Meet Michelle Glass, a dedicated Realtor with Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty whose passion for old homes truly sets her apart. With a deep appreciation for the character and stories that historic properties hold, Michelle brings both expertise and heart to every listing and purchase. She’s more than a real estate agent—she’s a true advocate for preservation and thoughtful homeownership. While her business is established in Nashville, Michelle also operates on a global scale, connecting clients to opportunities far beyond the local market and offering a seamless, elevated experience every step of the way.

I grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, the panhandle, just 30 minutes from the beach. I attended Leon High School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was the quintessential high school experience, reminiscent of something from a movie. We have several notable grads like Faye Dunaway, Cheryl Hines, and Tony Hale. Tallahassee is a beautiful southern town with huge live oaks drenched in Spanish moss, azaleas, and camellia bushes with hearty blooms in the spring. It is rich in history and even has a home modeled after Andrew Jackson's “The Hermitage,” called “The Grove,” which was built by Richard Keith Call, an officer on Andrew Jackson's personal staff. After living in the Nashville area, I was surprised to learn this connection, not only of Jackson himself but of these two spectacular homes. 

I have lived in the area for over 20 years. It was a coming home of sorts for my husband, who grew up in Hendersonville, but we settled in Franklin to be near family. From the moment we married, my husband always talked of coming home to Tennessee. We are members of St. George's Episcopal Church, and I hold professional memberships in the Historic Nashville Institute and the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. I am currently serving on the Heritage Ball Committee — a fantastic event that benefits historic preservation in Franklin.

I have been married for 30 years to my husband, Eric, whom I met in college at Florida State University. He is a safety engineer with Underwriters Laboratories. We have two children: Mary-Margaret (29), an interior designer in Charleston, SC. Our son, Grant (25), is a Naval Flight Officer with the United States Navy, flying SH-60 Seahawks. Currently, he is stationed at North Island in San Diego but will soon be deployed to Atsugi, Japan. We have 3 dogs: Beauregard, Gus, and Ollie. As empty nesters, we love dinners in and British crime shows.

I’ve been a Realtor for the 20 years we’ve lived here. Before that, I was a middle school teacher, but when we moved to Tennessee, I was ready for a career change. Becoming a Realtor allowed me to get to know the area in depth and make new friends along the way. Growing up in my parents’ construction business in Florida, I was already familiar with the idea of helping people find and create homes—something I’ve carried with me ever since.

As a certified Historic Homes Specialist, I have a deep love for old houses. With a preservationist’s heart, I bring a unique skill set to listing and buying historic properties. While some agents might overlook or undervalue certain details, I take the time to thoroughly understand each home's unique features and architectural elements. This careful attention ensures that every property is showcased in its best light to the public and potential buyers. After all, selling older homes requires a different approach than selling new ones.

My love for older homes stems from the time I spent with my mother and grandmother. Growing up, we would spend weekends visiting the surrounding small towns where we lived, admiring the older homes and shopping for antiques. When given the opportunity to visit our family's original homestead in Wales as an adult, I really embraced the testament of old homes and structures, propelling my love even more.

Shortly after my move to Tennessee, I unfortunately lost my mother to cancer. Being in a new place and wanting a change, I embarked on a career in real estate. I had no idea how much this choice would help me transition in a positive way to deal with the grief of losing my mother. Real estate in Middle Tennessee has blessed me with some of the best friends and mentors I could have ever asked for. I spent the first 15 years of my career as an affiliate broker with Parks Realty before joining Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty in 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic. I’m incredibly proud to have been affiliated with both of these outstanding companies and the exceptional professionals they represent. Over the past five years, I’ve grown my business from a locally focused practice to serving as a global advisor, connecting and referring clients on a much broader scale. Leveraging the power of the Sotheby’s brand is a distinct advantage I bring to every transaction—one that directly benefits each and every client. Combined with my long-standing relationships with top-tier professionals—such as appraisers, lenders, and home inspectors—my clients can always count on being in trusted hands. It’s what we like to call “white glove service”—a level of care and attention provided at every price point.

Lately, we’ve noticed a trend where everything—whether residential or commercial—starts to look the same. There’s been a shift from prioritizing beauty to focusing solely on efficiency. But I believe you can have both. Older homes have unique qualities that, once lost, change the entire character and integrity of the property, and you can’t get that back. That’s why it’s so important to understand the history of the home, its architecture, and the property itself. Telling the story is key to preserving its true value.

In 2024, I started a group of like-minded Realtors within our global company, Sotheby’s International Realty. We’re a community of agents from across the country who specialize in and share a passion for old homes and historic properties. This past September, I had the privilege of hosting 40 Realtors for a private tour of the Hermitage Hotel just before our 2024 global conference. This April, we gathered in Washington, D.C. for a networking event that included touring Bunny Mellon’s home and garden, participating in the Georgetown Spring Home Tour, and spending a day in nearby Middleburg exploring horse country and antique shops. Our mission is to meet annually in various regions to collaborate, share our passion for historic homes, and foster meaningful relationships that strengthen our nationwide referral network, enabling us to better serve clients worldwide.