Nice to meet you
My name is
Gretchen Coley

Gretchen Coley is a trailblazer in the luxury real estate market, recognized for her unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional client experience. As the Founding Principal of Compass North Carolina and leader of The Coley Group, the #1 Compass team in the Triangle, Gretchen has facilitated over 3,000 successful transactions, amassing more than $2 billion in sales. Her success is built on concierge-level service, innovative marketing, and video storytelling that elevate the real estate journey. At the heart of her work is a simple but powerful mission: showing Raleigh's best and ensuring her clients experience the very best of the city through every real estate decision.

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With more than 25 years of experience, Gretchen has built an unparalleled reputation in real estate. Her collaborations with builders and developers have shaped entire communities, from initial land acquisition to the strategic marketing of homes. Known for her vision and foresight, she takes pride in guiding clients and industry professionals alike through every stage of the process, creating long-term success for buyers, sellers, and investors.

As Founder and CEO of Best of Raleigh, a curated lifestyle platform, Gretchen extends her passion for Raleigh beyond real estate. What began as a podcast has grown into a digital destination showcasing Raleigh's best businesses, experiences, and people. Through storytelling and trusted recommendations, Best of Raleigh helps residents and newcomers alike discover how to live well in the Triangle. This platform, alongside her real estate work, reflects Gretchen's belief that showing Raleigh's best goes far beyond homes, it's about celebrating community, lifestyle, and connection.

A dedicated wife and mother of three children currently attending college across the country (from Stanford University to UNC Wilmington and NC State) Gretchen has connections that span from Silicon Valley to the heart of Raleigh.

Her commitment to North Carolina extends into public service through her appointment to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, where she contributes her insight and leadership to the state's continued growth.

Gretchen also serves in leadership roles such as President of Women of Compass for the Southeast Region and Past Board Member of RRAR's Realtor Giving Network. Her work with these and other organizations underscores her passion for giving back, fostering community, and championing Raleigh as not just a place to live but a place to thrive.

Passionate. Committed. Collaborative.

SUCCESS STORIES

See why my clients love working with me.

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"Gretchen has listed many of our homes - she is top-notch! She is extremely responsive, knowledgeable and her negotiation skills are second to none! She works very hard on marketing our properties - we have used whole teams of people in the past who have not done half the work Gretchen has done to get our homes sold! She uses up to the moment technology to really show prospective buyers the properties. She is awesome with social media and makes sure the houses are presenting their "best selves" at all times. It is without hesitation that we would recommend Gretchen Coley for buying or selling a home in the Triangle!"

Home Seller

"Gretchen helped us locate the perfect neighborhood and builder for our new home. She and her team were patient, answered all of our questions, and were incredibly helpful during the entire process. We were out of state and she kept us up to date when we couldn't be on site. Because of her expertise and knowledge of the area, we were confident that Gretchen had our best interest in mind."

Home Buyer

“Professional and perfect from start to finish. Gretchen, Ryley and the whole team are all so knowledgeable about the Triangle’s fast-paced and growing market. The group collaborates effortlessly on listings to put their clients first and is responsive within minutes.”

Lillian Donahue

“Gretchen and Kendall were amazing to work with from start to finish! Their experience really showed when it came to pricing my home—they knew exactly how to position it in the market, and we ended up getting a great offer quickly. They were always available to answer my questions, kept me updated every step of the way, and made what could have been a stressful process feel easy and even enjoyable. I truly felt like they had my best interest at heart and went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. I can’t recommend them enough!”

Marc Duchaine

“We had a wonderful experience working with The Coley Group (Gretchen, Christian, Carly) to sell our home in Raleigh. From first contact, they demonstrated deep expertise in the market and an appreciation for the unique qualities that our house offered to potential buyers. And when it came time to list the house on the market, they put together an excellent marketing strategy which resulted in attracting a buyer that closed well over our asking price. They have great teamwork and a passion for customer service. And, importantly to us, they were nice, fun people to work with. We highly recommend hiring them for buying or selling in the Raleigh area.”

Matthew Patterson

“Working with Gretchen Coley, Christian Becca, and The Coley Group was an incredible experience from start to finish. They are true masters of their craft, and it makes all the difference when you have real experts on your side. From strategic planning and professional staging to their top-tier marketing and deep network of contractors, they handle everything with precision and care. They don’t just list your home and hope it sells — they create a customized strategy and execute it flawlessly. They helped us coordinate repairs, lined up trusted vendors, and made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Even after the sale, their support doesn’t stop. Whether we’ve needed help finding a mover, a handyman, or just advice, they’ve always been just a phone call away. The level of service and dedication they provide is truly rare. If you want a team that works hard, communicates clearly, and treats your home like it’s their own — you can’t do better than The Coley Group.”

Josh LoPresti

“It was a pleasure selling our home with The Coley Group. From the beginning, Gretchen and Carly were eager and dedicated to getting us the best price in our desired time frame. They did their research, kept us informed, and took our thoughts into account. They are available and responsive. They went above and beyond to sell our home, even creating a full promotional video. We received multiple offers in just a couple of days on the market, and ended up taking a full price offer with a quick close. Gretchen also supported us after the fact by making herself available for a special request viewing by the buyer. We’ve worked with The Coley Group on multiple occasions and recommend anyone else looking for a top notch experience do the same!”

Morgan Poythress

"It was a pleasure selling our home with The Coley Group. From the beginning, Gretchen and Carly were eager and dedicated to getting us the best price in our desired time frame. They did their research, kept us informed, and took our thoughts into account. They are available and responsive. They went above and beyond to sell our home, even creating a full promotional video. We received multiple offers in just a couple of days on the market, and ended up taking a full price offer with a quick close. Gretchen also supported us after the fact by making herself available for a special request viewing by the buyer. We’ve worked with The Coley Group on multiple occasions and recommend anyone else looking for a top notch experience do the same!"

Morgan Poythress

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