DEBBIE KINSON & WILL KINSON

DEBBIE KINSON & WILL KINSON

Building an Unbreakable Bond: A Mother-Son Real Estate Partnership

When picturing the relationship between a mother and son, the term “business partners” may not immediately spring to mind. However, in the case of Debbie and Will, their journey in the real estate industry has transformed their familial connection into a thriving professional partnership. Growing up, Will witnessed his mother’s remarkable success in real estate, which inspired him to follow suit years later. Will quietly completed his clock hours and passed the real estate exam before surprising his mom with the exciting news. Reflecting on those early years, Will vividly remembers the Fourth of July tradition of placing flags adorned with Debbie’s contact information in people’s yards, with his sister Kim—a seemingly prophetic event, as today the entire family is in the real estate business. Kim Kinson-Jones has been with a local title company for 15 years in numerous positions, and is currently a sales rep to local agents.

Although Debbie and Will operate from separate offices, with Debbie based in Issaquah and Will based in Bellevue, they focus on the Greater Eastside and Seattle, but their dedication extends beyond local boundaries with the majority of their business coming from referrals. With a vast and devoted client base, this dynamic mother-son duo is renowned for going the extra mile, quite literally, to serve their clients. In fact, Will is currently pursuing a license in Arizona, driven by a desire to continue assisting clients who have relocated from Washington state.

Debbie embarked on her real estate journey approximately 33 years ago, during a transformative period in her life. Initially, she began by handling marketing duties for a friend involved in the industry. Taking a leap of faith, Debbie decided to take the state exam, and her boldness paid off when she was crowned Rookie of the Year in her inaugural year. With a rich history in real estate, Debbie has cultivated a vast network of clients, relying solely on repeat business and referrals—an impressive feat that she and Will leverage to great advantage. Going above and beyond for their clients is second nature to them. “Our technique, how we communicate, our honesty, and that name recognition kind of speaks for itself,” comments Debbie. “We bring a lot of integrity, professionalism, and humor to our transactions.” Their candid and dedicated approach has yielded significant results, with their combined efforts achieving a remarkable $33 million in sales in 2022 alone and $125+ million in the last 5 years. While Debbie excels in traditional marketing, Will manages the team’s social media presence and has helped with developing a sleek new website to enhance their online presence.

Both Debbie and Will are revered for their transparency and open communication, not only with their clients but also with fellow real estate agents. “This has always been a people industry – we’ve lost a bit of that with technology, but this is still a people industry,” emphasizes Debbie, “and there is nothing more fun than showing buyers homes and getting homes ready for sellers.” In addition to their exemplary work ethic, the Kinson team is deeply committed to giving back to their community, with a percentage of each paycheck going towards the Windermere Foundation. Windermere takes pride in hosting yearly community service days for all of the individual offices, while the Windermere Foundation actively raises funds to support over 500 organizations including homeless shelters, food banks, schools, and hospitals to name a few. The Windermere Foundation has raised over $50+ million to date. This cause holds immense significance for the Kinson’s, as Debbie and her family experienced a brief period of homelessness in Vermont. Through the kindness of other families who welcomed them, Debbie managed to bounce back and now strives to make a positive impact on the lives of children, the homeless, and at-risk families. The team also sponsors various sports initiatives in the community, reminiscent of Will’s own childhood playing multiple sports throughout High School and into College.

Chuckling, Will jokingly remarks, “I always tell my mom [that] we are real estate agents, but we’re also 90% therapists.” While the team aims to maintain the intimate and personable atmosphere of a mom-and-pop agency, they are also strategically expanding their business to ensure continued delivery of high-quality services. Fueled by the reliance placed on them by their clients, they embrace growth while assuring that their impeccable standards remain unchanged. And, as for any potential arguments that may arise between a mother and son working together, Debbie reassures us that they have yet to encounter any such conflict. Both laughing, Debbie shares “we still get along!”