Cliff Freeman II Recalls His ‘Greatest Father’s Day Gift’

Father’s Day is pretty special for Cliff Freeman II and his son. 

On Father’s Day 27 years ago, Freeman II  held his baby boy and namesake, whom he calls C3, in his arms for the first time. That young man grew up to be his friend and business partner. 

This Father’s Day weekend, Freeman II and III will be in Orlando for a real estate conference, talking shop and spending time together as a family.

The Freemans are agents at The Cliff Freeman Group, brokered by eXp Realty.

Cliff Freeman II’s daughter Caroline, 23, and his wife Karen also work at the Prosper agency. 

The family patriarch has worked in real estate for about 35 years but began pursuing it in earnest when he moved back to Dallas in 2000. 

“Prior to that, I had my license and had done a little commercial work here and there,” he said. 

He has also done mortgage lending and served as an adjunct professor of real estate and finance at Collin College for more than a decade. 

“I really never even dreamed it would be possible to have a career like this,” he said. “And it wouldn’t be if it weren’t for the grace of God and the opportunity at eXp. It’s been a real blessing. It was even hard to dream about. It’s the best thing I could have ever hoped for.”

Like Father, Like Son

Cliff Freeman III was a pretty good golfer at Plano West High School, but the game changed when the Freemans moved to 3A Prosper in 2010 “solely for opportunities for me academically and for the golf team.” 

“I ended up winning a state championship my sophomore year,” Freeman III said. “We all still live in Prosper now. It’s a great place. I love that everybody knows everybody.” 

The 2017 Texas A&M graduate still tries to play golf as much as he can. He joined Gentle Creek Country Club and now plays with the men whose clubs he scrubbed at his first job. 

He got his real estate license as soon as he got home from college, where he studied finance and economics. Freeman III said he wanted to join his father’s company, anticipating it would be a good earning opportunity.

“I was able to learn a lot and start making connections,” he said. “What really changed everything for me was the opportunity at eXp and what the potential at eXp could do for me and our family. I got to help my dad achieve his vision. He kind of threw me into the fire and told me to figure it out — but he’s always there when I have questions. I’ve had many jobs throughout high school and college, but this is my first real career.” 

The young man remembers going to showings with his dad and sitting in on some of his classes at Collin College.  

“I was really intrigued by the business, growing up, but I didn’t like the idea that my dad was gone all the time,” Freeman III said. “Now, looking back, he was teaching me everything I need to know. It’s just really cool to be part of a family business.” 

The family speaks on the phone regularly — mostly about business — and gets together often for dinner. Freeman II said he learns from his children every day. 

“Both my kids bought their first rental properties at 19 years old. They each own their own homes now,” he said. “My daughter not only sells houses but also works with our inside sales department and plans events.” 

Freeman II lives within a mile or two of his kids and sees them often, even though most agents work remotely. 

“C3 has really shown up to play with intensity,” Freeman II said of his son. “He is really mature for his age and really committed to making this a legacy for our family. The way he conducts himself, I never would have believed it was the same kid I used to haul around to the driving range. As a family, we’re working on something that’s important to all of us. My kids’ destiny is going to be in their own hands here. It’s taken us to a whole other level as a family. We work on things that I have to believe other families don’t discuss with their kids — money, planning, strategy. It’s taken our business and family life to another level.”

The father and son do a real estate TV podcast together and just filmed the 110th episode. 

“This is another fun thing as a dad to see,” Freeman II said. “To be quite frank, the first time C3 got in front of the camera, he was a little nervous. He worked on it and he’s an integral part of the show. Someday, the show is going to be his. It’s been one of those wonderful things we’ve been able to do as a father and son.”

The show also captures memories between father and son that can be shared with future generations, Freeman III said. 

“It’s timeless,” he said. 

Family Business

The Freeman boys have a lot of love for family, and a strong work ethic. Even when they’re on the golf course, they’re usually talking about deals. 

“We’re running a business,” said Freeman III. “You’ve got to have a level of professionalism.”

The younger Freeman just had a listing go under contract for $90,000 over what his client paid. The closing is coming up in July, and Freeman III says he’s thrilled that he could help out a good friend, who also happens to be a U.S. veteran.

“It’s really about helping people grow their business, being there for someone to talk to about family, faith, and fun. It’s a different type of team model,” he said. “We have a personal aspect. I talk about the real estate team as a family.”

The patriarch also is proud of the way The Freeman Group conducts business. 

Since my son has joined the company we’ve built an entire residential real estate team with 75 agents here in Dallas,” he said. We did that together. My group of agents has grown from roughly 1,000 agents to 12,000 agents in our revenue share group. That’s super exciting.”

Freeman II still recalls June 18, 1995, when his son was born. 

“He was an early one, about 7:12 in the morning,” Freeman II said. “He was one of the greatest gifts a father could receive.”