Cate Kassab is the Founder, Owner, and Broker-in-Charge of My Upstate Home LLC, a boutique real estate brokerage serving the Upstate of South Carolina. With more than 15 years of experience, she is recognized as an industry leader in true transparency, ethical brokerage structure, and individualized client service.
Before entering real estate, Cate began her professional career as a Special Education teacher, where she learned that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to helping people succeed. That philosophy became the foundation of her work in real estate. After years within traditional brokerage models, she identified structural practices that often limit clarity, flexibility, and informed decision-making for both consumers and agents. In response, she founded My Upstate Home to create a more transparent, adaptable, and people-centered brokerage environment.
Under Cate’s leadership, My Upstate Home operates without corporate or affiliate overhead, allowing compensation and services to be discussed openly and structured to fit the needs of each transaction. This approach supports clarity, choice, and thoughtful collaboration, while encouraging high-quality service tailored to individual goals.
Cate’s perspective is also shaped by deep roots in the Upstate. Her family’s connection to the region spans multiple generations, dating back to the early settlement period of the Carolinas. This lineage gives her a long-view understanding of the land, the evolution of its communities, and the responsibility that accompanies growth—informing her belief that real estate is not merely transactional, but a form of stewardship.
Her guiding philosophy is reflected in her company motto:
“Where Humanity Comes First. Transparency Is Best Practice. Kindness Is Corporate.”
Cate is the host of The Upstate Insider podcast, where she leads long-form conversations on real estate, housing access, transparency, and ethical leadership. Through the podcast and her broader media presence, she educates consumers and professionals on how real estate transactions are structured, empowering them to make informed and confident decisions.
Cate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Clemson University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University. Her professional path—from educator to REALTOR® to Broker-in-Charge—culminated in the founding of My Upstate Home LLC, a brokerage built on transparency, flexibility, and consumer-first principles. She authored the TREE framework—Truth in Real Estate for Everyone—to advance transparency and accountability across real estate transactions.
Her leadership has earned national recognition, including inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who, which honors individuals based on professional achievement, leadership, and impact. Beyond transactions, Cate remains committed to consumer education, ethical business practices, and thoughtful industry dialogue, with a long-term vision of expanding transparent, service-driven real estate practices throughout the Upstate and beyond.
Home Types:
Lot/Land, Condo, House, Townhouse, Manufactured
Years of Experience:
17
Education:
Clemson University
