Relocation is rarely just about a house, it’s about a life transition according to Kate Schmitz. Real estate became the place where her professional skills and personal journey finally aligned.
Kate began her career in law, earning her degree and serving as a district attorney in Riverside County, California for five years. She later taught criminal law as an adjunct professor, developing a deep respect for fiduciary responsibility, complex contracts, and the weight of advocacy.
In early 2024, Kate’s life shifted profoundly when her husband passed away. Widowed and raising four children, she chose to move forward with courage.
“We only get one life,” she says. “I want my work to be meaningful.”
What began as a simple trip to Tennessee soon became a new beginning. Her mother relocated first, and within a year Kate followed, building a home and moving in with her children just before their first Christmas in Tennessee. That journey reshaped how Kate views real estate.
“You’re not just buying a house,” she says. “People move because of life events, growth, loss, opportunity, or change. It takes patience, understanding, and steadiness to guide people through that.”
Her background in law makes her confident in high-level negotiations and complex contracts, including in the luxury market. Her background in life makes her deeply human in how she serves.
That’s what ultimately led her to Onward.
“Onward feels like family,” Kate says. “It’s rooted in Nashville, full of quality people, and truly invested in helping you succeed in a meaningful way. I feel believed in here, and that matters.”
Today, Kate and her children are thriving in Tennessee, drawn to the schools, community, and shared values. Her faith guides her work and her relationships, and she approaches every client with humility, transparency, and care.
Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and heart, a reminder that relocation can be healing, that new chapters can be beautiful, and that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is begin again.
