Over the past 30+ years, Marti Hampton has sold over 10,000 homes, totaling billions in real estate sales. While having an astonishing career in real estate and much success, life wasn’t always so well acclaimed. Growing up in the mountains of North Carolina, Marti came from very humble beginnings. Born to a mom that worked in a factory and a father that drove an 18 wheeler truck, Marti knew that she was going to have to work hard to make a better life for herself. After her parents divorced, Marti left home at 15 years old, and she quickly learned the importance of hard work and perseverance.

Fast forward 7 years: Being 22 years old with 3 kids and 2 failed marriages made life hard. Like most parents, Marti wanted to give her children opportunities she did not have and enrich their lives in ways people in her circumstances cannot typically afford. As the sole provider for her family, Marti realized she needed to achieve a level of success that could help her give her kids a better life. Right then, she decided that she was going to be a real estate agent and hasn’t looked back.

As a single mom with 80 hour work weeks and barely making ends meet at times, failure was not an option. The drive to succeed was fueled by her love for her family and God, first and foremost.

Now, Marti could fill a room full of trophies and awards she's won; she has a mile-long list of accolades that she has received. Marti empowers her real estate team with that same grit to be hardworking, honest, dedicated, and driven—all with the highest level of integrity.

“You can always do better, be better, and serve better “

When you’ve dedicated your life to work as much as Marti has, your coworkers become family, too. One of her proudest decisions and accomplishments was the move to eXp Realty after decades of selling millions in volume with big hitters like Prudential and RE/MAX—even if it meant leaving hundreds of thousands of her hard-earned dollars on the table.

“I am in the business of doing it differently; I have a different way of looking at things. Especially when real estate is your primary income; we, as agents, have to think bigger and better.”

During the 20 years Marti remained with RE/MAX as a broker-owner and team leader, she remained the top team leader in North and South Carolina. She also was RE/MAX's Top Team Leader in the US in 2014. Her business had grown consistently and she was looking towards the future:

“I knew I needed to leave RE/MAX. The model/franchise had some challenges that were not going to get better for individual agents or broker-owners. I was headed straight toward becoming an independent brand. For me, work has always been about my personal family and the success of my work family. During those last years of my contract with RE/MAX, I was approached several times about a new, groundbreaking brokerage that was making big waves in the industry. Even so, I was not open to this new option until some of the top producing agents in and out of my market that I respected joined forces with eXp Realty themselves. When I finally delved into eXp as a serious option for me and the next generation of my business, it became very clear to me that this model was actually made for the agent to own their own future without financial restraints. The eXp model is for a special type of agent that I call a trailblazer, a builder, and an entrepreneur. The easier decision would have been to become my own brand and go independent. But one of my (very few) mentors told me once: ‘when you are faced with two decisions, the right decision is usually the harder way to go.’ For those that know me, they know that I am always up for a challenge and the growth it serves.”

Marti decided to move to eXp Realty not only for the success of her business and growth but for her team. The ability to provide the tools, technology, collaboration, and mentorship that she wished she had much earlier on in her career were very important factors. Marti wanted to provide much-needed health care and benefits for her agents, team members, and their families. The opportunity to create a retirement plan and leave a family legacy are things that most agents do not have access to in other leading brokerages. Generosity and caretaking are at the core of Marti's beliefs: You take care of what God has given you and you give back twofold in return.

One of Marti’s favorite quotes: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” – John Wesley

Because success is only as sweet as the people you help along the way, Marti gives generously to the community and families she has served in the Triangle. As a long-time resident of North Carolina, Marti is a proud sponsor of dozens of charitable organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse, Children’s Miracle Network, Dress for Success, and many others to provide a leg up to women, children, families, and individuals in need.

Along with her husband Marvin of 25 years, Marti enjoys boating on the Carolina coasts and relaxing in the mountains on weekends when she can get away from the busy work week. As a grandmother to 15 grandchildren, she enjoys spending precious time with her family and close friends, too. If you ever need restaurant recommendations, just ask Marti! As a long-time resident and foodie of our local leading restaurants, she'll recommend some of the best businesses out there.

Leading the #1 resale team in the Triangle is still at the heart of what Marti does every day. Even after a weekend away, you can find Marti in the quiet office on Sunday evenings prepping for the week ahead. If we asked Marti when she planned on retiring...

“Retirement is not a destination. My motto is "I haven't been there, I haven't done all I want to do, and I don't even like t-shirts.”