About Mary Kay

Mary Kay Portaro is a top-producing luxury real estate advisor with Ivester Jackson | Christie’s International Real Estate, specializing in luxury and waterfront properties throughout Cornelius, Lake Norman, and communities like The Peninsula. A longtime Lake Norman resident for nearly 20 years, Mary Kay combines deep local market knowledge with a highly personalized, white-glove approach to every transaction.

Known for her expertise in waterfront and luxury homes, Mary Kay has built a reputation for strategic pricing, strong negotiation skills, discretion, and concierge-level service. She personally oversees every detail of the process—from pre-listing strategy and marketing to negotiations and closing—ensuring her clients feel supported every step of the way.

In 2025, Mary Kay closed over $30 million in sales volume, with more than $10 million under contract heading into 2026 and over $20 million in active luxury listings. Her average sale price exceeds $2.25 million, and she has represented some of Lake Norman’s most notable luxury and waterfront sales, including one of the top home sales on Lake Norman in 2025. Her top sale exceeded $7 million.

Mary Kay is consistently recognized as one of the leading agents in the Lake Norman and Charlotte luxury markets, including
• Christie’s International Real Estate Masters Circle
• Luxury Home Magazine “Power Player” (1 of 13 selected)
• Top 1% of Realtors in the Charlotte/Lake Norman region
• Lake Norman Citizen “Who’s Who in Real Estate