Judy Roberts Makes Her Mark

Pastoral surroundings inspire her real estate business

by Ellen Uribe / photography by Holger Obenaus

Judy Roberts

Born and raised in Georgia, Judy Roberts is the quintessential example of a woman imbued with Southern hospitality and charm. She hails from a family that is steeped in the real estate business and knows the lay of the land—literally.

Serving a plethora of counties with her real estate business, AllFarm Sales, Roberts sells homes and land under the brokerage umbrella of Keller Williams. She covers an area within about a two-hour radius of Atlanta but has gone farther in service for some special projects.

“The name AllFarm Sales was originally the name of my grandfather’s real estate company located in Gray, Georgia, back in the 1960s,” Roberts explains. “I have always loved the land—drawing back on the times I spent with my granddaddy, Henry Patton, and going with him to see the farms he had listed to sell.”

The daughter of divorced parents who were both Realtors, Roberts learned the intricacies of the business from her mother, who was a much-loved fixture and a real estate “legend” in Macon, Georgia. “My mother primarily sold homes and raised all five of us children on her own,” Roberts says.

While a young adult, Roberts moved to Atlanta to study art and design at Georgia State University, where she met and later married her husband, Leigh. The couple went on to have two children—Anne and Matthew—and during her children’s formative years, Roberts was a stay-at-home mom, one who was heavily involved in their activities. “I served on the PTA board and was always a room mom, even traveling on many of their school trips,” she says. “Once our children were teenagers and what I term ‘pretty much grown,’ I began to think about what I might do next with my life. Being a lot like my mother, I thought, if Mama can sell real estate, then maybe I can too.”

And as is often the case: like mother, like daughter. No matter the project at hand, Roberts is known for exhibiting steely determination and a strong ability to focus and multitask. Her acute attention to detail coupled with an innate ability to communicate effortlessly certainly helped Roberts earn her real estate license in 2003 and continues to help her grow a thriving business today. Once Roberts had her license in hand, she began her professional career with Harry Norman Realtors in Atlanta, where she was a highly successful real estate professional.

“It was my mother’s inspiration and her strong, faith-based work ethic that encouraged me to go into real estate,” Roberts notes. “She was one of the most amazing women you could ever meet, and she had a real knack for the real estate business. People put their unwavering trust in her to help them through the purchase or sale of their personal real estate transactions.”

Eventually, a yearning for a more rural lifestyle propelled Roberts and her family to purchase acreage in Madison, Georgia, in Morgan County. “With my extensive background in design, I was able to craft a unique, one-of-a-kind, mortise-and-tenon timber frame barn home,” Roberts says. “When people come here and see what we built, they absolutely love our home. Design is my jam. I have always been able to see the potential in a home, and I know instinctively how to stage and present the home to be appealing to potential buyers. This gives me an extra edge in being able to help clients showcase and sell their homes.

“I had grown a great real estate business in Atlanta, and it was extremely hard for me to move my business as I knew I was going to miss my friends, coworkers and the business relationships I had acquired and grown for all those years. Ultimately, I wanted to learn more about land and land sales, so I left Harry Norman Realtors and relocated my business to a small land group outside of Watkinsville, Georgia.” This was a gutsy move but one that surprised no one that knew her.

“I spent the next four years learning everything I could about land and land sales. I then moved my business to Keller Williams Lake Oconee, where I specialize not only in selling luxury homes but land and farms as well. My primary counties are Morgan, Walton, Oconee, Greene, Putnam and Jasper,” Roberts says.

She is quick to point out that despite some general perceptions, the real estate business is not as easy as some people might think. “Real estate is a very interesting and rewarding career, but a lot of folks go into it thinking they are going to make all this money, and they quickly find out that it’s not as easy as it looks, and the training for land sales is even more intense, more involved. Land sales require a lot of research, off-the-book knowledge and experience,” Roberts says. “My reach and my client demand are broad. Land and outdoor living are good and wholesome. Parents can teach their children how to hunt, fish, raise animals and have hours and hours of family fun. On the other hand, land is money and land has many uses. Agricultural business can be both personally and financially rewarding.”

Roberts also enjoys her profession because she says there are always challenges and nothing is ever the same. “You must be creative and be able to think outside of the box to represent your clients at such a professional level. I have been extremely blessed and have sold millions upon millions of dollars of real estate in my career. Also, since joining Keller Williams, I have served on the Agent Leadership Committee (ALC), and I have also been the ambassador for our local charity, Kares4Kids. It has been a blessing to have the privilege to make a difference in our local communities,” Roberts says.

She also points to one of the added benefits of owning acreage in the country—sharing some of the land with family. “There is no greater joy than having your children and your grandchildren grow up and have fun on your farm,” Roberts says. And now, she will be able to watch her young granddaughter, Olivia Grace, do just that.

“We gave our daughter a portion of our land. She and her husband built their dream home and now have a beautiful, 1-year-old daughter, who I get to see every day. I am looking forward to the times we can have tea parties, bake cookies and raise chickens together. It does not get any better than that; it is a dream come true,” Roberts says.

She notes that AllFarm Sales is relationship driven, and she is quick to point out that the company is known for its extensive services—from staging and selling luxury homes to professional negotiations on land purchases. Roberts’ message to prospective clients is simple: “We are here to serve you. Join our family and buy dirt.” *

Ellen Uribe is an award-winning journalist and a communications expert. She is a sought-after speaker, participating as a moderator and panelist at numerous industry events, conferences and broadcast outlets. She has contributed to Vanity Fair, Palm Beach Life, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Women’s Wear Daily and Time Magazine.

More Information

Keller Williams Realty Lake Oconee

1010 VILLAGE PARK LANE, SUITE 100

GREENSBORO, GA 30642

770.656.1920