Fox Chapel woman trades classroom for career in real estate
Tracy Wiley is wild about real estate.
She is the one-woman Realtor behind the brand “Real Estate Gone Wiley,” with social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram that feature Wiley and her advice and tips and tricks for navigating the real estate world in Pittsburgh — with an emphasis on Fox Chapel, Wiley’s hometown.
Wiley, 32, is married Fox Chapel native Jason Wiley.
She is a former kindergarten teacher at Avonworth Primary Center who loved being in the classroom but felt a calling to the world of real estate. She was encouraged by her husband, who works at the corporate level for Howard Hanna.
She has been a full-time Realtor for the past four years.
Born in Boston and raised in Buffalo, N.Y., Wiley considers Pittsburgh her permanent home.
A certified cycling instructor, she also teaches spin classes at Zenergy Cycling in East Liberty.
“I fell in love with interacting with people, teaching spinning. I’m very relationship-based and I like to socialize,” Wiley said.
She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority at Duquesne University, where she earned a Master’s in education.
“My husband encouraged me to get my real estate license and I sold houses for about a year while I was teaching at the same time. It was the most chaotic year of my life,” Wiley said.
Her first real estate sale was two properties in Sharpsburg.
She keeps a photo of them on her cellphone as a reminder of how far she’s come professionally.
Pregnant and juggling teaching with selling homes, the moment left Wiley feeling confident.
“I thought, I can’t believe I did it,” she said. “It was scary making the jump.”
Professional mentors include Howard Hanna vice president and associate Michelle Lantz Echnat and sales director Helen Cestra.
Echnat described Wiley as a person with a “remarkable gift.”
“The moment you meet her, it feels like you’ve known her for years,” Echnat said. That genuine relatability quickly builds trust, turning clients into lifelong relationships.”
All of her listings happen via referrals.
“I love it. I’ve never been happier. I like being my own boss and I like controlling my own schedule,” she said.
Her educational background and teacher-honed organizational skills lend themselves nicely to real estate.
“It keeps me on my toes and I like being hands-on with my clients. I want them to know everything they’re signing,” she said.
The most challenging aspect of her job?
“I work all the time,” Wiley said. “My clients want to see a house with me.”
Wiley logged more than $11 million in real estate sales last year.
“I had a great year, but that’s also the hard part because you never know what the year will hold,” Wiley said.
Wiley has sold almost $8 million so far this year.
The majority of her listings are in Fox Chapel and Pittsburgh, including East Liberty, Squirrel Hill and Shadyside.
Standing out in a sea of real estate agents is a priority for Wiley.
“I treat my clients like they’re family. They can call me anytime of the day,” Wiley said. “I’m at every home inspection, even though I don’t have to be. My style is to go above and beyond.”
Her social media accounts are an extension of her teaching days, which included creating fun and creative ways to learn.
“I love creating stuff like that. That’s the old teacher in me,” she said. “It’s fun. I look back and I’m so happy that I had that teaching experience, but this is just what I was meant to do.”
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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