Joe Atkins and I held hands — sweating and terrified. Then we ran, screamed, and jumped off the top of a giant platform, into the trees. Not exactly how you get to know your average Realtor, but then there is nothing average about Joe.
Don’t worry, that scene ended well. We were just zip-lining on a 103-degree August afternoon as part of the 2012 class of the Texas Realtors Leadership Program (TRLP). Since that day I’ve watched Joe grow into one of the most exceptional leaders and Realtors in the industry.
“Every agent loves Joe,” Ebby Halliday Realtor Julie Pillans said. “Joe is just a good guy.”
Joe was born and raised in Lake Highlands and currently lives in Lakewood with his lovely wife, Charity, and his two adorable boys, Donovan and Cameron. He’s the broker/owner of Joe Atkins Realty, a boutique real estate firm.
The apple does not fall far from the tree. Joe grew up in the real estate business.
“My father, Joe Louis Atkins, was a real estate broker,” he said. “I found his original license from 1959 when I was going through some stuff at his office after he passed away. My dad was my Realtor when I purchased my first home back in 2005, and I think that was the moment I realized I wanted to be in real estate. I had worked in various outside sales jobs, and I became fascinated with the sales process and architecture while buying my first condo. Without saying anything to my father, a year later I got my license and told him I was going into a career of real estate. I am proud to say I have now been in the business for twelve years and had my brokerage for six years.”
When he started Joe Atkins Realty in 2013, it was just Joe and three other agents. There are now 16 agents and two offices, one in Bishop Arts and one in Frisco.
“Our first office was in downtown Dallas on Main Street, Joe said. With the encouragement of one of my agents, Ryan Hopson, I moved our office to Bishop Arts. Not only did we see Bishop Arts and Oak Cliff as an upcoming area back in 2015, but there was a lack of Realtors in that area and not a strong presence of a team of Realtors. In 2017 I brought on Tommy Wooten, and we opened up our Frisco office where he is the Team Leader. With our two offices, we specialize inside the loop of Dallas, the Urban core, and also the northern suburbs.”
Joe always wanted a boutique brokerage where he could get to know his agents on a personal level, and be able to mentor them.
“The best thing I offer to my agents is being a broker who not only cares about their success but also cares about helping them build the knowledge and skill set to have a strong presence in Dallas real estate market,” he said. “I have been a D Magazine top-producing Realtor/broker myself for half of my real estate career. I can offer tips and guidance to agents on how to build a successful referral based business because I have done it myself.”
Thinking back to that sweaty August afternoon when we flung ourselves into the trees, that experience, and all of the others in the TRLP course made the value of participating in leadership clear. Typically, 30 people or less are accepted to TRLP in any given year, out of hundreds of applicants. ince Joe has been a broker, he has had at least one of his agents go through the course every year. Joe has also served on the MetroTex, Texas Association, and National Association Boards of Directors.
“I currently serve on the state board, and I think people can appreciate that we don’t just sell real estate,” Joe said. “We also care about our industry and advocate for property and homeowners rights.”
Like Pillans said, “Joe is just a good guy.”
Karen Eubank is the owner of Eubank Staging and Design. She has been an award-winning professional home stager and writer for over 25 years. Karen teaches the popular Staging to Sell class and is the creator of the online course, The Beginners Guide to Buying Wholesale. Her love of dogs, international travel, history, white paint, champagne, artificial turf, and Tudor and Midcentury Modern homes and zip lines knows no bounds. Her father was a spy, so she keeps secrets very well! Find Karen at www.eubankstaging.com
