Buying Beverly Hills: Mauricio Umansky Talks Real Housewives & Real Estate

00:00:02
Speaker 1: Stay tuned, We'll get into the conversation right after these quick ads. Hey, rain drop, on today's episode of Reality with the King, I got the uber legend, not only just in real estate, but the uber legend of being the hottest guy on reality television. No, not Peter Thomas Shade. I'm talking about Mauricio Umansky, the star of Buying Beverly Hills and one of our favorites, yes, Kyle Richard's husband on the Real Housewives.

00:00:44
Speaker 2: Of Beverly Hills as well him.

00:00:47
Speaker 1: I get into this amazing series Buying Beverly Hills that's on Netflix, how much I love the show, how he got started in real estate, in addition to what made him be so honest about dealing with his daughters being a part of the company, and how one of the stars of the show deals with race in real estate as well and child y'all know, we get into all things Real Housewives of Billy Hills as we talk about how our favorite Kyle Richards is doing with her sister Kathy Hilton, and getting Mauricio thoughts on it. Without further ado, here is my conversation with Mauricio Umanski. So, Mauricio, look, I am considered the king of reality television. I did over ten years of the Royal Housewives of Atlanta. I did two years of the Royal Housewives of New Jersey. I love the Royal Housewives of Billy Hills. I am obsessed with your wife, Kyle Richards.

00:01:58
Speaker 2: We follow each other on Instagram, so we're fans of each other. But I'm here to talk.

00:02:03
Speaker 1: To you about my new favorite show, Buying Beverly Hills, because when I say to you, Mauricio, we have been begging for a show about the agency for a very long time. And baby, you do not disappoint know that.

00:02:24
Speaker 3: Oh I love you for that, Carlos. So you and I have a couple of things in common. First of all, I'm also obsessed with my wife Kyle Richards, So you and I've got the obsession going on in the same way. And just feel so fun about that and so good about that. And yeah, we are so excited to have brought Buying Beverly Hills, you know, to television on Netflix, and I've gotten such great response from everybody that's watching it, and I really just hope you know that we're able to get season two, three, and four. We still have so much more to offer and so much fun and so much good shit going on.

00:02:58
Speaker 2: Oh, there's a lot of shit going on. So let's get started with this part. You obviously have.

00:03:04
Speaker 1: Been a part of reality TV for a very long time. What made you, sir, venture off into your own show where you are an at but single episode and the commitment, as you know, is big when you're the face of the show.

00:03:23
Speaker 3: Well, you know what, Carlos, Honestly, it's we're already on television, right. I've been doing so much reality television for so many years now. I've worked with Nick Lasha and Jessica Simpson back in the day if you remember the you know their thing, and then obviously everything I've done with the Real Housewives of Beverty Hills. But we just felt that we had something to offer, right, We felt that we could entertain. I was looking at all of our competition and the reality television on the on the real estate side, and I felt that there was another angle to real estate that had not been approached yet. You know, obviously, amazing real estate forms some of the best houses ever on the planet, which you know, there's some really beautiful houses on a lot of the stuff that you've seen, but we just had that level up.

00:04:06
Speaker 4: You know, we leveled up. We had a little extra on that one. You know.

00:04:10
Speaker 3: Secondly, we really wanted to create a show that that appealed to a wide variety of audience. Okay, and what I mean by that, I'm talking about young professionals in their twenties, Okay, graduating high college, going into the workforce. You know, what does it take to be successful in the workforce? Also, you know people in their thirties and forties, you know that are in you know, in any business. It doesn't only have to be in real estate, but you know, in sales and get something out of it that you know, it also taught them. So not only entertains people through the beautiful real estate porn and through some of the drama and all of that stuff, but great a show that also taught a little bit. Yeah.

00:04:51
Speaker 1: Now, listen, I am a huge fan of real estate and watching this show. Yes, the real estate porn is great, and we'll get to the cast as well, but I want to focus on you a bit because I mean, I'm the king of reality TV, but you're the king of real estate, Mauricio, and watching you and the agency grow into being number one in the state of California, and obviously you have different agencies all over the world.

00:05:22
Speaker 2: I want to talk about your start because.

00:05:25
Speaker 1: Like you make me want to, you know, put reality TV on Pauls in order to get my real estate license, because I want to wear a red blazer in my confessionals too. So talk to me about how did you get your start in real estate to the point where Mauricio the Agency is truly the number one real estate agency in the world.

