Mary Aubrey-Rogers

PUTTING HER MIND AND HEART INTO REAL ESTATE

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

Photos by Stylish Detroit

FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, MARY AUBREY-ROGERS BUILT A THRIVING BUSINESS AS A HAIRSTYLIST, BUT THEN, WHEN SHE WAS 46 YEARS OLD, SHE REALIZED THAT IT WAS TIME FOR A CAREER CHANGE.

“Being a hairstylist was just not working for me anymore,” Mary said. Since Mary didn’t go to college, she knew that it would be difficult to find a high-paying job. Plus, after years of working for herself and managing her own schedule and vacation time, she also knew that she couldn’t have a boss dictating her schedule. “So I went and took my real estate class and became a real estate agent,” Mary said. “Boy, was I nervous — our third daughter had just gone off to college, and I didn’t know how this new career would go or if I’d make any money.”

Mary says that it was difficult for her to attend class again after being out of school for so long. “I would go to the library every day and study,” she said. “I didn’t pass my test the first time by one question, but, by staying focused, I went back and passed the next week.”

After working on commission her entire life, Mary knew she possessed the business sense to succeed in the real estate industry, and she was right. “Once I got established, it was an easy transition,” she said. “It only took me four years — and, of course, lots of work — to become the top agent at my company.”

Today, after 14 years in the industry, Mary has a career volume close to $110 million — over $21 million of which she generated in 2019. Since 2010, Mary, an associate broker at Real Estate in the Pointes, has been the top agent at her office in both units and volume, as well as an Hour Detroit Real Estate All-Star. In January of 2019, she also helped to establish The Avenue in the Woods Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to championing the growth and enrichment of Mack Avenue businesses in Grosse Pointe Woods.

“I’m proud of being a self-made, successful real estate agent, and I attribute my success to my hairstyling mentality,” she said. “I worked on straight commission my whole life — no vacation pay or retirement funds. Because I only got paid when I had a client’s hair to cut, I learned to work really hard and do a good job so that my clients would come back again and refer me to their friends.”

Mary was born and raised in Grosse Pointe Woods. Thanks to her parents who always kept her busy, Mary spent her childhood engaged in productive hobbies such as sewing and crafting. “I have always liked to work with my hands, and I have always been hardworking and good at multitasking,” she said. “I do not sit and watch TV; I like to work.”

“I got married very young and had three daughters by the age of 28,” Mary said. “I was always taught to make a dollar and save 75 cents, so I have done very well in life with good parents who have taught me good life lessons.”

Mary and her husband, Steve, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in July 2020. They have three daughters — Ashley, 33, Jackie, 37, and Kristy, 38 — and eight grandchildren ranging in ages from 1 to 8. “We have a very close-knit family of 16 — we all live nearby each other in Grosse Pointe Woods, and we all golf, BBQ, ride bikes and vacation together,” Mary said. “My grandchildren call me Nana, and love baking and doing crafts with me. Sometimes it’s wild and crazy with the kids all being so close in age, but it’s always so much fun.”

Mary loves being her own boss and the flexibility it affords her. “If I want to go play golf, I can,” she said. “I really enjoy what I do. I love to see my clients really happy, and I will bend over backward to make that happen — I take my iPad wherever I go, so I can always work and ensure that my clients very rarely miss an opportunity.” For Mary, real estate is not a strenuous job, and she plans to continue to work in the industry for many more years.

In her free time, Mary can be found relaxing near her backyard fireplace while listening to music and sipping a Michelob Light from a fancy wine glass. She also enjoys golfing, riding her bike, morning walks, gardening, sewing, crafting, and playing tennis, paddle tennis and pickleball.

Mary supports her church St. Joan of Arc, the Grosse Pointe Woods Foundation and The Avenue in the Woods Association, as well as a variety of local sports programs that her children and grandchildren are involved with. “I was taught to give to others — it always comes back tenfold,” she said. “I will always do for others and never say no. I go from morning to night, and work harder than most people, but I love what I do each day and do it well.”

Mary describes herself as having “the gift of gab” and says that a talkative personality goes a long way in real estate. She encourages up-and-coming agents to stay focused and work hard. “Nothing comes easy: There will be ups and downs, and it takes a while to build up your clientele,” she said. “If you are kind, honest and treat others the way you want to be treated, then you will have a great reputation as a real estate agent.”

“I never in my wildest dreams thought I could be as successful as I am today, but I’ve made it here by putting my mind and heart into this industry,” Mary said. “I’m proof that it’s never too late to go back to school and start a new career.”

Top Producer: Mary Aubrey-Rogers