Walker Stewart’s journey in Santa Fe real estate is not typical. A longtime investment management professional, Walker worked in marketing for Santa Fe’s Thornburg Investment Management for the better part of a decade. His career in finance extends to 1994, when he first earned his FINRA Series 7 license and worked at a firm owned by The Principal in Houston. From there, Walker went to work as an institutional money markets trader at American General Corporation. One of his trading relationships there was with AIM Management Group (now part of Invesco), also in Houston and he was later lured from American General by AIM, going to work in the institutional marketing group there as a portfolio desk liaison. As Walker honed his skills over the years in marketing for investment management firms, he happened into a conversation with Thornburg Investment Management’s then marketing director. When he first went to work for Thornburg and moved to Santa Fe in 2002, Walker worked across asset classes in equity and fixed-income. Walker's work at Thornburg Investment Management and at other managers (such as USAA Investment Management in San Antonio) in the following years lent him a professional and technical understanding of monetary policy, economic issues, and the bond markets and how they interact to drive mortgage markets, which are central to the housing markets. Mortgage markets and what drives them are topics Walker writes on frequently on his blog, www.thenewmexicolife.blog.

But the extensive experience in finance and marketing aren’t responsible for his success in real estate. Walker has a deep a family background in the field. He grew up hearing contracts being negotiated, hearing clients calling at odd hours, watching contractors scurrying to complete work, and witnessing title companies racing to make closing dates. The real estate business is in his bones, but Walker believes it’s his commitment to the Santa Fe community that makes him effective. Walker works according to a strategic plan; focused and organized, he exploits his expertise in finance and investment management, emphasizes excellent marketing, and works with diligence, professionalism, diplomacy, understanding, and empathy for clients.