Praised for her innovation and excellence, Mary L. Lee has built a distinguished 37-year career in the real estate industry. Based in Newcastle, Washington, she has been affiliated with Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty since 2022 as a real estate broker and chief executive officer of Mary Lee Real Estate – responsible for selling residential properties, teaching and training agents, innovating business models, developing marketing strategies, consulting with clients, overseeing pre-inspection processes and more. Her commitment to maintaining professional standards and expertise in residential real estate sales — particularly for move-up buyers and downsizing clients — have set her apart as a leader in her field.
A hallmark of Ms. Lee’s career is her creation of a successful transcription business model that emphasizes teaching other agents how to excel in the real estate market. This innovative approach has enabled her to consistently outperform competitors in key metrics such as the sales price-to-list price ratio and days on market. Her dedication to staying ahead of industry trends and forging strategic partnerships further underscores her significant contributions to the profession. Ms. Lee’s skills are further backed up by specialized certifications, including as a divorce specialist and a probate real estate specialist, which allow her to guide clients through complex situations with confidence and expertise.
Previously, Ms. Lee was chief executive officer of Certified Results Education for over a decade. There, she focused on agent training and professional development, helping real estate professionals achieve higher standards of performance through education and mentorship. Concurrently with her work at Certified Results Education, Ms. Lee was a real estate broker with Keller Williams Luxury at Keller Williams Realty Inc., where she honed her skills in luxury property sales and client consultation.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Lee worked as a sales and marketing specialist at Windermere Bellevue Commons Inc. from 2002 to 2016, developing marketing strategies and supporting clients through the buying and selling process. Ms. Lee first joined Windermere in 1992. Across her initial five years with the company, she demonstrated her leadership abilities in the positions of vice president of affiliate development and director of education for the Eastern Washington region.
Ms. Lee’s educational background includes graduation from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Washington. She has pursued extensive professional development throughout her career, earning numerous certifications that have contributed to her success. Among other credentials, Ms. Lee is certified as a luxury home marketing specialist through The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing; a results agent through Certified Results Education; a global real estate adviser through Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty; a master negotiation expert through the Real Estate Negotiation Institute; a seller representative specialist through the Real Estate Business Institute; a real estate broker through the Washington State Department of Licensing; and a seniors real estate specialist through the National Association of Realtors.
Mirroring her commitment to excellence within her industry, Ms. Lee maintains affiliation with professionally relevant organizations. She is an active member of the National Association of Realtors, Northwest Multiple Listing Service, Washington Realtors and The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.
Recognized for her accomplishments, Ms. Lee was named one of the 100 Most Influential Real Estate Agents in Washington at the Mastermind Summit in 2016. She is a two-time winner of Entrepreneur of the Year from the Women’s Council of Realtors, in 2014 and 2016. Most recently, she was Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty’s Top Performer for 2024. Ms. Lee attributes her achievements to innovation and tenacity. By investing in professional coaching, she has showcased her commitment to continuous learning, enabling her to deliver excellent outcomes for clients while maintaining high professional standards.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Ms. Lee is deeply involved in civic activities across the region. Since 2014, she has been a fundraiser for the Medic One Foundation and a volunteer with Food Lifeline. She also volunteers with Mamma’s Hands and Northwest Harvest while supporting fundraising efforts for the Tunnels to Towers Foundation and the local branch of the YWCA.
Born in Spokane, Ms. Lee is the proud mother of two children. She enjoys learning how to play pickleball during her leisure time. As she moves into the future, she is focused on developing training programs within her brokerage, including teaching real estate agents about psychological concepts like mindset and brain function to help them better understand both themselves and their clients. When she retires, Ms. Lee plans to live in an age 55-plus community close to her children and grandchildren, with the goal of having an active, high-impact role within the community and enriching the lives of residents.