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Chris Dion (@chris_dion_selling_kiawah) and wife Lauren (@laurendionrealestate) make up the Selling Kiawah Team at Akers Ellis, specializing exclusively in Kiawah Island — one of the most prestigious coastal markets on the East Coast. Before moving into residential real estate, Chris spent nearly a decade in commercial real estate, a background that fundamentally shaped how he thinks about pricing, client conversations, and the power of a focused niche.

In this conversation, Chris reveals:

• Why walking away from a broader market and doubling down on one island was the best business decision he ever made
• How his commercial real estate background lets him have deeper, higher-trust conversations with buyers and sellers that most residential agents can't touch
• The postcard strategy that keeps the Selling Kiawah Team top of mind with every property owner on the island — and where old-school marketing still outperforms digital in luxury markets
• Why being radically honest about pricing — even when it costs him the listing — has built a reputation that brings business back around
• How a 304-day listing with a competitor turned into a same-day sale at 98% of list price the moment Chris took over
• The spreadsheet system Chris built to pull hyper-specific neighborhood comparables on Kiawah — and why using island-wide data is the fastest way to lose a seller's trust
• What working alongside your spouse actually looks like day-to-day when both people know their lane

This one's a masterclass in niche clarity, pricing integrity, and what it looks like to build a business around depth rather than volume.

Follow Jake: @jakecummings_homeloans

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.