Influential Women
of Houston
Martha Turner
Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty
Proceed positively, plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, pursue persistently.
Founder and Chairman Emeritus
Martha Turner is loving, living and laughing like a lady by Sharon Witt From a very early age, Martha Turner’s life was immersed in sales. She worked in the family-owned Fullers Dry Good store in Hemphill, Texas. It was there she learned the basic skills of serving people. Martha says “this experience helped prepare me to teach school for 15 years, sell World Books door to door, own a wig shop and eventually get a real estate license.” She notes it is of utmost importance when teaching to know the material that you are presenting. This ties beautifully to real estate as you must know your material (the real estate market) to have success with the client whether they are purchasing or selling a home. Application of these skills would later propel her into the ownership of a Real Estate Brokerage Firm whose annual volume is over two billion dollars in sales.
mold for Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty today. “Having an outstanding leader at the helm of a company is crucial to the success that will be achieved,” states Turner. Leadership means to “follow me, let’s do it together.” Tenets of Martha’s successful leadership style include: “Do the task with those that you are leading. There is no substitute for hard work. Don’t expect anyone to do a task you aren’t willing to do yourself. If the wastebasket needs emptied, empty the wastebasket. I literally mean any task. Enthusiasm is contagious and this is something a leader must have. It is difficult to remain neutral or indifferent in the presence of a positive thinker and terrific leader. Success is not measured by the position you reach, but by the obstacles you overcome. There are four steps important to becoming a great leader: 1. Proceed positively. 2. Plan purposefully. 3. Prepare prayerfully. 4. Pursue persistently.”
Martha says she is often asked how she has seen the Houston real estate market evolve since Believing in the essential value she first moved to the city. of service, Martha’s contributions She states, “in 1966, soon have been peppered with after I moved to Houston, I numerous civic, philanthropic purchased my first home for and professional leadership $21,000. The down payment roles. Her efforts resplendent was $1.00 because it was a in support of health care, VA loan. The mortgage rate women’s organizations, the was 7%.” During her tenure arts and education have been as a teacher, she remodeled, widely recognized. She presently built and sold a number of cherishes her association with houses. This association with The Mission of Yahweh, all aspects of residential real Gracewood and Star of Hope. estate intensified her passion for She was inducted into The a meteoric career. She retired Texas Hall of Fame and Greater Martha Turner in front of the family-owned Fullers from teaching and embarked on Houston Women’s Chamber Dry Good store in Hemphill, Texas (circa 1944). a remarkable journey into the of Commerce Hall of Fame world of real estate. When she in 2009. began her career as a Realtor® in 1980, interest rates were at a record high of 19-20%. Presently, consumers are enjoying Martha’s frequent appearances on Houston television capture rates of 3-4%. The promulgated forms used today can exceed her abiding love for residential real estate in this great city. 20 pages as opposed to one page front and back when she She looks forward to writing her life’s story and experiences first began selling. The change from 1966 is drastic but very that have led to loving, living and laughing. People might be positive for all parties. surprised to know that Martha’s favorite past time is putting on her makeup. As a little girl, she couldn’t wait to grow up Martha co-founded Turner-Owens in 1981 which later became and make her eyes flattering with long eyelashes, fix her hair, Martha Turner Properties. She was determined to overcome and wear a suit like a real lady! Today she still loves all of the all obstacles that might appear. She envisioned a new kind above. It should come as no surprise to anyone that her life of real estate firm grounded in knowledge of the market and is faith-based. the law. Every agent would be a committed, principled and experienced professional; every client would receive personal Her favorite scripture which she quotes every day is: attention; and each transaction would be handled accurately 2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but and efficiently. This philosophy is succinctly etched in the of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.