What If Your Hampstead Estate Agent Was the Life of the Party?

By Sam Patterson, Co-Founder of KIRE

In a news cycle filled with uncertainty—rising rates, softening markets, global unrest—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Our latest market report touches on the dip in demand above £5M, and like most agents, we track that closely. But today, I want to take a break from all that. This is not about what’s slowing down. It’s about what we’re building up.

I want to talk about connection, and the surprising role estate agents can play in making life more joyful, meaningful, and human.

KIRE co-founder Sam Patterson addresses parents and interns in Hampstead at the end of their work experience internship.

In Lost Connections, author Johann Hari argues that many modern ailments—especially depression and anxiety—stem not from chemical imbalances but from a loss of vital human needs. He identifies nine causes of disconnection, ranging from a lack of meaningful work and social connection, to diminished community, status, and values. It’s a powerful framework. And once you’ve read it, you start seeing these gaps everywhere: on the high street, in housing policy, even in how people experience their own neighbourhoods.

So what does this have to do with estate agency?

Everything.

Guests mingle and engage in lively conversation during the KIRE Real Estate "Remarkable Homes of NW3" book launch event at the prestigious Reform Club, April 2024.

Estate agents are often the first point of contact when someone decides to start over. They’re the bridge between where you are and where you want to be. At KIRE, we’ve come to believe that our role isn’t just transactional. It’s relational. And if we’re paying attention, we can help make that transition not just smooth—but enriching.

When someone buys a new home, they’re often reaching for a better version of their life. We see that moment as sacred. And we’ve built a business around helping people realise it in full—not just with keys and contracts, but with connections.

That’s why we host welcome parties to introduce neighbours. It’s why we sponsor local events like the Keats Library Art Fair and design community experiences like pottery classes, scavenger hunts, and networking dinners. It’s why we invest in young people—creating internship programs that teach storytelling, behavioural insight, and pride in where you live.

Every so often, my business partner and I pause for a “why check.” We ask: how are we feeling, and what do we need right now? If most people did this, I suspect the answers would have less to do with career ladders and more to do with the hunger for stimulation and belonging. We want to feel part of something. We want people who energise us. And we want spaces that allow that to happen.

A neighbourhood isn’t just buildings. It’s a mood. A possibility. And if agents can help shape that, then we’re not just helping people move house—we’re helping them reconnect with the parts of life that matter most.

What struck me reading Lost Connections was how many of the solutions to our disconnection are surprisingly small. A shared experience. A meaningful introduction. A space to belong. They don’t require big systems change to start making a difference. Sometimes they just require someone to notice.

That’s a role anyone can play. And it happens to be one estate agents are uniquely positioned for—if we choose to embrace it.

Students, parents, and KIRE team members gathered at Burgh House in Hampstead for the “Pitch Perfect” ceremony, celebrating the close of the student work experience programme.

So yes, buyer demand may be softening. The news may feel heavy. But we can still look forward to something lighter: the kind of community where people wave, where stories are shared, and where the local businesses, events, and agents you encounter genuinely care about the fabric of the place.

Next time you see an estate agency pop up where your favourite corner shop used to be, don’t sigh just yet.

There’s a version of the story where that shopfront isn’t a symbol of loss, but a spark for something better.

And maybe, that spark is just what the neighbourhood needs.

Celebrating community, connection, and culinary delights at the Belsize Neighbours Summer Party!