With his easy humor, down-to-earth charm and love of the Lord, Henry Walker is as authentic as the vast expanses of land he sells throughout Middle Tennessee.
He grew up on a cattle farm. Met Lisa, his wife of 34 years who he adores, on a blind date. Dinner at BrickTop’s qualifies as a big night out. And they worked like crazy, Henry in supply chain management; Lisa as a dental hygienist, while raising their (count ‘em) …….. eight children! (Before we go further, let’s call the roll: daughters Maggie, 35; Molly, 34; Jill, 24; and sons Hank, 33; Pritchard, 31; Dylan, 30; Eden, 27; and Brody, 18.)
“I’m a country boy at heart, who got lucky and married up,” says Henry. “A lot of those years were a blur with a large family because, truthfully, we were just trying to get to the next day and, by the grace of God, they’ve turned out to be good people.”
It came as no surprise in 2019, just when it looked like the time to tap the brakes was approaching, that Henry would accelerate into a second career in real estate. In doing so, he was following Lisa’s lead of two years earlier. By 2020, they formed Walker Luxury + Land and have realized steady growth every year. “It was something I had wanted to do for years but couldn’t take the risk with so many mouths to feed and living check-to-check,” says Lisa. “But once we had only one child at home, I decided to go for it.”
By the time Henry jumped in, there was no looking back. He invested heavily in his education, something that he and Lisa continue to do. (“The more you know, the more you know,” he says.) He’s on track to become an Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) later this year, of which there are fewer than 40 out of the 35,000+ real estate professionals in Tennessee.
The lure of large land sales aligns with his roots in rural Ripley, Mississippi. He targets properties of any size with a focus on large-tract farm and ranch listings. Walker Luxury and Land’s portfolio of sales boasts some of the most beautiful farms in Tennessee.
“We’ve sold some absolute stunners,” says Henry. “We market to a lot of places and we network with investors from around the nation.”
Clients range from developers to individuals looking for a rural retreat. Along the way, the Walkers have developed a reputation for knowledge. “People appreciate it when you can talk to them intelligently about their options, especially when it comes to things like zoning, because that can influence the price,” says Henry. “And location is always a factor. An acre might be more valuable in Williamson County than it is in Giles County.”
The Walkers are active members of Church of the City in Franklin. They’re also members of The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County where you may have seen them as they volunteer at many festivals, including their favorite, Dickens of a Christmas. They live in Leipers Fork but are patiently seeking a historic home. “I’m passionate about historical homes, pretty much obsessed,” says Lisa. “I love the architecture and the stories and history behind the house. You can build a replica but it’s not the same without the history or the original character.”
Because in the end, authenticity is what matters the most. WalkerLuxuryAndLand.com
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"Away from work, we like to travel and we love Hawai’i, especially Maui. The people there are wonderful and many of them lost everything in the recent wildfires. If you can, please consider buying produce from Maui. The pineapples are the best in the world and your purchase will help with relief and recovery." ~ Lisa and Henry Walker
