“When I got my broker’s license in 2018, it was a decision that seemed crazy at the time to many that knew me,” says Curtis Crotty, principal agent at the Crotty Group with Keller Williams. “I had a successful career going with a solid paycheck coming in. But real estate presented the perfect mix of my passions and strengths, allowing me to be not just an advisor, but also a steadfast advocate for my clients.”

Before becoming a REALTORⓇ, Curtis spent more than eight years in financial services and consulting, as well as serving in the role of chief of staff, at Discover Financial Services and KPMG, helping a variety of clients solve some of their biggest challenges. In his downtime, however, Curtis found himself constantly looking on Zillow for his next home. When a real estate agent living in his building suggested he turn his pastime into a career, Curtis was intrigued, especially as he knew his enthusiasm for his current industry was waning.

“I was becoming drained by the demands of consulting, which involved extensive travel Monday through Thursday every week,” Curtis explains. “The schedule and my lack of passion for the industry began to weigh heavily on my personal life and relationships, leading me to question the sustainability of my career path. But one aspect of my work consistently stood out to me: the joy and fulfillment I found in building relationships and collaborating across various teams to achieve common goals.”

While he enjoyed the analytical problem-solving of consulting, Curtis found in real estate the ideal avenue for exercising his interpersonal skills and desire for meaningful, people-oriented work.

“In this role, I have the privilege of guiding, educating, and supporting individuals and families through their real estate journeys, ensuring they make informed decisions that are right for them,” he says. “It's this opportunity to make a tangible difference in people's lives that truly motivated me to become a REALTORⓇ.”

Curtis has also found that his contributions as a broker feed his natural competitiveness. A historic high-achiever, he had previously earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Robert Morris University in only three-and-a-half years. The opportunity to forge his own path and build his own business was an added bonus.

“I’ve always been driven by the idea of building something significant, something I could look back on with a real sense of pride,” says Curtis. “I guess you could say I’m naturally competitive; I’ve got this urge to excel in whatever I tackle. It's this blend of ambition and competitiveness that has steered my path and pushes me to continually aim higher and carve out a career that's not just successful on paper, but also meaningful to me and those around me.”

As team leader of the Crotty Group, Curtis has embraced the challenge of forming and mentoring a high-functioning organization. Initially, his team was just fellow REALTOR® Joe Deardurff and himself. After two years, though, they began adding other agents including resident hype man and past corporate consultant Christian Castro; former fashion and design pro Omi Trevizo, who brings a unique artistic approach to the table; former grade-school teacher Jeremy Crowe, whose natural and cultivated patience and understanding is especially appreciated by first-time homebuyers; and Bailey Hughes, their director of operations, who supports the team through every transaction. Their combined, unique experiences make them a dynamic group of client advocates.

Building such a complex team of people hasn’t been easy, but Curtis has relished unlocking their collective potential.

“One of the most significant challenges our team has faced as we've grown is ensuring that we maintain the right dynamic and atmosphere within our group,” says Curtis. “Given the variety of personalities, strengths, and weaknesses among us, finding the perfect balance has been crucial to our success.”

“The heart of our strategy lies in remaining deliberately small yet exceptionally connected,” he adds. “We cherish our tight-knit dynamic because it enables us to operate with a shared vision of excellence and an unwavering commitment to our clients' needs.”

Recently, Curtis added yet another title to his business card: dad. Curtis and his husband, Josh, welcomed their son, Theodore, on February 14th of this year via surrogacy. Theo has brought a new kind of adventure to their lives, transforming not just their daily routines, but enriching their days in ways they never imagined. Naturally, becoming a father has given Curtis even more motivation to succeed in his life and business.

“Through my career, I get to demonstrate every day that with a little grit and a lot of passion, you can build something lasting and meaningful,” he says. “I’m all-in on this path, not only because I love it, but also because it allows me to give my family the security and opportunities I dream of for them.” 

“And, you bet, I plan to stick around in this game for the long haul,” he adds. “Hopefully, I’ll be passing down a thing or two about what it means to chase your dreams with hard work in your heart.”