Inspiring Conversations with Catherine Cole of Catherine Cole Collective

Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Cole.

Hi Catherine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My path to real estate wasn’t a straight line—it was more like connecting dots I didn’t know were part of the same picture.

I started my career in sales, which taught me everything about relationships, negotiation, and truly listening to what people need. But when my husband David and I started our family, I made the choice to step back and be present for our three kids—Maddi, Camille, and Cooper. Here’s the thing though: I’ve never been good at sitting still. Throughout those years, I was constantly volunteering and always had a side project going. I realized I thrive on a busy schedule and solving problems for people.

David, who’s an attorney, and I have always been drawn to real estate. We ended up purchasing a historical multi-purpose commercial building in Waxahachie—near my hometown of Midlothian. I took on managing it: keeping it 100% occupied, handling tenant relationships, coordinating maintenance, negotiating leases. David would write and execute the legal documents, but I was doing everything else. One day, it hit me: I could take this entire process off his plate if I had my real estate license. So in 2014, I studied, earned my Texas Real Estate License, and suddenly a skillset I’d been building for years had a professional framework.

I spent the next several years building my expertise, working with clients, and deepening my understanding of the Dallas market. By 2020, I knew I wanted to take my career to the next level. I went back, studied again, and earned my Real Estate Broker license. It wasn’t required, but I wanted that additional competency and credibility—for my clients and for myself. I’ve always believed “Knowledge is Power,” and this was another step in honoring that commitment.

In 2021, I made a pivotal decision: I joined Allie Beth Allman & Associates. I chose this boutique luxury brokerage specifically because of Allie Beth herself—she’s a true trailblazer and role model, someone who built something remarkable in Dallas real estate while staying authentic to her values. I wanted to learn from the best, and I was ready to bring my 7 years of experience to a brokerage that matched my values.

What happened next surprised even me. I achieved Top Producer status in my first month, and within a year, I’d organically built what became the Catherine Cole Collective—a team of 11 incredible women agents who I now have the privilege of leading and mentoring. We didn’t set out to create a team; it grew from a shared commitment to competency, market knowledge, and putting clients first.

Today, the market looks nothing like it did even two years ago. I’ve evolved from being a real estate agent to what I consider a Real Estate Strategist. Your next move deserves more than hope—it deserves strategy. From Highland Park to the Private School corridor and beyond, I help sellers position properties that command premium offers and move quickly, while guiding buyers to make informed decisions in what can feel like an impossible landscape.

The market has changed, and so has what it takes to win. With 11 years of market knowledge and a team built on collaboration, we turn market challenges into opportunities. My clients aren’t just transactions—they become lifelong friends. That’s the part I’m most proud of.

Looking back, every chapter makes sense now: the sales career taught me about people, raising my kids taught me patience and perspective, managing that commercial building taught me real estate fundamentals, and all those volunteer hours taught me about community and connection.

Now at 27, 25, and 21, my kids are adults building their own paths. David and I still love discovering new restaurants around Dallas, and I’m still that person who can’t have an empty calendar. But now, instead of juggling volunteer committees and side projects, I’m building something meaningful—a business that helps families make one of the most important decisions of their lives, with strategy, knowledge, and genuine care.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Obstacles/Challenges: Catherine Cole

Smooth? No. But I wouldn’t change it.

Like most working mothers, I’ve navigated the constant balancing act of raising three kids while building a career. There were soccer games and client showings, school events and closings, the perpetual guilt of wondering if you’re doing enough in either arena. Those challenges shaped me, taught me time management and priorities, but they’re not what fundamentally changed how I see the world.

That happened October 20, 2019.

We were the touchdown point for Dallas’ most destructive tornado in modern history. Cooper, our youngest, my husband and I were home when it hit. We sheltered in the pantry beneath our stairs—the safest place we could find in those terrifying moments. When we emerged, our house was destroyed.

I remember standing in what used to be our home, surrounded by debris, and feeling this strange clarity. Every photo album, every piece of furniture we’d carefully chosen, every “thing” we’d accumulated—gone or damaged. But Cooper was safe. David was safe. Our girls were safe. We were alive.

That tornado taught me something I now carry into every client interaction: life is about the present, not objects. A house is just a structure until the people inside it make it a home. And when crisis hits—whether it’s a natural disaster or a challenging real estate market—what matters most is the relationships you’ve built.

In the aftermath, we learned who our true helpers were. Neighbors, friends, even acquaintances showed up with meals, tools, places to stay, and most importantly, their presence. Some of the people we expected to help disappeared. Others we barely knew became pillars of support. It was a masterclass in human character that I’ll never forget.

