“We’re all just walking each other home.”
Coined by Ram Dass, this phrase captures not just the shape of Natalia Wagner’s storied career as a luxury real estate agent and interior designer; it also reflects the topography of her own life’s journey—a lifelong quest to find the home that all of us are searching for.
Natalia’s journey began in Santiago, Chile. “I never had a made, perfect home growing up,” she recalls. “We were always moving, always searching. There was always something missing.” By the time she finished her teens, she had lived in at least seven different houses. This constant change sharpened her eye for detail and sparked her imagination—teaching her to “rearrange, readapt, and re-dream” with every move.
Her mother, a successful hairstylist, poured her energy into nurturing Natalia, exemplifying fierce independence and perseverance. “She taught us customer service at an early age,” Natalia says. Her grandfather, who spent twenty-five years in retail, also instilled in her a deep respect for clients and community.
From Dance to Design
Driven by a passion for dance—spanning hip-hop, ballet, jazz, and ballroom—Natalia found her footing in Los Angeles. She laughs as she recalls dancing “24-7” and working with Michael Jackson’s choreographers and Russian ballet professionals. “It was exhilarating. I was studying dance at a level so intense, it felt like training to be a doctor,” she says.
The stage taught her to read moods and movements—an ability that now helps her guide clients through the stress and anxiety of moving. “Selling a house is like a dance,” she explains. “There are always multiple parties involved—a complicated choreography—and you need to guide everyone without leaving anyone behind.”
Natalia’s biggest life transition came in Las Vegas, where she met the love of her life—a sailor whose career would take them across the United States. “I had everything in Chile—my citizenship, job, family—and I gave it all up for love,” she says proudly. This leap of faith deepened her understanding of what it means to uproot one’s life. “It’s a fragile time, a turning point. You need someone who knows how that feels, who can meet you there, hold your hand, and show you the way.”
The House Whisperer
Natalia immersed herself in visual merchandising, staging, and interior design, eventually becoming the go-to stager for other real estate agents. “When I walk into a house, I listen. I know it sounds strange, but houses talk. They have their own energy and personality,” she says.
In one dramatic staging job, she encountered a home cluttered with bulky, dark furniture that blocked natural light. “I could see in my mind’s eye the airy, organic beauty this home was meant to have,” she explains. “The house was practically begging to be reintroduced to the light it had lost.” Natalia doesn’t hesitate to reimagine layouts, remove heavy couches, or shift decorative accents. “The homes speak,” she insists. “They want to be showcased. They have their own identity.”
“When you’re living in your home, fill it with your personality,” she adds. “But when you’re selling, that’s when I step in as an interpreter—guiding the house into the best version of itself so others can fall in love.”
Overcoming Obstacles
Like any journey, Natalia’s path has had its twists and turns. Language barriers once tested her resilience. “At first I worried about whether I was saying things right, or if my accent would distract people,” she confides. Over time, she came to view her accent and international outlook as assets—a tangible sign of her global perspective and empathy. “It’s a positive reminder that I know what it’s like to be in transition, and I can help a lot of people.”
Transition is Natalia’s specialty. Whether working with first-time buyers on a budget or luxury clients seeking jaw-dropping estates, she meets every person at their moment of change. “They’re insecure and need protection,” she says. “A house is not just numbers; it’s people’s futures. Sometimes, they’re spending every penny they’ve saved.” For Natalia, real estate isn’t transactional—it’s transformational and relational.
Natalia has experienced the magic of “house destiny” firsthand. Skeptical about finding the right place in Louisiana, she and her family once toured a property she was sure she’d dislike, only to be struck by how perfect it felt. “We lost that house to renters for a year, but my heart never left it,” she recalls. Then one day, the owner called out of the blue, asking if she was still interested. “If that’s not destiny, what is? We had a plan—from California to Louisiana, then retire in Florida,” she laughs. “But we fell in love with Louisiana. The relationships here are unlike anything we found elsewhere.”
“I love the sense of belonging here,” she says. “Watching movies with my husband and kids on Friday nights, curled up on the sofa—that moment of peace, of being nestled in your own space, is the purest form of luxury.”
Natalia’s clients often become friends—and sometimes even family. She sometimes sits with an older widow whose children live far away, helping her navigate the sale of a longtime property. “When somebody helps you, it stains your heart in a good way,” she says softly. “They’ll never forget you.”
Customer service, for Natalia, is more than a task—it’s a way of life rooted in empathy and kindness. “We’re all carrying burdens,” she says, “and sometimes we just need someone to see us, to believe in us. That’s why I do what I do.”
Home: The Journey and the Destination
Today, Natalia’s expertise in luxury real estate merges with the warmth and empathy she absorbed from her mother’s busy hair salon. Fueled by creativity, artistry, and an unshakable commitment to walking people home, she continues to transform houses into sanctuaries and strangers into friends. “People think it’s just real estate,” she muses, “but it’s about offering stability, forging relationships, and helping someone find that magical connection when they walk through the right door.”
For Natalia—who has spent her entire life yearning for home—the journey itself has become the destination. And home, as it turns out, has been walking beside her all along.
Contact Natalia Wagner at RealtyOneGroup Immobilia via email at realtornatalia1@gmail.com, by phone at (619) 818-1839, or by website at nataliawagner.myrealtyonegroup.com.