About Walter Bering
The foundation of Walter Bering’s real estate career is rooted firmly in Houston’s history. In the 1840’s, two Bering brothers emigrated to Texas from Germany. After arriving in Galveston, they boarded a sloop and sailed up the bayou to Houston from where they intended to take an oxcart west to Llano County.
“The story goes,” laughs Walter, “that either the wagon broke or the ox did not understand German, so the family settled in Houston.” Whatever the reason, it was a fortuitous beginning. Six generations later, Walter has emerged as a commanding presence in the Houston luxury real estate market.
Eyeing prime real estate is a Bering family trait. After establishing in Houston, the Berings paid 50 cents an acre for a large tract of prairie along Buffalo Bayou which they cultivated as their family farm. Today, that tract is bordered by Westheimer Road, Sage Road, the Bering ditch, and Soldiers Creek (just south of Interstate Highway 10). Over 100-plus years, successive generations of Berings developed the property to create many of the neighborhoods in close-in Memorial and several sections of Tanglewood, areas that have appreciated from 50 cents an acre to multi-million-dollar parcels and luxury homes.
At the pinnacle of a solid career spanning 45 years, Walter is a star member of the Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty Circle of Excellence. Honored as the company’s #1 producer on nine occasions - 2007, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023– he is firmly ensconced in the MTSIR Hall of Fame. In addition, the Houston Business Journal tips its hat to Walter year after year for his top-tier volume of closed sales and participation in record-breaking home sale transactions.
Walter began his career at age 14 mowing lawns for Bering Realty Corporation, the brokerage founded by his grandfather and father. “I learned my first telephone skills when the office telephones rolled over to our house after hours,” he says. By age 16, Walter needed gas money and was hired as BRC’s “sanitation engineer” (janitor). After graduation from Tulane University in 1979, Walter officially joined the family firm as a Realtor, quickly becoming a top sales agent as well as the office manager, relocation director, and, eventually, the designated broker. That German work ethic has not skipped a generation.
Walter is a favorite choice of sellers and buyers in River Oaks, Tanglewood, West University, Southampton, and the Memorial Villages, dynamic neighborhoods with a growing number of new and recently-constructed homes as well as significant historic structures. Historic home sales require specialized presentation and handling; Walter expertly guides clients through the process and is particularly adept in sales involving a City of Houston Landmark or Protected Landmark designation.
For those interested in country properties, Walter’s portfolio includes multi-million dollar sales and purchases of upscale ranches in the hills of Central Texas surrounding Round Top, Brenham, and Chappell Hill.
A powerful influencer in Houston residential real estate, Walter offers clients utmost discretion, sophistication, incomparable experience, and unparalleled access to Houston’s luxury home and estate market.
About Brittany McCann
Long-time Sotheby’s International Realty associate Brittany McCann brings a broad range of industry experience and a Houston insider’s knowledge to her career in residential real estate. During and after college, Brittany worked for several years with Houston’s Wilson family (Welcome Group) in their commercial real estate business in a number of different positions. In 2011, she opened a full service real estate and property management company in Belize which later became a SIR franchise and upon her return to Houston went on to work with the Roatan, Honduras, SIR office in a remote position before teaming with Walter Bering at Martha Turner SIR.
Brittany grew up on Houston’s west side in the Village Place and South Briar neighborhoods. She graduated from Westside High School before attending Texas A & M University and graduating from UH Bauer College of Business.
Brittany’s enthusiasm and passion for her career, excellent communication skills, and willingness to attend to every detail of a transaction make her a superb licensed assistant to Walter Bering.
About MaryGrace Sullivan
“Home is where the heart is” has always been Mary Grace Sullivan’s slogan. Mary Grace’s passion for Houston real estate stems from her deep Houston roots. Mary Grace is a proud addition as an assistant to Walter Bering at Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty. A fourth generation Houstonian who grew up in the River Oaks area but who graduated from Memorial High School in 2018 (playing forward on the State Champion Mustangs Soccer Team), she has seen first-hand Houston grow and transform. A recent graduate of Texas A&M University with a major in Communication and a minor in Psychology, she traded in “Woop” for “Wow” as the Director of Wow for Walter Bering. She handles social media, client appreciation, and any other tasks that require special attention. Mary Grace has an infectious enthusiasm and loves to get to know people, their interests and the types of homes that make them happy and comfortable.
About Gary Wilbanks
Land will be valuable as long as society exists,” says Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty associate and licensed assistant to Walter Bering, Gary Wilbanks. Gary chose his career carefully, first earning an associate degree in real estate from HCC and then qualifying to work for the best, MTSIR’s Walter Bering.
Gary was born in Longview Texas, grew up on a ranch in Jefferson, and then moved to Houston where he graduated from Cypress Fairbanks High School.
“There are many ways to make a living with real estate, providing flexibility to evolve with the times and the needs of society,” Gary observes. “I get to explore the city, constantly learn new things, and see incredible homes that nobody else gets to see.”
Outgoing and intuitive, Gary is thorough, controlled, and always positive, qualities that put Walter's clients at ease and inspire their confidence.
About Linda Plant
Whether looking to buy or sell country property, Linda is your agent. She is passionate about the country lifestyle and in finding the perfect farm or ranch for her clients or achieving the highest sales price for their property.
As a full time resident of Round Top, Linda is well versed in the local area working across multiple counties, including Fayette, Washington, Austin and Colorado. Her number one focus is on her clients whether they are selling a beloved family farm full of wonderful memories or buying a country home where they will build new ones. She is keenly aware of how important it is to find the perfect setting that is indicative of this beautiful area.
Linda’s first career as an International Crude Oil Trader developed her negotiating and analytical skills as she successfully built strong relationships with clients and colleagues around the world. Formerly a long time Houstonian and now as a Round Top resident she maintains a lengthy list of professional and personal connections used daily in her real estate business.
This consummate professional goes above and beyond to assist her clients in achieving a seamless transaction from contract to closing. Her extraordinary communication ability woven into strong negotiating skills, organization, problem solving, honesty and high ethics, enables her to achieve success for her clients.
When not working, Linda is fully immersed in the Round Top Community and considers herself lucky to live on a beautiful farm with her husband and beloved black lab, Charlie.
