Mark Turken has spent more than twenty years helping people buy and sell property across New York. For two decades, he served as Principal Real Estate Broker for Westchester Realty, and in 2025 he launched Turken Properties LLC- a new chapter that reflects growing business beyond a single territory. He now lists properties in Westchester, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Long Island.
His path into real estate was not a straight line. He holds a psychology degree from Clark University in Massachusetts and studied filmmaking at New York University. Before property transactions, he built a career in advertising and along the way created a television concept that arrived years ahead of its time. What ties it all together is one simple idea that has guided Mark from the start- every client is different, every transaction is different, and the job is to listen closely enough to understand both. This kind of steady, practical thinking earns trust and keeps it, it has shaped the way Mark works each day.
From Advertising to Television
Mark’s working life began in the advertising world. He started selling advertising space in local New York publications, then went a step further and opened his own advertising agency, in which he bought and sold ad space in all major New York media. As creative director, he designed ads for print publications as well as television and his work was recognized by The New York Times. In the late 80’s he created The Restaurant Channel, which was the forerunner to The Food Channel.
Learning Property from the Inside
When Mark moved into real estate, he didn’t start at the top of the market. As a property manager from 2005 to 2008, he managed over 1000 condo and co-op units, learning the daily realities of how buildings run and how owners think. During that same period, he began his long run as Principal Real Estate Broker for Westchester Realty, a role he held from 2005 until 2025. This combination of management experience and brokerage work gave him a grounded view of property that goes beyond the sale itself.
High Tech, High Touch
Throughout those years, Mark followed what he calls a high-tech, high-touch approach. He managed with a personal touch while using the newest technology available. The idea is simple. Tools change, but people don’t want to feel processed. Technology should make the work faster and clearer, while the relationship stays personal. It’s a balance Mark has kept at the center of his business as the industry has changed around him.
No Two Transactions Are Alike
Ask Mark about his ideal client, and he will tell you plainly that there is no such thing. “Each client has individual needs, and I truly listen to their unique situation.” That listening is where the work begins. “I treat each interaction as a new encounter,” he said. “No two people are alike, and in turn, no two transactions are alike. Each transaction needs to be fully understood to reach the desired outcome. For sellers, that means getting top dollar for their property. For buyers, it means getting the best deal.” Whether he is handling high-end luxury estates, or foreclosures and short sales, Mark manages his clients in such a way that the usual stressors are eliminated.
A New Name and a Wider Map
The biggest recent change has been the rebranding of Westchester Realty to Turken Properties. Instead of following the older real estate approach of dominating one geographic territory, Mark has expanded the company completely through referrals and clients list properties in Westchester, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Long Island. His work has earned awards from Westchester Magazine and the Hudson Gateway of Realtors. Mark’s calm and reassuring demeanor puts clients at ease throughout the process that in the hands of other agents often begins a series of stressful, time consuming events.
After decades in the business, Mark is not chasing a reinvention. He’s doing what he has always done, listening first, understanding each situation fully, and developing creative solutions to buy and sell real estate in today’s competitive marketplace. Trust is not claimed. It’s built, one transaction at a time.
