Grace Pilgrim had an idyllic childhood. She grew up on her family’s land in Morton and her grandparents lived right next door. “I was spoiled rotten and still am,” she laughs. “I went to Morton High School, where I was in the color guard, Diamond Girls club and concert band. I loved being a part of anything social.”

 

After graduating high school in 2007, she attended the University of Phoenix where she studied healthcare administration. “I love helping people, but I realized that wasn’t the right thing for me.” As a matter of fact, her desire since high school was to be a teacher. “I love children. I got a job working as the co-activity director at a resort in Pelahatchie.” It was the best of both worlds for her. She was able to work with the public while having her own children with her and she was not constrained to an office. “I wanted to be out and about connecting with people.”

 

Grace married her high school sweetheart in 2010. “Adam is my left side. He is my rock on all the crazy days and my soft spot to land on the good days. He always listens to my real estate woes and never complains. He is my superhero.”  Adam was in the Army, so the couple lived in Virginia for a while and traveled extensively state-side. “Being an Army wife taught me so many values. I learned so much from those years of my life.” Grace and Adam have three sons, Taylor (17), Tyson (11) and Wyatt (9). “Being a boy mom made me even stronger than being an Army wife, and that’s saying something,” she laughs. “There is never a dull moment in our house.”

 

When trying to decide what to do next in her life, Grace looked to her mom, Tammy James, who started her real estate career in Florida. “She was a rock star there,” Grace says. Tammy inspired her sisters (Missie Bray and Renea Adams, Grace’s aunts) to get their licenses here in Mississippi. Grace was moved by the success of her family and wanted to give real estate a try. There is no doubt whatsoever that Grace’s drive and work ethic comes from her mother and two aunts. “I have watched them since I was a baby. The strength of these three women is unmatched and together they are simply a force. I am blessed to have them in my corner.”

 

Grace received her real estate license in early 2020, and she says the business is natural to her. Missie began KEYSource Real Estate in 2022, and the family of Realtors® has never looked back. “We are a great support to each other,” says Grace. “KEYSource has such a deep meaning to us. My Aunt Missie and I named the brokerage in her home office during a very trying time for both of us. Watching her become the broker that she is today makes my heart smile. She has spent so much time filling me with knowledge and loving me through every crazy minute. I could not have done this without her. The fact that KEYSource Real Estate is among many notable long-standing agencies in production and volume after just one year is so amazing. I am bursting with pride for this brokerage.”

 

The timing for Grace’s licensure was interesting. “I remember when I started, how much fun it was going out and showing houses. Then the pandemic hit, and things halted. The next thing I knew, I was showing houses in hazmat suits!” She also showed homes virtually, which was very different from how she started. “I actually showed a home to a buyer virtually, and she bought it, closed remotely and moved in. I have never met her face to face, which is strange to me because I thrive on the connection I have with my clients. But I had to adapt and overcome.”

 

Grace says she is a mama and a nurturer by nature. “I wear my heart on my sleeve. I love showing people houses and helping people find their dream homes. Building trust is the most important part of being a Realtor®.  As I worked with clients I started to realize that their finances are their hard-earned money. They have to feel comfortable with me. They are asking me to help them through the process and that makes them very vulnerable. I think it breaks down to who you are as a person. I believe you have to lead with empathy and warmth. I simply treat my clients like I would my own family.”

 

Grace says her favorite part of the real estate business is the networking and relationship-building with her counterparts and valued vendors. “At the end of the day, my business is built on a foundation of kindness and integrity. It is everything to me. I believe in teamwork and camaraderie. There is no place for ugly in what we do. Offer a helping hand when you can. I love seeing other agents growing their businesses. That’s what I love most about KEYSource. Yes, it is filled with independent agents, but we never shy away from helping each other. We are a HUGE support system for each other.”

 

Grace says her favorite part of the buying process is strategizing the contract. “I love to see how I can get the very best deal for my clients.” Grace also loves it when clients find the perfect house. “I can show them dozens of houses, but when they walk in THE house, you can see their eyes pop and you know in your heart that you helped them find their dream home.”

 

After each closing, Grace says that everyone at KEYSource comes together to share what they learned from the deal. “Every deal is different. I learn new things every day. There is so much to learn. Knowledge is key, and experience is everything.”

 

The real estate business has also become a family affair for Grace’s husband and sons. “My husband is a home inspector. Seeing what he does daily reminds me how important our jobs are. He protects his clients just like I do mine. His integrity and goodness are unmatched. I am beyond proud of him. Our boys have turned our drives to the grocery store into a trivia game about their knowledge of different subdivision names and locations. They hear everything! I am so proud they have an interest in the family business.”

 

When she isn’t working, Grace says she is happy just being with her boys. “I love playing XBOX, watching scary movies with them, and doing things like going to the waterpark or trampoline park. We have the best time just being in each other’s company. I am blessed that Adam and our boys are my biggest support system. At the end of the day, they are who I do all this work for. They are my everything.”