Jeremy Dugas
Written by Elizabeth McCabe | Photos by Turner Bernardi, Peak RES
“The fortune is in the follow-up,” says Jeremy Dugas.
Following up with his clients has defined Jeremy’s approach to real estate over the last nine years. But if you ask him how he got started with Keller Williams Elite, he’ll be the first to tell you that the road was anything but easy. After all, he didn't enter the industry with a massive savings account, a sprawling database, or a corporate playbook.
What he did have was an early passion for property, buying his first home at age 20, his first rental at 24, and managing three rental properties before turning 30. Couple that with a solid work ethic and a heart for service and that’s how he soared in real estate.
Treating Real Estate Like a Real Job
Prior to real estate, Jeremy spent years working in non-profit leadership and freelancing as a graphic artist. Seeking a new direction, he took a marketing position inside a real estate brokerage to observe the industry from the inside out. Once he decided to take the leap, he went all-in, refinancing his home to secure a small loan and diving headfirst into the business.
"A lot of people get into real estate because they want freedom, but that freedom can actually hurt them," Jeremy explains. "I decided to treat it like a 9-to-5 job from day one. I showed up at the office by 8:30 every morning, worked through the day, put my kids in aftercare, and picked them up at 5:00. I stayed disciplined, wrote tons of handwritten note cards, and talked to as many people as I could about real estate."
That disciplined approach quickly paid off. Jeremy’s commitment to consistent, intentional communication turned a simple cold call into one of the most prolific partnerships of his career.
"I called a For Sale By Owner who was a little tough on me at first, but we connected," Jeremy recalls. "Because I followed up and took care of him, that single conversation turned into helping him buy and sell over 75 properties, which connected me to over 100 other investors. You never know what one conversation will do."
Running the Distance: Lessons from the Marathon
Managing the highs and lows of real estate requires resilience, something Jeremy cultivates on the pavement. An avid marathon runner, he uses long-distance running to clear his mind, process stress, and stay grounded.
Jeremy has completed full and half marathons across the country, including the Oklahoma City Marathon (a yearly tradition since getting licensed), the Chicago Marathon, and the New York City Marathon.
"Real estate is a marathon, not a sprint," Jeremy notes. "If you view this business as a sprint, you’re going to burn out because every year the calendar resets to zero. Every mile of a race is different, just like every market cycle is different. The key is pacing yourself and staying consistent."
That same long-term perspective influences how he manages his daily schedule and sets clear boundaries for his family, which includes his wife, Jennie, and their two sons. One son is a freshman in the marching band at Oklahoma State University, and the younger son loves creating videos and learning the real estate ropes alongside his dad.
"The best advice I’ve ever received is that everything you do is an appointment," he says. "You have to set boundaries to protect your family time. Working 9-to-5 lets you be present for the people who matter most without wearing late nights like a badge of honor."
Grounded by Service: CASA and Foster Advocacy
For Jeremy, real estate is also the vehicle that allows him to give back. Coming from a non-profit background, his primary motivation remains focused on serving others, a drive deepened by his work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the foster care system.
Having served as a foster parent for three years before having his own biological children, Jeremy remains deeply passionate about supporting local youth and foster families navigating difficult circumstances.
"In real estate, we see luxury, finances, and high-end investments, but we don't always realize the real needs right in our own backyard," Jeremy shares. "Volunteering as a CASA worker keeps me grounded. We all have a duty to give back whatever we've been blessed with. The world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller, but the world of the generous gets larger and larger."
Whether he's helping a foster family secure stable housing, guiding first-time buyers toward homeownership, or helping renters see the possibility of buying their first property, Jeremy approaches every interaction with transparency and heart.
Authenticity Over Everything
When clients work with Jeremy, they get straightforward honesty, practical advice, and a friend in their corner.
"I keep things simple and real," Jeremy says with a smile. "By the time we get to the closing table, my goal is for us to be best friends because we’ve walked through the heavy lifting together, whether that means rolling up my sleeves to help gather moving boxes or guiding them through a stressful negotiation. My joy comes from turning a stressful situation into a seamless experience and helping people see how real estate can truly change their lives."
Jeremy smiles when he talks about the future. He simply wants to continue helping people build wealth through real estate, encourage first-time investors, and show renters that homeownership may be more attainable than they think.
"I just want to keep helping people," he says.
Because for Jeremy Dugas, success has never been measured solely by the number of homes sold. It’s all about the lives that he has touched. If you ask him the secret behind his success, his answer comes without hesitation.
"The fortune," he says, "is in the follow-up."
