When helping buyers find the perfect new home, it always helps me if they’ve been through the process before. So, when I discovered that recent Santa Fe transplants Gerry Langlois and Roy Whitaker have been through over 20 home sales, I knew that – even in this hyper-competitive real estate market – we’d work well together. However, their experience with homes is just one noteworthy aspect of their story.
Like their latest property purchase, their journey as a couple is a lesson in perfect timing and taking chances on the right opportunities.
30+ Years Together
Their story began around Halloween in Austin, Texas, where they first met in 1993. Gerry, a New Orleans native who had spent time in Las Vegas, brought his creative flair from 40 years as a florist, including running his own shop for many years. Roy, a New Mexico native(he was born in Roswell and grew up in Farmington ), built his career at Carpet One, an upscale national retailer specializing in carpet, luxury vinyl, and hardwood flooring.
After spending years in Austin and maintaining a second home in the Canyon Lake area near the Guadalupe River, retirement was the logical next chapter. Roy stepped away from his 35-year career during the pandemic in 2020. Around that time, the couple officially tied the knot in their country home kitchen, with each holding a dog and the justice of the peace in the adjacent living room. After Gerry retired in 2023, the couple sold both properties and moved to San Antonio’s famed River Walk district, drawn to its urban energy and cultural happenings.
“When we retired, we wanted to move closer to a city,” Gerry explains. “River Walk has incredible events, including Pride, St. Patrick’s Day, and even the Day of the Dead. And about 200 restaurants near our home.”
The Next Chapter
Their latest adventure involves splitting their time between San Antonio’s mild winters and Santa Fe’s enchanting summers. However, finding their perfect Santa Fe home proved to be an exercise in patience and gut-instinct decision-making in a competitive market.
“Roy went online looking at houses and saw Mark. He was one of the realtors representing some of the houses we were looking at,” Gerry remembers. “Mark would look at houses for
us and give us the ‘yea or nay.’ We visited in July and saw about five houses. Our house came on the market the second day we were here, and about six people lined up to see it. We saw it twice, put in a bid on Thursday, and were accepted on Friday.”
Their new home in Park Plaza near Camino Carlos Rey offers the perfect blend of comfort and charm. Built in 1993, the three-bedroom house features a renovated kitchen, a two-car garage, and stunning mountain views. True to their nature as experienced home enthusiasts, they’re already putting their personal touch on the space.
Adding a Special Touch to Their Latest Home
“This is the 27th house we’ve done,” Gerry mentions casually, reflecting on their years of purchasing, furnishing, and sometimes renovating properties. Their experience shows in their approach to making the new Santa Fe house their own. “The primary bathroom needs some work. We’re both six-two, and the sinks are too low,” he told me. They’re also brightening their new home’s white walls with a few livelier shades of paint.
The couple’s design vision for their new home showcases a unique style and dynamic, interesting aesthetic. They’re already hitting estate sales and consignment shops all over Santa Fe and Taos, mixing African pieces with Southwestern finds to create their own individual style.
Along for the ride with them on their latest adventure is their 9-year-old Yorkie, Kirby, a Craigslist rescue who has become an influential member of their family. “Now he goes everywhere we go and is just incredibly spoiled,” Gerry says glowingly.
Lesson learned
You know what I love about this job? Every homebuyer teaches me something new about what “home” really means. Take Gerry and Roy, for instance. After hopping from Austin to San Antonio and splitting their time in Santa Fe, they show that home isn’t just about where you plant your mailbox. It’s about creating spaces that match who you are and keeping the door open for whatever opportunity might happen next.
