Our Founder’s Story: From Australia to Louisiana – Stephen Keighery’s Journey Shared at NOEW

At Home Buyer Louisiana, we talk to homeowners every day who are navigating tough situations—whether it’s selling a distressed property, needing a fast close, or just looking for someone they can trust. That’s why we believe it’s important to share not only what we do, but why we do it.

Last week, our founder, Stephen Keighery, took the stage at Loyola University during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) to share his story with students and fellow business owners. In just ten minutes, Stephen gave a glimpse into his 20-year journey—from launching his first business in Australia to starting Home Buyer Louisiana right here in New Orleans.

Here’s the short version of what he shared.

A Different Kind of Entrepreneur

Unlike many entrepreneurs who knew from a young age that they wanted to run a business, Stephen took a different path. He studied marketing and economics, planning for a corporate career—until a friend invited him to a Robert Kiyosaki seminar. That day changed everything.

Stephen learned about the power of owning a business and made a decision: he wasn’t going to chase promotions—he was going to build something of his own.

The First Leap (and a Few Bumps)

After graduating, while most of his classmates were getting jobs, Stephen founded a business. It wasn’t easy, and people told him he was crazy—but he believed in the long-term reward of taking risks and building something meaningful.

He joined forces with a small group of partners, each with different strengths—sales, programming, finance, operations—and together they built a directory business for natural health professionals in Australia.

Finding a Bigger Opportunity

That first business did well, but it was in a niche market. The team saw a bigger opportunity in the home improvement space. Australians were spending over $100 billion a year improving their homes, and tradespeople were spending heavily on advertising.

Stephen and his team built a two-sided marketplace connecting homeowners with contractors—and it took off. They hit rapid growth and scaled the business into hipages Group, one of Australia’s most successful home services platforms.

Learning to Pivot

As the business matured, Stephen learned that growth doesn’t come in a straight line. You have to pivot, adapt, and even disrupt your own business to keep evolving. That meant switching from subscriptions to pay-per-lead pricing, and later, building a job-posting system that better matched homeowners and contractors in real time.

By the time Stephen stepped back from day-to-day operations, the company had 300 staff and was valued at over $300 million.

A 6-Month Vacation That Never Ended

After leaving the company, Stephen took a break and came to New Orleans for what was supposed to be a six-month vacation. But like many who visit the city, he fell in love—with the people, the culture, and yes, the food.

But what really stood out was the opportunity. He saw a city full of charm and history, but also a real need—distressed properties, underserved homeowners, and a gap in the market for a reliable, honest house-buying service.

And That’s How Home Buyer Louisiana Was Born

Stephen took the same model he’d used before—building a trusted platform that connects people with solutions—and applied it to Louisiana real estate. Home Buyer Louisiana was created to help homeowners sell distressed houses quickly and easily, without the stress of repairs, agents, or waiting months on the market.

Since launching in New Orleans, we’ve expanded to Baton Rouge and just opened in Lafayette and the Mississippi Gulf Coast , with plans to keep growing across Louisiana.

What He Wants You to Know

Stephen wrapped up his talk at NOEW with a message that applies to business—and life:

“Building a business is hard. It’s risky. But it’s worth it. You’ll probably fail a few times—but that’s okay. You can fail forward.”

At Home Buyer Louisiana, that mindset runs deep. We’re not afraid of hard work, and we’re here to help you find a solution—whether you’re dealing with a property that needs too much work, a pending foreclosure, or just want to sell fast without the hassle.

If you want to know more about our story, or see if we can help with your property, reach out to our team anytime.