Selling high-end Manhattan real estate helped John Musso develop an eye for creating his own curated Baton Rouge home
On a tree-lined street in the Bocage neighborhood—amidst grand stately manors that are generations old and new construction that razed the past for the lots alone—sits an unassuming midcentury house with a treasure trove of style hidden just beyond the front door. It took creative vision to recognize the potential, and real estate veteran John Musso has that in spades.
“The bones were there. That’s what my experience in New York real estate taught me,” says Musso. “I’ve learned how to see past dated décor. I know how a space can completely change with light, color and furnishings.”
Musso, a Baton Rouge native, developed his knack for spotting potential while selling some of the most coveted real estate in Manhattan. Disillusioned by the auditing and tax track he had pursued during his years at Millsaps College—and a stint at the London School of Economics—he turned away from 90-hour workweeks and set his sights on selling and leasing residential property. He ultimately found himself on a team with The Corcoran Group, a luxury real estate company, representing properties on the Upper East Side. He then answered a job opening on Craigslist that changed his trajectory and expanded his experience even further.
“The job was posted under ‘Real Estate,’ but I had no idea it was for one of the top-producing teams in the country,” says Musso, referring to a position at the renowned Douglas Elliman group. “My accounting and finance background actually got me hired because New York transactions require an extensive financial review and board package for every buyer. This includes three years of tax returns, bank statements, investment statements and more. Every single cent must be accounted for and presented to the building’s board for review before the building authorizes the buyer
to close.”
At Elliman, Musso became part of a team that achieved $650 million in residential sales and gained access to homes that most others would never have the opportunity to view. He attended private home parties, perused potential real estate offerings and negotiated with clients all over the world. He had an active social life and a solid and satisfying career. And then the pandemic hit.
“New York City completely closed during COVID,” Musso says. “Especially real estate. No one was going into anyone else’s home. It shut down the real estate market in that area for almost two years.”
Musso retreated to his family’s condo in Florida, where sheer boredom and social distancing gave him the opportunity to create. He bought canvases and paints, then watched videos on everything from how to mix colors to the art of torching resin. Soon he had walls of self-created, colorful art. He moved into an industrial, concrete loft in Miami with the thought that he would one day return to New York, but the New York he knew was evolving into something else entirely. His friend group was dispersed throughout the United States and abroad, and the real estate market was changing as well. The world he knew before the pandemic was gone. He could return to Manhattan, but it would never be the same.
“I lived in a 600-square-foot pre-war building on Central Park West. And all that time, I knew only one neighbor,” says Musso. He considered the closeness he shared with his parents and extended family and friends and decided to leave the concrete loft in Miami behind for a more traditional abode in Baton Rouge. “Today, I have a relationship with many of the neighbors around me. It’s a completely different experience.”
Musso took his urban experience, his keen eye and his vibrant art and transformed this standard midcentury house into a welcoming, personal retreat. Every piece of furniture and every accessory has a story, and it makes family gatherings and neighborly drop-ins even more interesting. His years away from Louisiana have shaped the way he sees homes and design.
“London sparked my appreciation for art, New York refined it through years in luxury real estate, and Miami gave me the time during the pandemic to begin creating my own artwork,” he says. “Those experiences have influenced not only my home, but also how I market real estate. I truly believe thoughtful design and presentation create an emotional connection with buyers and help homes sell.”
Musso got his Louisiana real estate license and joined Coldwell Banker One—encouraged by its 93-year-old owner Betty Phelps, who also happens to be a neighbor. These days, he’s back in the world of real estate, surrounded by friends and family, and he has gained a whole new perspective.
“Experiencing different cities, cultures, art, design, and luxury real estate gave me a unique lens,” Musso says. “But being back home near my family is what makes it all worthwhile.”
This article was originally published in the September 2026 issue of 225 Magazine.
