Who stars in 'Lakefront Empire'? HGTV brings in locals to manage real estate scene in Lake of the Ozarks
LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MISSOURI: They say what happens at the lake stays at the lake, specifically in the Lake of the Ozarks, a renowned community in central Missouri with 1,100 miles of shoreline - longer than California's coast!
Residents claim it is the country's best-kept secret. Well, not anymore!
In the eight-episode season of 'Lakefront Empire', Peggy Albers and other colorful real estate agents work hard in the hottest months of the year to secure dream waterfront homes for their clients.
These agents include longtime residents Cierra Grein and [brothers] Jonas and Justin Farrell, as well as recent arrivals to the lake, Gerardo Cornejo and Amanda Smith.
Agents often provide potential customers with lower-budget options for affordable luxury.
When the time comes to make a bid, the agents — who are experts in the lake's enormous social scene and the greatest locations to live — utilize their clever negotiation talents to seal the transaction.
The cast of 'Lakefront Empire'
Jonas Farrell
Jonas Farrell, a second-generation real estate agent at his family's company, was born and raised in the Lake of the Ozarks and takes pride in being a true local to the area.
He has been married for 17 years to Nancy Farrell. They have two children, Jonathan (15) and Evan (13), and a small schnauzer named Gunner. Jonathan has autism and is quite kind and gentle, but Evan is usually full of activity.
Jonas has two siblings: his brother Justin Farrell, who is his business partner, and his sister Alicia Farrell Lange.
Jonas attended Columbia College in Osage Beach, Missouri, for one year before transferring to Missouri State University, where he earned a certificate in general business.
Jonas has been a Kansas City Chiefs fan since he was twelve years old. His favorite active players are Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce!
Justin Farrell
Justin Farrell spent most of his life on the lake. He got married to his wife, Carrie in 2013.
Justin has an incredible wife who makes sure he is the best he can be; a 7-year-old daughter named Airabella who brightens his life every day; and a female dog and cat.
It was six months after he had given up alcohol when he met his wife in 2009. He was living at home with his parents and just scraping by as a real estate agent and a nightclub DJ.
Justin went to Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri, to study and play football. But he discovered that he was not quite as excellent a football player as he thought he was, so he left the squad. Unfortunately, he did not graduate because his major was partying.
Justin's lowest sale was a 1,000-square-foot home for $14,900, and it was habitable! He began playing the violin when he was six years old, the fiddle at nine, and the trumpet and tuba in high school.
Amanda Smith
Amanda pursues deals on the Lake of Ozarks when she is not chasing her children. She has been married to Davaun Smith Sr. for five years.
They went to the same high school but met years later through an online dating app! Amanda was raised in St. Louis and is the youngest of four children.
She has two brothers (Damon and Matthew) and a sister (Tia). She currently has four children of her own: Kamiah (18), Darion (16), Kourtney (12), and Davaun Jr. (7).
Amanda's cheapest residence ever sold was a $10K duplex that she bought for herself and remodeled to use as a rental.
Cierra Grein
Cierra treasures her childhood experiences at Lake of the Ozarks. She married Chad Butler in 2023 and is expecting her first child (a boy!) in March, about a year after their wedding.
She feels that marketing properties near Lake of the Ozarks are unique. The family also has one dog named Bruno, whom they adore.
Cierra and her husband are Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holders who enjoy tailgating at Arrowhead Stadium. She became a yoga instructor in 2016 and now teaches hot yoga.
She has been teaching hot yoga during her pregnancy, which has greatly aided her preparation for a healthy, natural birth.
Cierra is an only child whose parents managed a real estate firm when she was growing up. She has lived on a wooden sailboat while working as a deckhand in Camden, Maine, and Key West, Florida.
She previously worked as a hostess on a boat and spent five months living in a tent on the beach at an ashram on Paradise Island in the Bahamas!
Gerardo Cornejo
Gerardo Cornejo and his family moved to the United States from El Salvador in 1990, when he was 7 years old. He and his sister he grew up in Bellflower, California, and enjoyed every minute of their youth.
He obtained his associate's degree from Cerritos Community College in Norwalk, California, after being recruited as a kicker for their football team. He then became a kicker and punter at Lincoln University of Missouri, where he earned a degree in business administration in 2007.
The Cornejos have three children: Irie (10), Jacob (7), and the boss baby, Marlie (3). Gerardo has been married to his country girl, Staci Cornejo, for thirteen years.
His mother relocated to Missouri in 2013 to be closer to her first grandchild; his sister Lynda followed, and she is now an important part of their real estate firm. His father died tragically during Covid-19.
Gerardo's cheapest property sale was to himself! He and his wife placed an extremely modest offer on a property that needed extensive restoration.
They bought it for $23K patched it up, and made it one of Jefferson City, Missouri's first short- and long-term rental properties.
Peggy Albers
Peggy Albers, a Lake of the Ozarks native, sold $8 million worth of real estate in her first year of business.
However, her rise to prominence was not without setbacks, including a spell in state and federal jail for drug trafficking. Peggy was 30 years old and had a 2-month-old boy at that time.
She was not released from prison until her son Hunter was nearly 16 years old. Her parents reared him at the time. Penny has two brothers, Jimmy and Kenny, as well as a sister, Mary, who works as a real estate agent and serves as her role model.
Peggy met Kevin while they were young, and he worked as a bellman at a resort. She had to ask him to marry her around 50 times before he said yes!
She attended Missouri State University for two years, majoring in business management, although she frequently claims she went into the wrong business. She received a 25-year sentence for narcotics trafficking, serving 15 of them.
Peggy strives to help women who have recently been released from jail get back on their feet financially, whether it's with their rent, mobile phone, or transportation.
She has already contributed $372K of her own money and is currently working on a business called WOO (Women Overcoming Obstacles) to assist women who have been incarcerated.
'Lakefront Empire's real estate diversity
The current real estate market keeps professionals on their toes. Long-term residents frequently desire to improve, while migrants from all over the nation compete to establish roots in the extremely desirable neighborhood.
There are almost 100,000 houses along its shoreline, but four main neighborhoods are the most appealing to buyers: North Shore, Four Seasons, Porto Cima, and Osage Beach.
There is something for everyone, with prices starting at $100,000 and going up to $10 million for top estates.
Older cottages that have been owned for decades are ideal for families seeking a low-cost fixer-upper. In turn, freshly refurbished properties are suitable for those looking for a luxurious holiday retreat.
The average cost of a property in the Ozarks is about $380K which makes sense considering that Lakefront Empire's clientele includes both working-class families and millionaires (think professional sports).
When will HGTV's 'Lakefront Empire' release?
The stars of HGTV's new real estate series 'Lakefront Empire' will take viewers to the Hamptons of the Midwest: Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, also known as the ultimate party destination for millions of visitors which airs on Monday, March 11 at 10|9c.
What to expect from HGTV's 'Lakefront Empire'?
In the series premiere, Peggy shows potential clients three luxurious lakeside properties in Linn Creek, Porto Cima, and Sunrise Beach. As they stroll through the first home, Peggy shares her redemption story with the couple.
In the meantime, brothers Jonas and Justin who now operate their parents' real estate office, visit the North Shore and Camdenton to assist local business owners in purchasing their dream lakeside weekend cottage.
As the season progresses, the brokers advise potential homeowners to look at houses in other popular Lake of the Ozarks areas, including Four Seasons, Gravois Mills, and Osage Beach.
'Lakefront Empire' airs on Monday, March 11 at 10|9c.