Rebuilding wasn’t just about the physical house—it was about reconstructing our sense of security, normalcy, and what truly matters. And as it turned out, that lesson would be tested again—and soon.

In 2022, my father was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. It was sudden, aggressive, and devastating. Every week, I took a bus to Houston to MD Anderson Cancer Center to help him get to treatments and stay with my mom—she needed me there too. I worked on that bus, worked between appointments, worked late into the night. There was no pause button on my business, but there was also no question that my dad needed me. He passed away on August 12, 2022, and losing him was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced.

I’m extremely close to my family, and that closeness means showing up—even when it’s hard, even when it’s inconvenient. My mom now lives in a care home near me, and every Tuesday night she comes for a sleepover. We have our routines: she stays over Tuesday, and on Wednesday mornings, we do Meals on Wheels together, delivering food to our neighbors who need it. Those Wednesdays are sacred to me—a chance to spend time with her while also giving back to our community.

This year, I also lost my aunt. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2021, and I became one of her caregivers. In June 2025, she took a steep decline and passed away on June 14th. Watching someone you love disappear gradually, then suddenly, is a unique kind of heartbreak.

I share all of this because it’s shaped who I am as a real estate professional. When clients are making one of the biggest decisions of their lives, they’re not just buying or selling property. They’re often navigating major life transitions: growing families, empty nests, divorces, new jobs, aging parents, health crises, loss. They need someone who understands that behind every transaction is a human story, and sometimes that story involves grief, fear, and uncertainty.

Going through all of this—the tornado, losing my father, navigating the complexities of caregiving—made me more resilient, more empathetic, and honestly, more grateful. Every day I get to help families find their next home feels like a privilege, not a job. I understand viscerally that these aren’t just transactions—they’re trust, they’re hope, they’re new chapters. Sometimes they’re fresh starts after loss. Sometimes they’re downsizing because a parent needs care. Sometimes they’re upsizing because life is good and growing. I’ve lived all of it.

These experiences—the tornado that took our home, the weekly bus rides to Houston while my father fought for his life, the Tuesday night sleepovers with my mom, caring for my aunt through her decline—stripped away any illusion that life is about things or status. They revealed what really matters: showing up for the people you love, building genuine relationships, and being present in the moment.

In a strange way, these challenges made me better at what I do. I can sit across from a stressed seller or an overwhelmed buyer and genuinely say: “I understand. Life throws curveballs. Let’s figure this out together.” Because I do understand. I’ve been there. I’m still there some days.

So no, it hasn’t been a smooth road. But those rough patches—surviving a tornado, losing my father, juggling caregiving with a demanding career, the sleepless nights, the grief, the resilience required to keep moving forward—they’re what make me the strategist, mentor, and advocate I am today. The challenges don’t break you; they reveal what you’re made of. And they teach you that every client deserves someone who sees them as a whole person, not just a transaction.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Catherine Cole Collective isn’t your typical real estate team—and that’s entirely intentional.

We’re a team of 11 women agents at Allie Beth Allman & Associates, and what started organically in fall 2022 has evolved into something I’m incredibly proud of: a collaborative group of professionals who believe that your next move deserves more than hope—it deserves strategy.

WHAT WE DO

We don’t just list homes; we architect outcomes. From Highland Park to the ESD corridor, we help sellers position properties that command premium offers and move quickly, while guiding buyers to make informed decisions in what can feel like an impossible landscape. With 11 years of market knowledge backing our approach, we’ve learned to turn market challenges into opportunities.

Our specialty is luxury residential real estate throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, but we also work extensively with investment properties, commercial real estate, and relocation clients. We cover everything from Preston Hollow and Park Cities to Lakewood, Oak Cliff, Plano, Southlake, and the expanding DFW metroplex.

WHAT SETS US APART

The market has changed, and so has what it takes to win. Here’s what makes us different:

Strategic Positioning Over Traditional Listing: We’re real estate strategists, not just agents. Every property gets a customized marketing plan, professional staging guidance, drone photography, virtual tours, and sophisticated digital marketing. But more importantly, it gets our strategic thinking about pricing, timing, and positioning.

Off-Market Mastery: Some of our best work happens before properties ever hit the MLS. We maintain a curated network of buyers and sellers, often matching clients with their perfect property before it’s publicly listed. In this market, having that insider access is everything.

