Honoring Women in Real Estate: The Hartkes’ Mother-Daughter Legacy

When Jill Hartke started her real estate journey 14 years ago, it wasn’t part of a long-term career plan, and it certainly wasn’t the first step in creating a family business. 

Yet, that’s exactly where she finds herself today, working side-by-side with her daughter Halea Hartke. Together, they’re the Hartke Real Estate Group, just two of the 63% of female REALTORS® in the industry and one pair of many dozens of mother-daughter real estate teams in Iowa. 

 “I was a stay-at-home mom,” she laughs. “The kids were finally in school full time, and my husband jokingly said, ‘You could get a real job.’ But I was liking the gig — they were gone all day!”

Real estate wasn’t even on Jill’s radar until a conversation with a broker planted the seed. She enrolled in online classes and was determined to pass her test before a family trip to Scotland for her son’s soccer. 

From day one, she loved it. And Halea remembers watching it all unfold.

“I just thought it was the coolest thing,” she says. “She made her own schedule. She was showing houses, meeting clients for coffee, going to lunch meetings. It looked glamorous. I thought it was so easy.”

Jill remembers, though, “You don’t see the crap behind the scenes.”

Still, Halea saw her mom’s joy. Jill loved what she did, and that left a pretty big impression. 

After working in the service industry, Halea began to recognize how transferable her skills were, guiding people, building trust, and helping clients navigate important decisions.

In 2017, she began seriously considering real estate as a career.

While she initially chose to join a different brokerage to gain independent experience, Jill remained her most trusted advisor. From covering licensing costs to answering late-night phone calls during Halea’s first negotiations, her support was constant.

“She paid for my test. She answered every hypothetical I could throw at her,” Halea says. “Even when I wasn’t at her company, she was my biggest supporter.”

In 2020, Halea officially joined her mother’s brokerage, forming a true mother-daughter partnership.

“It ended up being perfect timing,” Halea says. “I was calling her about everything anyway.”

For Jill, the partnership made sense immediately.

“I loved the idea. It gives us so much leverage,” she says. “When we go to a listing appointment, we go together. I tell people, you get two for the price of one.”

Their dynamic is built on flexibility and trust. They are able to speak candidly, divide responsibilities fluidly, and support one another through both busy seasons and personal milestones.

When Halea had a baby, Jill stepped in to lighten her load, to allow her to take on that new role and settle in. As Jill’s commitments at the local, state and national levels continue to grow, she knows that Halea will be there to take the lead. 

“There is no better dynamic that we could have,” Halea said. “It's truly give or take. If one of us has a busy day, or when I had the baby, she gave me so much grace. But to also help her move forward in the next few years, when she's going to be really busy. It's a really great balance at the end of the day.”  

The duo are able to lean into each other, to recognize the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to working so closely together. 

“We don’t have to sugarcoat things,” Halea says. “She’s my mom. The communication is there. The understanding is there.”

Jill agrees.

“I’ve known her since she was born,” she says. “I know her quirks. I know what makes her mad. I can talk her off the ledge. She has the biggest heart.”

For Jill, one of the most rewarding aspects of the partnership has been watching Halea grow into her own within the industry. 

“She’s taken it by the horns,” Jill says. “She does the classes. She listens. She learns. Seeing her balance being a new mom while working her butt off, that’s really cool.”

For Halea, witnessing her mother’s leadership journey has been equally meaningful. Seeing Jill’s influence expand beyond the local level to state and national involvement has been a source of pride, especially as she prepares to become president of the Cedar Rapids Area Association of REALTORS® board in 2027. 

“It’s been a dream of hers,” Halea says. “To see her flourish not just locally, but at the state and national level,  I’m ecstatic to be part of that ride.”

Looking ahead, Jill envisions gradually shifting more leadership to Halea over the next decade while remaining involved in some capacity. Halea sees continued growth, not just in production, but in relationships. Together, they aim to build a business rooted in long-term client connections and meaningful community impact.

Their advice to other mothers and daughters considering a similar path is simple: if the relationship is strong, the opportunity is extraordinary. In an industry powered by relationships, their greatest partnership may just be the one they’ve shared all along.