About
J. Cate Kassab has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mrs. Kassab is a distinguished professional in the real estate industry, currently serving as the chief executive officer, owner and Broker in Charge of My Upstate Home LLC. With over 15 years of experience, she has established herself as an expert in real estate, real estate marketing and relocation. Her professional real estate journey began in 2009, and she has since built a reputation for exceptional service and the highest quality marketing skills.
Mrs. Kassab’s career is marked by significant milestones and innovative industry ideas. She founded My Upstate Home LLC from her years of experience and desire to make significant improvements and changes in the industry that protect consumers and workers. Her company motto is Where Humanity Comes First, Transparency is Best Practice and Kindness is Corporate. She is the first realtor turned broker turned founder and company owner to put humanity first in her company motto and overall foundation.
“As a Special Education teacher years ago, I realized the importance of individualized education plans to meet individual student needs. There was no one size fits all scenario in my classroom and there is no one size fits all scenario in my company.
I remember the days when there were charts of fees agents had to charge for specific services in office policy manuals. The consumers and agents were simply suffering while the wealthiest were only getting wealthier. Consumers were suffering because if they wanted to work with particular agents, they had to pay specific fees. Many times they didn’t even know where the money went, how much their agent was actually being paid or what they were getting from the brokerage or corporate office itself.
The agents were suffering because many times they had to pay a corporate fee and then a heavy brokerage fee that severely crippled both their ability to negotiate their fees and their ability to make investments in their own marketing of themselves and their listings.
I knew there was a better way and I created it. At My Upstate Home LLC there is no corporate overhead fee off the top and the agents take home more of the gross commission of each sale than I ever made in nearly sixteen years. This gives the clients and the agents the ultimate power to make individualized decisions together that best fit their unique needs.
Agents make more money, have more to spend on marketing and growing their own businesses. Buyers have more money to spend, access to more affordable highest quality services and a more level playing field. Sellers can be more competitive in the marketplace without feeling forced to inflate their prices to cover unnecessary fees. It’s a win for everyone involved.
I realize that the agents and clients themselves will make significantly more than the company and quite frankly, I feel that’s the way it should be. Everyone needs a home and brokerages are not creating products. They are facilitators of sales transactions in a business that is about the people and not greed. I have never seen another company that can even begin to compete with the value of the structure of My Upstate Home LLC and I look forward to other independent brokerages popping up all over the country and following suit for the greater good.”
Before venturing into real estate, Mrs. Kassab was a Special Education teacher at a local school. This position laid the foundation for her strong work ethic and dedication to helping others succeed. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Clemson University, obtained in 2001, followed by a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Management and Policy from Seton Hall University, which she earned in 2005.
Mrs. Kassab has held several certifications, including a licensed teacher, licensed principal, licensed superintendent, licensed realtor, licensed insurance agent and licensed broker in charge. Her success can be attributed to her challenging experiences she overcame which have shaped her resolve to create positive change and uphold the highest standards.
In addition to her professional achievements, Mrs. Kassab is actively involved in industry-related organizations such as the National Association of Realtors, Multiple Listing Service, the Clemson Alumni Association and Zeta Tau Alpha. She has been a fundraiser for charities such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Special Olympics, and the American Heart Association and has contributed articles to peer-reviewed journals. She aims to grow the company to a point in which she can give back to local public schools, food banks, veterans, adults and children with special needs as well as the homeless.
The highlight of Mrs. Kassab’s career has been the successful establishment of her own company, where she no longer needs to pay for leads due to client loyalty and repeat business. One notable accomplishment includes closing a deal for a nearly $3 million home through a long-term client’s referral. She also takes pride in helping other agents succeed and providing clients with more high quality services with individualized and affordable service fees.
Looking ahead, Mrs. Kassab aims to expand her agency to include agents across the Upstate of South Carolina. She plans to use platforms like YouTube and social media to educate people and to position herself as a knowledgeable resource in the industry. Her dedication to excellence, desire to make a difference and commitment to growth ensure that she will remain a prominent figure in real estate for decades to come.
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Cate Kassab Demonstrates Expertise in Real Estate
Cate Kassab serves as the chief executive officer and owner of My Upstate Home LLC