Michael Pappas is the president of Keyes Family of Companies, a South Florida-based real estate company with 50 branches, 3300 associates, and affiliates that include Capital Partners Mortgage, Home Partners Title, Keyes Insurance, and Keyes Property Management. The Keyes Company, with sales of $8.3 billion annually, is the No. 1 brokerage in Florida.
Favorite Quote: “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” – Norman Vincent Peale
Fun Fact: Completed the 75 mile Cape Argus bike race in Cape Town, South Africa.
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them? We saw a 60% top-line revenue decline during the great recession of ’08. Thanks to prudent prior investments, we were able to navigate through the heavy losses. More importantly, our team came together and guided us through.
What has been the most monumental moment of your career thus far? The acquisition of Illustrated Properties and now being able to work alongside my daughter.
What inspired you to make Real Estate a career? I was blessed to have a father who was a great role model.
When in 2020 did you realize that something major was happening in South Florida Real Estate? On March 15th, we went into our bunker to plan for the upcoming crisis. By June 15th, we were surprised at the intensity of the real estate market.
Who was your most helpful mentor in the business? My father, Ted Pappas.
