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Sarita Kauffman (@thekauffmangroup) holds a degree in international business from Brazil and leads the Kauffman Group – a tight-knit, multilingual team that recently partnered with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in Summerville. Her team serves some of Charleston's most diverse client bases.

In this conversation, Sarita reveals:

• Why agents who leave her team come back – and what that says about culture
• How her international business background shaped the way she structures her team
• The AI tools her team is building from scratch to eliminate 80-90% of agent busywork

This is a conversation focused on team building, technology implementation, and creating a business where people actually want to work – not just collect a paycheck.

Follow CLP: @charlestonsleadingproducers
Connect with the Kaufman Group: Text 843-890-2545

Timestamps:

00:00 Building a Team Culture Agents Don't Want to Leave
03:30 International Business Meets Real Estate
06:45 Why the Kaufman Group Partnered with Better Homes and Gardens
09:20 Serving Charleston's Multilingual Community
12:50 What New Agents Actually Need to Succeed
16:15 The AI Strategy That Will Change Everything in 2026
20:40 Let Salespeople Sell: Eliminating Agent Burnout
24:30 Giving Back to the Community Through Schiffa Clinic
28:10 The Kaufman Group's Vision for 2026

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing the work and getting the results.

Send us a text

Lauren Davis (@ldavisrealtor) is a United States Air Force Academy graduate who served as a lieutenant in Iraq negotiating multi-million dollar government contracts. She closed 32 deals her first full year in real estate, scaled to over $19 million in volume in 2025, and just launched her own brokerage – Valor & Vine Realty.

In this conversation, Lauren reveals:

• How negotiating $25 million government contracts made her fearless in real estate negotiations
• Why she refused to use a transaction coordinator her first two years (and why new agents shouldn't either)
• The discipline and structure that separates top producers from everyone else

This is real talk from an agent who started from complete scratch in a new market, sacrificed time to build momentum, and proved that military-level discipline applied to real estate creates unstoppable results.

Follow CLP: @charlestonsleadingproducers

Email Lauren for more info about Valor & Vine Realty: lmdavisrealestate@gmail.com

Timestamps:
00:00 From Military Contracts to Real Estate
03:45 How Discipline and Structure Drive Production
06:20 Closing 32 Deals Year One From Scratch
09:15 The Hardest Truth About Real Estate Success
14:30 Negotiating Government Contracts vs Real Estate Deals
18:10 Why New Agents Shouldn't Use Transaction Coordinators
22:35 Facebook Over Instagram: Where Real Business Comes From
26:50 The Offers That Sting (And Why They Still Happen)
31:15 Balancing Three Kids and Top Production
35:40 Launching Valor & Vine Realty in 2026

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing the work and getting the results.

Send us a text

Courtney Kretly (@courtneykretly) started her real estate career in 2021 and built a thriving YouTube-first business targeting buyers relocating to Charleston. Alicia Smith (@aliciasmithsc) joined her as a team partner in 2025, bringing a marketing director background from Summerville's Chamber of Commerce. Together they've created a powerhouse in @athomewithcourtneyandalicia.

In this conversation, Courtney and Alicia reveal:

• why YouTube's long-form content converts better than any other platform they've tested
• how their 55+ community comparison video exploded and built their entire relocation business
• why they prioritize free marketing channels and value-driven content over paid lead sources

This is real talk from a team that refuses to cold call, built trust through content, and proves that grinding smart beats grinding hard - especially when you're balancing motherhood and top production.

Follow CLP: @charlestonsleadingproducers
Follow Jake: @jakecummings_homeloans

Timestamps:
00:00 Why Courtney Chose YouTube as Her Primary Platform
03:15 The Power of Long-Form Video for Client Connection
06:42 How One 55+ Comparison Video Built Their Business
09:28 Meeting Through Nexton and Building a Team
12:05 The Value of Networking Groups Done Right
16:20 Underutilized Free Marketing Tools Realtors Ignore
20:35 Grinding Now Pays Off Three Months From Now
24:18 Balancing Motherhood and Top Production
27:45 Why Client-First Always Wins

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing 10, 15, even 20+ million in volume.