Desirae Kallies
Desirae Kallies is a dedicated Leasing Consultant at Westminster with nearly two years of experience in the apartment industry, known for her ability to create meaningful connections and deliver exceptional resident experiences. Based in Tomball, Texas, she plays a key role in guiding prospective residents through the leasing process—helping them find the perfect home, showcasing community amenities, and ensuring a seamless transition into their new living space. Her responsibilities also extend to managing renewals, resident accounts, and financials, as well as creating engaging social media content and organizing community events that foster a strong sense of belonging.
Desirae’s journey into the industry began through a personal connection, starting at a 184-unit Class C property in the Willowbrook area of Houston. Despite the challenges of the location, she quickly distinguished herself through creativity, professionalism, and a natural ability to help prospects envision their future homes. Prior to real estate, she built a strong foundation in customer service at Olive Garden, where she advanced from server to trainer—developing skills in communication, leadership, and team development that continue to shape her success today. She now mentors newer leasing agents, sharing her knowledge of systems, processes, and best practices to support their growth.
Her commitment to excellence has earned her notable recognition, including the prestigious Anita Marcino Leasing Professional of the Year award from the Texas Apartment Association. Desirae is also actively involved in industry organizations such as the Texas Apartment Association and Houston Apartment Association, continuing to build her network and credibility. Currently working toward obtaining her real estate license, she is focused on expanding her expertise and advancing her career, with a passion for helping people, solving problems, and making a lasting impact in the communities she serves.
• Anita Marcino Leasing Professional of the Year (Texas Apartment Association
• National Honor Society
• Color Guard Most Improved Award
• Color Guard Most Outstanding Award
• Texas Apartment Association
• Houston Apartment Association (HAA)
• Best Agents USA
• Church volunteer work
What do you attribute your success to?
I want to thank my property manager, Dusty, who has been instrumental in my success. She's been great at training me and always corrects me when I make a mistake, which shows she truly cares about me and wants me to grow in the industry. A person who says something to you whenever you make a mistake or points out something you can improve upon actually cares about you, and she's shown that consistently. She really helped by nominating me for the Anita Marcino Leasing Professional of the Year award, but beyond that, she's been a great mentor and a great person who has believed in me throughout this journey. Having someone like that is not very common nowadays, but it's been a wonderful thing to have for sure. I've learned that hard work and dedication can make people believe in you, and with the right support, you can accomplish wonderful things even early in your career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that I know this industry can be hard and tough, dealing with certain people and situations, but the reward whenever someone finds their new home should be the highlight of everything. Finding a new home is important, and even though it's hard, it gets better. The more you grow in this industry, the more you'll grow as a person. I've learned so much through this work, from developing problem-solving skills that I can use in my daily life, to learning how to communicate better with people even when I go to the grocery store. This industry helps you connect with people and become more caring about people's needs and caring about people in general. Nothing can make you care about people more than when you're giving them their home, giving them the place where they will be living. A place called home is really important, and it helps you grow as a person, because I certainly have grown through this industry.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me center around serving others and making a meaningful impact. I've always believed that the more you pour into other people, the more you're going to get poured back into you. I learned this through working in church and being able to volunteer there, where I discovered the importance of servanthood. I definitely believe that when you serve people, you're going to get that right back. Hard work and dedication are also core to who I am. I've learned that no matter what age you are or how long you've been in an industry, you can still accomplish wonderful things if you work hard. I never thought that just a year and six months into the industry, I would already be receiving Texas Apartment Association awards, but it shows that with hard work and dedication, you can make people believe in you. Empowering other women is very important to me as well. I want to show that no matter what age you are or who you are, if you work hard, you can accomplish what you've worked hard to do. The more people you impact, the more of a difference you're going to make.