Melissa Yates is no stranger to reinvention. A Baltimore native with deep roots in the city’s Upper Fells Point neighborhood, she spent the first part of her life committed to one path—both professionally and personally—before making the decision to start again.

“For 23 years, I worked in the legal industry with a court reporting firm in downtown Baltimore,” Melissa recalls. “That extensive experience in a service-driven environment helped shape my approach to client care.”

Though her career took a new direction, the values she honed during those years remain integral to her work today. “Working closely with clients taught me the importance of attentiveness and integrity—qualities I carry with me every day in real estate to better serve those I represent.”

That conviction—to lead with integrity and show up fully for those she serves—has remained a constant, even as everything else changed.

After more than two decades in a single field, Melissa made the leap into real estate in 2020. It wasn’t a seamless transition. “I was delayed getting licensed due to Covid shutting the state down. I had to wait six months after completing my courses before I could even test, while waiting for the state to reopen,” she recalls.

Still, when the time came, she was ready. “After getting my license, I just hit the ground running.”

Now with Keller Williams Flagship in Millersville, Melissa is part of the HomePros team, where she not only works with clients but also helps newer agents navigate the early stages of their careers. “I enjoy teaching and helping,” she says. “That prompted me to join this team because we have a lot of new agents.”

Her impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. In just a few years, she’s earned a place in the top 5% of all Keller Williams agents in the Maryland & D.C. region, was named a top agent on a team, and took home the Silver Award for Gross Commission Income at her brokerage.

Melissa’s personal journey is layered with experiences that shaped her not just as an agent, but as a person who understands life’s highs and lows.

“I’m an only child, born and raised in upper Fells Point, so my roots and love for the city run deep,” she says. After living in Baltimore County where she bought her first home, she met her husband about 12 years ago. Together, they blended their families and relocated to Anne Arundel County, where they have raised her boys. “I guess you can say long-term loyalty is ingrained in me.”

Her connection to real estate began long before she realized it. “I never realized how much real estate background I had until I actually got into the business,” she explains. “I was a buyer, I was a seller, I handled an auction when I inherited my grandmother’s house. Life experiences were setting me up for this career.”

For Melissa, real estate is about more than transactions. “Real estate is not just a job for me. It’s personal. I have a strong sense of wanting to help.”

That sense of responsibility extends to the community she lives in. “I live in a community of 450 townhomes, and I not only serve on the events committee for that community, but I host individual events throughout the year to give back. The community has done well by me. I love where I live and I want to give back and make it more enjoyable for everyone else.”

At home, Melissa juggles a full, lively household — her father lives with her, she’s raised two kids, and there are always dogs underfoot. She’s built a thriving home and career side by side. Now, at 50, she’s carving out more space to focus on herself and what she loves.

She adds, “My passion is my home, dogs, and travel—especially places with sunshine, water, and palm trees. Everyone teases me about where I am now or where the next vacation is. After working in an industry that consumed a lot of my time, I now have the freedom and flexibility to explore my passions.”

Looking back, Melissa offers guidance that echoes her grounded approach to life and business: “Be real. Be genuine. Don’t assume anything. Have sympathy and compassion.”

It’s the kind of advice that only comes from living it—and Melissa Yates has.