It is often when you least expect it that your life completely changes. I have had quite a few of those moments, and through them all, I have grown more and more grateful for the many blessings in my life.
When I think about my life, I am struck by how fortunate I have been. I have been blessed with an incredible family, a fulfilling career, and amazing colleagues who inspire me every day. The journey getting here has been full of important moments that have shaped me into the person I am today.
My childhood was characterized by a loving family with two hard-working, blue-collar parents who didn’t have the opportunity to go to college.
When it came to my education and my options after high school, I didn’t know much. I relied on my guidance counselor to help steer me in the right direction. He helped me grow and learn how to plan my future. I thought of him as a role model, so I chose to emulate the good work he did and I decided to follow in his footsteps. I wanted to help kids just like he helped me.
On a seemingly normal morning back in 1981, my wife woke up and left the room. A few minutes later, she returned and said, “I think you’re going to be a father”.
Our lives changed forever. We had wanted to become parents for a while, and it was finally happening. I was overwhelmed with excitement, but a little scared at the same time. One of the first things I realized is that I need a second job to increase my income.
When my wife and I found out we would be parents, I immediately began looking for a part-time job to provide for my family. As much as I loved my counseling job, my income was not going to be enough for a growing family. I did really well in sales in a prior role, so I thought why not look into real estate? I drove to a real estate office near our home.
The manager and agents all said the same thing, “Teachers do great in real estate. You need to do this!” and asked me to commit “on the spot”.
That was another key turning point in my life. The manager immediately signed me up for the class. I was a little taken aback as everything was moving so fast – I needed to talk to my wife about getting into real estate. After talking it over, we agreed this was a great opportunity. I decided to go for it.
I started my new real estate career in 1981, in a memorably difficult market. I quickly saw success and other agents asked how I was doing it. The truth was that I didn’t know any other market or what the “norm” was. I had to learn how to run a business in tough times, but that only made me more resilient, knowledgeable and skilled.
My wife and I had two children; through it all, they have been the ultimate “why” behind everything I do. After working in education for 12 years and balancing 75-hour work weeks between my two jobs, I realized I was losing precious time with my family.
I decided to leave behind counseling to continue building my real estate business. Not only do I love what I do, but I know it is ultimately why we were able to provide our children with better opportunities.
Recently, my daughter had a child of her own. Having our grandson, I am reminded that what I continue to build now affects not only me but also future generations. It is my mission to demonstrate and uphold the highest level of service in real estate, with a clear intention to help others and make a positive difference.
One of the things I pride myself on is providing exceptional value for my clients. This could be knowledge, empathy, skill, insight and/or professional experience.
My goal is to always bring something that makes the transition better for my clients. Through complex circumstances or tough negotiations, I do everything in my power to ensure my client gets the best outcome possible. It’s all about having the right mindset.
I want to win for my clients, but not at the expense of others. I want to do everything with integrity, honesty, and authenticity. Real estate requires constant learning to stay up-to-date with market changes and latest industry news. I put the same energy and enthusiasm into every experience.
I want to uphold the highest standards for the industry and be known for doing things the right way – no corners are cut. My incredible Team shares these goals, and together, we are committed to having a positive impact in our community, serving as industry leaders and trusted real estate professionals.
Sincerely,
Michael Keefrider
Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
