We recently had the chance to connect with Katrina DeWit and have shared our conversation below.
Katrina, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I don’t need to set an alarm for 6:30 AM, because I’m already stirring as my 1-year-old has migrated into our bed overnight, tiny feet pressed against my ribs as she sleeps across the middle. I lay in bed quietly, hoping for five minutes of peace while checking overnight emails from clients and mastering Connections. But peace is short-lived as both kids wake up simultaneously, launching into their morning demands—the toddler insisting on trying to crawl off the bed to her doom as my 5-year-old announces she’s NEVER getting dressed. Between refereeing a sibling squabble over who gets to use the stool first to brush their teeth, I field texts from clients wanting to schedule a showing for this afternoon and another asking about closing documents. We manage to get everyone dressed, hair brushed, fed, and loaded into their car seats while mentally running through my 10 AM client meeting notes. By 8 AM, I’ve dropped the kids at daycare, rescheduled one appointment to accommodate a last-minute request, confirmed two showings, and I’m sitting in my car in the parking lot, taking a deep breath to recenter myself before heading into the shop, already feeling like I’ve accomplished major negotiations—and it’s not even 9 AM yet.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a Real Estate Advisor who built my career while evolving from a condo expert downtown to raising two young children in Northeast Minneapolis, giving me unique insight into the variety of lifestyles and housing choices. I specialize in working with female investors and LGBTQ+ clients, understanding that finding the right property goes beyond square footage—it’s about creating spaces where you can authentically thrive, which is what makes my business align so well with that of Engel & Völkers Minneapolis. The competence and passion they stand for is unique in real estate. In an industry that can lose focus of the client experience, being with a shop that’s like-minded that our clients deserve education, advocacy, and a luxury experience regardless of budget is what has kept me with the brand for almost 10 years.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
As a child I felt pretty powerless and voiceless, and that has driven me to create the business I have today. I love working with people who historically haven’t had the best access to real estate, whether as an investment, as their own home, or often both. The ability to stand beside a client and provide both education and options, then move forward with advocacy and passion, is why I stay excited about my role as a Real Estate Advisor. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Oh, I give up probably weekly. Being a business owner is no easy path, and for every glam Instagram post, there’s ten moments where I’m helping a client navigate a tricky divorce sale, trying to find a rhythm in being both the CEO and janitor of my business, and fielding three phone calls at the same time. I find it VERY cathartic to yell “I QUIT” and storm out of my office to find a meil at the coffee shop around the corner or go for a quick walk, then hop right back into whatever needs doing with a fresh outlook.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
There are SO MANY fads in real estate and so many people trying to sell you things. I have learned that staying consistent with the small things is the way to go, and the big ideas and quick fixes are often not lucrative or productive, usually. Or even with industry disruptions (hello 2008 housing crash, 2020 housing boom, and 2024 national lawsuit about buyer representation and compensation), often there are small tweaks to be made, but it’s not the ‘we’ll never do business again as we know it’ moment that many people get caught up in feeling. Stay the course, but be aware of the moment, and you’ll come out on top.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What light inside you have you been dimming?
I used to be an avid cyclist and put it aside for the past six years as I had surgeries and babies. But guess who got back on the road last week?!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://katrinadewit.evrealestate.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katrinadewit/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-dewit/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatrinaDeWit
Image Credits
Angela Divine
Colin Simmons
Katrina DeWit
