Blending a background in beauty with a passion for coastal living and Southern hospitality.
Tippi Zur Heiden knows it’s not just about contracts or keys, real estate is about people, stories, and finding a place where life truly fits. With deep Southern roots and a long-standing love for the coast, she brings a warm, relational approach to every client she serves.
Raised in Leesburg, Georgia, Tippi spent years vacationing with her family in Mexico Beach. “I always dreamed of living by the water,” she says. “Eventually, I realized I didn’t want to visit anymore, I wanted to live here.” That dream sparked a leap of faith. After one visit to Gulf County, her husband fell in love with the area too. With their youngest son about to start fifth grade, they knew it was the perfect time for a new beginning.
What began as a dream turned into real life. “One day, we looked outside and saw surfboards and bikes piled by the front door. Our son had been welcomed like he’d always lived here. That’s when we knew we were home.”
Tippi’s career path began in an entirely different world: the salon. She became a licensed cosmetologist at just 18 years old, and for over 30 years, she made a name for herself by building lasting relationships with clients, one conversation at a time. “People have always been my business,” she says. “Real estate was just a new way to serve them.”
Tippi’s transition into real estate came naturally. She got her start working with a broker friend focused on relocation and neighborhood development. Today, she brings the same calm, attentive energy to buying and selling that she once brought to her salon chair. “Moving is deeply personal,” she says. “It can be exciting, but it can also be scary. I treat it with care and respect.” Her favorite moment? When it all clicks. “When a client walks into a house and you see it on their face, that’s it. That’s the one. The checklist matters, but lifestyle matters even more.” For those new to the area, she shares the same advice she once followed: “Slow down. This community has everything you need. It might not look like what you’re used to, but that’s the magic. Give it time, and it’ll give back.”
Tippi remains deeply connected to the Gulf County community. In addition to real estate, she co-owns a cleaning business that services Cape San Blas, and she works part-time at The Haughty Heron, where she meets everyone from world travelers to musicians and first-time visitors discovering the coast. Her days off are filled with local art, music, estate sales, and always, the beach. “There are stretches of water I pass every day that still stop me in my tracks,” she says. “I feel lucky every single time.”
The coast is part of Tippi’s story, now she’d love to help it become part of yours.