00:05:49
Speaker 4: Well, I love you for saying that.

00:05:51
Speaker 3: That's you know, what it was meant to do is also to be aspirational, right, which is so important for us. But oh my god, Carlos, I got you know, like everybody, you know, we all have stories to tell. And I'm actually writing a book and it's coming out very soon April eleventh, with all of these stories.

00:06:07
Speaker 4: But I'll give you a little bit of a glimpse into it.

00:06:09
Speaker 3: You know, basically, you know, like a lot of people in this world, you know, I struggled.

00:06:14
Speaker 4: You know, I grew up.

00:06:15
Speaker 3: In a relatively wealthy family, but you know, back in the nineties, we lost a lot of money. I went to go take a job in the fashion industry. I got fired from that job right before Christmas, and I got home and I just I was so distraught and hurt and my crying and bawling, and walked in to my wife and I we were in a two bedroom condo with two kids and me and my wife, and you know, she knew immediately what had happened, and she just super supportive said to me, hey, you know, don't worry about it.

00:06:50
Speaker 4: Let's take next steps.

00:06:51
Speaker 3: That was in the fashion business before, by the way, and I always wanted to get into real estate. And she said, listen, let's go get our real estate license. Like this is a right, this is a good oportunity. Let's not make this failure be the failure of ours. Let's make this the opportunity for a new door to open. And she was so supportive, and we actually went together and we made it a date night, and we went together to go get our real estate licenses, and you know, that was when we had, you know, somebody taking care of the kids. We went out there and then I got into real estate. She did, she got her license. She obviously doesn't practice, but then that's when we all started going and I started and I got into sales. It was meant for me. It fit like a glove. I Year one, I made about one hundred and eighty thousand dollars, and I made myself one promise that I would never have a lesser year of the future year that I had the previous year. And I kept that promise now for twenty six years, all the way through starting the agency, and there's just been so many different opportunities in terms of, you know, changing things Carlos.

00:07:48
Speaker 4: And making real estate you know, so much better.

00:07:50
Speaker 3: Real estate was such an archaic thing, and you know, I'm happy to say that I think that we're one of the people, through the agency and myself, that brought sexy in to real estate.

00:08:00
Speaker 4: Right.

00:08:01
Speaker 3: Real estate became sexy ten years ago. It wasn't sexy before. It was selling three bedrooms, two bathrooms, granted countertops, you know, with biking appliances. Right, all of a sudden, ten eleven years ago, when I started the agency, we started brand marketing, we started event marketing, We started throwing the super you know, open house with parties and Lamborghinis and and Tiffany and Dior and all of these things, and all of a sudden, we brought sexy into real estate, and that's what started the agency and we're the ones that created that that that world and really changed you know, real estate, you know, to what it is today. And I think that the agency myself, you know, is what brought and allowed and paved the world to real estate being on you know, sexy enough to be on television for reality shows for people that want to watch it, because the reality is we have amazing architecture, amazing interior design. But we're the ones that brought lifestyle into real estate. Right we sold lifestyle. We never sold the four bedrooms, three baths, you know, granted countertops, that's not what I sold. I always sold lifestyle. What do you do in that particular place right Naspen? You know my house? You know what do I do?

00:09:15
Speaker 4: I hike?

00:09:15
Speaker 3: I go outside. I'm on one of the best hiking trails on the planet. Amazing food, you know, just down the street. Like what am I doing? You know, you're walking your dog? Like that's what we're selling. We're entertaining, We're not like that is what lifestyle sales is all about. And that's what the agency started eleven years ago. And I'm happy to say that we're definitely part of the path that opened it up into into what you know real estate is today and into the sexy. You know, bring the sexy back, baby.

00:09:45
Speaker 1: You're breaking sexy back. You're bringing family back. Because on buying Beverly Hills, we get to see Farah, your daughter, and Alexia, who you said was your favorite. I'm not saying that you said that on this show. And what's beautiful about seeing your two daughters a part of the agency is the fact that their polar opposites in terms of what they do. Farah is definitely, like she said, she is the person who kind of like hosts things together. She's the brainiac. She's so butting up. And then we see Alexia, who to me is she represents Mauricio, every hungry person and whatever filled your part of where.

00:10:30
Speaker 2: You want to be the best.

00:10:32
Speaker 1: And obviously she has to live up to her father and her sister's standards. Was it difficult for your daughters to show that vernability on this show because we see Pharah wanting more out of the job, but we also see Alexia fighting for a position and we see her cry. When you know, other real estate agents think it's favoritism, it's nepotism. Was it challenge for them to be a part of this show knowing that they have to be vulnerable?

