Instructor Highlight: Mark McGrew

Mark McGrew

REALTOR®, Designated Broker
HIT Realty Advisors

Mark McGrew has always felt a special calling to teach, even if he didn’t realize it at the time. 

“I truly believe I missed my calling in years past.”

Mark was born in Michigan and moved around the globe while serving in the United States Air Force. Ultimately, he settled in Arizona where the weather stays warm. Reflecting on his time in the military, Mark recognizes now that he loved the training opportunities where he was able to help others learn.

Fast forward a bit, Mark found that he loved coaching his son’s little league and club baseball teams. He viewed it as so much more than just coaching baseball: it was a chance to teach kids about responsibility and respecting others.

“It was a very rewarding experience and another nudge in the direction of teaching that I didn’t fully realize at the time.” 

Mark earned his real estate license from Arizona School of Real Estate & Business (ASREB) nearly 13 years ago and has worked in non-profit, commercial, and residential real estate. He shared that while he continued to explore multiple areas of real estate over the years, it was residential sales that kept pulling his attention. Mark credits his mentor and former designated broker, Dennis “DC” Campbell, for inspiring him to become an instructor. DC has been an instructor with ASREB for many years and he knew Mark had the skills.

“I was leary at first but then, when I started teaching… the light came on for me and I know now it’s where I’m supposed to be.”

One of the aspects Mark loves about teaching is the opportunity to help future real estate agents understand what it’s really like in the industry. 

“I like to give real world examples to help them grasp concepts, and I like being honest about the work that goes into being an agent. The compensation an agent earns depends on the work you’re willing to put in. But at the same time, you have to set boundaries to take care of yourself too, otherwise you’ll burn out.”

In his free time, Mark likes to spend time with his family exploring the outdoors, whether it’s hiking, camping, or going to the beach. When he’s looking for a more relaxing activity, he enjoys woodworking. 

Mark says his favorite part about teaching is, “You can see that moment in a student’s eyes when they ‘get it’ – that’s one of my favorite parts.”