New Real Estate Firm Launched- RARE Charleston

SISTER COMPANY TO RAVENEL ASSOCIATES
LED BY VETERAN BROKER FORREST M. EDWARDS
February 26, 2015

Established property management firm, Ravenel Associates LLC, today announces the launch of their real estate sales division which will be known as RARE Charleston. The firm will focus on all types of real estate transactions including single family residential, multi-unit residential, resort, land tracts, historic properties, waterfront properties and commercial.

RARE is led by Managing Broker Forrest Edwards. Edwards has been active in Charleston real estate and finance since 1977. He has worked with Cameron Brown Mortgage, BB&T Mortgage, Regions Mortgage, Wachovia Mortgage and First Trust Mortgage. He served as President and Broker-in-Charge for Summerhouse Creek Properties since 2001. Edwards brings an in-depth understanding of real estate financial initiatives and extensive market knowledge centered on condominium, regime, new construction, second homes and investor ownership. He is a graduate of The University of South Carolina and holds a degree in banking and finance.

“Our mission is to create an environment of collaboration and efficiency that will create a rare real estate experience for residential and commercial clients. Our agents will streamline the buying and selling process while utilizing innovative relationship building, marketing focused and mobile-minded tools,” stated Edwards.

Edwards has assembled a team of agents who have more than 50 years of combined experience in lowcountry real estate. Each real estate professional brings with them a specific area of expertise, unique lowcountry knowledge and most importantly an emphasis on relationships and the customer experience.

Agents at RARE include Lea Anne Brown, Kevin Driggers, Michael Elliott, Sarah Reber and Brian Wolverton.

With an extensive background in private and resort golf, Lea Anne Brown has helped shape amenities that add to the quality of life in the lowcountry for the past two decades. As a certified Realtor, Brown has helped scores of newcomers and residents find their perfect main or investment home east of the Cooper River and the sprawling Awendaw area. She currently serves on the Board of Advisors of The First Tee of Greater Charleston, is a member of the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame and is the 2014 Women's South Carolina Golf Association (WSCGA) senior player of the year.

Lowcountry native and life-long resident, Kevin Driggers brings 12 years of dedicated real estate sales, negotiating and investment strategy and market knowledge to RARE Charleston’s residential and commercial clients. Driggers has been a top producer in the Charleston market for many years and has served as director of sales for several custom residential developments. Driggers earned a BA from the University of South Carolina and is a member of the Charleston Region National Kidney Foundation Committee and Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church.

Michael Elliott brings a dynamic and diverse range of resources to the firm. As a licensed SC Realtor and licensed SC residential builder, he is well versed in the complexities of real estate in all phases- planning, development, investment, building, buying, and selling residential and commercial real estate. He resides in Johns Island, SC and is an active volunteer for the Allegro School of Musically Inspired, a new charter school in downtown Charleston.

A desire to help retired and active professionals, families and individuals relocate to the Charleston area coupled with a specialty in waterfront homes, luxury apartment homes and Charleston area condominiums and townhomes makes Sarah Reber a vendible adviser in this rebounding market. With over 15 years in the industry, she also brings extensive knowledge of complex regime management issues and 1031 exchanges and takes pride in donating a portion of her closed transactions to a local nonprofit of her client's choice. Reber attended Liberty University in Virginia, resides in Old Mount Pleasant and is currently working towards obtaining her CCIM designation.

Entrepreneur and award winning realtor Brian Wolverton brings a variety of sales, data analysis, insurance, investment and project management expertise to the firm from Transworld Business Advisors, Evergreen Endeavors, State Farm and Wild Dunes Real Estate. Brian began his career in community development sales, later developing a niche in resort community and island property sales. He earned a BA and MA from Wake Forest University.

RARE headquarters is located at 960 Morrison Drive downtown Charleston, SC 29403, which is a newly renovated commercial complex managed by Ravenel Associates (also home to Rawle Murdy, Cornerstone Financial and Lee & Associates). The firm also has an office at 3690 Bohicket Road in Johns Island, SC, near Kiawah and Seabrook Islands, and will have other satellite offices in strategic locations throughout the lowcountry over the next several months.

“Real estate sales truly compliment the core services of Ravenel Associates. The sales side was the cornerstone of the company when Hal and team launched Ravenel Associates in 1985,” said Ravenel Associates President Jules Deas.

“With the Charleston real estate market rebounding so rapidly these past few months we believe the addition of this division, with such a robust and experienced team, will fill an essential requisite for our current and future clients,” added Deas.