00:11:05
Speaker 3: That is such a good question. And you know, these kids were born you know, they weren't born, but they've had a tell they've had cameras on them for twelve years now, thirteen years right now. So Porscha was born with a camera on her pretty much. He was one year old when we started. But you know, I think one of the most beautiful things that they did is really show their authenticity. They were vulnerable. I think everybody was vulnerable, but obviously started with you know, with them, And I think that's what makes one of these shows, what makes Buying Beverly Hill is a great show and an entertaining show to watch. Is that authenticity, that vulnerability, make the mistakes. It's not everybody's perfect, it's not everybody's great, all of those things. I got to tell you, Carlos, one of the things that I've done with my kids, I tell them all in secret that they're all my favorites. So they all laugh now, so I'm allowed to say they're my favorite. You know, they all think they're my favorite. They are all my favorite individuals. So I have four favorites, just.

00:12:01
Speaker 2: Like a typical agent.

00:12:03
Speaker 1: You know, exactly the right things to say, Mauricio, I love it so much. Who I'm patreaterrupt, But stay tuned for more. We'll be right back after these quick ass This is reality with the King and I'm Carlos King. Let's get back into the show. Was it weird for you to see on the show? You know, we saw Alexia with her best friend, fellow agent, and you know this guy who they had a flirty past, Joey. Was it we're as a father to see on this show them talk about like sneaking off when they were younger, to like make god and stuff, and to know that they are working together.

00:12:57
Speaker 2: Is it weird for you.

00:12:58
Speaker 1: As a father and a boss to see that office romance happened earlier on?

00:13:03
Speaker 2: Knowing that these are childhood friends.

00:13:05
Speaker 3: Too, It's definitely weird. I'm not gonna lie. It's uncomfortable. It's weird, especially watching it, you know, But by the same token, it's one of the things that's made us closer and stronger, right, is that you know a lot of times parents and kids they don't talk about certain things, right, like you avoid certain conversations because they're uncomfortable. And one of the things that this, you know, reality television of this show has done is forced us to have conversations that are uncomfortable. And when you have those forced conversations, you actually get a lot closer with you know, with with your kids, or with whoever the other person is. Right, Like, it's been an absolute pleasure and so much fun to work, you know, have the opportunity to work with my family, my kids, and you know, it's it's a dream come true. I mean, what can I tell you, But I think that all through all of this uncomfort, Carlos comes a lot of greatness to it, and it's made us that much closer by having, you know, to watch that, because when you watch reality television, you watch yourself.

00:14:05
Speaker 4: You know.

00:14:05
Speaker 3: One of the things that people don't understand is that you're reflecting on yourself and you actually, for the first time in your life, watch who other people see you as being right. And that's why so much issues with reality television, because you finally watch something you may not like yourself right, like you think you like yourself, but once you watch yourself on television, you actually realize a whole lot a second I'm not a great person, right, So it's been a lot of fun to watch it.

00:14:31
Speaker 4: It's made us a lot closer. It's just been awesome.

00:14:34
Speaker 2: No, it has been awesome.

00:14:35
Speaker 1: And what I love about Buying Beverly Hills because I love all of Netflix's real estate shows, It's very different than Selling the OC and selling Sunset, because you know, I like the fact that on Buying Beverly Hills, you know, the focus primarily is on the cell of the home, and obviously, you know there's always some level of drama within in reality show.

00:14:59
Speaker 2: But what I love about Buying Beverly.

00:15:02
Speaker 1: Hills is it feels so real and so authentic and so genuine. And I don't feel like anyone's playing up for the cameras.

00:15:09
Speaker 2: I don't feel like anyone is.

00:15:11
Speaker 1: Trying to be a caricature of someone else or you know, I'm this person on buying Beverly Hills, everyone seems to be super genuine.

00:15:21
Speaker 2: One of my favorites is Brandon.

00:15:23
Speaker 1: Who I think also is the person you root for because you want to see him win. What was it like when you told your agents that they were going to be a part of reality TV knowing that look selling Sunset is a huge show. So did you all feel the pressure to live up to that or did you feel like, let's be ourselves and let's be the best version we can be.

