Meet Kaitlin Harvey | Broker Associate with SLATE Real Estate Advisors

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaitlin Harvey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaitlin, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
Looking back on my life, one of the most difficult decisions I made centered around attending a traditional University for my college education, as opposed to continuing on the path of becoming a professional ballerina with Colorado Ballet. From a super young age, I think it was very clear to my parents, and to me, that I was put on this planet to dance. I studied Irish Step Dancing with several schools in the Denver area, and competed (and placed) internationally. Eventually I joined The Academy of Colorado Ballet, where I had the incredible opportunity to train with Sergey Kozadayev and Zhanna Dubrovskaya, who were both trained at the Vaganova Ballet Academy. My life certainly revolved around dance, and ballet, and thinking back, I don’t think I ever considered what my life would be without it. I auditioned and received special roles, which was promising. But more than that, it’s impossible to measure what I have gained in my life in those years I was able to do exactly what I was meant to be doing…never a question. Fast forward to my Senior year in High School, and after auditioning and applying for different schools across the country, my parents strongly encouraged me to attend New York University – which had a killer Dance Program, but also had other educational opportunities that some of the other Art Schools I applied to didn’t offer. The real decision, though, felt much more complex than I can describe. My Ballet Master and Mistress wanted me to continue dancing with the Junior company at Colorado Ballet, and of course, my parents wanted me to study dance at NYU, with the option of adding on other Majors (which I ended up doing in the long run).

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I am a Broker Associate with SLATE Real Estate Advisors. Though technically I am an Independent Contractor, I decided to hang my license with SLATE almost 4 years ago when I became a Realtor. My decision to join this particular brokerage had a lot to do with its co-creator and Employing Broker, Stan Kniss. And for what it’s worth – he (and we) do almost everything differently when it comes to helping people buy and sell Real Estate. Stan had me at his first *f* bomb, that was promptly followed by semi-apologetic and deeply guttural laughter that echoed through our office space on 17th and Central Street in LoHi. His experience, down to earth personality, and warmhearted nature pushed me to take the night classes I needed to get my license, while working for a Property Manager in Denver during the daytime.

In the beginning, SLATE’s ethos spoke to me – we believe that the spaces we choose to inhabit have a profound effect on who we are. They provide refuge, house our important belongings and encourage us to lead a well-lived life. The built environment has the power to reflect our individual and shared cultural values, capture our curiosities and inspire us.

You could say I came for the Mission Statement, but I have stayed because of the people – the other handful of Brokers I get to work with on a daily basis. They have taught me SO far beyond “the comps” “the data” and “Zestimates” that fill the space in usual conversations around the market and Real Estate in general. We are experts in storytelling, marketing, branding and design, and we focus solely on finding the best way to connect people with exceptional living spaces.

Getting to this place, finding myself practicing Real Estate alongside some of the brightest and best brokers in the game has had its moments … good and really really really tough. As someone recently said to me, “this business is about wins and losses” and all you can truly hope for is just a few more wins at the end of the day (I’m still waiting for this to balance out!) I am beyond grateful for the mentorship and guidance I’ve received from Stan and others along the way. For the past year I’ve been helping Stan sell a fantastic project up in Vail, called Altus. It’s been an incredible opportunity for me to lean into the project sales experience I’ve gained over the past 4 years, and I thinks it’s safe to say I’ve learned my fair share of lessons… real estate related and otherwise. We’ve now closed upwards of $50M dollars worth of real estate in the past several months, and have just a few homes left.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d start the day off by taking my pup (nickname winks) on a short walk in my neighborhood over to Whittier Cafe (Denver’s only African espresso bar) to grab a bag of beans and a latte. I’d recommend visiting the MCA or would try and grab some tickets to Immersive Van Gogh (must experience). Packing a late picnic lunch and heading to Cheesman Park is one of my favorite things to do. I’d lay out a blanket, bring some music, and share a little wine and cheese while the sun starts to set over the mountains. Then we’d have to grab a glass of wine at Sienna Wine Bar, and try our damndest not to give in and go to Blue Pan Pizza. Pit stop at Twist and Shout to look at some records, and Tattered Cover in the evening is one of the coziest places in Denver. We would have to visit my family (I have 5 brothers and sisters, 2 nieces and a nephew, and my Mom still lives in the house we grew up in right in Park Hill). We all live super close to one another, so there would be some sort of fanfare with all of them. To top it all off, an evening walk around City Park West and then a late dinner at Safta would have to do it. Missing in this 1 day excursion are tacos (El Taco de Mexico or Dos Santos) a hike (Lair O’ the Bear or South Table Mountain in Golden) music (Mission Ballroom to see Goose or Brockhampton, if I may) more dinner (The Plimoth, Work and Class, Brasserie Brixton, White Pie, Mister Oso, I could go on).

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are the ever-obvious (and absolutely impactful) answers to this question that I expected to iterate – My parents, my grandparents, several teachers at St. Mary’s Academy, my mentor, The Secret (just kidding, but no offense), my Godfather (for real), and so on and so forth. BUT, I did not expect to give the true “Shoutout” to a place, to New York City. I ended up spending 10+ years in Manhattan and in Brooklyn, and I think I can honestly say … aside from my parents who birthed me and raised me, this place shaped me the most (for better or for worse). It is for me, the city of all cities, and with it, came an enormous education – of self, of spirit, of livelihood, of money, of humanity. I wouldn’t give up my time spent there for the world. It was in this place that I learned that no one was special, and that everyone was. I had to grow up a bit quick, keep my wits about me, and spent years broke AF, dancing with small companies or shows, while grinding a 9-5pm working for a female Real Estate Developer on Madison Avenue. The highs and lows are impossible to recount now, but I know that I AM just an amalgamation of all the lives I lived in that city, all the experiences I’ve had there. Of course, there is room to grow for me, but I’ve had to make a little space for the new stuff over the years.

Website: https://www.slaterea.com/broker/kaitlin-harvey/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kharvey41/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlin-harvey-83b84452/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaitlin.harvey.1694

Image Credits
First and second images – @atmediaco / Tommy Ellis & Andrew Forino Third and fourth images – @iriskosmickiphotography / Iris Kosmicki Fifth image – @kyliefitts / Kylie Fitts Sixth image – @brandon.brightside / Brandon Lopez Seventh image – Tahvory Bunting / Denver Image Photography Eighth image – @ianwarrenphoto / Ian Warren