FLYING HIGH

As Brad Benat approached high school graduation, he began to consider what direction he’d like to take in his professional life. He considered his desires and two criteria rose to the surface. He wanted to work for himself and have unlimited income potential.

It was then that Brad realized the answer was under his nose the entire time. Becoming a REALTOR® — his father’s profession — checked all the boxes. Brad long held an affinity for his father’s work, but up until that point, he hadn’t seriously considered becoming a real estate agent himself. As it turns out, it’s been the perfect fit.

A Business is Born

Brad was licensed in 1994, launching his real estate career at the age of 21. He worked alongside his father, sharing ideas and gaining knowledge about the business until his dad’s retirement in 2005. In the meantime, Brad developed a robust investment portfolio by using his license to buy, sell, and flip homes.

By 2008, Brad was flying. He had recently met his wife, Marissa, and his investment business was soaring. And then, it all fell apart. The economy crumbled, and the real estate market fell along with it.

“I got caught holding the bag, and it completely devastated us financially. We were so poor we couldn’t pay attention. It was terrible,” Brad says humbly.

At that point, Brad had a realization: He had been on a real estate island, and it cost him. He wasn’t involved in community activities, engaging with other agents, or attending networking events.

Fun Fact

Brad is a pilot, and he took Marissa on their first date on his airplane. His daughter, Caroline, is following in his footsteps, having recently begun her career as a commercial airline pilot.

“A friend called me and asked to go to lunch. He talked me into going to a Mega Agent Camp for KW. I went, and I was mindblown by how much I didn’t know,” Brad explains. “I came back inspired. I told Marissa I wanted to join Keller Williams and revamp everything.”

Marissa had her doubts, but Brad went ahead with his plan, joining Keller Williams in 2009 and rebuilding his business from scratch. Marissa eventually rejoined him as a REALTOR®, and they began growing a team in 2011. As the market recovered, their business took off.

Built on Values

Today, the Benat Team Family of Realtors with eXp Realty is a small team of four agents and an admin. They closed 47 transactions for $25 million in 2022.

Brad’s team is built on culture and values. They lead with a servant’s heart. They are always trying to learn. Transparency and integrity are non-negotiable. They are humble and coachable. Perhaps most importantly, they enjoy laughing and having fun.

“We care. We care about our clients just like we would family. We treat everyone not as a number but as a person and as our family. We want the best for them,” Brad says.