Alyssa & Brady Hammond

What first inspired you both to create Living on Vacation, and how did the idea of blending real estate with lifestyle and travel content come about?

Alyssa and I are originally from the Midwest (Kansas City) but we would often travel to Florida for vacation.  Thus, once we eventually moved down to Florida, we naturally felt and said that we were now “living on vacation” as all the great activities and attractions we formerly had to travel to in order to enjoy were now accessible to us just about any time we wanted! 

Another discovery we made after moving was how unique and exciting the real estate market is in Northeast Florida, as it includes so many amazing types of properties (from oceanfront mansions to downtown high-rises and just about everything in between), along with some of the best community amenities you’ll find anywhere!

When the opportunity arose to create a TV show ourselves, “Living on Vacation” (originally “Property Tours of NE Florida”) made perfect sense and has proven to be a successful concept. We’re excited to feature some of Florida’s top attractions (SeaWorld, Kennedy Space Center, etc.) in our next season!

You’ve built a strong connection with audiences by showing not just houses, but communities and family moments. Why do you think that authenticity resonates so deeply with viewers today?

We think a lot of reality TV shows today feel fake and inauthentic to viewers. With our show, there is very little scripting involved (other than a few interview questions), and we try to let everyone simply be themselves and share their stories throughout the show. We believe this sort of honesty is refreshing for viewers, and it allows them to connect with us and our guests in a much more meaningful way.

Brady, you transitioned from teaching and coaching into real estate. How has your background in education shaped the way you approach your career and connect with clients?

My background in education has made the transition to real estate seamless, as many of the same skills it takes to be a quality teacher apply similarly to being a quality real estate advisor. In both professions, you have to be articulate, patient, and knowledgeable. Perhaps the biggest skill, however, is simply being able to connect and relate well with people who are engaging with some of the most important aspects of their lives (their kids in education and their house/money in real estate). I honestly don’t know if there could be another career that better prepares someone for real estate than education!

Your series Property Tours of NE Florida not only aired on ABC but also won a Telly Award. What was that experience like, and what do you feel set the show apart from other real estate content?

Winning a Telly Award® was not something we were expecting, as we were competing with some very well-established national (and even international) shows! When we first received notification we were being recognized in the Travel & Tourism TV Series category, we were ecstatic and felt very proud to have our work highlighted in such a prestigious way!

We think what sets our show apart from other real estate shows is pretty simple: it’s different. Most of the real estate shows you see out there these days include “before and after” renovation-type concepts. This concept has proven successful but also repetitive in some respects. Our show has very little to do with renovation and is more about informing viewers about the amazing attractions and communities Florida has to offer!

Alyssa, your work in staging and marketing clearly plays a huge role in the team’s success. How do you balance creativity with strategy when it comes to presenting a home in the best light?

Every home is different with some require more creativity than others depending on the layout, features, and included furnishings. That said, when you go to present a home, it’s important to look at every room with a creative mind but not focus on creativity as an end unto itself. A simple, straightforward presentation is always more ideal, as you don’t want a room or home to come across as overly complicated and distract from its allure with complex staging or unnecessary designs.

However, there are often situations that come up in almost every house where a creative idea or solution can enhance the overall showing experience of a home. You just have to be strategic with each situation and do what’s best for the individual property and homeowner!

As a couple working together so closely, how do you maintain that harmony both on camera and behind the scenes?

Not to be overly cliché, but honestly, we’re simply ourselves whether we’re on or off camera. You can ask our friends and family, and they’ll tell you that the cheesy jokes you see me make on TV—and even Alyssa’s signature eye rolls—are regular occurrences in our everyday life.

We’ve been blessed with a great marriage, so it’s really not challenging for us to “maintain the harmony.” I (Brady) often hear it said that marriage is “hard,” but personally, I have not found that to be the case. Loving Alyssa is one of the easiest things I’ve ever done, and our marriage is my life’s greatest gift.  Maintaining “harmony on camera” seems easy for us!

You’ve seen your YouTube channel grow from just a handful of subscribers to tens of thousands. What do you think has been the key to building such strong organic engagement?

I think the keys to our success, both on YouTube and with the show in general, come down to three things: the show includes quality content people want to see, everyone on the show is authentically themselves, and everyone involved in the show takes great pride in the work and is passionate about making it a success.

What excites you most about showcasing the “vacation lifestyle” across America, and are there destinations you’re especially eager to feature in the future?

The opportunity to potentially take our show beyond Florida and tour across the country would be a dream come true! Our family has always loved vacationing, so the opportunity to see some of the nation’s top cities, attractions, and communities would be a ton of fun. One destination that would be particularly intriguing for us is New York, as we’ve never been anywhere like it and have always wondered what it would be like to both live and travel there!

Your story is deeply rooted in family, working with your parents, involving your kids, and building a shared dream. How has that family dimension shaped the way you see your success?

Family is everything to us. Without each other, our kids, and our extended family, our lives would be much emptier, and anything we’d do professionally would just not be nearly as fulfilling. Having the opportunity to work with our family makes our careers all the more enjoyable, and we think that joy comes across on our show.

Finally, when viewers tune into your shows, what’s the biggest takeaway you hope they carry with them about home, travel, and the life they want to create?

There are a few takeaways we hope are conveyed to our viewers from our show. The first is the importance of family and cherishing your time together, no matter what you’re doing. The second is that they discover more about our great country and all the amazing destinations our nation has to offer. And finally, that they feel inspired to enjoy life, reach for their dreams, and live life to the fullest as they watch other people doing the same!