THE REWARDS OF TRUSTED GUIDANCE DEREK power couple DEREK KIM & KIM DEAN

AS SOMEONE IN YOUR ROLE WHO WORKS WITH CLIENTS, YOU ARE THE EXPERT GUIDE WHO HELPS THOSE AROUND YOU REACH THE OTHER SIDE OF AN UNKNOWN WILDERNESS — COMPLETE WITH SURPRISES AND CHALLENGES .

When you reach the other side, you understandably and deservedly feel good about your achievements on their behalf.

Spirit Of Care

That’s the same spirit that is carried out each day by the husband-and-wife team of Derek and Kim Dean, Founders of the Simply Texas Real Estate Group and Team Leaders with eXp Realty.

Kim began her adventure in real estate in 2003, with Derek joining her in the business in 2015. The two have been married for six years but actually share a path in life that began as friends in high school, coming of age in Carrolton.

“When we graduated from high school, I went to Texas A&M, and Derek went to the University of North Texas,” Kim recalls. “But our paths came back together.”

The Twists And Turns Of Life

It didn’t take long for Kim to know that real estate was the path for her. After graduating from college, she started her working career as a pharmaceutical salesperson.

“After doing that for about nine months, I met my previous husband, who was in the U.S. Army and we moved to Washington, D.C. in 2001,” Kim says. “We got married, had our first child, Mason, and were there in the Capital City on 9/11. We lived just a mile away from the Pentagon.”

Before long, they moved back to Texas in 2004. Prior to that time, Kim had become licensed in Virginia for a few months before the move. Upon arriving back in Texas, Kim joined a team at Keller Williams part-time while her youngest child was in pre-school.

“We got busy and my sister joined the business and is still with us today. She joined the business and our team moved to RE/MAX, and then my team lead opened up a RE/MAX franchise and we had our second child in 2007.”

Then the economic downturn of 2008 hit.

“My sister and I knew we were moms first, followed by real estate. We loved providing for our families. In 2008, she encouraged me to get my Broker’s license,” Kim remembers. “From 2008 to 2019 and we rebranded to Simply Texas in 2019. We grew from 10 agents to more than 60 agents in two and-a-half years. In the fall of 2021, we partnered with eXp Realty.”

Meant To Be

In the meantime, Derek was on his own path in life. As a student at the University of North Texas, he found that college was not his calling.

“While I was in college, I worked two jobs … for a golf course and as a bartender,” he remembers. “I ended up tending bar for 20 years. During that time, I made a lot of friends and connections.”

Derek’s parents had gifted him land in Flower Mound.

“In time, I decided to sell it. That’s when I talked with Kim,” he remembers with a smile. “That’s when she said that I needed to get my license and come work with her. So in 2015, that’s what I did while I was bartending.”

An unexpected injury caused Derek to move up the timeline for his real estate career.

“I’ve always been a big sports fan. I was playing indoor soccer and tore my right ACL. I had surgery in October 2016, and during my recovery the bar I worked at sold, so I didn’t have a job to go back to,” Derek remembers. “While I laid on the couch recovering, Kim handed me my laptop and I started. It all came at a perfect time. I was an agent at her brokerage, D&B Real Estate. Years later, her sister stepped out of ownership, as a new business partner came in, and that is when we rebranded it as Simply Texas Real Estate.”

In the midst of all of that, there was a serious health hurdle that arose. In 2021, Kim had gone to South Carolina on a hockey trip with their youngest child. During that time, Derek developed an excruciating pain on his left side that sent him to the Emergency Room.

After tests, Derek got the news that he had a tumor that had grown through his left kidney.

“It was very near an artery, so chemo and radiation weren’t going to work. So, they did laparoscopic surgery to extract my kidney,” he remembers. “Today, I’m in remission.”

“That was a big reason why we made the switch to eXp Realty,” Kim recalls. “We had been building the business, and the stress with each agent who joined us kept mounting. It’s a very active role that a Broker has to take. We didn’t know what our future would be. We saw eXp and the different ways we could earn income with the company as the solution, and our agents have the same opportunities,” Kim says. “Because of that move, other doors have opened for us. Last fall, I was a book writer and had an Amazon best seller with other women. With models like eXp, it has changed the playing field for women and for women to be able to grow.”

Enjoying The Same Path

Today, Derek works primarily with buyers, sellers, and personal transactions, while Kim focuses her energies on developing and growing the team. They still enjoy going on appointments together.

The passion they have for sharing the same path in life and business is clearly evident.

“Not every couple can do this, but we have such a good chemistry and work structure that it balances out and works seamlessly,” Derek emphasizes.

“Another important key is that we have a shared faith. For us, it is faith first and, when we go to bed every night, we understand the stresses and struggles each other is going through,” Kim explains. “I don’t think other spouses can relate on that level. We understand how we can help each other. Our pros and cons balance each other out.”

LIFE’S FULFILLING MOMENTS

Family is at the center of the world for Kim and Derek. They cherish time with children, Mason and Gavin. They also adore Aspen, their English Cream Golden Retriever.

In their free time, they have a wide range of interests. Derek is an avid movie goer and golfer. He also is motivated to help others in a big way. The month after recovering from his surgery, he partnered with the American Cancer Society for a contest to walk 100 miles in the month, raising donations along the way. In fact, he was fundraising leader in the state for the month. As he looks to the future, Derek plans on assembling an annual Simply Texas golf tournament to support cancer-fighting efforts.

Kim and Derek also have a strong, shared love for baseball. They are working on making their way to watch games in person in all of the MLB ballparks. It’s no coincidence that they share this passion, since their engagement pictures were taken at the old Texas Rangers stadium.

They also enjoy a friendly family rivalry when it comes to college sports allegiances, with Kim holding on to her love of the Aggies and Derek rooting on the Longhorns of the University of Texas.

Kim also has a passion for giving back. She has enjoyed taking part in the Young Men’s Service League with her sons in McKinney. She also has a big place in her heart for the Samaritan Inn in Collin County. Another favorite is Street Side Showers, a mobile shower trailer delivering a hot shower and clean clothing to the homeless population. They also support McKinney Roots, a group that grows and provides organic vegetables for people in need. Another is Hugs, a McKinney restaurant that provides a place for special needs adults to work.

Whether they are helping their clients, supporting the community, or building for others around them, Derek and Kim Dean make a difference each day. In turn, they experience the rewarding returns that naturally come their way as a result.

“My favorite part is a lot of people feel they aren’t doing what God called them to do. I feel I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be in my mission field,” Kim emphasizes. “Through the good and bad times … we come alongside them and help people in that way. Treat others the way you want to be treated and business will take care of itself.”

Written by: Dave Danielson • Photos by: Jin Kim, URSPECIAL