where right now, I have to work hard to alleviate their concerns about the real estate market.” Women Leading the Industry One advantage for Masi and Walker is that real estate continues to increase as a women-dominated industry. Charleston Trident Association of Realtors Vice President of Operations Meghan Weinreich pointed out that across the United States, women Realtors currently outnumber men 2-1. “We cover Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester and Colleton counties in a billion-dollar-ayear industry,” she says. “And we have about 6,500 Realtors out of 8,000-ish licensees.” When Carolina One’s Nell Postell entered real estate in 1978, her arrival foreshadowed change: for the first time since the founding of the National Association of Realtors in 1908, women suddenly held a majority membership. Since then, Postell and Lowcountry women colleagues have helped create one of Charleston County’s biggest industries, and they’re now at the forefront of making client dreams come true in a market that keeps threatening to outprice itself. “It’s hard for me to see homes skyrocket like they have,” says Postell, the first female Hall of Fame member of the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. “I have always been in the profession for the service, not the money. Unfortunately, so many people are priced out of the market.” The numbers tell the story. “I sold my first home for $300,000 shortly after becoming a Realtor in 2013,” says Ruthie Ravenel of Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty. “Now the same home would go for $1 million or more. In just the last three years, average home prices have more than doubled.” Creative Solutions for Challenging Markets This means showing a home isn’t nearly enough to make a sale. Relative newcomer Faith Walker says one reason she has lasted since 2021 is her penchant for thinking outside the box. “Every home has a unique story, and I believe the strategy has to match,” says Walker, who handles luxury and equestrian properties with Hometown Realty. “Whether it’s leveraging my social media reach or creating custom campaigns, I’m known for finding ways to get the tough ones sold.” Mary Catherine Masi with Abode Charleston faced a challenging first sale in 2024 for a new home in Kiawah River Estates on Johns Island. “I got a referral from a former colleague, and the deal was difficult,” Masi says. “At the end of it, I thought ‘If I can do this with everyone I contact, my career will be incredibly fulfilling.’” Real estate was not her first choice. “I was actively pursuing another career as a general aviation pilot, but it was too expensive for a single mom like me,” Masi says. “Because people are afraid to put their money anyWOMEN IN REAL ESTATE Building Trust and Brokering Dreams BY L.C. LEACH III FEATURE Nell Postell Ruthie Ravenel All photos provided Mary Catherine Masi Faith Walker 14
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