-- J. Cate Kassab, chief executive officer and owner of My Upstate Home LLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who's Who for her contributions to the real estate industry, highlighting her leadership, integrity and commitment to ethical business practices and more transparency. With over 15 years of experience in real estate, marketing and relocation, Ms. Kassab's expertise and innovativeness have made her a well-respected figure. Being recognized by Marquis Who's Who cements her reputation as a leader focused on improving industry standards.
My Upstate Home operates under the motto, "Where Humanity Comes First, Transparency is Best Practice, and Kindness is Corporate." These values are reflected in the company's structure, which eliminates corporate overhead fees, high brokerage fees and unnecessary affiliate fees, allowing clients to save money and agents to keep a larger share of their commissions. Clients get more tailor-made services and agents get to spend more on marketing their listings and expanding their businesses. It helps clients get the highest quality services at the most affordable rates and personalized services, through ISPs (individualized service plans) that fit their unique needs.
Ms. Kassab emphasizes the importance of transparency in real estate transactions. "I believe if you knew where your money was really going, you would make very different decisions," she states. Consumers typically know what the total brokerage commission is but rarely know how it is divvied up. When consumers know that information, they hire agents who have larger commission splits because they can do more for their clients. "By working with My Upstate Home, clients can ensure their money is used to target market their own properties effectively. They won't be paying for the luxurious lifestyles of executives, in other states, they'll never meet or work with directly," she adds.
The company's focus on transparency and individualized service differentiates it from brokerages with high corporate, affiliate and franchise fees. Ms. Kassab argues that these fees often result in agents having smaller marketing budgets, as they make less of the gross commission. An agent with a lower commission split due to excessive fees simply can’t compete with an agent who doesn’t have those same fees. My Upstate Home's model allows agents to negotiate fees based on each client's needs and specific market conditions.
Ms. Kassab also highlights the differences between real estate markets in Upstate South Carolina and major metropolitan areas like California or New York. In South Carolina, only 2.5 percent of homes, potentially less, are worth $1 million or more. In San Francisco and San Jose, about 80 percent of homes are in this price range. Ms. Kassab believes that consumers in Upstate South Carolina should not pay the same high fees for services that do not directly help them or their specific market. She is challenging the status quo and advocating for reform that best serves the public, in their own local markets.
While acknowledging the value of large brokerages with millions of followers on various platforms, Ms. Kassab questions how this helps individual listings that have no guarantee of being featured. She likens paying larger fees for a slim chance of mass marketing to buying a lottery ticket, arguing that the money could be better spent on targeted advertising for each listing. “There were just too many undeserving hands in the cookie jar, I had to stop it in order to best serve the Upstate and my local communities,” she states.
As real estate competition intensifies, Ms. Kassab predicts that fees will drop while services remain the same. She emphasizes the importance of making every dollar count in this environment, noting that overhead, corporate, affiliate and franchise fees may not decrease proportionally with the overall fee reductions.
Ultimately, Ms. Kassab believes that cooperation among agents and brokerages is essential for serving clients' best interests. She warns that if listing agents with high fees are forced to offer lower cooperative broker fees, to survive, sellers may suffer as their listings become less marketable. However, she also sees an opportunity for companies like My Upstate Home to thrive by offering a more transparent, client-centric approach.
About My Upstate Home LLC
My Upstate Home LLC is a real estate company built on principles of transparency, humanity and kindness. Removing excessive corporate, affiliate and brokerage fees allows its agents to keep more of their commissions, enabling them to invest in their own marketing efforts, and better serve their clients. This forward-thinking model ensures clients receive tailored, affordable, high-quality services. Committed to reshaping the real estate industry, My Upstate Home focuses on meeting the needs of both clients and agents, placing people above profit.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
Contact Info:
Name: Marquis Who's Who Digital Media Team
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Organization: Marquis Who's Who Ventures LLC
Website: http://www.marquiswhoswho.com/
Release ID: 89156878
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