Debra Johnston is the queen of Atlanta luxury real estate. Affectionately called “The Hammer” by her peers and dripping with charisma, the 5’ 3” Southern spitfire regularly lists the city’s best trophy properties — like the nearly $10 million Sterling Hall on more than an acre. Her list of sold properties is even more impressive: a record-breaking $15,500,000 estate in Gainesville on 446 acres and video featured by Architectural Digest, a rare and highly-desired mid-century modern home in Buckhead that she’s sold twice, and a resort-style estate at Ritz-Carlton| Reynolds Lake Oconee that sold for $8,700,000 in four months, holding the highest recorded sale at Lake Oconee.
Unquestionably, Johnston has hit a new apex in her career. The 18-year real estate veteran was named to elite Variety’s 2021 Showbiz Real Estate Elite Report. She also closed over $70 million in real estate sales in 2021 — with over $33 million in September alone, her all-time best.
Atlanta has also been on an unprecedented ride the last two years. The price threshold to enter the city’s in-town luxury real estate market hit $1 million, while the median luxury price is closer to $3.5 million. A bevy of affluent out-of-state buyers, armed with cash and a slightly edgier style, are flooding into its toniest communities like Buckhead and Chastain Park. “Atlanta is being dubbed the Hollywood of the South,” she says, referring to the film industry’s entrée into Georgia around 2012 and growing prominence. “My clients range from industry types, sports, entrepreneurs and everything in between.” The recent evolution of Atlanta as a global destination has been so dramatic that she foresees the next iteration of the luxury Atlanta buyer as not just being from Los Angeles, Chicago or New York, but from out of the country investing in Atlanta.
It’s for that reason that she recently made the leap from the Buckhead office of her former brokerage — where she was the No. 1 individual agent for six years in a row — to the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury® network. “My vision was to go next level and expand my reach nationally and internationally in terms of my contacts and referral network. Coldwell Banker is superior in that aspect,” she says.
Curious about where the Atlanta luxury housing landscape was headed in 2022, we connected with Johnston for “TrendTalk” to get her unfiltered view.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston Growing up in northern Michigan and then after attending college, I thought that the way to succeed was corporate America. I took a job in NYC and moved around quite a bit, eventually landing in Atlanta. I worked for Coca-Cola in corporate marketing for years. Marketing and branding is my specialty and works really well with real estate. I have always wanted to have my own business and have a passion for architecture and design, so I thought I could make the transition to real estate and took a leap of faith. It has paid off and I love what I do for others.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston We’re seeing a tremendous amount of activity and movement in all price points. In the $1 million+ sector, if the property is in desirable condition and a great location, it could be off the market in less than five days. We have extremely limited inventory, less than a month’s supply right now and a greater number of buyers who are moving here and looking at our city. We are also seeing multiple offers. Recently there was a property listed for $1.9 million that I saw on social media. The agent showed it about 12 to 15 times, and there were three offers over asking. In the higher price points between $3 million and $4 million, it really comes down to how fresh the house feels. Is it move-in ready? Does it have a pool? Is it private? If it checks those boxes, there are going to be multiple offers. Another new trend is that older inventory that was previously passed over is getting attention from builders that are reimagining them and flipping. They usually have a lot of potential with larger lots in great locations.

Sterling Hall | 1001 West Paces Ferry Road | $9,499,000
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston A whole new environment and growth pattern into the national and international market with the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury platform. The new alliance benefits my clients to best position their property to a larger audience while expanding my network with the top brokers in the industry. I’m also very excited to be inducted into the International Luxury Alliance. I’m ready for expansion and opportunity on the national and international stage.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Debra Johnston As things get back to normal, we could see another wave of unprecedented sales. The expectation is that we could see international buyers coming onto the U.S. real estate scene as well as more families moving from other states. Atlanta is a great city, excellent value and the quality of life in the South is excellent. We are getting noticed!