After having a lengthy and successful career in international finance, I have shifted my career focus to residential real estate, earning licenses in Massachusetts and South Carolina, along with earning a paralegal certificate from Boston University. I am thrilled to be working in real estate in the Low Country and to have joined Charter One Realty!!
Being known for my diplomacy, honesty, integrity, professionalism, hard work, and big smile, the real estate world is a great fit for me. Taking the time to analyze situations, gather information, listen carefully, and then present solutions to problems are all attributes needed in a real estate transaction. Being friendly and cheerful, approachable, a great listener and a problem-solver, and having a keen eye toward helping clients achieve their goals is what I am able to accomplish.
I lived and worked in several U.S. states and throughout Europe and Asia. Through these experiences, I sharpened my skills at managing teams and guiding individuals in stressful, complex, and time-sensitive situations. I was the first female trader on a desk of 52 men in London and ran international financial services operations for Morgan Stanley, London, and Brown Brothers Harriman worldwide. Having lived all over the world and having worked with people in 50 countries has taught me great diplomacy and the ability to break down barriers.
My two sons and I enjoy time together and I also enjoy entertaining, traveling, fishing, photography, golf, and cooking. I have always given back to my community and served on the Board of Cambridge and Family Services and was the leader in a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser and chaired several United Way events.
I am so excited to start sharing this wonderful area of the Low Country with everyone.
Office Location: Hilton Head Island and Bluffton,
Office Phone Number: 978-257-7158
We can’t say enough about Marisa. From the moment we started working with her, she proved to be an outstanding real estate agent. She always went the extra mile and her constant monitoring and timely updates kept us informed. This was particularly relevant as we were able to make an offer on a house previously under agreement and if it wasn’t for her regular communication we would have missed the opportunity. Marisa’s professionalism attention to detail, and incredible follow-through set her apart. She was always accessible and promptly responded to our emails, phone calls, and texts. Her knowledge of the real estate market was impressive, and even if she didn’t have an immediate answer to our questions, she diligently followed up to provide us with accurate information. What truly stood out was Marisa’s dedication and caring nature. She didn’t just focus on the buying process; she ensured that our move-in experience would be as seamless as possible. She provided us with valuable support and resources that made the transition easier for us. Beyond her exceptional skills, Marisa exudes a positive vibe that made working with her a pleasure. Her enthusiasm and genuine care for her clients make her an agent we would highly recommend to anyone in need of a real estate professional. Thank you, Marisa, for making our home buying journey an incredible experience.
Marisa and Diana were an absolute pleasure to work with throughout our home-buying process. We had a very condensed amount of time ‘on the ground’ in Bluffton, and Marisa was incredibly efficient. She quickly understood what we were looking for and gave great advice (not just what we wanted to hear), and pre-screened properties sometimes faster than they were even on the market. We have bought and sold many properties over the years – Marisa’s ability to understand what was important to us and what would appeal to us was unparalleled when compared to our previous experiences.
Marisa and Diana’s advice about the market, quality of construction and other pros/cons of various properties was indispensable and helped us tremendously in our decision process. Marisa is very matter-of-fact in negotiations and helped come to practical solutions so that we reached an agreement quickly with the buyer. She kept the process moving forward throughout the period leading up to the closing, and made sure that nothing slipped through the cracks – she was always one or two steps ahead of everyone! She also has great network of service providers and was able to quickly arrange things like inspections, and happy to help painters and other contactors get access to the property during the period up to the closing.
While Marisa and Diana are amazing professionals, the best part about working with them is the personal side. You can tell that they really care about their clients from all aspects – and I know that while we won’t be clients anymore, we already have two very good friends at our new home!
