eXp Realty in Colorado Lenders

About Derek Gilbert

A United States Army veteran raised in Horicon, Wisconsin, Derek Gilbert is accustomed to earning the respect of peers and colleagues through compassion, dedication, and good, old-fashioned hard work. An entrepreneur since childhood, Derek’s work life began with the kinds of necessary, thankless jobs that instill character at a young age: shoveling snow, mowing lawns, and working on his family’s dairy farm. “There wasn’t extra money in our household. If we wanted something, we worked for it.” Derek’s friendliness, combined with his super-competitive drive to achieve, helped him excel in leadership positions throughout high school and college, from student council to serving as captain of his collegiate wrestling team. Derek enlisted in the military while studying Computer Science at Carroll College. He was drawn to both fields for their focus on precision and urgency. He served in a Mechanized Infantry Unit for six years, earning accolades such as Soldier of the Year for his unit and graduating on the Commandant's top 10 list for Primary Leadership Development School. Principles from his military experience still inform his work today: “One of the most valuable lessons I learned in the infantry is the importance of doing what must be done. It’s never a question of what you can do. You find a way to do what needs to be done.” That energy and urgency laid the foundation for his ongoing success in real estate. “If I’m given a job, I respect that responsibility, and I get it done. If I commit to something, I do it all the way.”

 

After college Derek worked in software for 6 years, including 5 years at Intel Corp as a software engineer. In 2003, uninspired by corporate life and yearning for a more fulfilling, hands-on challenge, Derek bought his first books on real estate and dove into the field headfirst. He and his wife Gina bought a multiplex apartment building in Mesa, AZ and began a period of buying, fixing up, and selling houses and apartments. He started his first real estate investment business later that year, rehabbing multi-family buildings. “I’d worked summer jobs in college for a home builder and learned various aspects of construction, so I had a good eye and I knew what was behind the walls.” After flipping his first multiplex, Derek bought the apartment complex across the street and did the same thing. “I take pride in doing things with measurable results. So when I started fixing up and flipping houses, I felt this sense of accomplishment that I could see and feel. I was hooked.” Excited by a new passion for buying and selling property, Derek earned his real estate license in 2004. That same year, he joined Keller Williams Realty and was voted Rookie of the Year, with over 30 sales and $8,300,000 in sales volume. Since then, Derek has sold nearly 1000 homes and achieved over $265 million in sales.

 

Now Broker/Owner of The Gilbert Group of eXp Realty Colorado, Derek and his team specialize in residential real estate throughout Denver and the surrounding areas. The Gilbert Group has earned many regional and national accolades, including: #1 KW Team in Colorado, Top 50 Agents in Denver, Top 100 Agents in Denver, #1 Individual KW Agent of the Year, #1 Listing Agent of the Year, and #2 Top Producing Individual Agent in KW DTC. Derek currently ranks among the top 1% of Realtors Nationwide as a Certified Negotiation Expert. He also holds multiple designations, including Certified Residential Investment Specialist (CRIS), Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), and Internet Marketing Specialist Designation (IMSD).

 

With over 17 years of experience in the industry, Derek has worked with a wide range of clients in a broad spectrum of capacities, from developing investor portfolios to assisting first-time homebuyers. He’s an expert negotiator, a strategic planner who likes to remain three steps ahead of the game, and a transparent consultant who makes a point of informing clients at every step along the way. “After you’ve done this for so long, you know what’s coming. You learn what works and what doesn’t, and you have to be honest with people.” He’s also worked with homeowners to avoid foreclosure. In the world of real-estate, which can often feel like a race to the bottom—who’s the cheapest, not who offers the highest value— Derek and his team at The Gilbert Group stand out because they prioritize people and value over everything else. “Real estate is personal. You have to take on other people’s goals and make them your own. That’s something worth honoring— I take that part of the job seriously.”

 

Driven both inside and outside the office, Derek’s passion for outdoor adventure ranges from snowboarding and fly fishing to hunting and traveling the world. He and his wife Gina live in Denver with their daughter Mya, a junior at Cherry Creek High School. Their eldest daughter Callia is a sophomore at Colorado State University.

 

 

 

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