00:15:50
Speaker 3: God, that's a full question, but you are correct, and you know the cast was just excited to be ourselves. You know, we were going to be authentic, We were going to be true to ourselves. We made a conscious decision to deliver a show that was not out there. We didn't want to be selling OC or selling Sunset. We didn't want to be million dollar listing. We wanted to be ourselves. The agency has a really special culture. It has really you know, we we we really thrive on on this tight knit family environment and culture and we help each other be successful. You know, you just mentioned Brandon Graves. I mean, how can you not root for this guy? Right, Like he's just so charismatic, such a beautiful man working, you know, in a difficult you know time, and you know, as a black man in Beverty Hills, you know, struggling through that. Like you just want him to fucking do it right, like you just and and and that shows and I don't think any other shows. I don't think any other television shows get into that world and that reality and the struggles of what that looks like. And so we really just wanted to be real. We wanted to put it out there and and and hope that people enjoy listening to that and watching that. But we weren't trying to be what everybody else is. We were not trying to be selling Sunset or anybody else. We wanted to create our own show that had its own personality. And we talked to the cast and the rest of the agency, you know, you know, prayed and hope that we would show a little bit about what the agency culture was, and then it would you know, we wouldn't all of a sudden try to become something else in order to keep something. You know, people entertained and all of a sudden, you know, just be creating drama for the sake of drama. There's enough drama in a daily life with you know, people's struggles, you know, in terms of what they're doing, you know, are they door knocking? You know, you know Brandon Graves, you mentioned him, but he says it, you know, door knocking like you know, he's got to be all suited up, looking good, feeling good, you know, to go door knocking, right, Like, that's not the same problem that somebody else has, right. But you know, then you've got somebody like you know, Sonica, you know, is does she have what it takes?

00:17:52
Speaker 4: Is she driven enough? Right?

00:17:53
Speaker 3: And then you have somebody else like Alexia who's got you know, the family dynamic, know, the all of the opportunities there, but does she have the drive to want to do it? Because there's a lot of people, you know, kids, children that have been given things on a silver platter, that've given opportunities, but they don't take advantage of them.

00:18:15
Speaker 4: They don't go do anything, they don't create anything.

00:18:17
Speaker 3: Right, So for me, you know, watching you know, Alexia want to do something amazing, fair A being so driven, all of these kids, I mean, it's just all of the dynamics are just so much fun and so real and and like I said, we wanted to create a show that was authentic to us and then pray and hope that people liked watching it.

00:18:34
Speaker 4: And it seems like people are really enjoying it.

00:18:36
Speaker 3: So you know, I always say, in order to be great, you have to dare to be bad, and we dare to be who we are, and we dared to be bad, and we dared to not you know, just look at what else is successful.

00:18:49
Speaker 4: We dared to do something different and it shows and it's played well.

00:18:53
Speaker 1: Yeah, no, And again, I just want to say thank you for a ton of the story of a black man desiring to be an agent in Beverly Hills, and like you said earlier, and even what brand is him on the show, door knocking is different for a black man in Beverly Hills and it is for his white counterparts, but it's subject matters like that, Mauricio, that Buying Beverly Hills touches on and as a black man who will get into real estate because you're going to be my mentor so know that I appreciated that level of honesty that was displayed because it goes to show you that this show is real. And even the fact that you're raising, obviously children in a world to where they have a lot of access and privilege, but to see that your daughters still want to be the best and that things aren't handed to them. I just wanted to give you all the props in the world for having Buying Beverly Hills showcase the reality of these people's lives that, Yes we.

00:19:55
Speaker 2: Could watch will.

00:19:55
Speaker 1: Essay porn Ondie Long, and yes we could all stare at Mauricio in his suits.

00:20:00
Speaker 2: But it's also nice to know.

00:20:02
Speaker 1: That you're getting something that's relatable to a massive audience.

00:20:06
Speaker 2: I want to make sure that you understood that too.

00:20:08
Speaker 3: Thank you Carlos for saying that, and that was so important for us, and I'm glad that that came through.

00:20:12
Speaker 4: So I'm thrilled that you saw it that way.

00:20:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, of course.

00:20:16
Speaker 1: So before I let you go, you know, this podcast is called Reality with the King, and I have a lot of the Housewives universe on my podcast in addition to my listeners, so it would be remiss.

00:20:30
Speaker 2: Of me not to punk a.

00:20:32
Speaker 1: Little fun at a few things. And I'll let you go in your merry way. So how do you think. I think it's hilarious where people made a nothing burger out of you and Durt, which is your wife's best friend, and saying there's something flirty going on there.

