Today we’d like to introduce you to Hubert Tate.
Hubert, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Real estate wasn’t my first career love. Though I love the industry today, I actually started in journalism and communications. I graduated from Jackson State University with my bachelor’s degree in 2007 and got my master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2017.
After undergrad, I became a TV news reporter/anchor in Lafayette, Louisiana, at the CBS network affiliate, KLFY-TV. I was a general assignment reporter, focusing on Saint Landry Parish. I spent a year there and then moved to WALA-TV in Mobile Alabama, where I worked for the FOX affiliate. I had the privilege of covering some major stories along the Gulf Coast, including the BP oil spill and did a two-year investigation that led to strengthening the state’s indecent exposure laws. I was honored to be invited to the Governor’s office to witness the ceremonial signing of the bill into law. After Mobile, I moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where I worked for the FOX-NBC affiliate, KLRT-KARK. In Little Rock, I had the privilege to document the journey of a girl who acquired a brain-eating amoeba, where only two people had fully recovered worldwide. She survived the ordeal and her family graciously allowed me to follow her journey.
In 2014, I had the opportunity to transition out of TV news/journalism and more into communications/marketing positions. I took a role with the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, DC, where I was a press secretary/spokesperson. I really enjoyed this job as I was able to witness the United States Supreme Court strike down the ban on same-sex marriage. Soon thereafter, a marketing and communications opportunity opened at Teach For America in Atlanta, Georgia and I took it. I’ve always had a passion for supporting education, and TFA gave me the chance to work for educational excellence and equity.
Somewhere along these journeys, I realized that communications wasn’t quite where my future was leading me. Though I enjoyed what I did, there was something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I knew that God was leading me in a different direction. Where? I needed to find that out. So I started doing some deep soul searching, praying, seeing a therapist, and talking to my priest.
This was no easy or fast journey. It took me about three years to realize I didn’t want to do journalism/communications/marketing anymore. And then one day, I was talking to some friends, who are also real estate agents, and they encouraged me to give real estate a try. I immediately said, “no.” I’m not a salesperson, that’s not my thing. But they said, “just go to the class and try it out.”
So I signed up for real estate school. It was a night class from 5-8 pm three days a week. I remember the first day. I was so depressed. I had just worked a full day at TFA and now I am headed to a class. I said to myself, “this can not go well.” But I went anyway. I remember the teacher began teaching and I found myself being really interested. At that moment, I realized, real estate is really interesting! From there, my journey into the business began. I went on to pass the two tests required, got my license and joined Keller Williams Realty as an independent contractor.
This year marks my third year and I am so thankful that I am truly living into God’s purpose for my life. I love real estate. Sometimes, I think this is where I should have been all along, but I don’t have any regrets about my time in journalism before real estate. Life is a journey and I am at peace with where God has me today. I am happy, fulfilled and sellin’ houses left and right!
In my first year in real estate, I was voted rookie of the year. And last year, I was ranked within the top five percent (units sold) and top ten percent (volume) within the Atlanta Realtors Association. There are more than 10,000 realtors in this association and I am very blessed to be ranked amongst the best.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has not been smooth. My very first transaction in the business fell through. A very large national bank initially approved my client for a home loan and then the day before closing, that company realized it made a mistake and we could not close on the home. I was devastated. Some people would have given up right then and there, but I knew God led me to real estate, so I kept moving along. And I am thankful I did. I closed $1.7 million dollars in real estate my first six months. Moral of the story to other folks? Don’t let disappointments and failures stop you from achieving greatness. Learn from them. Grow from them. And watch greatness unfold.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I sell residential real estate. I specialize in helping people who need to sell their homes first and then buy a different home. Balancing two transactions at the same time is a tricky one, and I have mastered the concepts to do it effectively. As a company, I am most proud that many of my clients start off as “clients” by definition, but they eventually morph into lifelong friends.
My company’s goal is to serve humankind through the prized possession and rewards of owning real estate. We believe that win-win outcomes stem from business transactions that are rooted in integrity. We affirm that no matter the price point, our clients, who become our friends along the way, deserve dignity. And we understand that confidence is not a handout, so we work with a tone of esprit de corps to earn our client’s trust. Bottomline—integrity, dignity and trust are the reasons why our clients decide to #HireHubert—over and over again—for a lifetime.
What makes Hubert Tate and Company different? We promise a customer service experience that values three components: communication, professionalism and excellence. We vow to ensure our clients stay well-informed from initial consultation to closing. We promise professionalism, as we acknowledge that the transfer of property is an important business decision. We know that cutting corners serves no purpose to anyone, so we commit ourselves to acting with excellence. Therefore, when our clients decide to #HireHubert, they essentially are guaranteed an experience of unmatched communication, fine-tuned professionalism, and exceptional excellence.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the international atmosphere of Atlanta. Because of the amazing airport, I can literally fly to any place in the world, often with a direct flight. I am very thankful for that. I hate and despise the traffic. It is gross. However, I have turned the negative into a positive. I started listening to audiobooks about three years ago while driving to appointments. Last year, I listened to eight audiobooks, all while sitting in Atlanta traffic.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.huberttate.com
- Phone: 678-680-8729
- Email: huberttate@kw.com
- Instagram: @trebuh.etat
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hirehubert
- Twitter: @HubertTate
Image Credit:
Illogic Creative
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