Britta Thrift

Written by Elizabeth McCabe | Photos by Shawna McDuffie, Peak RES

Britta McAfee Thrift is a game-changer in local real estate, elevating the industry to reach new heights. Driven, determined, and fiercely devoted to her clients, she has made countless dreams come true since she emerged on the real estate scene in Summer 2012. Her experience and expertise are unparalleled, especially with her background spanning law, wealth planning, large-scale renovation, and global luxury real estate. Britta operates with a level of precision that few in the industry can match. Her career isn’t built on flash. It’s built on fluency: in contracts, capital, construction, and human complexity.

That depth didn’t happen by accident.

As a teenager, Britta already knew she was wired differently. At one point, as a very little girl, she dreamt of becoming a tightrope walker. In middle school, when asked what she wanted to be, she confidently answered, an international stockbroker. “I already knew I had an interest in world travel and foreign language,” she says. “That sounded really impressive, exotic and cool.” The ambition and the global mindset stuck.

After earning her undergraduate degree and Juris Doctorate, Britta spent the next nine years in the wealth and estate planning arena at Houston Financial. There, she earned her Series 7 and 65 licenses and worked closely with high-net-worth individuals and business owners. Serving as a liaison between attorneys, insurance companies, and investment funds, she helped create cohesive, long-term financial plans. “It helped that I could speak the same language as the attorneys,” she explains. “I reviewed documents, made sure everything worked together the way it was supposed to, and helped answer client questions without them needing to call their attorney every time.”

During her tenure, the firm’s assets under management grew from $18 million to $80 million, an experience that continues to shape how Britta approaches complex transactions today.

Real estate entered her life organically. After renovating a condo at Grand Lake, something clicked. “That’s when I first got the bug,” she says. “I realized I had a knack for renovating and a real design eye.” She tucked the idea away as a potential Plan B, until life made room for it.

In 2012, shortly after the birth of her son, Britta sought greater flexibility and autonomy in her career. While on maternity leave, she obtained her real estate license and purchased her first renovation project, on Halloween, no less. “I don’t like the word ‘flip,’” she says. “I’ve always done major renovations.” For the next several years, she focused primarily on investment properties, completing more than 40 renovations while also representing friends and family as needed.

That model worked well when her son was young. But eventually, Britta found herself missing something. “I missed working with clients,” she says. “I wanted intellectual conversations again, not just daily interactions with contractors and vendors.” In 2019, she made a deliberate pivot to full-scale client representation, aligning herself with a global luxury brokerage that matched both her professional background and worldview.

In March of this year, Britta made the move to Sage Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s been fantastic; it really has,” she says. “I like how the brokerage runs as a business. The agents are exemplary, but on top of that, the systems are streamlined, the support is strong…and it allows me to delegate so I can stay focused on my clients.” The brand’s reputation in luxury and lifestyle, combined with its marketing strength, made the transition a natural fit.

Finding Solutions

Britta’s legal training continues to be a defining advantage, particularly in high-stakes or emotionally charged situations. As a Certified Divorce Real Estate Specialist, she is often brought in when clients are deeply at odds and neutrality is essential. “Usually, no one wants to agree with the other side on anything,” she explains. “That’s where my background gives me credibility.” Her approach is direct but diplomatic. “I tell people what they need to hear, not necessarily what they want to hear,” she says, an approach that earns respect and keeps transactions moving forward.

At her core, Britta is a solution finder and a connector. She thrives on helping buyers think through what will best support their lifestyle and guiding sellers through the process of finding the next person who will love their home as much as they have. She takes particular pride in uncovering off-market opportunities, especially in today’s low-inventory environment. “I love the challenge,” she says. “Especially when working with discerning buyers who know exactly what they want, but haven’t been able to find it.”

Her results speak for themselves. Britta’s clients have trusted her with more than $76 million in transactions (90% of that transpiring since she shifted her focus in 2019), and she is consistently ranked among the top producers in the Oklahoma City Metro Area. Over the past year, she has increased her average sales price by more than $140,000, now exceeding $520,000, almost double the market average.

Community Impact

Outside of real estate, Britta is deeply embedded in Oklahoma City’s cultural fabric. A lifelong Oklahoman, she lives in a midcentury modern home she personally renovated in Nichols Hills. She serves on the Board of Directors for Lyric Theatre and actively supports OKC’s art and theater communities, including OKC Rep, deadCenter Film Festival, and Oklahoma Contemporary.

Active Interests

When she’s not working, Britta can be found traveling internationally, playing tennis, listening to live music, cheering on the OKC Thunder, or skiing in Telluride with her 13-year-old son, Foster, a theater student who performs with Lyric Theatre.

“I also love supporting our vibrant, local businesses,” she shares. “I love fine dining, cocktails, and am often out and about checking out the new restaurants and bars that we have. That has been really exciting the last few years.”

Looking ahead, she’s even considering expanding her reach. “I spend a lot of time in Telluride, and would like to spend even more,” she says. “Sotheby’s has such a strong presence there that I’d love to explore working out of that office part of the year.”

Final Thoughts

Britta isn’t chasing trends. She’s setting the standard. In a crowded real estate landscape, she stands out by being sharper, more strategic, and relentlessly committed to doing things the right way.