Bringing all of my experiences, skills, and passions together, I found true purpose in walking people through their real estate journeys.
It was a now-or-never moment. I returned home to Pittsburgh, I knew it was my chance to finally get into real estate. My great aunt Rita, who had worked in real estate for years, took me under her wing. In my first year, I closed over $5 million in sales. Real estate became the thread that wove together the different chapters of my life.
Growing up, my dad managed rental properties and owned a bar, so I had a front row seat to tenant calls, DIY repairs and renovations, and learning what it took to run a business. He worked very hard, but in the end, it gave him the freedom to be his own boss and become a full-time landlord.
When it came time to choose my own path, the world was reeling from the 2008 recession. Stability felt more important than ever, so I set aside my creative ambitions and enrolled at Penn State to study industrial engineering. Numbers and systems came naturally to me, but upon landing my first engineering job in New York City, I realized the corporate grind wasn’t for me. The 60+ hour weeks paired with two-hour commutes began to make the steady paycheck feel more like iron shackles. I felt disconnected from my creative side. To make extra money, I started art modeling for art and design schools.
What began as a side hustle turned into a gateway to New York’s art scene. I found myself surrounded by artists, designers, and people who saw the world differently. That led to opportunities in the art department for commercials and film, where I worked as a production coordinator and props stylist. I learned how to design sets that made a statement on camera and how to oversee creative projects to bring a vision to life.
Craving new challenges, I moved to Los Angeles. Bartending paid the bills, but it also opened doors. I built relationships with designers and architects, eventually landing a role with an Italian design firm. There, I combined my technical skills with my creative instincts. I learned how to use design software, create floor plans, and bring a client’s vision to life, all while developing a sharp eye for what makes a space truly stand out.
When I returned to Pittsburgh and started my real estate career, I began to view my background as an evolving series of experiences that have come full circle in this career. My engineering degree taught me to analyze, problem-solve, and approach every deal with a strategic mindset. My time in design and production gave me a creative edge in staging, marketing, or helping clients see the potential in a home. Working in property management with my dad gave me insight into the day-to-day realities of the business. Even my personal experiences of relocating, facing new challenges, and embracing change have been helpful in walking my clients through seasons of transition.
For my clients, this all comes together in the way I approach every deal: I’m not just opening doors, I’m opening possibilities. I thrive on finding creative angles, whether it’s staging a home to stand out or helping buyers see past dated finishes to the potential beneath. I have the experience to draw floor plans, sketch renovation ideas on the spot, and use my network to connect clients with the right contractors or designers.
My clients know I’ll drop everything to get them in the door first, negotiate fiercely on their behalf, and never settle for “good enough.” Real estate is where my work ethic, creativity, and drive to help people all intersect. I love what I do and find real fulfillment and joy in sharing that passion with my clients.
Alongside finding my perfect career, I also went through a lot of personal development. Prioritizing my mental and physical health, including my journey with sobriety, has allowed me to show up as my best self for my clients and in my own life. I co-host the podcast “Mocktails or Messy,” where I share honest conversations about navigating social life sober. I also enjoy Orange Theory workouts with my mom, skiing with family, or spending time out on the water.
One of the most exciting parts of real estate to me is the limitless opportunities it offers. I love walking into a space and envisioning what it could become, recognizing the structural, functional, and aesthetic elements that can transform a home. I also enjoy marketing, finding fun and creative ways to create attention-grabbing moments on social media that generate buyer interest. Having navigated a cross-country relocation and becoming an investor myself, I understand both the emotional and financial sides of real estate. I help my clients navigate those nuances while keeping both priorities front and center. My commitment is to be a lifelong real estate partner, offering trusted guidance and support through every stage of my clients’ homeownership journeys.
Sincerely,
Ryan Frankowski
