For Elisa Lipton, global movement was never a phase. It was a foundation. Long before studying abroad at Cambridge or building a career across international real estate markets, she was immersed in travel from the very beginning.
“I was incredibly lucky to have been introduced to international travel very early,” she says. “My family was a plane and boating family. I was in the air and at sea by six weeks old.”
That early exposure shaped more than her sense of place. It shaped how she understands lifestyle, mobility, and the emotional relationship people form with where they live. Raised across cities and cultures, Lipton developed an instinctive awareness of how environments function and how people experience them.
“I was literally born to travel,” she explains. “I loved airplanes, boats, taxis, different cities, foods, languages. I was just always very adaptable and an easy traveler.”
Today, as a destination and resort home specialist with Fortune Christie’s International Real Estate, Lipton brings that same fluency to buyers and sellers navigating high-value markets from South Florida to Hawaii and beyond.
A Global Perspective, Shaped Early
While Lipton’s formal education abroad provided academic structure, she says her most meaningful education came from experiencing cities firsthand.
“Studying at Cambridge and traveling independently through London, Paris, South of France, and The Balearic Islands of Spain reignited this innate inclination for destinations and mobility,” she says. “I studied in the classroom, but the true education was within the independent travel.”
She paid attention to how neighborhoods worked: where people gathered, how they moved through a city, and how daily needs were supported. This perspective continues to inform how she evaluates real estate today, especially in markets where lifestyle and long-term value are deeply connected.
“Not everyone is made for movement across destinations,” she says. “But those who are, are my people and clients.”
From Hawaii to Miami Beach
After graduating, Lipton initially found herself in Malibu, California. While undeniably beautiful, she found the lifestyle limiting.
“Being in Malibu after undergrad, feeling under-stimulated and car dependent, led to pursuing work abroad in a walkable international city,” she says.
That decision took her to Seoul, South Korea, where she taught English and gained financial independence while traveling throughout Asia. Eventually, Hawaii became home, offering what she describes as a rare blend of island living, global access, and cultural depth.
Over time, her work in Hawaii led her naturally into real estate, first across the Hawaiian Islands and later with the team at Montage Residences Kapalua Bay in Maui. Surrounded by a resort environment that emphasized wellness, design, and experience, she developed a nuanced understanding of how buyers engage with destination properties.
“Hawaii felt like the perfect pivot,” she explains. “It offers a blend of Asia, the USA, and Hawaiian culture.”
As her career evolved, Lipton found herself drawn to Miami Beach for many of the same reasons she once gravitated toward Europe.
“You can live very much as you would in a European city right here in South of Fifth,” she says. “You have the quiet walkable neighborhood, turn key lock and leave pied à terres, cafe culture, wonderful restaurants, ease of getting to the airport, waterfront South Pointe Park, the beach path, again the walkability.”
Quality Over Quantity
Lipton’s experience representing high-value resort residences helped solidify a philosophy that continues to guide her approach.
“Quality over quantity. It is beyond just being about the money,” she says. “Although if a property is a good investment, all the better.”
She views homes not simply as assets, but as extensions of how people live, create memories, and move between chapters of their lives.
“These are places people come not only to live and work, but to create memories, pursue wellness and hobbies, and use as a base and a lily pad before and after their next destination,” she explains.
Now based on the East Coast, Lipton continues to support trusted referral partnerships across markets, recognizing the importance of collaboration and local expertise when serving global clients.
Destination-Driven Living
Destination and second-home properties remain central to Lipton’s business. Whether guiding clients toward branded residences in Miami, resort properties in Hawaii, or international offerings in the Caribbean and Europe, she approaches each transaction through a lifestyle lens.
“My lifestyle and business blends into one exciting and dynamic life,” she says. “I’ve never been someone who can just do a job that doesn’t excite them.”
She works with clients who value mobility, experience, and long-term vision, often helping them build portfolios that span multiple destinations.
“Imagine a portfolio of pied à terres and estates from Miami Beach to Nice to Honolulu,” she says.
A Visual and Wellness-Oriented Approach
Beyond real estate, Lipton’s background in photography, visual storytelling, and private aviation adds another dimension to her work. Early experience producing commercial and lifestyle shoots sharpened her eye for presentation and taught her how to communicate a property’s story visually.
“Always asking ‘is this the right message for my brand’ translates to ‘is this the right way to sell my home’ or ‘is this right to offer my services to a buyer?’” she explains.
Her involvement in private aviation has further expanded her global reach while reinforcing the importance of discretion, precision, and trusted relationships.
“Life is a relationships and energy business,” she says. “I’d book the most jobs when I felt my best and felt supported.”
That wellness-forward mindset remains central to how she operates today.
“It truly starts with the basics,” she says. “Sleep, eating right, drinking your water, rest, movement, and partnering with the right support.”
Looking Ahead
As Miami Beach continues to attract domestic and international buyers seeking experiential luxury over material excess, Lipton sees amenity-rich, lock-and-leave residences playing an increasingly important role.
“I think amenity rich pied à terres will become the hot real estate as the trend in luxury is currently moving about the world following experiences over the emphasis on material items,” she says.
Looking forward, she plans to continue expanding her expertise in global branded residences while serving clients locally in South of Fifth.
“With the world literally at my fingertips, I’m excited to continue serving locally while growing my knowledge of global branded residences,” she says.
For Elisa Lipton, luxury real estate has never been about staying still. It’s about understanding where people want to go and helping them feel at home once they arrive.
