Kipp Harris isn’t like most other people involved with real estate. He’s not transactional, he’s personal and unconventional. He doesn’t dress like most real estate people. He doesn’t talk like most real estate people. However, don’t let those things fool you. He’s learned a lot over the last 18 years. And you can learn a few things as well by reading this article.

Kipp's Journey to Real Estate

Kipp’s journey to real estate wasn’t born from childhood dreams or a generational legacy. It came after ten whirlwind years in corporate America that included relocations from Omaha to Minneapolis, Kansas City to California and a series of frustrating real estate transactions.

“Every time I moved, I’d hire a real estate agent. But after signing, I’d get passed off to an assistant I’d never met,” he said. “It never felt like how it should be.”

When Kipp returned to North Dakota, he decided to pivot careers and committed to doing things differently.

“We do real estate differently—not because I’m just a nonconformist (which I am), but because I want to fix the things I think are wrong with the real estate experience.”

Two areas Kipp sees as lacking in the modern real estate experience are transparency and thoroughness. To address this, he calculates estimated monthly payments for every property, down to special assessments that many agents overlook.

“Two homes can list at $150,000, but one might have $40,000 in specials hidden. I don’t let people get blindsided.”

He also believes in leveraging modern technology in people’s experiences. One example of this is the ability to book an appointment with him directly through his website.

“Nobody should have to wait for a callback just to see a house. We’re all busy. This way, it just works.”

A 293-step Quality Interactions; Commitment

Behind Kipp’s process is a customized transaction management system with over 293 steps. That number didn’t appear overnight—it evolved from hard-earned lessons. One pivotal moment came early in his career when a client unknowingly violated neighborhood covenants. Kipp took full responsibility, even covering costs.

“That taught me that it’s my job to know the rules and make sure my clients do too… Now, from the first meeting to closing, I don’t rely on memory. I rely on that checklist. Because it protects the client and it protects me.”

Quality Interactions; Commitment Not Volume

Kipp isn’t a real estate agent—he’s a broker who was a licensed real estate salesperson in 2007. He received his broker license in 2012 and worked as a broker associate at Keller Williams until starting his own ccompany in 2014. At one point he oversaw 10 agents at his own company, but, in 2019, he chose a different path.

“I wasn’t having fun anymore. And I’ve had cancer three times. I can’t do something just to do it.”

He dissolved the team, kept only his mother on staff, and after her passing in 2022, he continued alone.

“I don’t practice dual agency. Ever. That’s like hiring the same divorce lawyer for both sides. My clients deserve full representation, period.”

While some agents chase numbers—closing 60, 70, even 80 deals a year—Kipp is content with two transactions a month. That slower pace is deliberate.

“I want to know my clients. I think it’s fun and interesting to help someone find the right home—even if it takes months. Or in one case, 8 years.”

For Kipp, the process is deeply human. He has had clients who have challenged his assumptions and expanded his worldview. He has made friends and longstanding relationships.

“When you meet people and truly get to know them, your judgments change. Every time I forget that, real estate brings someone into my life to remind me.”

Teaching First-time Buyers

Kipp is also passionate about educating buyers. His revamped first-time homebuyer class condenses essential information into one practical, three-and-a-half-hour session. Topics include the offer process, inspections, lending basics, and critical red flags.

One key differentiator? An attorney who teaches the credit section—an expert who sues credit bureaus and helps buyers repair their profiles before applying for a loan.

“Our class strips away the fluff. We focus on what first-time buyers really need to know.”

This book explores the idea that joy exists simultaneously with all the difficult things that happen in our world. Because we spend so much time focusing on the painful and difficult, we deprive ourselves of joy that coexists. Through personal stories, Kipp tells of moments when the act of being intentional led to life - changing experience s. He will get you to believe that you, too, have the ability to change not only your own life —but the live s of other s—all through a simple mind shift!"

Cancer, Courage, and Gratitude

Kipp’s career is only part of his story. Diagnosed with cancer three times between 2004 and 2007, he underwent multiple 13.5-hour surgeries and endured chemo both during and after each. At his lowest, he weighed just 89 pounds.

Yet, he never let bitterness take root.

“Mostly, I just live with gratitude,” he said. “During that time, I did feel sorry for myself before one friend bluntly said to me, ‘Nobody said life was fair. Nobody said it was easy.’ That moment shifted my outlook and I made an intention to find joy in the worst moments ahead. And I did. Every time.”

In remission since 2007, Kipp lives in Minnesota, walks his dog, mountain bikes, snowshoes, and enjoys quiet fires in the backyard. His favorite restaurant is India Palace on 13th Avenue in Fargo.

“We all have an incredible ability to touch and change people’s lives every day—and most of the time, we don’t even know it. That’s what I want people to remember.”