HAPPY Team
HAPPY Team
DOING GREAT THINGS
Together
Let's face it, you won't find a happier crew than us. Our team brings a wholehearted, vibrant approach to real estate, finding joy in helping our clients turn their wildest real estate dreams into reality. We love where we live, and it shows. We are deeply invested in our community. And if you can’t tell, we love getting to work alongside some of our favorite people in the world (each other)! That kind of positivity is infectious. You've been warned.
DOING GREAT THINGS Together
Let's face it, you won't find a happier crew than us. Our team brings a wholehearted, vibrant approach to real estate, finding joy in helping our clients turn their wildest real estate dreams into reality. We love where we live, and it shows. We are deeply invested in our community. And if you can’t tell, we love getting to work alongside some of our favorite people in the world (each other)! That kind of positivity is infectious. You've been warned.
Debbie Hopper
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REALTOR® | BROKER
Debbie Hopper
REALTOR® | BROKER
Debbie is an experienced real estate agent in Wilmington, NC specializing in exceptional client care and professional service. She works proudly alongside her husband, Jay, and daughter, Katie. When you work with Debbie, you become a part of the family too. Debbie can negotiate with the best of them, always ready and available to help her clients get the best price possible for their home, whether buying or selling.
Born in Albemarle and raised in Raleigh, Debbie has lived in North Carolina her whole life. As a UNC Chapel Hill graduate, she married her husband Jay, an NCSU graduate, and settled in the Raleigh area until their move to Wilmington in 1998. Living in the Wilmington area for over 20 years, Debbie and Jay have raised 3 beautiful daughters, welcomed a wonderful son-in-law, and have been blessed with 3 beautiful granddaughters. Debbie also enjoys spending time with friends and family, both at the gym and at church, and is an active member of the Cape Fear Garden Club.
Debbie is motivated and eager to get to know you and help you with all your real estate needs, and she looks forward to introducing you to this beautiful coastal town she calls home.
GET IN TOUCH WITH DEBBIE
Jay Hopper
REALTOR® | BROKER
Jay Hopper is a lifelong North Carolinian. Born in Durham and raised in Hillsborough, NC, Jay graduated from Orange High School before going to NC State University. It was during his college years that Jay met and fell in love with Debbie. After earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering at NCSU, Jay went on to marry Debbie and raise a family while working in the commercial HVAC industry. Jay retired from Hoffman & Hoffman, Inc. at the end of 2019 after thirty-two years of service in Raleigh and Wilmington.
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Jay has since embarked on a second career in real estate, splitting his time between the Triangle and Cape Fear regions. He comes from a family of builders and developers, so real estate is in his genes. In the Cape Fear region, he provides real estate services with a focus on commercial properties. In the Triangle region, he manages a portfolio of both commercial and residential properties while providing real estate services. With an extensive background in corporate sales throughout North Carolina, Jay brings his knowledge, skills, and sales acumen to round out the team’s offerings perfectly. Always eager to assist Debbie, her team, and all their clients, Jay treats others with the utmost respect and professionalism. In his free time, Jay is an avid distance runner, bringing his drive and determination to the road or trail and competing in countless distance races, including a full marathon.
GET IN TOUCH WITH JAY
Katie Genes
REALTOR® | BROKER
Marketing & Client Care Manager
Katie is a mom of three daughters, Sadie born in 2015, Etta born in 2017, and Millie born in 2019, a wife to Elliott, and a registered nurse who previously worked in critical care and post-anesthesia recovery. She also happens to be Debbie’s daughter and feels so lucky to be working with her mom! She grew up in Raleigh until the age of 10, when she and the family moved to Wilmington. Upon graduating from Ashley High School (attending there the very first opening year!), she attended North Carolina State University where she earned a BS in Biological Sciences and was a cheerleader on the all-girl competition squad, and then went on to Watts School of Nursing to obtain her RN license.
After becoming a mom, she left her nursing career to stay home with the girls and saw an opportunity to help her mom, Debbie’s, rapidly growing real estate business while not having to be away from her girls.
Katie enjoys boating and the beach, fishing with husband Elliott, going to the gym, and spending time with friends and family.
GET IN TOUCH WITH KATIE
Tayler Herdemian
REALTOR® | BROKER
I am proud to be a Broker and REALTOR with the Debbie Hopper Real Estate Group, serving Wilmington and the surrounding coastal communities.
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As a Wilmington resident, wife, and mother of two, I understand that a home is much more than a place to live; it’s where families grow, memories are made, and futures are built. My passion for helping others, combined with my strong background in education and healthcare, allows me to guide my clients through the real estate process with patience, clear communication, and attention to detail.
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I am a graduate of University of North Carolina Wilmington and spent my early career as a high school Chemistry and Physics teacher before transitioning into clinical administration within the clinical research industry. After welcoming my children, I made the rewarding decision to spend the last eight years as a stay-at-home mom, where I developed exceptional organizational, negotiation, and problem-solving skills while managing the ever-changing demands of family life.
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Today, I bring that same dedication, work ethic, and commitment to serving my real estate clients. Whether you’re buying your first home, relocating to the coast, upgrading to fit your growing family’s needs, downsizing, or investing in property, I am committed to making the process as seamless and stress-free as possible.
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I believe real estate is about building relationships, not just completing transactions. My goal is to provide every client with honest guidance, personalized service, and a trusted partnership that continues long after closing day.
