When Netflix viewers first met Tyler Stanaland on Selling the OC, most of them assumed he was simply another photogenic real estate agent recruited for a reality show. That assumption barely scratches the surface. Tyler Stanaland’s path to the Oppenheim Group boardroom runs through five generations of family real estate history, a competitive surfing career, and a health crisis that nearly ended both.
This article pulls together the full picture: where he comes from, how he actually built his career, what happened behind the scenes with his marriage to Brittany Snow, why he left the Oppenheim Group, and where his life stands today. If you have only seen the edited version of Tyler Stanaland on television, this is the more complete story.
Who Is Tyler Stanaland
Tyler Westley Stanaland was born on July 19, 1989, in Laguna Beach, California. He grew up in a household where real estate was not just a job, it was a family identity passed down for generations.
Before most people knew him as a cast member on Selling the OC, he was already a licensed real estate agent and a competitive surfer. Television introduced Tyler Stanaland to a wider audience, but his career was built long before any camera crew showed up.
Growing Up in a Real Estate Family
Tyler is a fifth generation realtor, and his family has been active in Southern California real estate for well over a century. His father, John Stanaland, built a respected luxury brokerage in Laguna Beach known for handling high end coastal properties.
Growing up around open houses, listings, and negotiations gave Tyler an early education that most agents only get after years on the job. He earned his real estate license at just 18 years old, a detail that sets him apart from many agents who enter the industry later in life after trying other careers first.
This early start matters. It means Tyler Stanaland was not simply cast on a show because he looked the part. He had the licensing, the family network, and the market knowledge of coastal Orange County long before Selling the OC ever premiered.
A Family Business With Deep Roots
The Stanaland name carries weight in Laguna Beach real estate circles specifically because it represents continuity. Clients working with a multigenerational family brokerage often value the local relationships and institutional knowledge that come with that kind of longevity, something a newer agent simply cannot replicate.
The Professional Surfing Years
Before real estate became his primary focus, Tyler pursued professional surfing with genuine seriousness. He was part of the Catch Surf team and later worked with the brand in a marketing and brand ambassador capacity.
Newport Beach’s famous wave spot known as The Wedge became one of his favorite places to surf, and he built a reputation within the surfing community that went beyond casual hobbyist status. For several years, surfing was not a side interest, it was a legitimate career path he took seriously enough to travel for competitions and sponsorship commitments.
This dual identity, real estate license in hand while chasing waves professionally, is part of what makes his story more layered than the typical Selling the OC cast bio suggests.
The Health Crisis That Changed Everything
In 2012, Tyler’s life took an unexpected and frightening turn. While traveling for a surfing competition in Mexico, he began experiencing severe abdominal pain that turned out to be far more serious than anyone initially realized.
He was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. The condition escalated quickly and became life threatening, and Tyler ultimately needed multiple surgeries and spent more than 100 days in the hospital during his recovery.
This period marked a turning point. Surfing at a competitive level became far more difficult after his recovery, and the experience pushed him to lean more heavily into real estate as a stable, long term career path. It is a part of his story that rarely gets the attention it deserves in casual coverage of his life, yet it explains a great deal about why he shifted his focus in his early twenties.
Building a Real Estate Career Before Reality TV
After stepping back from competitive surfing, Tyler committed himself to real estate. He spent years working within his family’s business and later gained additional experience at other firms, refining his skills in the competitive Orange County luxury market.
By the time he joined the cast of Selling the OC, he had already spent more than a decade developing relationships with clients, learning how to navigate high value transactions, and understanding what makes coastal California properties desirable to buyers.
This groundwork is important context. Reality television often gets criticized for turning inexperienced people into instant experts. Tyler Stanaland’s case is different because his real estate credentials predate his television career by more than ten years.
Joining the Oppenheim Group and Selling the OC
In November 2021, Tyler joined the Oppenheim Group, the brokerage run by Jason and Brett Oppenheim that also serves as the backdrop for Selling Sunset. Shortly after, he became part of the original cast for Selling the OC, the Netflix spinoff set in Newport Beach and Orange County.
The show gave viewers a look at luxury listings, high pressure negotiations, and the personal dynamics between agents. Tyler quickly became one of the more talked about cast members, partly because of his calm, understated presence compared to some of his more dramatic castmates, and partly because of the personal storylines that unfolded on camera.
