Jeff Klemmer is a SPAAR Hero

The real estate journey started for Jeff Klemmer following a career at IBM in corporate sales and sales education.

Jeff’s wife had first started in real-estate investing following a job layoff and when Jeff decided to enter real estate he did so while continuing to work at IBM. Eventually he committed to real estate full-time. In fact, Jeff started in real estate in 2002 and they opened an independent brokerage in 2010. For the past seven years, Jeff has been with EXIT Realty Springside in Woodbury.

He and his wife also got involved in vacation rentals when an opportunity arose to purchase a vacation rental in Breezy Point, a place their family enjoyed. They continue to do short-term vacation rentals throughout the U.S.

That led to more traditional residential housing investments, with a twist.

“I’ve always been passionate about providing safe and supportive housing solutions for vulnerable populations,” said Jeff, who has owned properties that have been used as group homes for adults with mental health challenges. He got involved with Corrie’s House after reading the book Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels and having a tugging feeling of uncomfortableness that child sex trafficking causes. This fueled him to get involved in a volunteer commitment and Corrie’s House was the perfect fit.

Corrie’s House was founded to provide underage survivors with a safe space to heal and, later in 2025, the Twin Cities’ first long-term children’s group residential program will open serving youth who’ve survived sexual exploitation.

Jeff, who says he has a strong set of values that are instrumental in his business and that his 12 agents also adhere to, first joined Corrie’s House in 2021 as a donor and volunteer and, in 2024, as a board member.

“Another important part of Corrie’s House is its mission to get the word out and bring this dark topic to light by speaking to church groups, business groups, schools and organizations willing to listen,” said Jeff, who has always been called to be generous and encourages others to do the same. “Think about what you are doing with your time and what interests and talents you have that can be shared with those in need. Then, find an organization that fits with you and get involved.”

Congratulations, Jeff, on being named SPAAR Hero!

SPAAR Hero is a program of SPAAR’s Community Engagement Committee, sponsored by SPAAR’s REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. Members of SPAAR’s Communications Committee interview and write the SPAAR Hero articles, including this interview by Erica Brodd.