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When I’m not helping clients, you’ll likely find me spending time with my family, volunteering in my community, enjoying Wilmington’s beautiful beaches, or serving as President of my neighborhood HOA.
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I look forward to helping you achieve your real estate goals and making your next move a success.
GET IN TOUCH WITH TAYLER
Eliza Dale Niemann
Designer & Brand Strategist
Eliza is designer and brand identity strategist who helps businesses create beautiful, functional design that sells products and turns customers into raving fans. Eliza joyfully joined forces with the Debbie Hopper Team in the Spring of 2019, to bring you the real estate dream-team you’ve always wanted.
Growing up with a professional illustrator as a mother, Eliza has been drawing and designing since she could hold a pencil. With a foundation in studio art, her work has the refinement and precision of a lifelong designer. Pairing her creative mind with a knack for marketing and business development, she builds innovative design solutions to keep her clients on the cutting edge of visual media. Over her career, she has built a reputation for her insightful, dedicated approach to satisfying the needs of her clients, and for always going the extra mile to make sure their expectations are exceeded with every project. She is the founder of Within Sight Design Solutions, a graphic design company based in Wilmington, NC, where she helps clients up their game by generating powerful visual communication strategies that connect them with their tribe. At her core, Eliza is passionate about helping businesses find creative ways to tell the world just how awesome they really are.
GET IN TOUCH WITH ELIZA
Debbie is an experienced real estate agent in Wilmington, NC specializing in exceptional client care and professional service. When you work with Debbie you become a part of the family, too. Debbie can negotiate with the best of them, always ready and available to help her clients get the best price possible for their home, whether buying or selling.
Born in Albemarle and raised in Raleigh, Debbie has lived in North Carolina her whole life. As a UNC Chapel Hill graduate, she married her husband of 34 years, Jay, an NCSU graduate, and settled in the Raleigh area until their move to Wilmington in 1998. Living in the Wilmington area for over 20 years, Debbie and Jay have raised 3 beautiful daughters, welcomed a wonderful son-in-law, and have been blessed with 2 beautiful granddaughters. Debbie also enjoys spending time with friends and family, both at the gym and at church, and is an active member of the Cape Fear Garden Club.
Debbie is motivated and eager to get to know you and help you with all your real estate needs, and she looks forward to introducing you to this beautiful coastal town she calls home.
Jay Hopper is a lifelong North Carolinian. Born in Durham and raised in Hillsborough, NC, Jay graduated from Orange High School before going to NC State University. It was during his college years that Jay met and fell in love with Debbie. After earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering at NCSU, Jay went on to marry Debbie and raise a family while working in the commercial HVAC industry. Jay retired from Hoffman & Hoffman, Inc. at the end of 2019 after thirty-two years of service in Raleigh and Wilmington.
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Jay has since embarked on a second career in real estate, splitting his time between the Triangle and Cape Fear regions. He comes from a family of builders and developers, so real estate is in his genes. In the Cape Fear region, he provides real estate services with a focus on commercial properties. In the Triangle region, he manages a portfolio of both commercial and residential properties while providing real estate services. With an extensive background in corporate sales throughout North Carolina, Jay brings his knowledge, skills, and sales acumen to round out the team’s offerings perfectly. Always eager to assist Debbie, her team, and all their clients, Jay treats others with the utmost respect and professionalism. In his free time, Jay is an avid distance runner, bringing his drive and determination to the road or trail and competing in countless distance races, including a full marathon.
Katie is a mom of three daughters, Sadie born in 2015, Etta born in 2017, and Millie born in 2019, a wife to Elliott, and a registered nurse who previously worked in critical care and post-anesthesia recovery. She also happens to be Debbie’s daughter and feels so lucky to be working with her mom! She grew up in Raleigh until the age of 10, when she and the family moved to Wilmington. Upon graduating from Ashley High School (attending there the very first opening year!), she attended North Carolina State University where she earned a BS in Biological Sciences and was a cheerleader on the all-girl competition squad, and then went on to Watts School of Nursing to obtain her RN license.
After becoming a mom, she left her nursing career to stay home with the girls and saw an opportunity to help her mom, Debbie’s, rapidly growing real estate business while not having to be away from her girls.
Katie enjoys boating and the beach, fishing with husband Elliott, going to the gym, and spending time with friends and family.
Eliza Dale Niemann is a designer and brand identity strategist who helps businesses create beautiful, functional design that sells products and turns customers into raving fans. Eliza joyfully joined forces with the Debbie Hopper Team in the Spring of 2019, to bring you the real estate dream-team you’ve always wanted.
Growing up with a professional illustrator as a mother, Eliza has been drawing and designing since she could hold a pencil. With a foundation in studio art, her work has the refinement and precision of a lifelong designer. Pairing her creative mind with a knack for marketing and business development, she builds innovative design solutions to keep her clients on the cutting edge of visual media. Over her career, she has built a reputation for her insightful, dedicated approach to satisfying the needs of her clients, and for always going the extra mile to make sure their expectations are exceeded with every project. She is the founder of Within Sight Design Solutions, a graphic design company based in Wilmington, NC, where she helps clients up their game by generating powerful visual communication strategies that connect them with their tribe. At her core, Eliza is passionate about helping businesses find creative ways to tell the world just how awesome they really are.
