True North Transaction Management
Written by Elizabeth McCabe | Photos by Taste the World Photography
There’s a moment in every real estate agent’s career when things start to click. The business is growing. The deals are coming in. The momentum is real. And then… the paperwork hits.
Contracts. Deadlines. Compliance. Emails. Follow-ups. Details stacked on details.
That’s where Kate Cain steps in. And it’s when everything changes.
“I like to tell people it was because she hired me,” Kate says with a laugh, recalling one of the first agents she supported. “She went from $3 million one year to $9 million the next.”
Coincidence? Kate doesn’t think so.
Finding Her True North
Kate didn’t start in real estate. She spent 14 years as a nurse, primarily in home health and wound care, a career built on care and showing up for people when it matters most. She also served eight years in the Army Reserves, bringing discipline and determination into everything she does.
Real estate came later.
She had her license for seven years and worked as an agent for five, but it was a simple opportunity, helping a friend implement systems and manage files, that revealed something bigger.
“Kate, you were amazing. That seems to be your calling. You should start your own business.”
So she did. Kate dove into research, built a business plan, and launched True North Transaction Management in 2020, right when the market was surging and agents needed help more than ever.
“I started doing TC services and closed 30 files a month my first year,” she says. That was just the beginning.
In a move that surprises many, Kate made a very intentional decision early on. She let her real estate license go.“I want to be able to assist everyone who wants help,” she explains. “So I removed the obstacle that was there and moved forward,” she says.
By operating as an unlicensed transaction management company, True North can work across brokerages without limitations, something many agents see as a major advantage. “We are 100 percent taking new agents,” she adds. “We brought on 15 new agents this year alone.”
Today, the company supports 72 agents and growing.
From Solo Hustle to Scalable Success
What started as a one-woman operation quickly became something much bigger. Today, Kate leads a team of eight, with a goal of closing over 100 files per month. But growth didn’t come without growing pains.
“My friends asked me, ‘What are you going to do when you have to hire people?’” she says. “I am not a boss of any type.” And yet, she built a team anyway.
Now, True North includes four full-time transaction coordinators, a director of operations (whom Kate calls “the calm to my storm, 100 percent”), and an intake coordinator who keeps everything moving from the start.
“It’s been quite the ride,” she says. “I just keep riding it right along.”
What sets True North apart is how the service is designed. Every piece of the business has evolved in response to what agents actually need.
“It used to be just me,” Kate says. “I found myself burning out doing things I absolutely love doing. Every time I saw a need or a necessity, I adjusted.”
That mindset led to one of their most unique offerings: after-hours support.
“We offer weekend and evening assistance,” she explains. From 5:30–8:00 p.m. on weekdays and extended hours on weekends, agents have real support when they actually need it, not just during standard business hours. Because let’s be honest. Real estate doesn’t run on a 9-to-5 schedule.
More Than Transaction Coordination
True North goes beyond traditional TC services. They offer broker compliance support, a huge value for smaller brokerages where brokers are juggling both deals and file audits. They also assist with offer writing, listing preparation, and document organization, all under the agent’s supervision.
And they’ve streamlined the process.
“We have great links agents can fill out and it literally takes two minutes. We have all the information that we need.”
Fast. Clean. Efficient. Exactly how it should be.
A Team You Can Count On
One of the biggest advantages of working with True North? Consistency.
“Our TC’s can take a break. They can take a vacation,” Kate says. “If one of our TC’s is sick or out, the agent gets used to utilizing us as a team. They don’t have to go without that service.”
That means agents are never left scrambling. They’re always supported. Always covered.
Looking Ahead (and Embracing Change)
As the industry evolves, Kate is paying close attention, especially when it comes to AI.
“We are starting to see a lot of AI come into play,” she says. “AI doesn’t scare me. I am ready to work with it.”
She sees the role of the transaction coordinator shifting, not disappearing. “Agents are still going to want someone to work that system for them.”
Because at the end of the day, technology can assist, but it can’t replace relationships. And that’s where agents should be focused.
“Doing your paperwork does not make you money,” Kate says. “Successful real estate agents are good at relationships. If you’re sitting behind a computer, you’re not doing what you’re best at.”
Life Outside the Files
When she’s not managing transactions or growing her business, Kate is all about family and fun.
She and her husband moved to the St. Louis area two years ago for his job, but they still travel back to Oklahoma regularly to stay connected with clients and agents. They’re big sports fans, especially baseball.
“I am a Chicago Cubs fan. He’s a St. Louis Cardinals fan,” she says. “We have a lot of fun.”
They also enjoy trips to spring training in Phoenix, and when time allows, a round of golf (though she admits that’s rare). At home, life is full with four kids ranging from 11 to 35 and three Dachshunds keeping things lively.
The Bottom Line
At its core, True North Transaction Management is about one thing: Giving agents their time back. So they can do what they do best: Build relationships. Close deals. Grow their business. And breathe a little easier in the process.
Contact Them Today!
True North Transaction Management
918-645-3598