The Alex Hall Storyline
One of the more discussed moments of the series involved a kiss between Tyler and castmate Alex Hall during the season two finale. The two never fully pursued a romantic relationship, and both have since spoken publicly about how that chapter played out, describing it as something they worked through as friends and colleagues rather than a lasting romance.
Marriage to Brittany Snow and Its End
Tyler’s relationship with actress Brittany Snow, known for her roles in the Pitch Perfect film series, became a significant part of his public story. The couple got engaged in February 2019 and married in March 2020 in a ceremony held in Malibu.
In September 2022, the couple announced their separation, and their divorce was finalized in 2023. According to court filings, the split was relatively straightforward, with each person keeping the assets that were individually theirs and no shared community property to divide.
Both Tyler and Brittany have spoken candidly in interviews about how difficult that period was. On a later season of Selling the OC, Tyler admitted that he had not fully processed how much the end of his marriage affected him at the time, describing a period where his business and personal life both felt stuck.
Life After the Divorce and Leaving the Oppenheim Group
In October 2023, Tyler announced he was leaving the Oppenheim Group to rejoin his father and brother at their family business, which had merged with Douglas Elliman Realty. He described the move as being about what was best for his clients and his career rather than any conflict with the show or his castmates.
The decision reflected a return to his roots. After years spent building a name for himself within the Oppenheim Group’s high profile brand, Tyler chose to reinvest in the multigenerational family business that shaped his early career, now backed by the broader reach of Douglas Elliman’s network.
He continued to appear on Selling the OC in later seasons, documenting his life as a realtor and friend within the cast even after stepping away from the Oppenheim Group itself.
Where Tyler Stanaland Stands Today
As of the most recent seasons of Selling the OC, Tyler has moved forward personally and professionally. He is now in a relationship with Hannah Morrissey, and reports indicate the two have been enjoying time together, including travel, as their relationship developed.
Professionally, he continues working within his family’s real estate business, focusing on luxury properties throughout coastal Orange County. His experience now spans more than fifteen years in the industry, giving him a depth of market knowledge that goes well beyond what viewers see in a typical episode.
His story has also continued to resonate with fans because of how openly he has discussed struggling after his divorce, choosing honesty over the more polished narrative many reality personalities present.
What Makes His Story Different From Other Reality TV Realtors
Plenty of real estate reality shows feature agents who seem more focused on camera time than closing deals. Tyler Stanaland’s background sets him apart in a few clear ways.
- He earned his real estate license at 18, years before joining any television production.
- His family has sold real estate across five generations, giving him institutional knowledge that cannot be manufactured for a show.
- He pursued a genuine, sponsorship level surfing career, not a hobby dressed up for a camera.
- He survived a serious health crisis that reshaped his priorities and career path.
- He made the deliberate choice to leave a major brokerage brand to return to a smaller, family run business.
Taken together, these details paint a picture of someone whose television persona is only one layer of a much longer personal history.
Conclusion
Tyler Stanaland’s journey from teenage surfer with a real estate license to one of the more recognizable faces on Selling the OC is far richer than a typical cast bio suggests. His story includes a serious health battle, a high profile marriage and divorce, a meaningful career decision to leave the Oppenheim Group, and a return to the family business that shaped him in the first place.
For fans who only know him through edited television moments, the fuller picture shows a man who built real credibility in real estate long before reality TV entered the equation, weathered genuine personal hardship, and continues to grow both professionally and personally. Whether you are following his storyline on Selling the OC or simply curious about the person behind the name, Tyler Stanaland’s story is one built on far more substance than a single season can capture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tyler Stanaland still working in real estate?
Yes. After leaving the Oppenheim Group in 2023, he returned to his family’s business, which merged with Douglas Elliman Realty, and he continues to work as a licensed luxury real estate agent in Orange County.
Is Tyler Stanaland still married to Brittany Snow?
No. The couple separated in September 2022 and finalized their divorce in 2023 after being married since March 2020.
Who is Tyler Stanaland dating now?
He is in a relationship with Hannah Morrissey, and the two have been reported as happily dating, spending time traveling together.
What health condition did Tyler Stanaland deal with?
In 2012, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a serious autoimmune condition that led to multiple surgeries and an extended hospital stay before he recovered.
Did Tyler Stanaland and Alex Hall end up together?
No. Despite a widely discussed kiss during season two of Selling the OC, the two never pursued a full romantic relationship and have remained friends and colleagues.