We had an extraordinary experience buying our Bluffton house through Marisa Cain with Charter One. She was diligent, responsive, flexible, competent, and always courteous. She was also incredibly even-keeled, helping guide us and calm us through the anxiety-producing process of buying a house in an unknown area. We were living in Northern Virginia, had just retired, and wanted to move somewhere ‘down south.’ Bluffton was one of several areas we wanted to look at during our 'southern tour.' We essentially cold-called Marisa and struck lucky. With little notice, she spent over 2 full days with us, educating us about and driving us through the various developments. She gave advice about the neighborhoods, health care, restaurants, etc. She had a good sense of the area and of the pros/cons of each development and which might best meet what we were looking for (which we weren't very clear about). When we returned to Virginia, she set up a continuing search to send us links to houses that fit our criteria until one jumped out to us. We quickly drove down and fell in love with it. She expertly guided us through the competitive buying process and was very patient with our many questions and requests. She attended inspections on our behalf in our absence. When she left on an extended vacation that coincided with our closing date, she left us in excellent hands with Diana Sroufe, the head of the office, who quickly picked up where Marisa left off, providing continuity and helping us through a last minute panic attack about a tax issue we misunderstood. Even while Marisa was gone, she was on top of everything, responding from Italy during her vacation. And after the sale, both Marisa and Diana have continued to provide us with resources, contacts, and useful information to help us get settled. They have made us feel like family rather than just another sale. We give them our highest, unqualified recommendation.
My wife and I worked with Marisa on a recent trip to the lowcountry and visited several communities over a couple of days. The first thing that struck me about Marisa is her thoroughness and organization. We have worked with other realtors in the past who are a bit scattered and a little slow on follow-up. Marisa separated herself immediately from those experiences by taking the time to understand us individually and to do a deep dive into our likes/wants in a house. She then provided a detail itinerary for the two days we were to spend with her. She followed up within minutes many times and was extremely organized over the two days. Her commitment to doing things the right way really impressed us both as did her knowledge of the communities we visited. She met every need we had during our time with her, and I would recommend Marisa to anyone looking for a home in the Lowcountry.
It was serendipity that brought us together with Marisa as we began our exploration of the Lowcountry and Bluffton area, in general. And it all blossomed from there.
Marisa is fun and friendly, which make long days of touring communities and houses a whole lot more enjoyable. And she is extremely knowledgeable about the area and the process. We truly enjoyed her approach of introducing us first to the communities and helping us narrow down the list of choices to a much more manageable subset. She took the time to get to know us and try to understand how we described our likes and wants, so she could help us to first identify the community that is right for us. And she explained why this is an important step in the process. Because we were coming in from out of town, she did a very nice job of being our “boots on the ground“.
Marisa is also very professional and helped us through the entire home buying process. As others have noted, her service and care extended beyond signing the contract, as she helped us with utilities, with ideas about where to purchase furniture, etc. We are pleased to call Marisa a friend, now, and highly recommend her.
We have been working with Marisa Cain as we plan our move to the Bluffton area in the next couple of years, and we couldn't be more impressed. Even though we're still in the early stages of our search, Marisa has been incredibly generous with her time, knowledge, and expertise.She is truly a wealth of information about Bluffton and the surrounding communities. From helping us understand the different communities and lifestyles to answering countless questions about the area, she has been an invaluable resource. What sets Marisa apart is not only her professionalism and deep market knowledge, but also the genuine care she shows for her clients.Marisa is the kind of realtor who makes you feel like you're working with a trusted friend. We are so grateful for her guidance and highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the Bluffton area. When we're ready to make our move, there is no doubt that Marisa will be our realtor, and we are so lucky.
Hi Marisa, I want you to know how much we appreciate everything you and Dianna have done for us to help our daughter Stacy relocate to Bluffton. There was an instant connection the minute we walked into 280 and both of you greeted us. Then there was the fact that all of us really fell in love with the house and all the decorating. Yesterday was wonderful Marisa. I cannot begin to tell you how much it meant to us to meet the owners and get to know them. Quite frankly, it’s almost like this was meant to be. They’re wonderful people and I prayed for them last night because I sensed the worry around David’s heart condition. Your job must be so rewarding when people connect the way we all did yesterday. It was truly lovely. It’s been a pleasure working with you and I hope our paths cross again in the future. We will want to have you over once Stacy has moved in.
