REALTORS® are highly motivated and charismatic business people, able to understand and bridge the needs of clients on both sides of a property transaction. We often also are solo practitioners, or interact only with those professionals in our brokerage or immediate locale. In this recurring feature, the Online Washington REALTOR® will introduce Association members from across the state.

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Mary Anne Murray was among those nominated for the W.A.R. 2000 REALTOR® Community Service Award. She received the Yakima Association of REALTORS® 1999 Community Service Award and was noted for her volunteerism at Yakima Memorial Hospital, the Special Olympics, the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, several local arts groups, and the West Valley Booster Club.

Name: Mary Anne Hawkins Murray

Position and Location: Associate broker for Prudential Almon Realty, Yakima.

 

A REALTOR® Since: 1989

 

Designations Earned: Broker, CRS, GRI

 

How I Chose this Career: I was flying for Delta Airlines, and had been for 10 years, and was getting bored with it and wanted to try a new occupation. My grandfather had had his own real estate office in Atlanta, Ga.,years ago, and it just seemed a natural thing to do. I became licensed as a broker back in Massachusetts in 1980. I got my broker's license the month before they changed the regs and said that you had to work as a salesman first. I worked in real estate for a short time on Cape Cod before having children. When my children were all in school in 1989, we had moved to Yakima and so I came to work with Almon Realty. My broker, Joanne Almon, was my very first friend in town.

Why I Stay with It: It is never boring and there is always something new
happening. I am a people person and I do a lot of relo work so I enjoy all the new people coming in looking for homes and interviewing for jobs.

I Participate in the State Association to: Actually, I have not become
involved on the state level. However, my youngest is graduating from high school so I will become a retired basketball/football mom with a lot more time on my hands.

 

Most Unusual REALTOR® Memory: Getting locked in the bathroom in a home where I was doing an Open House. I had locked all the doors while I went to
the bathroom. When I tried to get out, the lock was jammed. I had no tools in the bathroom. I was screaming and beating on walls. The sellers were out of town and my family was, too. No one would miss me. After about two hours some visitors to the Open House who were trying to get in heard me screaming. I told them where the extra key was and then they called the locksmith who had to take the bathroom lock off. My heroes left and other visitors came in while this was all going on, so I never got a chance to thank them.

Most Challenging Part of the Job: Keeping up with all the technology...I
love the challenge, though.

I Get Up Early/Stay Late to: I come in at 4 to 5 a.m. when I have something really important to do. I work best in quiet. I enjoy visiting too much during the 8 to 5.

Outside Interests: Who knows—for the last 21 years it has been kids, kids, kids and their sports. I am looking forward to finding myself...and having time with my husband, my best friend.

What I did on my Last Vacation: I went with my son's basketball team to a
tournament in San Diego.

Why I'm Looking Forward to this Year: I am going to have so much more
time to get things done.

 

My Hot Tip for Colleagues: Take lots of notes and stay in touch with your
old client/customer base.
Posted 7/26/01.