“As a big animal lover, I used to rescue animals and place them in their ‘forever homes,’” Krista Wissinger explains. “I fostered bunnies, lizards, fish, hamsters — it was a mini zoo at my house. Somehow on Facebook, I became the go-to person on the neighborhood groups!”

“I would help find an animal a new home after they were vetted; I once even placed a pair of hedgehogs with a local owner. I’m a proud sponsor of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Pet Adoption Program to advocate for and help animals get adopted and have a second chance. However, now I help people find their forever homes.” 

For Krista, becoming a REALTORⓇ was the culmination of many years spent trying on different career hats, proving it’s never too late to follow one’s heart.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Krista always knew she wanted to help people, but it took a few detours before she found the right niche.

“I moved to Tucson when I was 10,” she recalls. “I attended PIMA Community College pre-nursing program and worked hard to get scholarships.” However, Krista quickly realized that nursing wasn’t the right fit for her. “I ended up giving up my seat that I had worked for because I knew it wasn’t for me,” she remembers.

Krista spent 23 years in the construction industry, starting as a temporary receptionist and working her way up to project management while also going back to school and dabbling in part-time work as a fitness instructor.  Even though she thrived in the construction role, Krista knew it wasn’t her final destination, and fitness instruction wasn’t either.

“I loved helping people get fit, but I realized I loved fitness as a hobby, not a career,” she reflects. “It still felt like something important was missing.”

It wasn’t until a casual conversation with her husband, Travis, that Krista considered real estate. “On a whim one day at the dinner table, I said to my husband, ‘I think I’m going to go to real estate school,’ and he just said, ‘OK,’” she recalls with a laugh. “That was it.”

With the support of her husband and her new broker at OMNI Homes International, Calvin Case, Krista finally took the plunge, obtaining her license in 2017, and never looked back.

“Calvin was amazing; we had great conversations, and I could tell he believed in me,” Krista acknowledges. “I was nervous I wouldn’t make it but he told me to give it two months and try it on my own or else I could call him back and join his team. I never made that phone call to join his team because my business kept improving,” she adds.

Krista obtained her broker’s license in 2021 and started the Krista Wissinger Team last year with her colleague, Sherry Platt-Huang,  Krista’s hard work continues to pay off. In 2023 alone, she achieved $9.3 million in sales volume, contributing to a career total of $30 million. 

“I’m in this to help people,” she emphasizes. “We often forget there is a person behind the transaction. It’s about your client's needs, not the number of transactions.”

Just recently, Krista announced a new partnership with fellow rockstar agent, David Ramirez. Their new team, ‘I Am Home Arizona,’ is set to launch this month. 

“We’ll be two top producers joining forces and combining teams,” she notes proudly. “We’re also looking to recruit and are willing to nurture new talent. “However, we want self-starters who are motivated,” she continues. “We have a lot of leads and need people that are willing to work for them — new or seasoned agents, it doesn’t matter, as long as they have a strong work ethic.” 

Krista’s advice to newer agents is a simple but powerful heartfelt reminder: “My mom always taught me that doing little things consistently leads to big results. That is something I have implemented into my business.”

Beyond helping clients, Krista enjoys a fulfilling personal life with Travis, and their children, Nicole, Jenna, and Matthew. Their daughters are both nurses, while their son is still in high school. 

“My husband of 16 years, Travis, has been my biggest supporter and has always believed in me,” she points out. “We love to have family game nights together! Our favorite games include Cards Against Humanity, Uno, and Catopoly. In addition to a tortoise, we have four pet cats and are sort of obsessed, so we like to give each other silly gag gifts with cat themes every year.”

Despite her busy schedule, Krista enjoys carving out time to hike and travel with her family. Locally, she can usually be found trekking around Sabino Canyon. 

“Any good hiking spot with natural springs and mountain views is my favorite though,” she shares. “And when it comes to vacations, we go to Disneyland almost every year. It’s a way to get the kids together without any resistance for a vacation!”

Now that she’s found her true calling, Krista’s excitement for her future is palpable. “I’m excited about launching our new team,” she beams. “I also want to continue helping my family and my clients — whether they’re upgrading, downsizing, or whatever their journey is. “Ultimately though, I just want people to feel like I always have their best interests at heart and feel good about working with me.”