Realtor Alyssa Stefanadis
From Field to Front Door: Meet Multi-Talented Realtor Alyssa Stefanadis
Alyssa Stefanadis, a realtor at Lusk & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty, sensed early on that something about real estate called to her. Long before she knew real estate would become her career, she knew two things for sure: she loved to create welcoming landing spaces for the people she cared about, and she loved helping people take big steps toward the lives of their dreams.
In fact, these values meant so much to Alyssa that they inspired her to make her first foray into real estate at just 19-years-old. The North Carolina native first moved to Pennsylvania as a college student to serve as a captain on the field hockey team at Shippensburg University, where her team went to NCAA Division II Playoffs four times. In her early days on campus, she was struck with the enterprising idea to dive into Pennsylvania real estate. “I convinced my dad to buy a property so I could rent it out to my friends, and get in-state tuition,” Alyssa says. She took part in the process so she could learn how it worked, and before she knew it, she was experiencing her first up-close look at managing a property.
“It was fun, and it was very eye-opening,” Alyssa says. The experience instilled in her from early on the importance of maintaining and respecting the space you’re living in. “It was nice that I could give people in my life that I care about a nice house to live in.” It was a place where she could be sure her friends would feel safe and comfortable.
After college, Alyssa continued to help manage the building. It remained a constant as she struck out into the world on her own, moved across states to earn a master’s degree in education, and ultimately returned to Lancaster County to begin a successful career at Spooky Nook Sports.
Those early years back in Pennsylvania are when Alyssa began to realize that real estate expanded on some of the things she loved most about her work in the fitness world; fitness and training are direct ways to help people thrive in their lives — and real estate was the same, but on a different plane. “[As a realtor], I’m part of someone’s big transaction in their life,” she explains. From then on, she began to carve out her path in real estate.
House Hunting With Intention
For Alyssa, the care for her friends that shaped her very first real estate venture resonates in the way she approaches her work today. It’s about so much more than just matching a person to a house — it’s about advocating for them along the way. That means making sure prospective buyers understand all their options, and translating what can feel like a high-stakes situation into a digestible explanation of pros and cons.
“There are two things I always say when I’m meeting people,” Alyssa says. “One, I won’t let anyone buy a bad house. And two, I won’t let people go mortgage broke.” When you’re house hunting, rose-colored glasses come with the territory, so Alyssa makes sure you don’t lose sight of your goals in the rush of it all. “I know when people see a house, they can be caught up in the glam and shimmer and nice things, so I try to be very detail oriented and point out things that would be a concern.” When you’re on the verge of making one of the biggest purchases of your life, that eye for detail can make a world of difference.
Trends For Your First Home
As someone with a front-row view of the housing trends in Lancaster and York, Alyssa sees a lot of beautiful properties. “In Lancaster, I love the historic homes, and the fact that it’s one of the oldest inland cities in the country.” While she never tires of seeing gorgeous homes, what she’s especially jazzed about are the people she meets in the process, many of whom are getting to know Lancaster for the first time, like she once did. “You have a lot of buyers who are born and raised in Lancaster, and at the same time, we’re starting to see an influx of people who are transplants.”
For first-time buyers, Alyssa always advises getting a bit creative. “Life is not HGTV,” Alyssa says, “so you’ve got to have a greater vision when house hunting.” You're not going to find everything on your bucket list at once, so it’s important to draw on your imagination and consider how you can make a home work for you. Lately, Alyssa is noticing a growing trend of buyers who are eager to personalize their homes with their own two hands.
“Especially with first-time home buyers, I see people who don’t mind putting in a little sweat equity because they love making the house their own,” she shares. “I notice a lot of people in their 20s and 30s who like painting, like tearing out aspects of the home that don’t work for them and choosing something personal and unique to fill that space. It’s more affordable than a brand new house, and it’s a way to put their own spin on their place.” That said, be sure to take a breath before diving into any drastic renovations. “When you buy a house and don’t like it right away, wait two weeks before making any big changes to it because you just might change your mind.”
These days, Alyssa still manages that very first rental property from her college days. Over the years, it’s hosted everyone from college renters to young families. Just like the first-time buyers Alyssa works with, it’s all about making sure everyone feels at home.
By Claire Hannum