00:20:51
Speaker 4: I laughed.

00:20:52
Speaker 3: I mean when I heard about it, I remember my wife walked in. I was in the showers, coming out of the shower, and she told me about it, and I just fucking laughed.

00:20:58
Speaker 4: I mean, it's just you know, what do.

00:21:00
Speaker 3: You I don't know what to say or what to do there. You know, Peeking's one of my best friends. We all hang out a ton together and sometimes you know, if you if you can't laugh at your own stuff, you're in trouble. If I'm going to get all serious and all bent down of shape.

00:21:16
Speaker 4: Over something like that, there's no way.

00:21:19
Speaker 3: I survived twelve seasons on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and uh, it just be impossible. So you've got to have thick skin when you're on reality television.

00:21:26
Speaker 2: Absolutely absolutely no.

00:21:27
Speaker 1: Look I said it was silly, and listen, we all know that you guys are a great friendship there.

00:21:33
Speaker 2: Obviously, this past season was very rough on Kyle.

00:21:35
Speaker 1: Kathy Hilton was a part of it, and obviously, you being a family man yourself, you saw your wife go through a lot. A lot of people like myself are big Kyle supporters, so we just want to know how is she doing?

00:21:47
Speaker 2: How is everything? Now that the.

00:21:49
Speaker 1: Reunion has aired, Andy Cohen has said the show has been put on pause for a second. It's going to start back in January. But we all love Kyle and we all support Kyle. How is she doing right now?

00:22:02
Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Carlos. She's doing great. We're all in Aspen right now. We have my kids are here. Actually fair I just left, and you know, she's just doing great. She's taking some you know, some much needed time off. She's relaxing, she's chilling, she's in her happy place, doing a lot of walking, get hering herself into shapes. I'll tell you when you guys see her, she you'll never You've never seen a better sexier Kyle than on the next season. I mean, she got herself. She's just been working out every single day. She's in such good shape. And uh and mentally she's she's getting a lot better. I don't think that. I don't think that she and Kathy have made up yet. I don't know if they will, they won't. We've obviously have some weddings to plan, and so hopefully we can have you know, all of the family together for all of the family events coming up.

00:22:53
Speaker 2: Will this wedding be filmed for Buying Billy Hills, Mauricio.

00:22:57
Speaker 4: It's very possible.

00:23:01
Speaker 2: Well, we can't wait to watch it. Mauricio.

00:23:03
Speaker 1: I thank you so much for taking time out of your Business schedule. Listen if you guys haven't binge all of the episodes of Buying Beverly Hills.

00:23:12
Speaker 2: I watched it over the.

00:23:13
Speaker 1: Weekend weeks ago because I am obsessed with real estate. This show did not disappoint you all, and my listeners know, Mauricio, if I don't like anything, I just want to talk about it.

00:23:24
Speaker 2: But I want you all to know this show is really, really good. It's really real, which I know my listeners love to know that.

00:23:33
Speaker 1: And you are going to see some of the sexiest people, some of the sexiest homes, and gosh, you get to see Mauricio and Kyle FaceTime.

00:23:41
Speaker 2: At a very pivotal moment on the show.

00:23:44
Speaker 1: So for the Housewives listeners, you also get to see your fan favorite on the nine to two one no as well.

00:23:50
Speaker 2: So we thank you Mauricio for this.

00:23:53
Speaker 3: Thank you so much, mister King. It's a pleasure to be on the King of Reality with the King. I can't wait to do this again.

00:24:02
Speaker 2: Hi, Mauricio, Yeah, I love him.

00:24:08
Speaker 1: I adore him. He's such a good time. And one thing I'm listening, I wasn't lying, Mauricio. If you're listening, when you open up the Atlanta offices. I'm serious, I want a job because I really want another title on my plate, which is a real estate guru. So you never know, the King of Reality Television may also one day be the King of real Estate. Thank you for listening to Reality with the King. New episodes drop every Wednesday and Friday. Share, comment, follow, and subscribe to Reality with the King. Wherever you get your podcast, visit Reality with THEE King dot com and be sure to follow me at the Carlos King Underscore on Instagram and Twitter.

00:25:04
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00:25:15
Speaker 1: Reality with the King is a production of More Sauce by Stitcher. It is executive produced by Me, Carlos King, and Jasmine Henley Brown. We are also produced by Lashiku, Lotus Lee, and Brandon Nis.

00:25:29
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