Getting to know Emerald City Diva Rocky Flowers!

Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Real Pride Network’s Rocky Flowers has combined a deep love for his home city with the desire to help others and make a difference in the communities he serves. To get to know him better, we asked some interview questions ranging from how he got his start in the industry, to fun facts about himself and advice for new queer realtors.

Q: What led you to start your journey in real estate? 

I was working an obscene amount of hours as a manager in retail. It paid really well, but one day I realized no matter how hard and long I worked I was making stockholders rich and killing myself. I decided I wanted a career that would allow me to have more control of my life. Boy, was I wrong about that part haha! But the key for me is that I get out what I put in. 

Q: Can you recommend some hidden gems in your city that the average person wouldn’t know about? 

My favorite place in the city is The Arboretum. It's a large park on Lake Washington bordering the Madison Valley and Montlake neighborhoods...it has some fantastic hidden spots tucked away for when I'm looking for some outdoor privacy and relaxation. 

Q: What is your anthem? 

My favorite songs are anything and everything sung by Whitney Houston, and "This is me" (from the 2017 American Musical Drama The Greatest Showman)

Q: Who do you look up to in the LGBTQ+ community?

 Members of the LGBTQ+ community that were born before me that had the courage to live their lives out and in the open before it was fashionable and safe for them to do so.

Q: Any Advice for new queer agents? 

Find a successful mentor to guide, challenge, and question you. Be your authentic self. 

 If you’ve watched RPN’s Internal Bias livestream, you’ll likely recognize Flowers as one of the prominent voices co-chairing our diversity and inclusion panel—which is no surprise considering he comes from a long line of civil rights activists who played an integral role in advocating for the interests of those marginalized within society. 

Q: What can you tell me about your activist Family Members?

My family has been fighting for civil rights in Seattle since the '60s and '70s. They have been part of organizations such as The Black Panther Party, The NAACP, The Urban League, and everything in between. Some of them have been elected to long-term seats on The Seattle City Council and The King County Council respectively. My mother has been advocating for black people, people of color, children, and the disenfranchised for as long as I remember.

A broker for Team Diva at Coldwell Banker Bain for seven years and counting, Flowers prides himself and his team for their “deep ties to the local community” and their efforts towards bringing lasting equitable change to the real estate industry overall. Though Seattle’s flourishing market powered by tech-money keeps his team busy, Flowers recounts his most gratifying and fulfilling career moments as not the times he closed the largest sales, but those where he knew his expertise would make the biggest impact on somebody’s life. This means working with individuals and families from all financial positions, and stressing access and inclusion in home ownership. 

Q: What has been your proudest career moment?

 I feel really proud whenever I help a teacher, social worker or a lower-income individual buy a home. Often they have to work with agents that are not as experienced because experienced agents sometimes don't want to deal with a lower price point. It is so expensive here I don't get to help those individuals as often as I wish I could but it makes me feel really good inside when it happens.

Noting that buying a condo was his own proudest “life moment”, it’s safe to say Flowers knows just how valuable and vital home ownership can be. It’s one of many qualities that makes him a trusted agent to his clients—clients who often end up becoming lifelong friends.  

As for those other qualities? Well, his personality, warmth, compassion, work ethic, and willingness to explore remain top of the list.

Q: What makes you feel alive?

I'm super simple and find joy in most of the things I do. But if I had to choose something [that makes me feel most alive] it would be new experiences. I love to try new things and have adventures.

Q: What is your favourite memory from the time you’ve spent traveling/exploring the world? 

When I took the subway from the airport to downtown Madrid I remember coming up the stairs from the subway for the first time. It was about 9 pm at night and when I reached street level there were the most beautiful men I had ever seen in every single direction. I melted. But in all seriousness, La Segrada Familia in Barcelona is absolutely stunning. It's a must see and it changed the way I looked at how nature and architecture worked together. Gaudi was genius in recognizing how to incorporate nature into his designs for the cathedral. 

Besides waiting for lockdown orders to lift so he can keep exploring new places–namely Thailand, Germany, Prague, and South Africa once it is deemed safe to do so–Rocky Flowers’ plans for 2021 involve achieving personal real estate goals while continuing to advance equitable and affordable access to home ownership in the Greater Seattle area. And despite the challenges posed by the last year, spanning from economic anxieties and uncertainty about the future to sociopolitical relations and injustices, he’s also hopeful that change for the better is happening as we speak. 

Q: What are your goals for 2021?

Hopefully, get out of the country for a vacation at some point. Saving money for a downpayment on a second property. Helping my sister buy her first home. 

Q: RPN has a focus on philanthropy. What cause is close to your heart and/or deserves more attention?

Black/POC, LGBTQ+, and low-income people achieving homeownership. As far as an organization,  Homestead Community Land Trust is amazing and one of my goals is to be more involved with them in 2021. https://www.homesteadclt.org/

Q: What gives you hope moving forward?

Biden/Harris and the senate races were a good win for us. But what is even more inspiring is it seems the younger generation especially is not giving up or just letting these issues go. They are keeping the pressure on to bring real change. My generation and generations before me often set out with good intentions but always seemed to want to wait for the right moment to do anything significant. This new generation wants change now, with no excuses for delaying justice, fairness, equality and reimagining the new path forward.