Long & Foster Plans Expansion in Charlottesville, Va.

October 3, 2014
Long & Foster will be opening two offices in Charlottesville.

Welcomes three real estate leaders from regional brokerage to the growing team

Long & Foster Real Estate, the No. 1 independent residential real estate company in the United States, is pleased to welcome real estate veterans Art Pearson, Joe Aust and Tom Pace to its growing family in Charlottesville. Long & Foster will be opening two offices in Charlottesville, expanding its footprint in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Pearson and Aust will lead the new locations with Pace joining as a sales associate.

“We are very excited to have these gentlemen join Long & Foster,” said Scott Shaheen, senior vice president and regional manager in of Long & Foster’s Central Virginia region. “As we move into the Charlottesville area, it is great to have their expertise and leadership guide us in creating an outstanding team of real estate professionals to provide the excellent customer service for which Long & Foster is known.”

While Long & Foster has operated throughout Virginia for more than 46 years, these are the first two locations the company has opened in Charlottesville. Gary Scott, president of Long & Foster Real Estate, explained the company recognized an opportunity to both grow its business and support the steadily improving housing market in Albemarle County. Median sale prices, for example, were up 13 percent in August 2014 compared to year-ago figures, according to Long & Foster’s Market Minute report.

“For more than 45 years, Long & Foster has been home to the best-trained, best-equipped agents and leaders in the industry, and we have no doubt that the new Charlottesville offices will be the go-to resource when consumers in this area are looking to make confident, well-informed buying and selling decisions,” said Scott. “Additionally, having leaders like Art, Joe and Tom, who’ve worked and lived in the area for many years, provides us with a unique understanding of the local market and the needs of its residents.”

Pearson, a native of Albemarle County, comes to Long & Foster from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate III, where he worked for more than 40 years. He began his career in 1973 and became a top-producing sales agent, then a training director, and later the supervising broker of four different offices. In 2000, he was promoted to president of the company and subsequently performed the duties of CEO, CFO and COO. He held these titles until several years after the death of Frank Kessler, the brokerage’s founder and owner. Most recently, Pearson served as the principal broker, assisting the CEO in financial and other management duties.

He holds two real estate designations, Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). He has a long involvement with the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA and is a former president of the organization, as well as being a former board member of the Hospice of the Piedmont. Pearson has been active in the local real estate association, having been on the board for eight years including one year as president, and has been very active in the Professional Standards Committee for over 20 years.

Aust, who has lived in the Charlottesville area for more than 20 years, brings to his new position an award-winning real estate career, as well as a wealth of expertise in real estate sales and management. He has received numerous honors during his over 40-year career, including Realtor of the Year and the Code of Ethics Award by the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors. He most recently served as a managing broker of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate III.

A lifelong Charlottesville area resident, Pace has been a Realtor since 1992. He prides himself on providing unparalleled and ethical service, while also sharing his enthusiasm and love of the community. Prior to entering real estate sales, Pace served as vice president of Concept Builders, a locally owned custom home builder, for more than a decade. His background has been especially helpful with clients looking for new home construction or interested in remodeling existing homes. When he is not working, Pace enjoys golfing and spending time with his family.

For more information, visit www.LongandFoster.com.