Fifth-generation Houstonian Marilyn G. Thompson, President at Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty, vigilantly safeguards the interests and reputation of Martha Turner SIR. A company leader since 1991, Marilyn's executive responsibilities have always included the encouragement and support of hundreds of Martha Turner SIR agents.

Marilyn is a legend in Houston's real estate community and has earned universal respect for her extensive business and real estate acumen. Martha Turner SIR agents as well as many other real estate professionals throughout the city regularly seek her informed counsel which is always given generously and graciously. Marilyn possesses encyclopedic knowledge of the Houston and national markets, neighborhoods across the city, and the ownership history of hundreds of individual properties. She also knows almost everyone who is anyone in the real estate industry: brokers, agents, builders, developers, escrow officers, mortgage brokers, contractors, engineers - the list is nearly endless.

After many years as an elementary school teacher, Marilyn entered residential real estate sales in the 1980s. She has walked in her agents' shoes and that first-hand experience gives her an invaluable appreciation for the significant challenges faced by agents and their clients.

“Being a teacher taught me the importance of knowing how to teach,” Marilyn says. “That sounds obvious, but it’s not a natural skill. Most buyers and sellers have great difficulty understanding their home sale or purchase transaction, the many details involved, and the sometimes bewildering amount of paperwork. I use my teaching skills to educate my agents so that they may educate and support their clients. Agents must be equipped with the knowledge and expertise necessary to skillfully explain the transaction process to their clients in a clear, organized manner that allows them to grasp the specifics and gain confidence in the process as it moves forward. Once clients trust that their agent and the company are there for them, they become much more confident.”

There’s a saying that all real estate is handled locally, and in Houston’s case, that is especially true, according to Marilyn. “Real estate sales in many states originate with the agents but are ultimately turned over to attorneys to bring the contract through to closing. In Houston, agents shepherd the entire transaction from start to finish. Our agents do it all: marketing, selling, negotiating, inspecting, re-negotiating, working with appraisers, reviewing surveys, and the list goes on and on. That’s a lot of responsibility, and I’m proud of the professional manner in which our agents work. When they progress and thrive, I know that my long hours in the office and on the phone after hours are creating the kind of environment needed for a successful collaboration between our agents and their clients.”

Even with a demanding schedule, Marilyn volunteers for several community organizations in which she believes deeply. She brings her two Animal-Assisted Therapy Dogs on regular visits to patients in nursing facilities and communities for the physically disabled. Marilyn also supports Dec My Room, an organization that raises the spirits of young cancer patients in long-term treatment at M.D. Anderson Hospital. She and other volunteers purchase bedding, toys, stuffed animals, and other items and personally redecorate patients’ rooms to create a cheerful, more home-like, environment.

Whenever possible, Marilyn and her three dogs unwind at the family ranch in Cat Spring. She also takes every opportunity to travel, especially to Europe, and loves to visit her three young grandchildren in Memphis, Tennessee.