BOULDER COUNTY
ChelseyFranklin
Built to Win: Chelsey
Franklin’s Unstoppable Drive and Family-Fueled Empire
“If you don’t want to live a mediocre life, it takes a different mindset.”
Ifthere’sonethingChelseyFranklinisn’t afraidof,it’srisk.Whethershe’sflipping homes,expandingherinvestment portfolio,leadingTheFranklinGroup withSotheby’sInternationalRealty,or ridingperformancehorseswithher daughters,Chelseybringsfire,grit, andvisiontoeveryarenasheenters.
AColoradogirlatheart,Chelseymay havebeenborninArizona,butshe’s quicktoclarify,“WemovedtoColorado whenIwasthreeorfour—soIdefinitely considermyselfanative.”Raisedin afamilywhereexcellencewasthe
standardandgolfwasthelanguage oflife,Chelseygrewupcompeting
atthehighestlevels.Sheplayedgolf atMonarchHighSchoolandwas recruitedtotheUniversityofOklahoma, wheresheearnedascholarship and,eventually,amaster’sdegreein IntercollegiateAthleticAdministration. HeryoungersisterBrooke—18months herjunior—alsoplayedforOU.“We wereroommatesincollege.Ourparents didn’tgiveusmuchofachoicewhen itcametobeingfriends,”shelaughs. “Nowweworktogether.It’skindof comical it’swhatwe’vealwaysdone.”
ItwasalsoatOUwhereChelseymether husband,Daniel,whoplayedfootball fortheSoonersandwentontogethis lawdegree.Today,Danielisco-founder ofShanor&Franklin,alawfirm operatingacrossfivestateswithover
25 attorneys, specializing in real estate and energy law. “It works out great for me,” Chelsey smiles. “If I ever need a lawyer, I don’t have to wait in line.”
After realizing that collegiate coaching wouldn’t generate the income needed to build the life she envisioned, Chelsey took her father’s advice and pivoted to real estate. Twelve years later, she’s not only thriving—she’s redefining what success looks like.
As team leader of The Franklin Group, Chelsey leans into her natural role as the visionary.
“I love underwriting deals. I’m really good at starting projects and bringing energy to them.
For our own investment properties, nothing gets me more excited than running the preliminary numbers,” she explains. But Chelsey also knows how to rally a team: her sister Brooke,
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THERE ARE JUST SO MANY AVENUES IN REAL ESTATE— BUY AND HOLD, REFINANCE, REHAB, EVEN TAKING A LOSS AND CARRYING IT FORWARD. IT’S ALL PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE.”
her father Larry Collins (a former professional golfer who helped build TPC Colorado), and Brooke’s fatherin-law Kevin Lepine—each of them bringing different strengths to the table.
Brooke and Chelsey have flipped over 20 properties together and love designing and collaborating on investment projects. “People want turnkey now,” she shares. “We’ve helped many clients buy properties, renovate them, and maximize their returns.” It’s about
being creative and strategic. Brooke is Chelsey’s best friend. “She helps confirm things I’m already thinking,” she laughs. “She’s also been a part of some huge wins. We flipped a home in 30 days and made six figures.” That’s the power of sisterhood.
Kevin, who got his real estate license after retiring from running tradeshow and conference management, excels at client relations and showings. “He’s great with people,” Chelsey says warmly. “And we all work together like family—because we are.”
And family, for Chelsey, is everything.
“We’ve been through some crazy times—after COVID, when the market dipped and 75% of brokers left, we bought Four Restore Hyper Wellness, Anytime Fitness in Berthoud, and Ziggi’s Coffee Shop—all within 18 months,” she recalls. “It was the most chaotic, amazing time. We weathered the storm together.”
That resilience paid off. In 2022, Chelsey closed $45 million in real estate across two states, her strongest year to date. Through the highs and lows, she remains grounded. “My mantra is simple: You can do everything—but is it worth it? We’ve made a collective decision as a family that there’s no client, deal, or business that’s going to ruin our relationships. Money comes and goes. But if I ruined my relationship with my sister over a deal? That’s my worst fear.”
A true entrepreneur at heart, Chelsey doesn’t just sell real estate—she lives and breathes it. Licensed in both Colorado and Oklahoma, she works with investors across state lines, helping them identify higher ROI opportunities and build wealth. “We’ve taken Colorado-based clients to Oklahoma for investments. We also spend a lot of time in Tulsa, where our coffee shop is based,” she shares. “There are just so many avenues in real estate—buy and hold, refinance, rehab, even taking a loss and carrying it forward. It’s all part of the bigger picture.”
Her children—Bailey (11), Madison (8), and James “Jimbo” (5)—have become unofficial real estate assistants, joining their mom on showings and learning the value of hard work. “They’ve seen more houses than they care to admit,” she jokes. “But if they want to go to camp or take a trip, they know what it takes. We walk them through P&L statements, cash flow, even dealing with tenants. We want to build generational wealth, and that starts by teaching them early.”
A performance horse competitor and devoted sports mom, Chelsey juggles horseback riding, flag football, wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics, and golf for her kids—all while staying laserfocused on her business goals. “We don’t believe in work-life balance,” she admits. “We just keep going. And we find time to rest when we can.”
When asked about the secret to her success, Chelsey reflects: “We’ve failed a lot. We’ve made expensive mistakes. But we’ve never stopped. Every project
teaches us something—whether it’s a deal that didn’t close or a development that flopped, there’s always a lesson. That’s how we’ve grown.”
From coaching clients to building her team, Chelsey embodies a relentless pursuit of growth. “It’s a humbling business. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, life throws you a curveball,” she says. “But that’s the beauty of it. We keep learning, we keep building, and we keep reaching for that next level.”
And as for what’s next? With The Franklin Group now proudly aligned with Sotheby’s International Realty, Chelsey is energized for the future. “Joining Sotheby’s is a dream. We’re surrounded by top producers and feel like small fish again—which is a good thing. It means we’re growing.”
Whether she’s leading her team through complex deals, mentoring clients, flipping homes, or teaching her kids about ROI, Chelsey Franklin is all in. Fierce, funny, and refreshingly real, she proves that when you lead with passion and keep family first, success will follow.
