Aviation has been an integral part of Adam Rotert’s life since he was a young boy. His adopted grandparents, who owned fishing lodges in Canada, spend about half the year in Tulsa. They also happen to have a passion for flying vintage airplanes, especially those from the WWII era.

Adam flew his first plane, a North American P-51 Mustang, at 11. From then on, he knew flying would always be part of his life.

“That first ride — it was the dream airplane. It has such a history. If you were to buy a ride in a P-51, you'd pay $2000-3000 for a 20-minute ride. It's a super rare opportunity, so it was very surreal for that to be my first airplane ride. We were flying to an airshow off the wing of a WWII bomber. The first feeling is how fast and powerful it is — the ground going by in a blur,” Adam recalls fondly.

Over the next few years, Adam flew every chance he got. At 14, he officially started to learn to fly. At 16, he soloed his first airplane and got his pilot’s license at 17.

“I always wanted to fly. That was my dream,” he says.

Professional Flight Paths

Adam's time flying has allowed him to develop skills that would serve him as he got older. Flying taught him about attention to detail and discipline, in particular.

“The airplanes demand excellence and make you be at your best, to focus and tune everything else out. There’s a lot of respect and appreciation for what they are,” Adam explains.

As Adam got older, he also began working in the aircraft industry. He spent time as an aircraft maintenance technician, but when COVID hit, he realized he needed to make other career plans.

“I could see the writing on the wall,” Adam recalls. “I could tell my employer was going to be doing layoffs, so I started thinking about the next step.”

Adam was also in the process of buying a home around the same time. He enjoyed the process and had long thought about investing in real estate. So, when he was finally let go from his position as an airline mechanic, he dove headfirst into real estate.

“I always thought entrepreneurially. Being around the aviation community, I grew up around a lot of successful entrepreneurs. I knew long term I didn't want a nine-to-five. I was just looking for an avenue to get out of that. When I came across real estate, I was sold,” Adam shares.

Bringing Passions Together

Today, Adam is a solo agent with eXp Realty. In 2023, he closed an impressive 24 sides for $5.7 million. His success relies on his strong work ethic, entrepreneurial instincts, and commitment to continued learning.

Now that he’s four years into his real estate career, Adam is also bringing together his passions for real estate and aviation. He’s developing a niche in aviation real estate under the business name AvHome Real Estate Team. He aims to support clients who own or are interested in buying properties that back up against airports and have a hangar.

“Aviation has always been my passion,” Adam shares. “I love aviation, and I love flying. I will always fly for fun, whether I use it for business or not. I love history, I love warbirds, and having a chance to fly some of these planes is an awesome opportunity. I do it as much as I can. I love doing aerobatics, loops, and rolls. There is nothing like it. It's a lot of fun.

“Flying these airplanes and maintaining vintage stuff keeps history alive and tells the story of the sacrifices others made to give us our freedom. It's a privilege to fly these airplanes, maintain them, and share them with the world.”

Photos by Lily Chris Photography