Madison Hildebrand :: LA's million dollar man

As the third season of the reality series Million Dollar Listing kicks off next week on Bravo, the world of Los Angeles real estate is again the focus as seen through the eyes of three LA real estate agents. Along with Josh and Chad, Madison Hildebrand has made a name for himself as a successful agent as well as for a young, attractive single man who chooses not to call himself gay or bisexual.

EDGE's Jim Halterman talked to the personable Hildebrand about all things real estate including the top three rules for successfully getting a sale as well as about the attention (and feedback) he has received regarding his sexuality label.

3 Real Estate Rules

EDGE: Going into year three of the show, is it easier for you to have cameras following you around all the time?

Madison Hildebrand: It's really not a big deal anymore. I am reminded that the cameras are there when we go to film with new clients or filming in a public area. Then it's kind of like 'people are watching, there's a camera watching me' but for the most part it's pretty easy.

EDGE: What are the top three rules for selling a property successfully?

MH: If I'm representing the seller, I would say step one is property preparation and that means everything from trimming landscaping back to fresh paint to decluttering to really say this is now a product. Step two would be proper exposure and for me that means hiring the right agent, having professional photography, make sure the property is exposed online, make sure you're networking, having caravans, open houses, just getting it out there in front of as many eyes as possible.

The third step is to respond to any offers and don't be the party to stop a negotiation. Work within the offer and create a strategy with the homeowner and find out what is important and what isn't so you can get to a place where both parties are comfortable.

A different style

EDGE: Watching the season premiere, I'm struck by how different you are personality-wise and style-wise than Chad and Josh. How do you think you're different from the other two guys because there are huge differences between all three?

MH: Clearly, we all have different styles of doing business and I would even say different ethics. My business is very much about service, about integrity, about the negotiation and protecting my client's interest and getting them top dollar. I am very focused on what I think a real estate agent should do. Those are my goals and I can't necessarily speak for the others but I get the feeling that there are other things more important than the client.

EDGE: In the past, you've called yourself polyamorous instead of bisexual and some gay people might think that is a cop-out but I'm curious what kind of feedback you've gotten because of that label.

MH: For me to go public on national television and step outside of what the show is supposed to be about - and that's real estate - and my business practice and to allow the viewer in on a very vulnerable topic with my family and with my friends and with my self...it was an intended move because I knew what it took for me to get to that place and if this was an opportunity for me to help by way of demonstration a whole population that may also feel polyamorous or bisexual or whatever you want to call it...

My message [is that] I can have feeling for a woman one day and feel attracted to her and dream about wanting to have a relationship with her and still go to work and be young and successful and totally comfortable in my skin. The next day I can meet a man who totally turns me on for different reasons and I go and explore that. That was really the message that I wanted to send. My sexuality and my journey are up to me. It's not up to anyone else. And no gay community can chastise me by calling it a cop-out or giving any sort of judgment. Anyone who is judging on where I am on my journey needs to stop and reflect and see what's going on with them. Why are they uncomfortable with that? That's just the stance I took all along so anytime I did hear anything, which I have to tell you that there was so much more good than bad, I was inundated with email from people that were in my situation and said 'Thank you for being a role model on TV. That's exactly how I feel.'

EDGE: Having lived (and dated) in LA, it's a tough town for anyone - gay, straight, men, women - but how have you found dating here? Is it satisfying? Frustrating?

MH: Even more so, I live in Malibu, which is pretty remote and I pretty much know the whole population out here so I don't have much of a date life in Malibu, so to speak. You will see on this season a part of my journey leads me to someone that I do have a lot of interest for and I get very excited about... more to be revealed there. The dating scene happens for the short period of time and, luckily, I also found someone that I think is pretty special.

EDGE: Was starting a relationship in front of cameras more difficult than having your work life on camera?

MH: You know, it certainly... it's like the cameras are never there and then we give those one-on-one interviews and that's when we drum up the juicy stuff. The producers are very good, they know exactly what is happening and where we need to go and where I want to go. I really want connect with the viewer when I'm talking about something vulnerable about my sexuality and about my relationship so we go back and forth in conversation for a little while until my voice softens and I know we've gotten to that point and then I think they're getting their content.

EDGE: If you weren't doing real estate, what else would you be doing or could you not imagine that?

MH: I imagine that all the time because real estate was kind of a five-year plan for me and I have a lot of other ideas that I want to explore so writing the book (entitled Activate YOUR Passion, Create YOUR Career: No Matter Who You Are) and completing that was one thing I wanted to do. I've got another company that I'm semi-getting ready to launch. I think I'm liking the TV aspect a lot more, I think hosting would be a lot of fun and I'm just kind of in the open field right now and just waiting for the right thing to come along.

Bravo's Million Dollar Listing returns for season 3 on Monday at 11/10c.