Max Heckenkemper

COVER STORY

STORY BY ZACHARY COHEN | PHOTOS BY PEAK RES

FULL CIRCLE

Real estate has always been part of Max Heckenkemper’s world. His parents were flipping homes in the ‘80s and ‘90s, well before the concept gained mainstream popularity. His father was an attorney, and his mother was a real estate investor and transitioned to real estate sales by the late ‘90s.

“I believe we lived in 11 different homes when I was a kid,” Max reflects. “The running joke in my parents’ circle was always, what house are you working on now?”

Max has vivid memories of touring homes and working on renovation projects with his parents, but as a younger person, he swore he wouldn’t get into the real estate business. After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 2003, he landed work selling orthopedic equipment to hospitals in eastern Oklahoma. Max was excited about the opportunity to build a sales career of his own, but he struggled to build a foundation.

“It was a good job. There was a lot of opportunity, but I just wasn't figuring it out, and I couldn't see myself staying in this career long term,” he admits.

After four years, Max began to look at other career options. That’s when real estate re-entered the picture.

“My mom said that if I wanted to do my own thing, real estate would be a great way to have my own business. So, finally, at 27, I did it. I thought, ‘Now is the time.’”

The Wisdom of No Escape

Max was licensed in June 2007. He was under contract on a home in his first week as a licensed agent, and his hopes were high for a fast start. Then he didn’t sell a house for seven months. 

In 2008, Max invested in building his business and finished his first full year strong. He was awarded Rookie of the Year in his office and runner-up in the state of Oklahoma. Then, a booming real estate market quickly descended into The Great Recession.

Max and his wife, Stephanie, welcomed their first child to the world around the same time.

“I knew I had to figure this out quickly. One of the reasons I came to Keller Williams was for the sales training,” Max offers.

Max called For Sale By Owners, followed up relentlessly, and showed up with his best, day after day. He enrolled in Keller Williams’ recession-focused sales training, highlighting old-school, contact-heavy lead generation skills. He got a coach who helped transform his expectations and approach.

With perseverance, Max found a way to build a solid foundation for his business. By 2011, he started the Heckenkemper Team at Keller Williams Realty, which he still runs today.

“This is a fun job and can be very lucrative, but you still have to do the hard tasks,” Max offers. “That’s perhaps the biggest thing I learned.”

Finding His Groove

A lifelong Tulsa resident, Max and his family live in Midtown. He and his wife, Stephanie, have two children, Madelyn (14) and Ethan (12). When he’s not working, you’ll find Max playing chauffeur for his kids or spending time with extended family, many of whom also live in Midtown.

“I wish I had something cool to tell you, but I'm either at work or driving kids around,” Max laughs. “That’s where I'm at in life, and it's a lot of fun.”

Max’s real estate team has consistently been a top team in the Tulsa market. In the coming years, he’s looking to continue that trend — and perhaps, even improve upon it. With strong communication, an honest approach, and a commitment to his craft, Max has shown he has what it takes to succeed in any market.

“Right now is an interesting time for real estate,” Max explains. “We’re coming off the  tremendous equity growth we've seen in the markets, then interest rates doubling. All the wind has been taken out of the market. I think it's still a seller's market, but it's shifting quickly.”

Max built his real estate business in the throes of a recession, and here in 2023, we are facing the first down market since that time. As many agents scramble to implement a plan, Max is confident in his approach. He plans to make it through a more demanding market by doubling down on genuine down genuine customer service on client contact and staying grounded in who he is.

“What this market needs is realistic and reasonable people — agents, sellers, and buyers.”