Seventeen years ago, Andrea was on a trajectory to become a math educator, armed with a degree in mathematics and a secondary education focus from Arcadia University in Philadelphia. But fate had other plans. After Hurricane Katrina, she moved to New Orleans to rebuild—literally and figuratively—with her then-husband, a contractor, intending to teach and help reconstruct homes. That’s when a chance encounter changed everything. 

“I walked into a restaurant to apply for a job after overhearing servers talking about how much they made in tips,” Andrea recalls. That restaurant was Shula’s Steakhouse, located on Canal Street and founded by legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula. It wasn’t long before she had the job—and a front-row seat to the vibrant pulse of the city. 

It turned out to be more than just a job. The hospitality world introduced her to a new community and, eventually, to a new calling. “One of my colleagues at the restaurant was studying for their real estate license. That got me thinking,” Andrea shares. Within six months, she was licensed and selling homes—part-time at first, while still slinging steaks. “That restaurant became my sphere of influence. I sold property to five people in my first year just from conversations at work.” 

But make no mistake: real estate wasn’t just a whim. “I’ve always loved construction and architecture. My father, who passed away when I was four, was a builder. I guess you could say it’s in my blood,” she reflects. Today, she and her husband, Ivan, focus on flipping one house a year and are teaching their kids the value of hard work—“a trade,” as she puts it. One of her daughters is already applying her skills when she installed floors in the second-story room of their home by herself while on break from college.

Andrea is not one to back down from a challenge—especially not being a New Orleans native in a town proud of its roots. “It was difficult at first, especially in real estate. But I was outgoing. I learned the neighborhoods, the streets—even when there were no street signs after the storm. I wanted people to say, ‘Have you ever met Andrea Tyler?’ and not even realize I wasn’t from here.” 

Today, Andrea is licensed in both Louisiana and Mississippi, and her knowledge spans far beyond any single zip code. “I didn’t want to just niche down—I wanted to know as much as possible.” 

She’s also on a mission: “Everyone deserves homeownership,” she says with conviction. One of her current passions is tackling the insurance crisis in real estate. “I’m talking with political figures and trying to reform the system. Not enough people are talking about it, and it’s impacting families’ ability to buy and protect their homes.” 

In June, Andrea celebrated three years since founding her own brokerage—AT Home Realty Group—a milestone she’s rightfully proud of. Her advice to others looking to rise in the real estate world is both practical and powerful: “Have a routine. Time block your schedule. Build relationships and collaborate as much as possible. That’s where success comes from.” 

When she’s not closing deals or flipping houses, Andrea is all about family. She and Ivan share a blended family of six children: Ivan II, 24, is in the Air Force; Alahna, 20, is preparing for a career in medicine; Aliyiah, 18, wants to become a physical therapist; Josiyah, 17, has his sights set on becoming a pilot; and Trinity, 12, is the youngest. Fun fact: Her two oldest daughters share her initials, but all of her children’s names have her initials, AJT.

Weekends are for kayaking and family competitions at their lake house in Mississippi. “We’re always doing boys vs. girls—basketball, cornhole, card games—you name it. Everything’s a competition!” 

Andrea is far from a one-note personality. She’s coached her daughter and son's basketball team, her daughter's softball team, enjoys reading and gardening, and jokes about her country-girl roots. “At age eight, I shot my first deer. My husband says I’m mean because I killed Bambi,” she laughs. “He’s a city boy.” 

As a fierce advocate for homeownership, a mother of six, and a woman who has built her business from tips to brokerage ownership, Andrea Tyler is proof that life rarely follows the blueprint—but that doesn’t mean you can’t build something beautiful. She has built an incredible life with gratitude, grace, and grit. Stay tuned to see what she does next!