Leadership

Will Northern

Partner/Broker

As a Fort Worth native, Will was raised in the area and holds a B.B.A. from TCU’s Neeley School of Business. He spent much of his youth learning about the real estate business by managing and redeveloping his family portfolio, consisting of a dozen historic buildings located around the courthouse of San Saba, TX. Will received his real estate license in 2008 and his broker’s license in 2010, when he founded and established Northern Realty Group. Over the next few years, he grew the organization which bore his name to substantially offer both residential and commercial brokerage services. After receiving numerous requests for management services, Will began a property management company in 2016, that consisted of mostly residential units. In 2020, he partnered with longtime friend and industry leader, Michael Crain, and rebranded to Northern Crain Realty.

Being civically minded, Will spends much of his time giving back to his beloved city. Most notably, Will currently serves as the chairman of the Zoning Commission representing District 1 for the City of Fort Worth, a position appointed by Mayor Betsy Price. Will gives his time to a number of organizations and causes around the area including: the Development Committee for Fort Worth South, Inc.; The Public Affairs Committee for The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth; Leadership Fort Worth, in which he participated in the Leading Edge program, class of 2013; Historic Fort Worth, Inc. the Alumni Planning Committee for Fort Worth Country Day School; and the Mistletoe Heights Neighborhood Association.

Will is a 2019 recipient of the Charles Tandy award presented by the Texas Association of REALTORS® for outstanding transaction of the year; 2018 recipient of the Charles Tandy award given by his peers at the Society of Commercial Realtors of the Fort Worth Association of Realtors; 2015 recipient of the Fort Worth Business Press 40 Under 40 award and has been named a Five Star Professional by Texas Monthly, featured in Money Magazine and was voted as a top Fort Worth REALTOR® by Fort Worth Magazine. Will lives with his wife and two children.

Michael D. Crain

Partner/Broker

Michael is passionate about many things, and his love for Fort Worth runs deep. Having worked in both the public and private sectors, Michael understands the realities businesses face and the role government can play to help foster commerce and entrepreneurship. Having served in various positions within President George W. Bush’s administration, Michael honed his skills as a problem-solver, innovator and perfected the art of looking comfortable in uncomfortable situations during his years as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Through real estate, he utilized his law school education to negotiate deals on behalf of his clients and works to make the process smooth throughout the transaction.

As a broker, public servant, philanthropist, and father, Michael hosts a variety of qualities that make him successful. With a B.A from Texas A&M’s Mays Business School, J.D from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, and an M.B.A from The State University of New Jersey’s Rutgers Business School, his education is well rounded. Michael began his career in administration and public policy and gained valuable skills he uses in his real estate work today. He went on to work at Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, and later, Northern Realty Group.

Michael also serves on the Fort Worth City Council representing the west side’s District 3, which runs roughly from TCU Campus to Walsh in Parker County. Key to his duties on the city council are addressing issues of concerns for citizens and working with other city, county, state and federal leaders to continue to make Fort Worth a great place to live, work and play. Aside from his family, deep faith and business acumen, Michael has a personal passion for being a community advocate. He serves in many volunteer roles with area, state and national organizations. He is an active member of LVT Rise, the Texas Lyceum, the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival and the Fort Worth Rotary. He and his wife of 24 years, Joanna, founded Foodie Philanthropy which partners with restaurants for an annual fundraising event for local charities. Honors include being named Top 400 Most Influential People by Fort Worth Texas magazine, awarded Entrepreneur of Excellence Award by Fort Worth Inc. Magazine and recognized as Community Advocate of the Year by the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. His duties include service on the following committees and commissions: Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs, Chair; Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Chair; North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Transportation Committee; Trinity Metro, Board of Directors; Fort Worth Sister Cities International, Guiyang, China Liaison; NAS-JRB Fort Worth Regional Coordinating Committee; North Central Texas Council of Governments Executive Committee (2021-2022); PID #21 (Las Vegas Trail); PID #19 (Camp Bowie District); Lancaster TIF; Woodhaven TIF; Fort Worth Local Development Corporation; Central City Local Development Corporation; Lone Star Local Development Corporation; Fort Worth Housing Finance Corporation; Crime Control & Prevention District.

He is grateful daily for his wife Joanna and energetic children Mackaylee, Mackenzie and Ainsley.