Masters Of Flip's Kortney And Dave Wilson: Inside Their Relationship Today
If you're into all things real estate and design, you must know "Masters of Flip." The hit HGTV reality show followed real-life couple Dave and Kortney Wilson as they renovated houses in the Nashville area to resell them at the best profit margin. When the native Canadians first crossed paths, however, real estate wasn't a career goal for either of them.
Kortney was pursuing a music career when she met Dave, a fellow aspiring musician who was in the city on vacation. "We met through a mutual friend, and I called my parents a month later to tell them I'd fallen in love," Kortney recalled in an interview with the National Post. After marrying and having kids, the couple's interests shifted to flipping houses.
And yet, Dave described the process as "kind of like writing a song." Thus, a HGTV show was born. While becoming successful alongside your partner is a dream come true, working with them onscreen can add pressure to the normal highs and lows of marriage.
Kortney and Dave announced their split in 2019
Long-time "Masters of Flip" fans were shocked when Kortney and Dave Wilson announced their split, after almost two decades of wedded bliss, in December 2019. The reality TV couple took to Instagram to share a joint statement, noting, "It is with a very heavy heart that we share with all of you that after nearly 18 years of marriage, we have decided to separate."
The Wilsons went on to hint that there was more going on behind the scenes that fans weren't privy to, but they made it abundantly clear there was absolutely no animosity between them despite their decision to part ways. They confirmed their plans for the festive season hadn't changed and asked for privacy during what was undoubtedly a tough time for their family.
"We ask for kindness and understanding during this very difficult and private time," Kortney and Dave concluded the post. Fortunately, fans worried that they would no longer be working together onscreen soon had their fears assuaged — at least, for a while.
The Masters of Flip stars remain cordial
When the couple confirmed that they would be going their separate ways, fans assumed that their working relationship would be over too. Surprisingly, HGTV announced that the duo would continue hosting together on their brand new show, "Making it Home with Kortney and Dave," which premiered on HGTV Canada in January 2020, and in July on HGTV.
As an HGTV Canada spokesperson told ET Canada at the time, "We wholeheartedly support Kortney and Dave during this time. When it comes to matters related to their own family, we respect their privacy and honour any decision that works best for them and their children. Kortney and Dave will continue to appear on HGTV Canada. 'Making it Home with Kortney & Dave' will premiere January 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT and will continue production as scheduled."
Sadly, though, the partnership didn't last long. For unknown reasons, Dave Wilson abruptly left after just one season of the show. Now, Kortney Wilson appears solo on "Making it Home with Kortney and Kenny" alongside her new cohost, Kenny Brain. While we don't know why Dave exited, it appears that he and Kortney have maintained a cordial relationship, even taking family photos with the children, including this one Kortney posted on Instagram from Christmas 2020.
Kortney struggled with the split
Despite the great co-parenting relationship they evidently have now, Kortney Wilson did admit to having a hard time after her divorce. In an emotional interview with ET Canada, Kortney recalled several difficult moments immediately following the split, during which she had to remind herself to keep going. "I've met so many people who feel like their life is over post-divorce or, you know, and people have gone through some hard times," the HGTV Canada star explained. "And I did that. There were times when I was just surviving, and we have to pick our feet up and put them in front of each other."
While noticeably fighting back tears, Kortney argued that the biggest challenges in life ultimately bring about the best times. Even though she had to force herself to push forward, the reality star knew that she couldn't just give up and feel sorry for herself because "That's where the good stuff is. It's on the other side."
Kortney found love elsewhere but Dave remains a mystery
Despite finding it tough to move on, Kortney Wilson eventually found romance once again after her divorce, though it understandably took her a while to take the leap. About a year and a half after the split, at the urging of her close friends, Kortney decided it was time to put herself out there again. She described creating a "semi-anonymous" profile on the dating website Match.com in her interview with ET Canada, where she met the man who would become her husband — businessman Ryan Vella.
"I messaged him," Kortney reminisced. "He had really kind honest eyes — that's really what got me. So I messaged him back and said, 'Hey, would you like to FaceTime again?'" Their fateful exchange blossomed into romance. In March 2022, Kortney announced they were engaged. A year later, the two were married in a picturesque beach wedding. Dave Wilson, on the other hand, has been less forthcoming about his personal life post-split. The former "Masters of Flip" star has taken a break from social media and has yet to share any updates on his relationship status.