Meet Our Diamond Certified Expert Contributor

Heather Thurber: Homeward Bound

By Matt Solis, Editor

Heather Thurber’s entry into the real estate industry was sparked by a desire for a new professional path. “In 2016, I started looking for something that fit who I was and how I like to work with people,” she recalls. “I did a little research and real estate kept coming up as a good option, so I decided to dive in.”

Heather started her new career at a large brokerage, where she quickly moved from agent to director of education and training. “I loved helping other agents get established and learn all the things they needed to know to be successful, but at a certain point, I decided I could do that even better by branching out on my own,” she explains. “By starting Redwood Empire Realty, I knew I could make decisions that would support other real estate agents so they could then support their clients.”

Along those lines, Heather says her favorite part of her job continues to be the teaching aspect. “Whether it’s mentoring an agent or guiding a homebuyer, I want people to feel informed and capable throughout the real estate process. When they have all the necessary information, they can confidently make the best decisions for their needs.”

A lifelong resident of Sonoma County, Heather currently lives in Santa Rosa with her husband, Dale (a longtime teacher known to his students as “Mr. T”), and their three sons. Unsurprisingly, work and family life take up most of her time, but she still makes room for a handful of personal hobbies. “I’ve always been a huge reader and my family actually owns a used bookstore, so I read a lot of books,” she says. “I’m also very into nature, so I love hiking, gardening and just spending time outdoors.” 

When asked what her life might look like if she retired tomorrow, Heather says she would take advantage of the free time to hit the open road with her family. “We took a long trip in an RV last year and it was wonderful, so that would be a great place to start. After that, I would probably just get back to my normal routine.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: Have you ever read a book more than once?
A: I’m currently on my second read of “Change Your Paradigm, Change Your Life” by Bob Proctor.

Q: Are you a dog or a cat person?
A: Both. We have two dogs and a cat.

Q: What was your first pet?
A: A dog named Pepper.

Q: If you could immediately travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Thailand.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Sit by the fire with a hot drink, read a book and hang out with my family.