Mary Hester
LifeVenture Real Estate Solutions, Founder
LifeVenture Buy Choice Homes, CEO
Black Excellence in Real Estate, Co-Founder

As a real estate agent and advocate for financial education and housing security, Penn Hills native Mary Hester launched LifeVenture Real Estate Solutions in 2017 to improve homeownership opportunities for families in the greater Pittsburgh area.

Through robust relationship building and sharing stories on social media, Hester — who also advises buyers on avoiding predatory lending practices — flourished early on as an expert in affordable homeownership.

“When most agents were serving clients, I was leveraging partnerships with agencies to understand public resources, capital stacking and matching of non-profit inventory with first-time homebuyers seeking support and encouragement,” she says. “This led to a successful business structure built around community, trust and commitment.”

In 2023, she expanded the LifeVenture brand into a full-service boutique real estate agency called LifeVenture Buy Choice Homes when she and her business partners purchased Choice Homes. The agency was formerly owned by Robert. C. Epps, a pioneer in the local real estate industry known for combating redlining and racial discrimination in housing.

“When retiring from his business of over 30 years, he sought mission-aligned leaders to pass the proverbial ball,” Hester says. “The addition of Choice Homes to the LifeVenture brand was our commitment to his legacy.”

A visionary leader, Hester describes her 23-year career journey as rooted in community building, mentorship and lasting partnerships. She adds that watching her team grow into confident, successful leaders has been one of her greatest rewards.

“Yes, I help people buy and sell homes — but more than that is empowering them to build generational wealth, reclaim ownership in redeveloping neighborhoods, and rediscover the power of their voice in shaping the communities they call home,” she says.

Another career highlight was co-founding the Black Excellence in Real Estate movement in 2021. Today, BERE’s signature annual gala regularly attracts more than 300 people to celebrate efforts in building Black generational wealth in the areas of non-profits, community banks and development, while also honoring longtime industry professionals.

“I believe service is at the heart of good leadership; it’s the foundation of how I lead,” she says. “It’s embedded in every part of my work, from how I build relationships in real estate to how I mentor new professionals and the youth to how I engage in community development projects.”