Destiny Lauren, 29, was found dead in her Leighton Crescent home in Kentish Town, north London, last November. She had been strangled.
Leon Fyle, 21, of Lewisham, had visited the transsexual prostitute "for the purposes of a sexual encounter", but fatally attacked her, the court heard.
Ms Lauren, who was born Justin Samuels, died shortly after being taken to hospital on 5 November 2009.
After the verdict Det Insp Liz Baker said: "The murder of Destiny Lauren was brutal and pre-meditated.
"She had a troubled history and had suffered depression following the death of her mother but was trying to turn her life around.
"Her life was abruptly ended when she met Leon Fyle, a young man she had never met before, who murdered and robbed her in her own home."
The officer added: "Fyle has not shown one shred of remorse for this callous act nor for the suffering he has inflicted on Destiny's family and friends."