We originally met Marisa when friends of ours used her to purchase their home in Bluffton this past February. They spoke so highly of her and how helpful she was during their move from NJ. Marissa completely understood our requirements for purchasing our vacation home. It took only two days of viewing homes with her to find our perfect spot. That is because of all the behind-the-scenes leg work and research she put into everything. She is an excellent communicator and fabulous with follow through; two important criteria for us as our primary home is in GA. In addition to every step in the buying process, once we closed, she was there with resources for every thing and every one a new resident might need to know. We highly recommend Marisa to any potential buyers!
We have been working with Marisa Cain as we plan our move to the Bluffton area in the next couple of years, and we couldn't be more impressed. Even though we're still in the early stages of our search, Marisa has been incredibly generous with her time, knowledge, and expertise.She is truly a wealth of information about Bluffton and the surrounding communities. From helping us understand the different communities and lifestyles to answering countless questions about the area, she has been an invaluable resource. What sets Marisa apart is not only her professionalism and deep market knowledge, but also the genuine care she shows for her clients.Marisa is the kind of realtor who makes you feel like you're working with a trusted friend. We are so grateful for her guidance and highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the Bluffton area. When we're ready to make our move, there is no doubt that Marisa will be our realtor, and we are so lucky.
Charter One Realty, Marisa Cain, my agent and Mary Williams the selling agent were amazing to work with. The communication between agents and then to me was on point and done in a timely manner. I was located in VA so the majority of my experience was done long distance. Everything was handled efficiently through settlement and I couldn’t be happier. I wholeheartedly recommend using Charter One Realty, you won’t regret your decision.
Marisa Cain was my Realtor selling my home. She was amazing from the beginning. She was very knowledgeable, very positive and very warm. She was the best combination. She attended every single showing of my house and reported back to me after every showing. She was always in contact with the showing realtors. It was amazing that she took so much time. She answered all of my questions. She calmed me down when I was concerned. She was there with the movers. Nothing was ever too much for her. Selling this house was the smoothest experience. And I owe it all to Marisa Cain!
I relocated from the Northeast to Bluffton, SC in early January. Marisa set up days multiple times for me to see homes in the surrounding area. It was a bit overwhelming trying to determine the right community, however Marisa made it less overwhelming and stressful. I was also selling a home, and it quickly became evident what a fantastic realtor Marisa is. She is a go getter and on top of every little detail; she will let you know what you need and when. She is also very honest. This is when you know you have someone that has your back and the support you need in finding the perfect home. I cannot say enough about the extremely positive experience I had with Marisa and highly recommend you choosing her to find your next home.
Marisa (Light Cain) and Ann (Walton) are the Dynamic Duo! It Started with Marisa sending us all the latest and greatest listings for months – Then we popped into town last Sept and showed up around everywhere! They were an absolute pleasure to work with, showing us some amazing properties/communities in Beaufort, all the while answering all of our questions, educating us on the area, and genuinely caring about us and what we were looking for. When we found our dream home, they dug in handling all of the leg work, negotiation, paperwork, etc., truly making our experience of buying a house out of state as stress free as possible! If you're looking for Agents who give support, expertise, and thoughtfulness, Marisa and Ann deliver! We liked them so much we keep in touch and look forward to having them over for dinner soon!
Marisa Cain was a pivotal reason we bought our home. From the beginning, she struck the perfect balance—warm and enthusiastic, yet candid and insightful. We valued these attributes in Marisa, especially being new to the area. After just one morning of touring homes, she quickly honed in on what truly mattered to us. A week later, she had a strong instinct about a new listing and let us know right away. She was absolutely right—it turned out to be the one.
Marisa guided us through every step of the process with efficiency and care. She made sure we fully understood each aspect of the home and addressed any potential concerns on our checklist. We always felt she was advocating for us, representing our best interests throughout the entire home buying process.
Even after our offer was accepted, Marisa remained hands-on, leading us seamlessly through closing and generously sharing her trusted contacts for services like painting, landscaping, and cleaning. She is a true professional. We wholeheartedly recommend Marisa to anyone looking to buy a home.
