Originally from Cincinnati, Diana Sroufe and her husband fell in love with the Lowcountry and decided to make it their home in 2000. Outside of helping clients find the perfect Lowcountry property, Diana enjoys golfing, kayaking, boating, and finding treasures at local thrift stores. Catch up with Charter One Realty agent, Diana Sroufe describes her path to real estate, what makes her neighborhood special, and some of her favorite aspects of life in the Lowcountry.
Charter One Realty: When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in real estate?
Diana Sroufe: Having been in the mortgage business in Ohio for years when I moved to the low country I wanted to remain involved with real estate but with the buying and selling process.
Charter One Realty: Tell us about your start in the business. How did the first year go?
Diana Sroufe: First year in the business as a realtor I worked with people I knew from Ohio wanting to purchase property here.
Charter One Realty: What’s kept you in the business after your initial success?
Diana Sroufe: I love connecting buyers and sellers and always feel pride when I represent them.
Charter One Realty: What’s one common mistake you see prospective buyers make?
Diana Sroufe: A common mistake I see prospective buyers make is limiting their concept of what they want when they move here. Because there is so much diversity that I think it is important to have an open mind and to learn about all opportunities.
Charter One Realty: What advice do you have for buyers looking in the Lowcountry?
Diana Sroufe: The advice I would give to buyers is to understand the community dynamics first. Community/neighborhood is so important here in the low country. Most of us move here and don't know many others so connecting with others in your neighborhood allows friendships to form quickly. Before coming here we form our friendships from different groups generally based upon interests and situation- work-life - family life - your children's friends life - church life - neighborhood and common interests. So when we come to the low country we generally gravitate towards common interests. That is what a community provides.
Charter One Realty: Where are you from originally, and how did you come to live in the Lowcountry?
Diana Sroufe: My husband, Jay and I came to the Lowcountry in 2000 and purchased a lot and then built our home in Belfair in 2004. We came because of the weather and the vegetation and the variety of experiences we can have in the Lowcountry.
Charter One Realty: Please tell us about your neighborhood and your home.
Diana Sroufe: We live in Belfair in a home on the marsh which we spent over a year in design. Jay even built a model of it prior to the build so we could move walls in the model. That is sure a cheaper way than moving them as one is building.
Charter One Realty: Can you tell us why your community is so special to you?
Diana Sroufe: Belfair is very special to us because of the people that live here. We had visited almost every community in the southeast that offered golf. We would always ask our agent who was showing us around if he could provide us an opportunity to see how the current residences engaged with each other. Usually, we would go to a happy hour and observe but when we arrived at Belfair it was a different story. Everyone was coming over to us asking who we were and where we were coming from. We were involved with the membership immediately.
Charter One Realty: How would you describe the vibe in the Lowcountry?
Diana Sroufe: The vibe in the low country is friendly, eclectic, and full of different options of where and how you live.
Charter One Realty: What are some of your favorite aspects of life in the Lowcountry?
Diana Sroufe: I love the diversity of all the things we can do outdoors whether it be golfing, boating, walking, tennis, beach walking, entertaining friends and family.
Charter One Realty: Do you have a personal motto or mantra that guides you?
Diana Sroufe: I believe in a "can do" attitude and one that is a "win-win" for everyone.
Charter One Realty: Please complete the sentence: “Home wouldn’t be home without . . .”
Diana Sroufe: Jay, my husband, and all of our friends that make up our large family.
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