Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Stanley.
Hi Amy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t get into real estate because I loved houses — I fell in love with the people.
Before I ever started Stanley Premier Properties, my life was already centered around Johnston County. My family, our businesses, our schools, our churches — everything that mattered to me was rooted here. Community wasn’t something I discovered through real estate… it’s what led me to real estate in the first place.
When I became a REALTOR®, I made a commitment to do things differently. I didn’t want clients to feel like transactions. I wanted them to feel known, supported, celebrated, and confident during one of the biggest decisions of their lives. Helping people find the right home isn’t just my job — it’s my calling. Every closing is a new beginning for a family, and being part of that journey is something I never take for granted.
As my business grew, I realized something bigger was happening. I wasn’t just helping families move into Johnston County — I was helping them belong here.
That’s how Inside JoCo facebook group was started.
Inside JoCo started as a simple idea: highlight the heart of this community. I wanted to showcase the local restaurants we love, the parks our kids play in, the small businesses that make our towns special, the schools shaping the next generation, and the events that bring us all together. What began as a passion project quickly turned into something much more meaningful — a platform to connect, uplift, and unite our community with almost 15k members.
Through Inside JoCo newsletters, local guides, teacher and hero recognitions, business spotlights, and family-friendly resources, my goal is to help people feel more connected — whether they’ve lived here their whole lives or just moved in last week. I believe that when a community knows one another, a community thrives.
My business is built on more than transactions.
It’s built on integrity, honesty, friendship, faith, and family — the values I choose to live by every day.
And speaking of family — they’re at the center of everything I do. My husband Jamie, our children, and our precious grandbabies (who gave me my favorite title ever: Mimi) remind me what balanced success really looks like. I strive to run a business that serves my clients well while still allowing me to show up fully for the people I love most.
Today, I’m incredibly grateful to be known not only as a REALTOR®, but as someone who simply cares. Someone who shows up. Someone who does good because it matters.
People may come to me to buy or sell a house, but they come back — and refer others — because they know I’m in their corner. And that trust means more than anything.
This chapter of my story is still being written… and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Stanley Premier Properties, Inside JoCo, and the community I’m blessed to serve.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
People often see the polished version — the closings, the yard signs, the smiling clients, and the community events. But the truth is, my journey has been full of both struggles and successes, and every part of it has shaped who I am today.
When I started in real estate, I didn’t have a playbook or a shortcut. I didn’t inherit a business, a ready-made network, or a stream of referrals. I built from the ground up — one conversation, one relationship, one showing at a time. I wear many hats – Marketing, negotiations, paperwork, social media, events, bookkeeping… there were many late nights and early mornings and I wondered if I could really do it all.
One of my biggest struggles has been finding balance. I am fiercely dedicated to my clients and community, but I’m also a wife, a mom, and a Mimi. I never wanted success to come at the expense of missing moments with my family. Learning how to nurture both — to run a business I’m proud of without losing time with the people I love most — has taken intention, sacrifice, and growth.
And real estate isn’t always glamorous. It’s a crowded industry, and there were times I questioned whether my heart-centered approach was enough. I refuse to treat people like transactions. I don’t believe in pushy sales tactics. I lead with integrity, honesty, friendship, and faith — even when it meant turning down opportunities that didn’t align with my values. I wondered if doing business “the right way” would ever pay off.
But then the successes started speaking louder than the doubts.
Clients didn’t just close with me — they stayed connected. They referred their friends and family. They came back when they were ready for their next chapter. They trusted me because they could feel that I truly care. That trust — more than anything — confirmed that building a business rooted in heart works.
And then came Inside JoCo. I didn’t launch it to grow my real estate business. I launched it because I love this community. I wanted a way to spotlight the restaurants we gather in, the teachers who shape our kids, the family-owned businesses who work so hard, the festivals and parks and events that make our towns feel alive. Inside JoCo didn’t start with a giant audience or sponsors — it started with belief. Watching it grow into something the community looks forward to and feels proud of has exciting and inspiring.
Looking back, every struggle prepared me for every success.
Wearing every hat taught me resilience.
Growing slowly taught me patience.
Doing business with integrity taught me confidence.
Caring about people taught me purpose.
Balancing work and family taught me what really matters.
Today, I’m grateful. Grateful that I get to help families find home — both literally and figuratively. Grateful that I get to pour back into the community that has poured so much into me. Grateful that my business grows not because of ads or pressure, but because of relationships and trust.
My story isn’t about perfection — it’s about persistence, passion, faith, and heart.
And I’m still just getting started.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At my core, I’m a relationship-builder and a community advocate. I help families buy and sell homes across Johnston County and surrounding areas, and I specialize in making the real estate process feel personal, supported, and stress-free — especially for first-time buyers, relocating families, and clients who want a trusted guide from start to finish.
I’m known for leading with integrity, service, and heart. My clients don’t just remember the transaction — they remember how they were cared for. I take time to listen, understand their goals, calm their worries, celebrate their wins, and stay connected long after closing. Many of my clients become lifelong friends, and that means everything to me.
Outside of real estate, I’m also the creator of Inside JoCo, a platform dedicated to spotlighting the incredible people, small businesses, schools, and events that make Johnston County special. What started as a simple community resource turned into a movement of connection — bringing neighbors together, supporting local business owners, recognizing educators, and helping new residents feel like they belong.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve built a business that reflects my values — faith, family, honesty, friendship, and service. I never wanted to be known for sales volume; I wanted to be known for impact. I believe that you can build a successful business without losing your heart, and I’m proof of that.
What sets me apart is the way I show up — for my clients, for my community, and for my family. I don’t measure success in numbers, but in relationships, trust, and the positive difference I can make around me. Real estate is my career, but people are my purpose.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up in Johnston County as the youngest of four shaped so much of who I am today. I was the baby of the family — the one everyone kept an eye on, but also the one who watched everything happening around me. With three older siblings, life was always busy and full, but our family dynamic was unique because my brother had special needs. My dad was a local business owner, which now is my husband’s business, Hinson Printing. My mom was a nurse at the local hospital. Both were great role models and the true example of Christians.
From an early age, I learned compassion in real time — not from a book, not from a lesson, but from living it. I watched my parents balance everyday life with the responsibilities that came with caring for a child who needed a little more support. Even as a little girl, I understood that family wasn’t just about being related — it was about showing up for one another.
My brother taught me things I couldn’t have learned any other way. He taught me kindness without judgment. He taught me that people deserve to be understood before they’re evaluated. He taught me that joy can come from the simplest moments — a good day, a laugh, a breakthrough, a shared smile. Growing up with him didn’t just make me protective; it made me empathetic.
Looking back, I can see how much that childhood prepared me for the work I do today. Caring for people comes naturally to me because that’s the home I grew up in. I can walk into someone’s life during a stressful season — moving, relocating, starting over — and see the human being first. I can navigate hard conversations with grace. I can stay steady when others feel overwhelmed. I don’t shy away from people’s needs; I lean in.
Growing up here — surrounded by family, faith, and community support — taught me what it means to belong. And as the youngest, watching the love and strength around me, I learned early on that everyone deserves to feel valued, included, and supported.
That upbringing didn’t just influence my life… it shaped my purpose. It’s why I care the way I do. It’s why family matters so much to me. It’s why I believe community is everything.
And it’s a big part of why I pour my heart into what I do today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stanleypremierproperties.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stanleypremierproperties/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stanleypremierproperties/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyhstanleyrealtor/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stanleypremierproperties
