Originally from Georgia, Jonathan Newby has called Milwaukee home for most of his adult life after studying Political Science and Economics at Marquette.
His career led him in a slightly different direction, though. Jonathan is a real estate agent, and in today’s day and age, that also means being somewhat of a social media influencer.
He’s become a fairly recognizable one, too. He’s built a platform to connect new Milwaukeaans to the community they’re now calling home.
“A friend, now client of mine, moved here from Indiana. He and his wife were looking for some recommendations and I gave them some suggestions that they were more than happy with. He said ‘you should have a list of your personal favorites, call it ‘Newby’s List for Newbies’, and provide it to people new to the area’. The rest is history.”
Check out the rest of our Q&A with Jonathan Newby below!
What do you like most about doing Newby’s List?
I really enjoy doing it because Milwaukee has so much more to offer than most people would ever think. The quality of our restaurants, bars, and small businesses, can rival the best of any other city. ANY. OTHER. CITY. It shouldn’t be a secret and if it is, it shouldn’t be one to the people that live here and don’t have an excuse for not knowing.
How has Milwaukee changed in the last few years from what you’ve seen as a real estate agent/MKE content creator?
Milwaukee has answered the call. It’s seen other cities around the country level up and it’s trying to grow faster and more intentionally. We have one of the most resilient real estate markets in the country. We see more than just supper clubs and dive bars but we have those too. The development of the Deer District was the catalyst for some much needed growth and development around the city.
Is there one specific story from that which sticks out the most to you?
I have a client from Los Angeles who recently bought a house in Mequon. She sends me social media clips and news articles from national outlets speaking about how incredible Milwaukee is. She’s proud of this city and she’s not even officially a resident here yet. She’s not wrong either.
Are there any volunteer activities or community involvement that you’re a part of?
I’m proud to be a part of Stella’s Playground fundraising effort and the Kinship Capital Campaign.
What do you like about living in Milwaukee?
I look at Milwaukee the same way one looks at a movie, restaurant, tv show, song, etc. that they think is incredible and that they’ve recommended to a friend to check out for the first time. You know they’re going to be impressed and shocked that they didn’t know about it sooner.
What do you want to see for Milwaukee’s future?
Are we perfect? No. But we are the next great American city. It’s important that when Milwaukee becomes exactly that, it becomes so for all of its citizens. I want to see a city that sets a positive example for cities of all sizes across this country.