‘Family Empire: Houston’: Braden Real Estate Group Showcases Black Generational Wealth in OWN Series

OWN’s new reality series, Family Empire: Houstonspotlights black real estate, luxury and generational wealth.

And of course, the action takes place in one of America’s black meccas: Houston. The Carlos King-produced series follows the lives of the Braden family, spanning generations. Their work in real estate began with their grandparents decades ago, and the granddaughters have taken over and expanded the empire beyond the grandparents’ wildest dreams. While real estate is the focal point, the inner workings of the family also take center stage.

Working with family isn’t always easy, as the series shows. The merger of in-laws makes things even more difficult, especially when marital drama comes into play. But the Braden women are determined to keep the family business thriving. Throughout the episodes, viewers get a first-hand educational lesson on how real estate can create wealth on a generational level that no other industry can.

“Generational wealth is definitely something that’s very important in our family. And I will say one thing: Real estate is a great way to build generational wealth,” JaQuita Montgomery-Martin told Blavity’s Shadow and Act in a chat ahead of the Season 1 premiere. JaQuita, Jermeshia’s younger sister and Nicole’s cousin, trained as a pharmacist but now works for Braden Real Estate Group.

“This is what our grandparents instilled in us and showed us how to do and continue to do. We definitely want to make sure that we’re creating a lasting impact on future generations,” she added. “And the main way we do that is through real estate. So we’re trying to get as many people involved in educating the community about real estate as possible because it’s the easiest and most effective way to build generational wealth.”

If you look at any social media platform, your algorithm probably includes new homes. Texas remains an ideal state for most people because of the quality of life at an affordable cost. Nicole Braden Handy, the face of Braden Real Estate Group, said there’s a reason everything is bigger in Texas.

“We have a range of homes, and you get what you pay for, and a home here, when you look at the size of the home for the price compared to most other cities, it’s more here,” Handy explained.

“Houston is one of those cities that allows you to start seizing the opportunities to look for ways to build that generational wealth through inheritance. We have so many clients who started here just by buying their primary residence, and are now buying investment properties.”

If wealth and family drama aren’t enough to keep you listening Family Empire: HoustonThe family matriarch is the cherry on top. Their beloved grandmother, Oscarene Braden, emerges as the star of the show. She has passed down her knowledge to the ladies, even paying for their real estate training. Jermeshia Goudeau said their grandmother’s involvement in the show is the best part of the experience and solidifies the foundation of love and family unity.

“We were surprised (that our grandmother agreed to participate). In the pitch meetings, the producers asked us if we thought our grandmother would want to be a part of it. And we were afraid to ask,” Goudeau said. As Nicole’s right-hand woman and co-founder, broker Jermeshia balances the weight of the family business with the complexities of her personal life. But she smiles while doing it all.

“She became a superstar,” she gushed about her grandmother. “She took it with a lot of grace and was very open. Grandma doesn’t understand reality TV, so it makes her feel authentic and she’s part of that process. She’s just sharing her story with the cameras, and it’s been really good for me. It’s been a great experience. Even if it ends up being like some of the more dramatic shows on the network, I got to film that show, and it’s going to go down in history with my grandmother.”

Family Empire: Houston airs every Friday on OWN.