Education as Empowerment: We live by the mantra “Knowledge is Power.” As a Dallas neighborhood and education specialist, I have deep expertise in the area’s private and public schools—not just for families with current students, but for understanding how school districts impact long-term property values for investors too. We believe informed clients make better decisions, so we educate throughout the entire process.

A Team Built on Collaboration, Not Competition: What I’m most proud of is the culture we’ve built. These 11 women aren’t competing against each other for commissions—we’re collaborating to serve our clients better. Someone on the team always has the specific expertise, connection, or insight a client needs. It’s powerful.

White-Glove Relocation Services: Moving to Dallas is overwhelming. We don’t just find you a house; we connect you with trusted contractors, vendors, schools, doctors, even restaurant recommendations. We help you build a life here, not just buy a property.

Genuine Relationships: Our clients become lifelong friends. That’s not a marketing tagline—it’s what actually happens when you prioritize people over transactions. We get invited to their kids’ graduations, their housewarmings, their family celebrations. That loyalty comes from showing up, being patient, and genuinely caring about their outcomes.

WHAT WE’RE KNOWN FOR

In the Dallas luxury market, we’re becoming known for a few specific things:

– Strategic thinking in challenging markets: When rates went up and inventory got complicated, we didn’t panic—we adapted. Our sellers still get premium offers; our buyers still win in multiple-offer situations.

– Mentor leadership: Other agents are watching what we’re building. I mentor my team, and increasingly, I’m mentoring agents outside our collective who want to elevate their approach.

– Community connection: From my Wednesday Meals on Wheels deliveries to our team’s volunteer work with Community Partners of Dallas, we’re embedded in this community. That authenticity translates into genuine neighborhood knowledge you can’t fake.

– Education expertise: Parents and investors both seek us out specifically for our school district knowledge and understanding of how education impacts property values long-term.

BRAND PRIDE

What am I most proud of? Honestly, it’s the people.

I’m proud that I’ve created a space where women can thrive professionally while maintaining the life balance that matters to them. I’m proud that our clients trust us with their biggest financial decisions—and their biggest life transitions. I’m proud that we’ve built something based on competency, collaboration, and genuine care rather than hype and empty promises.

I’m also proud that we’ve elevated the conversation around real estate in Dallas. We’re not just selling houses; we’re providing strategic counsel during major life moments. Whether someone is downsizing after loss, upsizing for a growing family, relocating for career, or investing for future wealth—we understand the emotional and financial weight of what they’re navigating.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

If you’re looking for a real estate team that will:
– Tell you the truth, even when it’s not what you want to hear
– Provide strategic guidance backed by deep market knowledge
– Treat you like family, not a transaction number
– Show up during the hard parts (because real estate always has hard parts)
– Celebrate with you when you get the keys to your next chapter

That’s us. That’s the Catherine Cole Collective.

We’re not the biggest team in Dallas, and we’re not trying to be. We’re focused on being the most strategic, the most knowledgeable, and the most genuinely invested in our clients’ success.

The market is complex. Life is complicated. But with the right team, your next move can be exactly what you need it to be.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Advice for Those Just Starting Out:

Here’s what I wish someone had told me on day one: this career will break your heart and fill it back up again, sometimes in the same week. If you’re looking for easy, predictable, or nine-to-five, real estate isn’t it. But if you’re looking for rewarding, meaningful, and deeply human work—you’re in the right place.

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF ABOUT THE REALITY

It’s not easy. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you something. There will be deals that fall apart at the finish line. Clients who ghost you after months of work. Sleepless nights wondering if you made the right call on pricing or negotiation strategy. Weekends spent at open houses while your friends are brunching. The first few years especially can be financially and emotionally grueling.

But here’s the other side: when you hand those keys to a first-time buyer and watch them walk into their home for the first time, when you help a widow downsize and navigate one of the hardest transitions of her life with dignity, when you negotiate that extra $50K for your seller that changes their financial trajectory—that’s when you understand why this work matters.

EVERY TRANSACTION IS YOUR EDUCATION

In 11 years, I’ve never had two identical transactions. Ever. This is the most non-scripted career you will ever have. You can’t template your way through real estate because you’re dealing with people, emotions, money, timing, markets, and a million variables that shift daily.

That’s actually the gift. Every closing teaches you something—about contracts, negotiation, human nature, market dynamics, problem-solving under pressure. Early on, I learned more from the difficult transactions than the smooth ones. The deals that almost died taught me how to resuscitate them. The mistakes taught me what not to do next time.

Stay curious. Ask questions. Study every contract, every market shift, every transaction like it’s a masterclass—because it is.

