Kathy Cross, a military transplant originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been in real estate since leaving the service in 1994. After 18 years of successfully working for other companies, she’s striking out on her own, building a new team for Imagine Real Estate Possibilities.
“I started in real estate immediately after leaving the service,” says Kathy, who had just purchased a home one month before leaving her last duty station at Fort Lewis (now Joint Base Lewis-McChord). “I saw it as an opportunity to dive into a new line of work and preserve the property I’d just purchased, because turning around and selling it would not have been financially feasible.”
Kathy embarked on a crash course and had her real estate license 30 days later.
She then worked with ERA Real Estate for seven years, where she became an owner. Kathy eventually moved to RE/MAX Four Seasons, where she grew her business to a larger scale, with a mixture of property management, residential sales, and bank-owned properties.
“That was the season of growing for me,” Kathy says of her days with RE/MAX Four Seasons. “I cultivated relationships and grew my own business. I’d always wanted to do something on my own but could never figure out the right time. Now is the time.”
Kathy admits that making the jump to owning her own company is a bit scary, but she feels confident and is up for the challenge. “There are many obstacles,” she says, “but this is my heart’s desire. If I don’t live it out, I have no one to blame but myself. It’s called a leap of faith.”
By creating Imagine Real Estate Possibilities, Kathy hopes to live out her vision for a better real estate firm, establishing a strong foundation and a capable team. Her company’s mission is to provide real housing opportunities and related services for every client.
To do that, Kathy strives to build a culture of real relationships and a firm that attracts brokers with integrity and affiliates who want to grow and develop into entrepreneurs.
“There are three other agents in my office,” Kathy says of the new space. “It’s a team of four, but I’m also a team of one, so to speak. We’re all independent.”
Kathy and her team members want to approach real estate in a different way. “We’re looking at relationships instead of dollars,” she says.
To Kathy, the most important thing is connecting with people and providing real estate services, but also identifying each client’s specific needs that go beyond real estate.
“People have all kinds of needs, personal and professional,” says Kathy. “I want to fill those gaps that I think often get missed when you’re just in a strict business transaction.”
Kathy’s favorite thing about working in real estate?
“Making dreams come true,” she says. “When a person thinks they can’t get what they want – whether it’s to sell a house or buy a house – to see that come to pass. Making it possible.”
Kathy Cross
Imagine Real Estate Possibilities
8650 Martin Way East, Suite 202
Lacey WA 98516
360.951.1360
kathy@kathycross.com
