Between Palm Beach and Maryland, Jill Schwartz Helps Elliman Expand Its Metro-D.C. Footprint

By Grace Cassidy As a native Floridian, a graduate of the University of Florida and a Douglas Elliman agent who works out of the brokerage’s Palm Beach office,  Jill Schwartz  is intimately familiar with luxury real estate in the Sunshine State. But South Florida is just one of several luxury markets—from Maryland and the District of Columbia to Delaware and the New Jersey beaches—in which she has been a top-producing agent with over $700 million in career listings. Now, the founder of the Jill Schwartz Group is providing her expertise in the Metro D.C. region—particularly in Maryland—to help Elliman deepen its presence there. “My clients in Maryland have the same interests as my clients in Florida,” she said. “They love boating, golfing and the country club.” What is unique about the Metro D.C. region, she said, is the regular influx of homebuyers that coincides with election cycles: “Maryland is an international hub.” It also happens to be where a number of professional athletes have chosen to buy—many of them through Schwartz. As the leading real estate agent for the NBA, she has represented members of the Washington Wizards franchise since 2017. One of Schwartz’s standout successes involved the estate at  8913 Holly Leaf Lane in Bethesda, Md. , which she helped Bradley Beal, then playing for the Wizards, to purchase for $7.8 million in 2019. In addition to six bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms, fitness center, heated swimming pool and outdoor kitchen, the 13,500-square-foot mansion included an underground NBA-regulation half basketball court and a full-size tennis court with stadium lighting. “When Brad told me he had to have that home, it was not even listed for sale,” recalled Schwartz. In December, after Beal had been traded to the Phoenix Suns, she helped him to sell it for $9.185 million, the year’s most expensive home sale in Bethesda. Since joining Douglas Elliman, Schwartz has become a member of the firm’s  Sports & Entertainment division , and she recently became a sponsor of the DC Breeze , Washington D.C.’s men’s professional ultimate frisbee team. Schwartz is also passionate about eco-friendly homes, with a focus on energy efficiency and clean air. She has earned the LEED AP Green certification and the title of Eco-Sociate™, the premier environmental designation for real estate professionals. It’s a passion rooted in personal experience. “Healthy living begins with the air you breathe and the materials you are surrounded by,” she said. “When my son was five or six years old, we were living in an old farmhouse that we were renovating, and my son couldn’t breathe. That’s where I started my journey in sustainable living and indoor air quality.” Beyond the health benefits, Schwartz notes, eco-friendly living also has financial upsides. “Green improvements such as ENERGY STAR® appliances, recessed lighting, insulation and good windows help save money on utilities and raise the value of your home, which is an important asset in today’s competitive market,” she said. “There are also tax benefits that encourage home sellers to implement these green improvements.” Schwartz sees a similar virtuous-circle dynamic at play across her considerable market footprint. Given her Metro D.C. clients’ penchant for boating, golfing and other sporting pursuits, she notes, “when the D.C. area shuts down for six months, they all head down to Florida to continue those active lifestyles.” And she looks forward to working with her Elliman colleagues from across the U.S. to explore all that the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region has to offer. “It’s an area of great development, opportunity and net worth,” Schwartz said. “I am excited for the Douglas Elliman family to quickly and organically become a real presence in the DMV.”