FIND THE RIGHT MENTOR (THIS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE)

I cannot overstate this: the right mentor will change your trajectory. The wrong one—or no mentor at all—will cost you years.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from Allie Beth Allman and her team. Allie Beth is a true industry trailblazer. Having someone who’s already navigated the obstacles, who can tell you what to prioritize, who believes in you even when you doubt yourself—that’s invaluable.

When I started mentoring my own team, I realized how much I wish I’d had specific guidance earlier. Find someone whose values align with yours, whose business you respect, and who actually has time to invest in you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The best agents I know are the ones who stay coachable forever.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER—COMMIT TO IT

This is my mantra, and I instill it in every agent on my team. You cannot fake expertise in this business. Clients can sense when you don’t know what you’re talking about, and in a market where they’re making the biggest financial decision of their lives, they need confidence in their agent.

Study the market obsessively. Know the neighborhoods, the schools, the development plans, the historical data, the current inventory. Understand financing, appraisals, inspections, title issues. Get your certifications—GRI, ABR, whatever’s relevant to your niche. I went back and earned my Real Estate Broker license even though I didn’t need it, because I wanted that deeper competency.

The agents who succeed long-term are the ones who never stop learning.

HARD WORK IS NON-NEGOTIABLE, BUT WORK SMART TOO

Yes, you will work incredibly hard—especially in the beginning. I worked while taking a bus to Houston every week to help my father through cancer treatments. I worked while rebuilding my house after a tornado. I’ve worked through grief, exhaustion, and chaos. There were times I wanted to quit.

But hard work alone isn’t enough. You also have to work smart. That means:
– Building systems so you’re not reinventing the wheel every transaction
– Leveraging technology and marketing tools that actually work
– Knowing when to say no to clients or properties that aren’t the right fit
– Protecting your time and energy for what actually moves your business forward
– Building genuine relationships, not just chasing transactions

Some of my best business comes from clients I helped years ago who still refer their friends and family. That’s the compound interest of doing good work and treating people right.

EMBRACE THE NON-SCRIPTED NATURE

You will have transactions that defy logic. Buyers who want things that don’t exist. Sellers with unrealistic expectations. Appraisals that come in low. Inspections that uncover disasters. Deals that fall apart, then miraculously come back together.

This unpredictability used to stress me out. Now? It’s what I love most. Every day is different. Every problem requires creative thinking. You get to be part detective, part therapist, part strategist, part marketer, part negotiator. If you need routine and predictability to feel secure, this will torture you. If you thrive on variety and problem-solving, you’ll love it.

PRIORITIZE RELATIONSHIPS OVER TRANSACTIONS

This is the single most important lesson I’ve learned: your clients are not transactions. They’re people going through major life transitions—buying their first home, upsizing for a new baby, downsizing after a divorce or death, relocating for a dream job. Behind every contract is a human story.

When you treat people like people—when you listen, empathize, advocate, and genuinely care about their outcomes—they become lifelong relationships. My clients are invited to family events. They send Christmas cards. They call me when they’re thinking about their next move, even if it’s years away.

That’s the business I wanted to build, and it’s the one that’s most rewarding.

PATIENCE IS YOUR UNDERRATED SUPERPOWER

With the right mentor, patience, and very hard work, you will succeed. But you have to give it time.

I didn’t become a Top Producer overnight—I spent years building expertise, relationships, and reputation. I made mistakes. I lost deals. I questioned whether I was cut out for this. But I kept showing up, kept learning, kept improving.

Some agents wash out in the first year because they expect immediate success. Real estate is a long game. The relationships you build today might not close for two years. The market knowledge you’re accumulating now will pay dividends for decades.

Be patient with yourself, with the process, and with your clients. Patience combined with persistence is how you build something sustainable.

MY FINAL THOUGHT

If you’re starting out in real estate, know this: it will test you. It will challenge every assumption you have about your work ethic, your resilience, and your ability to handle rejection and uncertainty.

But if you find the right mentor, commit to continuous learning, work hard and smart, build genuine relationships, and stay patient through the difficult seasons—you won’t just succeed. You’ll build a career that matters, that rewards you financially and emotionally, and that allows you to genuinely impact people’s lives during their most important transitions.

And honestly? There’s no feeling quite like that.

Welcome to real estate. It’s going to be a wild, rewarding, heartbreaking, beautiful ride.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alliebeth.com/bio/CatherineCole
• Instagram: Catherinecole.broker
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CATHERINECOLE.BROKER/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallasrealestatebroker/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CatherineColeCollective

Image Credits
Jin Kim Stella Images