Iko Properties Bio
BROKER / OWNER
Owen Farris
Owen Farris started Iko Properties in 2012. A Covington, LA native, he graduated from St. Paul’s School before earning a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Arizona State University. He then moved to Chicago where he traded commodity and bond futures. In 2008, he started Farris Futures Corp, a trading firm focused on opportunities in oil and gas futures. It was then that he started investing in real estate, renovating and selling several distressed condos in Chicago during the housing downturn.
Owen moved to New Orleans in 2012, where he continues to invest in real estate, with a focus on renovating historic buildings and returning them to commerce. He has a passion for the preservation of the world-famous architecture of New Orleans.
Iko Properties has expanded over the years from a property management vehicle, to a full-service real estate brokerage firm. Since 2013, Owen has helped many commercial and residential buyers, sellers, lessors and lessees navigate the city’s dynamic real estate market. With investment and sales/leasing experience in commercial, single family residential, multi-family residential and condominium properties, Owen offers a unique perspective to help his clients realize their real estate goals.
COMMERCIAL SALES & LEASING
Kristen Merritt
Kristen grew up in Baton Rouge, where she graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in 2008 and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from LSU. Kristen moved to New Orleans in 2013 and started a nonprofit organization called Arts For Elders to raise money to bring entertainment and activities to local nursing homes. Her work transitioned into a position at Poydras Home, where she worked with residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory-support needs.
Her passion for helping people led her into real estate. She has been a licensed agent since 2018, when she discovered her love for commercial real estate. She has won several scholarships including The Massimo Group’s Ralph Spencer Scholarship, as well as a name-endowed scholarship from the CCIM Foundation, where she continues to pursue her CCIM designation. Although her focus is commercial sales and leasing, she also skillfully represents residential buyers, sellers and investors.
Whether it is a commercial or residential transaction, Kristen is a strong advocate for her clients. She attributes her success to being a great listener, timely communication, and having the patience and creativity to get a deal done.