GINA URSINI

On the beautiful barrier island of Longboat Key, Florida, you’ll find REALTOR® and broker Gina Ursini at the helm of her thriving brokerage, Brista Realty. A former teacher, Gina got into real estate 11 years ago, which complemented her husband’s career as a builder. With a hyper local focus, Gina is now working to become the go-to broker in Longboat Key, an area known for its vacation properties that overlook the stunning blue green water of the Gulf of Mexico.

Around 75% of Gina’s business comes from referrals, which is a clear sign of her success with previous clients. She’s not only recognized for her excellent customer service, but also her keen eye for design. For every property she works on, Gina helps homeowners prepare for the market, whether by redesigning lighting, adding furniture and accessories, or doing some simple staging. “Small changes can have a huge impact in the way a home is received,” she explains.

While Gina is an expert at real estate, every member of her family has something to offer in the industry. Her husband owns his development company, Brista Homes, and their two daughters, who are also agents in NY and CT, guide Gina’s marketing and social media. “We try to make our outreach more personal rather than salesy,” says Gina. Her strategies include everything from digital advertising to holiday emails, postcards, magazines and open houses. She also makes a point of attending every listing so that she can answer any questions her clients have in person.

Gina has always been involved with community service in a very personal way. She’s supported the organization Bridge A Life by sponsoring an orphaned boy from the time he was fifteen into adulthood. Gina and her husband put him through both school and college and speak with him all the time to this day. “He is currently working as an engineer and has his own side business. He’s a very inspirational and intelligent individual and it has been amazing being a part of his life,” she says. Gina was also involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters and she recently helped her “little sister” buy a home. Of course, Gina is also very supportive of her own family and loves visiting with her daughters and three grandsons. She and her husband also have a German Shepherd named Chipper.

Gina’s year ahead is filled with excitement as they are constructing a commercial plaza that will be the new headquarters of Brista Realty and Brista Homes in addition to having 14,408 square feet of retail space. “It’s a great location that is in the middle of the island. We couldn’t ask for anything better as we continue to grow our businesses.”

Heather Lake

A longtime resident of Greenwood, South Carolina, Heather Lake has always been passionate about helping others. She would begin her career in corporate sales, where she built the customer base and strong communication skills she would later need to excel as a real estate agent. One day, she would cross paths with a leading REALTOR® in the area, who later offered her a position as an inside sales agent at their brokerage. There, Heather had an opportunity to learn the business from the ground up, which inspired her to pursue her license and launch her career as an agent in 2018. In the years since, she has gone on to establish a network of satisfied clients and colleagues that spans the region.

Today, Heather is a REALTOR® with eXp Realty, where she assists clients throughout all of upstate South Carolina. There, she has cultivated a distinct process to meet the demands of any buyer or seller—from recent retirees to those looking to acquire a scenic, lakefront property.

When listing a property, Heather prefers a comprehensive approach. After helping her clients fully prepare their home for the market, she shares it not only to the regional MLS system, but also a targeted blend of digital and social media campaigns. While utilizing these highly responsive marketing outlets, she is there for her clients, ensuring a seamless transaction throughout.

Elsewhere, Heather is just as attentive when assisting her buyers, thoughtfully guiding them to the right investment for their best interests. Drawing from her background in customer retention, she keeps in touch long after the deals are done to cultivate an ongoing friendship and make sure her clients are thriving in their new homes.

Over the years, she has earned a fantastic reputation throughout South Carolina, with the majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals.

Having completed 53 closings and more than $30 million in volume in 2022 alone, Heather remains focused on the core values that set her apart. “At the end of the day, our business comes down to service, experience, and transparency,” she says. “As an agent, you must be upfront and honest with your buyers and sellers, setting clear expectations throughout. If you truly appreciate your clients and serve them with gratitude, you will build relationships that will last well beyond the closing.”

Outside of real estate, Heather is dedicated to her community, sponsoring various local events such as The Luck of the Draw Fishing Tournament and competitions at area local golf communities. When she’s not with clients or giving back, she can be found spending quality time with her family, going fishing, or practicing one of her favorite hobbies, extreme couponing.

As her volume maintains its steady growth, Heather intends on building her team in the months ahead, scaling her lasting standards throughout the Greenwood area. In the meantime, she looks forward to all the opportunities that await. “In real estate, if you’re empathetic and genuine with your clients, success will come naturally,” she says. “I always say that there’s a difference between closing and closing comfortably. If you close comfortably, that means you provided your clients with the clear communication and resources they needed to make sound decisions on their future. For me, there could be nothing more rewarding.”

For more about Heather Lake, email heather.lake@exprealty.com, visit heatherlake.exprealty.com, call (864) 941-0544, or find her on facebook: facebook.com/heather.cook.5494?mibextid=ZbWKwL