Independence Title

a story ofAll good stories have After a difficult stretch of time It would turn out to be one of the plenty of twists and following a divorce and a change in career, Kim had no idea the stroke most pivotal decisions she’d make, both personally and professionally. turns, challenges and of luck she would happen upon one magical moments, and morning at church. She hadn’t been to church in a while, but a little First a little back story...Kim opened a brokerage with her sister in 2008 Kim Dean’s is no voice told her that she should get up after five years at other real estate exception. that morning and go. franchises. They decided to take

By: Allison Myers

story of faith faith the plunge and go it on their own, the door greeter at Kim’s church, but every initiative, and a lens through doing away with team fees and he was also a recruiter contracted by which she learned as companies franchise brokerage fees. Their own LaCore Enterprises, who happened were formed. “I got to see why comteam grew organically and business to be on the hunt for a paralegal panies either succeed or fail” she was good despite the abrupt market with a background in real estate. said. It was a Masterclass in Entredownturn. But, as Kim said, “Life In that moment, the stars aligned, preneurship. happened.” Real estate was put on and Kim understood why she felt a the back burner as they battled strong urging to be in church that Then, there was another twist. Enburnout and Kim balanced family morning. “I tell this story because ter: Derek…again. Derek had been matters and navigated a divorce. “I my faith is so important to me. This a friend for years. He and Kim had began entertaining law school,” she is truly a story of faith,” Kim said. gone to high school together in Carremembered, “Because I worried The fog began to clear and her tra- rollton, in fact. Their worlds overabout being a single mom with a jectory pointed ever-upward. lapped and they shared the same 100 percent commission job.” circle of friends, but never dated. LaCore Enterprises is an incuba- After high school, their paths diShe decided to go through SMU’s tor for startup businesses, Kim verged — Kim went to Texas A&M paralegal program instead, which explained, and they’re in every and Derek went to the University of landed her a job at a law firm in industry you can think of — includ- North Texas — but they still seemed downtown Dallas. Kim stayed at the ing charter planes. “This explains to orbit each others’ lives from a law firm for a year before decid- why we office out of the McKinney distance. In 2014, thanks to social ing the daily commute down from Airport,” she laughed. Kim came media, they reconnected. They McKinney was not sustainable. Real on board with LaCore in Decem- picked right back up where they left estate was her first love, and she ber 2013, assisting with corporate off, forming a fast friendship and knew that’s where she wanted to be. formation, relocations for employ- falling in step with the other’s social She was in the process of figuring ees moving in from out of state, circles. They soon decided, despite out how to go back to real estate full and managing a small portfolio fears about harming social dynamtime when a happenstance encoun- of properties. Her entrepreneurial ics, that they ter piqued her interest and then background was impressive and eventually quelled her anxieties helpful, giving her an advantage in about how she could make a career in real estate a reality. So back to that fateful day at church... “You might think this is strange,” the man said as he handed her a program, “But I recognize you from your LinkedIn profile.” He was

“I got to see why companies either succeed or fail. It was a Masterclass in Entrepreneurship.”

wanted to give a relationship a shot. It was a success — they were engaged by 2016 and married soon after. It was around the same time two years later that Terry LaCore, President of LaCore Enterprises, offered to partner with them in a residential brokerage. Ever-upward.

An attorney who Kim worked with early on at LaCore took note of her passion and excitement around the real estate portion of her job. “She could tell that’s what I loved most,” Kim said, so they spent the next year dreaming up and building what Kim and Derek called “the perfect brokerage.” They knew what kind of culture they wanted to cultivate, and part of it included a “Chip and Joanna vibe,” Kim said, referencing the dynamic duo of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. The other crucial aspect of the brokerage is the name, obviously. When asked, they came up with the name “Simply Texas Realt Estate,” Derek answered, half-jokingly: “A lot of sleepless nights!” The pair knew that a “brand-able” name was important, and that they wanted it to be reflective of the family-style culture of the company. They woke up in the middle of the night with lots of ideas, Derek recalled, before finally landing on “Simply Texas.” They originally started out in the Melissa office, but quickly outgrew it, deciding to make the move to their own space in McKinney.

On a day-to-day basis, Derek manages his personal team and helps the Dean's buyer and seller clients while Kim manages a brokerage of over 50 agents, facilitates training and runs the brokerage. Their team growth has been thanks to wordof-mouth messaging and referrals. They do business the same way — all referrals, no paid advertising. It’s worked out well for them, as they saw 40% growth in 2020. Their growth is calculated and deliberate, as they don’t intend to expand beyond and character is everything,” Kim explained. They are hoping to bring on a few more experienced agents in the near future, but not just for the purposes of increasing volume. Kim and Derek have developed a robust mentorship program for rookie agents that partners them with veteran agents, exposing them to various styles of purchasing and selling. New agents also journey through a series of 8-week courses which not only empower

Their growth is calculated and deliberate, as they don’t intend to expand beyond what’s manageable, and this means staying small enough to maintain the "family feel".

them in their day-to-day initiatives, but orient them to the culture of Simply Texas.

Within the next five years or so, Kim and Derek also hope to open a co-working space to be able to train agents, host events, and serve the community in north Collin County — particularly the residents in and around the McKinney/ Sherman corridor. “Right now, those residents have to drive to McKinney or Plano or Frisco to utilize a co-working space, and we want to provide gathering places for them that are more practical,” Kim explained.

“Kim makes herself available — practically 24/7 — to the agents,” Derek shared, emphasizing how important their team is to them. Kim answered, “They deserve it. Our agents deserve to be empowered and it breaks my heart when they come from other brokerages and tell me they didn’t have the resources they needed.”

The only time she’s not available, Kim said, is when she’s with a client or “on the ice.” They’re a hockey family, she continued. They’re a sporty bunch in general, as another shared hobby outside of work includes visiting Major League Baseball stadiums. Derek is a golfer, as well, and they both enjoy working out together outside the office. Derek also recently committed to walking 100 miles for the American Cancer Society. At the time of our interview, he only had about 15 miles to go. After losing his father to cancer — and beating kidney cancer himself earlier this year — Derek is passionate about supporting the American Cancer Society, and as of March, he was the top fundraiser in Texas.

It takes a particular kind of person to run toward the fire instead of away from from it, and Kim and Derek have that instinct — whatever it is, wherever it comes from. One

I’d rather hire an agent who does less in production but has a great team spirit than someone who does a 100 deals a year but is on an ego trip. Integrity and character is everything.

Derek & Kim -

could speculate that it’s derived at least partially from their faith, but the desire to not only overcome challenges, but to embrace them and allow the fire to shape them in a positive way seems inborn and natural to them in a way that can’t be learned. They embody those attributes separately, but together they’re twice as evident.

Kim and Derek just celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in March on the same day Simply Texas turned two. We joked that they were celebrating two birthdays that day — and it was true. The union of Kim and Derek and the formation of Simply Texas birthed a specific kind of light that’s worth celebrating. And their story is a reminder that good can come from bad, difficult, strange things, and that miracles can happen in the middle of everyday life.

Get in touch with Kim and Derek via email (kim@gosimplytexas. com and derek@gosimplytexaslcom) to learn more about their business, their team, and their story.

214.533.8945 nancy@dfwrealestateinfluencers.com