
Houman and Maria are committed to making the world a better place through individual, familial, and philanthropic efforts. They are proud supporters of Jewish organizations and international charities and raise their children to be kind to anyone regardless of race, gender, nationality, class, or other identifiers. Inspired by the philosophy of Gandhi, Houman aspires to live a life matching his values. “If I am blessed to help one person,” says Houman, “I realize it is affecting many lives simultaneously. I consider those moments, moments of great achievement. That is what fulfills me. How we make people feel is truly what our goal should be. People always remember this about you, not what you wear, how much wealth you have, or where you live.” In addition to his philanthropic efforts, Houman is also on the board of directors for the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and The Rodeo Drive Committee. As a long-standing member of the city, Houman takes pride in giving back to the community that raised him. “We all may be very different,” shares Houman, “but we have one thing in common: we want the best for our city.”
In his spare time, Houman is an avid football fan and frequently watches sports games. “My dream would be to own an NFL franchise,” laughs Houman. “There is no greater medium that allows people to come together, than sports.” Houman also loves spending time with his family, especially visiting Beverly Hills businesses on Canon, South Beverly Drive, Brighton Way, and Rodeo Drive for dining and shopping. “The safety and the access that we have to the most prestigious brands, fine dining, hospitality, and people is what makes this city so unique and a special place to live and work,” proudly concludes Houman