Kirsten Scopacasa

Conditioned to Care and Lead

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

Photos by Dawn Townsend Photography and Design

Kirsten Scopacasa has been in the real estate industry — and with the same brand, Coldwell Banker — for over 15 years, resulting in over $200 million in sales and 700+ units sold. Her longevity and sales record are certainly impressive, but what is most admirable about Kirsten is her loyalty, integrity and genuine concern for the well-being of her clients and colleagues.

“Whether it’s my team members, staff or my clients buying and selling, I try to always look at their point of view and consider their feelings, ideas, efforts — you name it,” Kirsten said. “Of course, at the end of the day, as a leader and owner of a growing business, I have to make the final decisions...I’m not perfect, but I always try to do what’s best in my heart for all members of my team and clients — all of whom I consider an extension of my family.”

Kirsten’s team, The Scopacasa Group, includes seven dynamic sales associates and three full-time administrators. “In 2012, after my daughter Bella was born, I started The Scopacasa Group as a family-run team and slowly added on,” Kirsten said. “My mom Belinda Youngblood was the first to join the team and put up with me. Then my aunt Nicole Horn joined the team. Jodie Leszkinski was the next to join, and she’s become my second family over the last eight years — my entire team is more of a family than a business...I’m very protective of my team and want what’s best for all ‘my girls’ and Mark Ramos.”

In the last three years, The Scopacasa Group has earned the International Society of Excellence Award and the International President’s Elite Team Award, and in 2019, they sold close to $36 million in sales. Kirsten, a top producer since 2009, is a member of the “luxury division” of Coldwell Banker and certified in relocation. She is also a short sales expert and has earned numerous awards throughout her many years in the industry.

Despite her impressive sales history and many industry achievements, Kirsten feels most rewarded by her ability to help families find the perfect homes for their lifestyles. Additionally, Kirsten is passionate about helping her team members become strong and knowledgeable agents and engendering the collective growth and solidarity of her team. Given the current state of the world, Kirsten’s top priority is the safety and well-being of her team and staff. “We are facing trying times in the workplace right now,” she said. “My main concern is trying to ensure that everyone still has an income to take care of their family and letting them know that I am here for them every step of the way.”

Kirsten’s benevolent and compassionate leadership style materialized throughout her upbringing and as a result of her parents’ positive influence on her life. “My parents are very hard-working individuals who love their family and their home,” Kirsten said.

Kirsten’s father Wayne Youngblood, who manages several car dealerships and many employees, is her “leadership mentor,” all-purpose advisor, and inspiration for being number one and running a great team. Kirsten looks to her mother Belinda for emotional direction and support. “My mom was always home for me after school and attended all of my events when I was a kid,” Kirsten said. “She reminds me that being number one is meaningless without having my family around — she reminds me to always put my family first.”

Kirsten’s team mentality can be traced back to the many years she spent as a rower on crews at the Detroit Boat Club and at Michigan State University. “Crew is a team sport: If one member is falling behind, the whole boat is affected. I choose to run my real estate team the same way: No one is left behind, and we all succeed together,” Kirsten said. She was always surrounded by driven, powerful and compassionate people in her family and in her friendships. “I think these influences, along with my mom’s love for our home and my dad’s sales background, made real estate my perfect match,” Kirsten said.

Prior to becoming a full-time real estate agent in 2007, Kirsten spent the majority of her career in sales, first as a bartender at Outback Steakhouse during college and then in long-term care insurance sales. “Sales is in my blood…I just needed to find a type that I was passionate about,” Kirsten said. “I found it — and I got hooked — when I sold my then-boyfriend, now-husband’s home by owner in Canada.”

Kirsten was raised in Grosse Pointe Farms and now resides in Highland. She and her husband Dominic Scopacasa have been married for 15 years and have two children — Bella, 9, and Nico, 4 — and two dogs: Cooper, a 14-year-old Maltese and Roxie, a 5-month-old Bernedoodle. Bella, who shares her mother’s competitive nature but also has a soft spot, is on the junior golf team and ski club, and Nico loves cuddling and everything soft. “They are the loves of my life, and we are really enjoying our family staycation right now — we will talk about it for years to come,” Kirsten said.

Kirsten enjoys golfing and skiing with her family, doing puzzles and watching home renovation and design TV shows with her daughter and mother. “My favorite part of my day is in the morning when my Bella and I relax on the couch and watch ‘Property Brothers’ as I set up a new home search for a client or friend,” Kirsten said. “Bella loves to be involved with the process — according to her, the two of us are the best ‘realestater.’”

As a member of the Prestwick Village Golf Club since 2000, Kirsten serves on several boards and is involved with several local charitable organizations, including The Connection Youth Services, a local organization that helps teens and families in crisis, and Blessings for Backpacks. Kirsten and the other ladies from the club help supply a charity closet at the local schools where they collect clothing and supplies for children in need. “We have had the privilege of helping over 20 local charities throughout the years, and we pick two new charities every year to help where we can,” Kirsten said. “Teaching my children the importance of generosity and helping those in need is my goal as a mom. “

“I am so thankful for my broker Jim Stevens, the Stevens family, our title company, and all the other lenders and vendors who have supported me and my team and helped us grow throughout the years,” Kirsten said. “At the end of the day, I am the same as everyone else who has appeared on the pages of this magazine — I am trying to make a living in this crazy world and to help the lives of all those associated with me. Whether you are my family, my team, my colleague, my client or my friend, I am here to support you and your goals the best I can. I wish everyone a great outcome in 2020, especially in these ever-changing times.”

Top Producer- Kirsten Scopacasa