St. Louis’ Kathy Helbig discovered she had a knack for sales when she was 19 years old, selling cars. She was a young woman in a male-dominated industry and despite her colleagues’ snickering, she always ended up No. 1 or No. 2 in sales.
“I knew how to treat people. I hated normal car sales interactions and I was just myself. People liked working with me because I was real and honest,” said Kathy.
That attitude, plus incredible business savvy, has served her well through her sales career, including real estate where she has excelled at several brokerages — including starting her own independent firm before landing with eXp Realty in April 2021.
> See Why Independent Brokerages Are Flocking to eXp
But, her road to eXp was not without its challenges. Her “tumultuous” nine years at a major brokerage almost pushed her out of the business. Once she left that company, she took a look at eXp in 2016, but the timing wasn’t right. So she started her own brokerage, Experience Realty Partners, enjoying five years of incredible sales, including 2020’s numbers of $87 million on 303 transactions. Her husband, Steve Strick, started a mortgage arm of the company, which they are helping grow together by assisting other large teams and broker-owners nationwide, in creating their own mortgage divisions.
Kathy had several opportunities to choose from, but said: “eXp fits my agents better and it’s just a better opportunity for everyone in the long run.”
It was Orlando agent Veronica Figueroa who ultimately persuaded Kathy to move her team to eXp.
“I joined in April 2021 after years of collaborating with Veronica Figueroa and the Figueroa Team. Over the years, we had mentored one another in the development of our businesses, and I watched first-hand the success and growth she experienced, both personally and professionally after merging her top producing team with the up and coming powerhouse eXp Realty. Partnering with Veronica was a natural fit and will be bringing exciting opportunities for us to combine our skills and vision on a national level.”
Kathy and her husband, Steve, first partnered with Veronica over 18 months ago, when together they launched the Figueroa Group’s mortgage division.
“This merger on many levels will allow us to expand our knowledge training to other teams across the United States,” Kathy says. “For the future, I hope to change more people’s lives through real estate.”
Learn more about Kathy Helbig:
Years in real estate: Since 1997
Gross sales and transactions in 2020: $87 million on 303 transactions.
Brokerage history:
- eXp Realty (April 2021-current)
- Experience Realty Partners (Dec. 2016-April 2021)
- Keller Williams (July 2008-Dec. 2016)
- RE/MAX (Jan. 2001-July 2008)
- Gundaker Realtors (May 2017-Jan. 2001)
Main territory: St. Louis metro and the surrounding counties of St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, as well as Lake Of The Ozarks
Main focus: Single-family homes, luxury properties, investment and divorce real estate
Number of people on team: 30 agents and licensed assistants.
Accolades, accomplishments & awards:
- 2021 Top Agent by Top Agent Magazine
- 2021 Homesnap Top Agent Award Winner – Top 5%
- 2020 Homelight Achievement Award
- 2020 Forbes Market Leader 500 List
- 2020 Certified Divorce Real Estate Agent (CDRE®) distinction earned
- 2017-2020 Chesterfield Lifestyle Magazine Reader’s Choice Award
- 2008-2016 No. 1 office by sales volume in St. Charles County (Keller Williams West)
- 2008 – 2016 No. 2 highest Keller Williams market center
- Highest Selling team in Missouri Region for RE/MAX Organization (2000-2007)
- 1997 Rookie of the Year – Gundaker
- Association Realtor of the Year
- Businesswoman of the Year
- 5 Star Agent, Best in Customer Satisfaction 20+ Years – St. Louis Magazine
- Readers’ Choice Award – Best Real Estate Company – Chesterfield Lifestyle Magazine
- St. Louis Dispatch Top Ten Agent Award
- Ranked in Real Trends, Highest Selling Teams
- Rank Top 25 in Post Dispatch Highest Selling Agents
What makes eXp special to you?
“The collaboration and the commitment to innovation that serves the Realtor community.”
Is there a significant experience you can share since you joined eXp?
“The outpouring of support from industry leaders across the world has been extremely encouraging.”
What is one thing about eXp that surprised you?
“The agent-focused platform that manages to serve both the Realtor and the brokerage as a whole while still providing superior service to clients.”
Best tip to share with other agents:
“Kindness always wins. Agents are all on the same team, working together toward the same goal. It serves no one, including clients, for agents to be unpleasant with one another.”
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