"Real estate has always captured my attention and creativity," says Krista Brayer with Realty Executives. Growing up, she often thought about houses, even constructing homes for her Barbie dolls out of blocks, sticks, and anything else she could find. Little did she know that she would find clients' homes years later.

"Real estate came easily to me," adds Krista, "most likely through a lifetime of exposure." Her mother was a self-taught interior designer, and her father built and remodeled the family’s homes. It was only natural that she pursued real estate professionally, but not without first delving into the mortgage industry.

In 1983, Krista started her career in lending with a savings and loan company. Over the next 20-plus years, she became a prominent figure in mortgage lending, working as a loan originator and eventually rising to the position of Vice President at Sterling Capital Mortgage. "I loved my years as a mortgage banker," Krista reflects. "The people I had the opportunity to work with were incredible."

In 2007, Krista decided to take some time off after her parent company divested. This break allowed her to focus on her family and consider new opportunities. "I thought maybe I would be good at remodeling homes so I gave it a try," she recalls. Diving into historic home renovations, Krista discovered a new passion. "It was dirty and sweaty, with a huge learning curve," she says, "but it allowed me to explore my creative side."

Soon Krista was remodeling homes full-time, and in 2013, she obtained her real estate license. "This change allowed me to represent myself in purchases and now I’ve been extremely fortunate to have a wonderful and established referral base," she explains. Her background in mortgage lending, construction, and remodeling provides her with a well-rounded skill set that she leverages to offer exceptional individualized service.

Krista's ability to visualize challenging floor plans and her creativity in marketing sets her apart in the industry. "When I represent a buyer or a seller, I can see the potential in a property that others might overlook.”

Krista's family is blended, starting with her other half, Norm. Together, they have four grown children. Three are married and live in the Phoenix area, along with their two grandchildren. The youngest of the four lives and works in Washington, DC. "We are super proud of our kids," Krista says. Norm and I are 'family people.' Our family is our priority, and we always look for fun opportunities to spend time with them."

Each year, the family plans a trip and stays in a home together, whether snow skiing, relaxing at the beach, or enjoying a lake house. "We love short-term rentals as our go-to for family travel," Krista shares. She is also a bit of a fanatic when planning holidays. 

Within the last two years, Krista has taken up woodworking as a hobby. "I love working with mesquite and acacia woods in my heated and cooled home studio that Norm built for me. I'm so lucky," she says. Her woodworking journey began serendipitously when she was staging a property and couldn't find the right-sized table. "Do you think I could make a table?" she asked Norm, who then showed her how to cut and sand. "After I completed that one, I started building another one!”

To relax, Krista loves to read, devouring everything from client experience improvement books to Anderson Cooper's story about the Vanderbilts. "I'm a lifelong learner. If I get one takeaway from something, I'm good," she notes. She also enjoys swimming, walking, and skiing.

Krista is deeply committed to her community. She currently sits on the board of Interfaith Community Services, a nonprofit organization. She is particularly active in assisting single moms attending college in pursuit of financial and career stability. "We help these moms achieve their goals for themselves and their families.” 

Krista has met incredible people throughout her life—ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. "I'm thrilled to know these extraordinary people," she says. As she continues to pursue her dreams, Krista remains an inspiring figure in the real estate world, making dreams come true, one home at a time.