Where Service Meets Leadership: The Story of Mary Miner

Few professionals in the real estate industry embody the spirit of service, leadership, and forward-thinking innovation the way Mary Miner does. With more than 24 years of experience as an agent, broker, broker-owner, educator, and industry advocate, Mary has shaped not only the careers of countless Texas REALTORS® but the direction of the industry itself.

Her path to real estate wasn’t planned, but it was purposeful.

When Mary moved from Massachusetts to Texas in 1995, real estate wasn’t on her radar. She and her husband were exploring land in Hutto, long before it became the community it is today, with dreams of creating a ranch that would host corporate training retreats and summer programs for underprivileged kids. She had the vision, the land, and her mother’s support. Then 9/11 changed everything.

“When the sky was falling, everything stopped,” Mary said. “My mom was my bank at the time, and she said, ‘We’re not doing this right now.’”

That’s when her broker made a simple suggestion: You’d be really good in real estate.

It was the beginning of a remarkable career.

In 2002, when she was already in her 50s, Mary activated her license and quickly recognized a gap in agent preparedness, saying, “We knew how to pass the test, but we didn’t know real estate.” With her corporate training background, she began teaching immediately and never stopped.

A Career Built on Elevating Others

Training isn’t a side passion for Mary; it’s her calling.

Over the years, she has taught for local REALTOR® associations across the region, the Texas Association of REALTORS®, the National Association of REALTORS®, and the Texas Real Estate Commission. She co-owns Agent Business Builder, a 30-week training program that equips agents and brokers with real-world tools, business planning systems, and growth strategies.

Her impact extends beyond classrooms. Mary has served in leadership at the local, state, and national levels and served as state president for RRC (formerly CRS). She has also earned awards including Rookie of the Year, REALTOR® of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement.

But for Mary, the real reward is watching others grow. “I love watching agents discover what they’re capable of,” she said. “They think they’re just here to sell a house. I show them they’re here to build a business and a life.”

Leading Through Market Shifts and Technological Change

Mary’s influence reaches into industry policy as well. At the 2024 NAR Conference, she chaired the Business Issues Committee, where her team advanced a new policy giving NAR authority to participate in conversations around emerging technologies, including blockchain, digital currency, and AI-driven contracts.

Before this policy, “the lobbyists weren’t even allowed in the room,” she said. “Now they can finally be part of the conversation.”

Mary believes AI is essential but not a replacement for human connection. “It can create outlines and presentations, but agents still need a personal touch with real conversations, real trust, real presence.”

She coaches agents to embrace AI, maintain powerful CRMs, and focus on the foundation of long-term success: referrals.

After owning Nextage Realty for many years, Mary partnered with LPT Realty in 2023, where she now serves as a broker associate, team leader, and mentor. “It’s been the best decision for everyone. Agents are making more money, and I have fewer expenses,” she said.

Giving Back: Nextage Building Dreams
Foundation

Mary founded the Nextage Building Dreams Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting housing, education, and humanitarian initiatives. Inspired by the Community First Village model, her long-term dream is to raise funds to donate one tiny home each year to individuals transitioning out of chronic homelessness.

“I want to do more. I want to give more,” she said. “2026 is my year to refocus on that mission.”

A Life Beyond Real Estate

Before real estate, Mary was a worldwide training vice president in high tech, raised horses, barrel raced, and competed in rodeos. Today, she enjoys traveling, cruising, and spending time with her family. She is also caring for her father-in-law, who has dementia, a role that reshapes her daily life with compassion and purpose.

Despite her packed schedule, Mary remains one of the most active association volunteers in the region because, as she says, “giving back is how we grow.”

Mary Miner didn’t choose real estate; it chose her. Her career is defined not by sales but by service—and by lifting others higher. Her story is a reminder that real estate is a people business powered by relationships, rooted in education, and strengthened by community.

And Mary is still just getting started.