Acquisition brings nearly 50 leading Realtors to Long & Foster

Long & Foster Real Estate is starting strong in 2023. Just two weeks after announcing its entry into the competitive Charleston real estate market, the leading brokerage is welcoming nearly 50 agents to its team by joining forces with Southern Coast Real Estate, a busy real estate franchise in the local area.

“Long & Foster and Southern Coast Real Estate share a culture of trust, family and excellence, with a commitment to representing our clients with the utmost integrity and professionalism, as well as in-depth market and real estate knowledge. These similarities make this an ideal partnership for our combined teams to grow across the Lowcountry, and I look forward to many years of success together,” said Larry “Boomer” Foster, president of Long & Foster Real Estate.

Southern Coast has been in the Charleston market for over 15 years, led by Linda Collins and her son, Cary. They operate two offices—one in downtown Summerville and another in West Ashley—and nearly 50 agents are part of their team. They specialize in residential home sales, luxury real estate, relocation, rentals and new construction throughout the Charleston/Tri-County area.

Going forward, Southern Coast will operate under the Long & Foster name. Cary Collins will remain with the team, now serving as branch manager for both offices. Cary will report to Lonnie Plaster, who oversees all of South Carolina for Long & Foster and leads its Agent Services Group, which provides marketing, operational and other support to the firm’s 9,000+ Realtors.

“I’m excited to work with Cary not only in leading the Southern Coast Real Estate team to ongoing success, now as part of the Long & Foster family, but also in expanding our presence throughout the Charleston/Tri-County area. Together, we offer the technology, tools and resources to help both new and accomplished agents expand their real estate careers, as well as the exceptional service and all-inclusive approach to even better serve area buyers, sellers, renters and investors,” said Plaster.

A lifelong Charleston resident, Cary Collins brings over 20 years of real estate experience to his new position with Long & Foster. Introduced to the business by his mother, Linda, who has been a Charleston real estate staple for more than three decades, Cary is passionate about helping real estate agents succeed in the business, as well as supporting consumers in all they need to achieve their real estate dreams.

“As we looked to grow Southern Coast Real Estate in 2023 and beyond, partnering with Long & Foster stood out,” said Cary Collins. “Not only has Long & Foster built a reputation for excellence over its 50+ year history, but also it offers its agents a wealth of invaluable resources, marketing tools, technology and support services, and more that ensure their success and their clients’ success.”  

Long & Foster Real Estate is part of The Long & Foster Companies, which also includes Prosperity Home Mortgage, Mid-States Title, Long & Foster Insurance, Long & Foster Vacation Rentals, HomeServices Property Management, Tailored Move, Insight Home Inspections and Urban Pace. These businesses encompass the company’s integrated approach to real estate, which ensures consumers who work with Long & Foster agents have access to all the services needed to buy, sell, rent, own and invest in real estate. This model is highly sought-after among consumers, and while many real estate brokerages have desires to deliver a similar model, Long & Foster has already achieved it.  

In addition, Long & Foster is part of the Berkshire Hathaway affiliate HomeServices of America network. It is one of over 50 companies owned by HomeServices, which provides its agents connections to real estate professionals around the country and world. Additionally, Long & Foster is a member of Forbes Global Properties, and it is a founding member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and its luxury division, Luxury Portfolio International.  

To learn more about Long & Foster, visit LongandFoster.com. To join the team or find out more about life as an agent at Long & Foster, contact Plaster at Lonnie.Plaster@Longandfoster.com