When Heather Collins joined eXp Realty in January 2024, she wasn’t just switching brokerages – she was stepping into a new version of herself. After years of grinding, hustling, and surviving, Heather found in eXp a model that gave her something she’d never had before: wings.
“When I came to eXp, I felt like the sky was finally the limit,” Heather says. “The borderless business model, the hands-on training, the collaboration – it gave me the confidence I needed to grow. I would’ve stayed stagnant otherwise.”
That confidence is now turning into a major success. In 2024, Heather closed 16 homes for nearly $11 million in volume – many of them luxury lakefront properties around Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees in Northeast Oklahoma. Her name is becoming synonymous with high-end listings and commercial waterfront deals, including a recent $2.25 million marina sale where she represented both buyer and seller.
A Grit-Fueled Path to Real Estate
Heather’s story is one of resilience, grit, and unshakable determination.
Her childhood was far from easy. She constantly moved from town to town, missing not only important school years but also the chance to build lasting friendships and memories. She felt such a loss for guidance at a young age and didn’t have anywhere to turn. After so much moving and a loss of direction, she eventually dropped out during her 9th-grade year. At the time, survival came first – she was helping care for her brothers and doing what she could to get by.
But giving up was never in her nature. Determined to change her path, Heather earned her GED and jumped headfirst into the workforce. Life threw her plenty of challenges – but she faced every one of them with strength and the drive to rise above.
“Statistically, I shouldn’t be where I am,” she says. “But I was determined to break that generational curse and make something of my life. Something my kids could be proud of. I toughed it out and told myself I was going to be something.”
Before real estate, Heather worked at a bank and then launched a photography and marketing business. That path led her to real estate photography, and eventually to her real estate license. After weathering a divorce and starting over, Heather made a promise to give her daughter – and eventually her husband and son – the life she never had.
Facing Yet Another Challenge
But in 2020, life took another unexpected turn. At just 36 years old, her husband – a former federal police officer – was suddenly diagnosed with severe heart and lung failure, leaving him unable to work.
Although he has seen significant improvement and life is more stable today, his condition remains a day-by-day situation. The weight of providing for their family now rests largely on Heather’s shoulders – a responsibility she carries with strength, grace, and unwavering determination.
“We didn’t know if he was going to make it,” Heather recalls. “There were many times I truly wasn’t sure he’d be coming home with me.”
Caring for her husband became a role she never expected. “I never planned to be a nurse,” she says with a soft laugh, “but after all these years, I might just pass for one.”
Her husband now lives with a Hickman catheter – an IV line in his chest that delivers life-sustaining medication. As his full-time caretaker, Heather manages everything from medication orders to mixing and filling his medicine every 48 hours. “It’s truly his lifeline,” she says.
While there’s no cure right now, medical advancements continue to give them hope. The cost of his medications reaches nearly $200,000 each month – a staggering number that only strengthened Heather’s resolve.
“I knew I had to fight harder than ever,” she says. And that’s exactly what I’ve done.”
Today, Heather is the sole provider for her family of four. Her hustle is powered not by ego, but by necessity – and love.
One of Heather’s greatest life goals is to help others believe in themselves – even when the odds feel stacked against them.
“I owe all the glory to God and give Him full credit for who I am today,” she said. “Without His grace and guidance, I know my story could have looked very different.”
Heather hopes that by sharing her journey, she can inspire others to keep going – to push through the hard seasons, trust their path, and know that with faith and determination, anything is possible.
More Than Just Sales: She Builds, Hunts, and Leads
Heather isn’t just a real estate powerhouse – she’s a force of nature. She hunts deer, turkeys, and coyotes. She’s held a lake record for spoonbill fishing. She builds furniture from reclaimed wood. She’s raced stock cars. And when she’s not closing deals, she’s inspiring other women and kids to find their strength in the outdoors and in life.
“I’m always doing something,” she laughs. “My husband says, ‘God, what are you doing now?’”
Heather’s creativity and resourcefulness are reflected in her real estate marketing. She’s active on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, using video and storytelling to connect with clients. Her local “Did You Know?” series, where she shares updates about flood zone changes, lakefront regulations, and market trends, has become a trusted source of information in the community.
Why Did Heather Choose eXp?
Heather spent five years at Keller Williams before making the switch. While she appreciated the experience, she was searching for something more – more opportunity, more flexibility, and more growth.
“I looked at every option out there,” she says. “When I saw what eXp offered – a lower cap, more revenue potential, and the ability to expand across state lines – I knew it was the right move.”
From building her own kitchen table to closing multimillion-dollar deals, Heather Collins is proving that mindset, grit, and purpose can take you anywhere – especially when you finally get the wings to soar.
“I’m the one who wasn’t supposed to make it,” she says. “But here I am. I’m not stopping now.”
