Douglas Elliman broker continues his family’s real estate legacy
For Darren Malloy Hekking, real estate was the family business. “I am the son, nephew, cousin and grandson of Realtors, so there is something in my DNA that drove me to this incredible location,” he said.
However, it wasn’t a direct route. Hekking served in the United States Navy first; chosen for a selective technical-school program, he became an Electronics Technician Second Class. After his service, he studied business at the University of New Hampshire’s Paul School of Business.
In the 1990s, he became a licensed Realtor in New Hampshire and went to work for a real estate education company founded by his mother, Gail Malloy. They provided pre-licensing and continuing education seminars across New England. Subsequently, he went to work for a number of companies in the tech space, including Sungard, Cartesis, Vignette and OpenText.
“The combination of my technical training, degree in business, and my over 18 years in high-value client management has prepared me to be a very well-rounded real estate professional,” he said.
“I joined William Pitt Sotheby’s and the Malloy Group in 2014, and along with the whole Malloy Group team, we moved to Douglas Elliman in 2016,” he explained. He credits the brokerage for its exemplary marketing team and its innovative approach to technology.
Hekking appreciates how dynamic the Fairfield County real estate market is today. “The pace of the market changed diametrically, and the number of buyers we saw from (New York City) and communities outside Fairfield County was incredible and still continues,” he said.
“My grandfather, Bill Malloy, and uncle Ron Malloy used to say — but still rings true: The right time to sell and buy is now. The right home and the right buyer are out there. This market has been characterized by low inventory, but remember that great homes go on the market and sell every single day,” he said.
The pandemic didn’t slow him down. He recently became a licensed broker in Connecticut and attained numerous professional certifications. “I love what I do, and I think it shows,” he said.
Hekking lives in his hometown of Stamford. He is a proud Outward Bound pin owner and graduate. During his free time, he enjoys boating, skiing, hiking and cooking. “I am happiest in the audience of any kind of live music, with a beer in my hand,” he concluded.
Business: Douglas Elliman Real Estate, The Malloy Group
Lives: Stamford
Works: Greenwich
Expertise: Licensed real estate broker in Connecticut
Contact: (203) 622-4900 office; (203) 517-8768 cell; darren.malloyhekking@ elliman.com