How Mike Keys Found his Passion at 50

Written by Kevin Green | Photos by Kenneth Baucum Photography

For many, turning 50 is a time marked by reflection, restlessness and the clichéd notion of a midlife crisis.

Statistically, this transitional phase for middle-aged men tends to occur between the ages of 40 and 60, often peaking in the early 50s. But for McGraw real-estate agent Mike Keys, hitting that milestone wasn’t a moment of panic—it was the start of a remarkable second act.

“I really just decided that I had worked so hard for so long that I knew that the job that I had, even though I'd been successful, was never a passion,” Keys said. “It was just a job. So I said, ‘What could I do that would really shake things up?’ Getting to real estate was it.”

FROM SALES FLOORS TO SOLD SIGNS

Before stepping into the world of real estate, Keys spent 25 years in sales, honing his skills in communication and relationship-building.

Despite encouragement from friends to pursue real estate earlier, Keys initially resisted, partly out of respect for his parents’ desire for job stability. But when his husband Ty Kazubowski retired early, Keys saw an opportunity to chase what truly lit him up.

At 50, he took a leap of faith—joining McGraw REALTORS® and never looking back.

“I jokingly say that when I graduated from college, I wanted to be a REALTOR®, but I was afraid my parents would kill me if—after paying for four years of college—I became a REALTOR® right off the bat,” Keys said. “I got into sales and did very well and was very successful at it for many years, but when I hit 50, I decided then I was going to do what I really wanted to do, which is real estate. Now, I do something that's more of a passion versus just a good paycheck.”

That leap paid off.

In 2024 alone, Keys closed over $28 million in sales—a personal and professional record. With an average home price of nearly $1 million and about 25-30 units sold annually, his approach of prioritizing mid-range properties has offered a consistent buyer pool and solid returns.

“I don't do as much volume as a lot of REALTORS® do, but I do really great quality,” Keys said, “so I have higher average sales. There are only a certain amount of buyers for those million-dollar homes, so it takes more to sell those.”

BUILT ON RELATIONSHIPS, MARKET SAVVY

Keys credits his quick traction in the industry to his strong Tulsa network, which allowed him to close early deals and build trust.

Still, he remained grounded, heeding advice from McGraw leadership that the market could be fickle. With that in mind, Keys built his brand with a commitment to over-communication, transparency and deep market knowledge.

“Communication is critical,” Keys said. “I feel like I probably over-communicate, but I would rather do that than not. I'm always keeping people apprised of what's going on with either their sale or purchase.”

For Keys, real estate is hands-on. He doesn’t just list homes — he is present at inspections, showings and walkthroughs.

After 3-4 years of consistent effort, the repeat clients and referrals began to roll in, validating his longterm strategy.

“I go and get the house ready, get the lights on,” Keys said. “I think people see that I take that extra care to make sure that the sale is successful. I currently have people that are buying their sixth or seventh property with me now, and then I'm also getting lots of referral business from those people referring their friends and family.”

LOYALTY TO MCGRAW REAL ESTATE

Throughout his real-estate journey, Keys has stayed loyal to McGraw—the only brokerage he has worked for.

Although he has received offers to jump ship, he remains committed to the firm’s supportive, family-like atmosphere. He points to McGraw’s team culture as a major reason for his sustained success, saying the camaraderie among colleagues is second to none.

“It's like a big family,” Keys said. “Everybody supports each other. We're always there to help each other out.”

A LIFE WELL-LIVED AT HOME, ABROAD

Outside of real estate, Keys and Kazubowski share a life rich with traditions and joy.

After 33 years together, they married in a small, intimate ceremony, taking full advantage of the historic legalization of same-sex marriage in Oklahoma and federally in 2015.

Travel is a shared passion — especially their annual escapes to Cabo, Mexico — and their home in Midtown Tulsa reflects their love of art, food and hospitality.

Their Sunday dinners have become a cherished ritual, with Kazubowski cooking for friends, family and even clients, thanks to a recently remodeled kitchen designed for entertaining.

“We call it Sunday Dinner, and we invite different people to the house, and Ty cooks,” Keys said. “Sometimes it'll be clients, sometimes they'll be friends and sometimes they'll be family or a combination of the three. He puts on a special meal every Sunday night, and we've been doing that for about 20 years now.”

NO CRISIS, JUST A CALLING

Keys’ story isn’t one of reinvention after a crisis, but of rediscovery after decades of stability.

At an age when many feel uncertain about what comes next, Keys proves that 50 can be a launching pad, not a warning sign.

For him, midlife didn’t bring chaos — it brought clarity.

“That was the turning point for me,” Keys said.