From shaping young lives in the classroom to guiding families into homes, my path has always been about showing others how much I care about them.

I’ve always had a love for houses—I even studied architecture for a couple of years—but what ultimately led me into real estate was something unexpected: the impossibility of returning to the education system as a teacher.

Teaching was my first calling; I’d been an elementary school teacher since my 20s. After marrying my high school sweetheart, I went to college and earned my master’s in elementary education—all while raising my two children, Ashley and Jordan. Those were busy years, balancing motherhood and schoolwork, but I loved being able to apply what I was learning in class directly with my kids.

I taught in New York and quickly realized that education is far more about caring than just transmitting information. That lesson became especially clear while teaching at a behavioral school, where my students came from difficult family situations. They couldn’t care less about what was in the books. What they needed was to feel safe and cared for. So, I listened. I connected. I took them on walks by the river and brought art-making into the classroom. My goal was to make learning fun while remaining nonjudgmental and supportive.

I carried that lesson with me: Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care. It became the foundation of how I approached everyone I worked with, inside and outside of education.

Life took a turn when we moved to Charleston for my husband’s career. I continued to teach there but also dipped my toes into something new: selling condos. Since I had summers off, I used that time to explore real estate, and to my surprise, I enjoyed it.

Eventually, we moved back to New York to be closer to family as our parents aged. I immediately started searching for a teaching position, but doors kept closing. Months went by, stress was mounting, and I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t landing a job. Finally, a school director explained the harsh truth: with my years of experience, the district would have to pay me more than a new teacher, and they simply didn’t want to.

That crushed me. Teaching was not only my profession—it was my identity. I loved being in the classroom and sharing joy with students—making learning fun—so hearing that felt like a dead end. I had to face reality: returning to teaching in New York wasn’t going to be possible.

At that point, I had no choice but to pivot. Since I already had some experience selling condos, I decided to pursue my real estate license in 2019. It was a scary transition, but I leaned on the practice I’d always believed in—educating myself fully. My brother, who is also a REALTOR®, became my coach, guiding me as I found my footing in this new field.

Now, I’ve fully settled into my role as a REALTOR®, and to be honest, I love it. I get to combine my eye for homes, my background in teaching, and my heart for people. Helping clients discover the house where they’ll build memories for years to come is incredibly rewarding. It feels like I’ve come full circle—still guiding, still caring, just in a different way.

When I’m not working, I love hiking, weightlifting, and spending time with my dogs. Family is everything to me, and now that my children are in their 20s and starting families of their own, I’m embracing a new chapter—being Grandma “GiGi”!

Real estate may not have been the path I originally envisioned, but it’s the one where I’ve found so much joy, purpose, and connection.

Buying or selling a home should be exciting—it’s a milestone worth celebrating. My goal is to make the process enjoyable, so clients can relax and focus on the possibilities ahead. I often form close relationships with clients, and many become lifelong friends, as I aim to be their trusted real estate resource for life. Everything begins with listening closely to their wants and needs, then helping them gain perspective when small details feel overwhelming. I encourage clients to look at the big picture, which allows them to make more informed decisions.

I never pressure anyone into a purchase; instead, I focus on educating and presenting options so they can choose what truly works for them, always respecting their budget. Protecting clients is at the heart of what I do, and I am committed to steering them away from properties or deals that don’t serve them. In addition to helping families and individuals, I also work with investors to identify properties that offer strong returns.

 

Sincerely,

 

 Heather Bragg