THE REAL DEALS
Mark Worthington , Owner, Worthington Realty & Investments
Native of Parker County, Licensed since 1985
M
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ark Worthington’s family came
to Parker County in the mid-
1850s and immediately established
a ranching operation, just before the
county was created. It was the first
real estate deal the family closed in
Parker County. Mark Worthington and
his firm are continuing that legacy
today.
As the population of Parker
County inches toward the 150,000
mark, the county seat of Weatherford
bears little resemblance to the sleepy
little town where Worthington grew
up.
While the boom is great for busi-
ness, there are more than a few things
that Worthington misses about that
small city he knew so well. Like, the
way that it used to be abundantly
clear where Fort Worth ended and
Parker County began.
“The development of the
Walsh Ranch is basically closing
the gap between Fort Worth and
Weatherford,” he said, a little wist-
fully. “But, that’s just the way it is.”
Worthington’s face brightened
considerably when he was asked,
“How’s business?”
“I’m having a great year,”
Worthington said. “The end of
January of this year, I had a shoul-
der replacement. On April 3, I had a
hip replacement. You don’t sell real
estate recovering from those things.
I’m saying this to say that I am having
a great year! Not just me, any real-
tor out there trying to make a living
selling real estate in Parker County, is
making a good living right now.”
The late PC real estate pioneer
Boley Pearson told the young
Worthington many years ago that
the time was coming when you
would not be able to tell the differ-
ence between where Fort Worth ends
and where Parker County begins.
Pearson’s prediction is quickly
coming true.
“Boley Pearson took me under
his wing to make sure I didn’t get
stuck in this little circle,” he said.
“The prediction for Real Estate here
in Parker County is, that even when
real estate is bad, it’s still better
than the stock market. Real estate is
appreciating at 9.1 percent a year.
So, we’re still doing better than
the stock market. I am not saying
pull all your money out of the stock
market and put it all in real estate,
but it won’t hurt to put a lot of it
there, especially in Parker County real
estate.”
Another recent Parker County real
estate trend is that almost everyone
aspires to work in real estate.
How hard is it to get established?
How difficult is it for a new agent to
come into the market and be success-
ful?
“It shouldn’t take much more
than a year,” Worthington said. “But
first they have to be active in Parker
County.”
Bryants Company and
Worthington Realty & Investments are
the two oldest, contiguously-operated
real estate firms in Parker County,
under its original ownership.
Worthington grew up in
Weatherford, but his parents had
some acreage just south of town,
where he spent a good deal of his
time growing up. As a teenager,
he was proficient in the usual high
school sports, but most of his enthu-
siasm centered around rodeo, espe-
cially bull riding and team roping.
Eventually he became a professional
bull rider.
While in Georgia for a rodeo,
he met Dottie and after a whirlwind
courtship, they married. During their
first few years together, they trav-
eled together. Mark Worthington
rode bulls and Dottie ran barrels and
worked in accounting for the PRCA.
Once they started a family, the
Worthingtons settled down near
Weatherford and opened a real estate
office. Dottie holds the broker’s
license and Mark manages the busi-
ness.
What made Worthington choose
to build a career in real estate?
“I like helping people,” he said.
“In a lot of cases a home is the
biggest investment they will make
in their life! It’s because of the level
of satisfaction you get out of helping
these people. Plus, you’ve got to be
happy for them.”
Still, real estate is an investment.
“I am selling more investment
properties than I am homes now.
The top 10 richest people in the U.S.
got their start selling real estate,”
Worthington pointed out. “So yes, it is
an investment, but it is neat to watch
people going through the process of
buying a home.” Real estate has been
good for me personally. There really
isn’t anything bad you can say about
the real estate business.”
Development is also an area
where Worthington has distinguished
himself. Several outstanding neighbor-
hoods in Parker County would not be
here if not for Worthington, among
them The Ranches of Bear Creek. At
the time of its completion, it enjoyed
the distinction of being the second-
largest residential development ever
in Parker County.
What does Worthington see
happening in the real estate market in
the next five years?
“Real estate is going to keep grow-
ing,” he said.
“Weatherford will keep growing.
At one time in Parker County, Aledo
was the big hot spot, now I am pretty
sure it’s Brock. [What]I am impressed
with is Hudson Oaks. …. They don’t
have much land left, but look at the
beautification deal, [it] has nothing to
do with the taxes ...”