Charter One Realty Earns Multiple 2026 Lowcountry’s Best Honors

Community recognition carries a different kind of weight.

Charter One Realty is proud to celebrate multiple honors in the 2026 Lowcountry’s Best Readers’ Choice awards, including Tom Reed, Broker-in-Charge of Charter One Realty, being named Lowcountry’s Best Real Estate Broker.

The recognition did not stop there.

Charter One Realty was also recognized among the Lowcountry’s top real estate brokerages, while Kevin King Associates and Herman and Davis Properties, both of Charter One Realty, were recognized among the area’s top real estate teams.

Together, the honors reflect something larger than a single award. They represent the strength of Charter One Realty’s leadership, agents, teams, and reputation throughout Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort, and the surrounding South Carolina Lowcountry.

The Lowcountry’s Best program is a community-driven Readers’ Choice competition associated with The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette. The 2026 competition included more than 2,200 businesses, organizations and individuals across 212 categories and generated more than 213,000 votes.

For a locally rooted real estate company, recognition from the community it serves is especially meaningful.

Tom Reed Named Lowcountry’s Best Real Estate Broker

At the center of this year’s recognition is Tom Reed, President and Broker-in-Charge of Charter One Realty.

Tom has spent decades working in Lowcountry real estate, first as an attorney and later as a real estate professional, brokerage owner, and company leader.

Before entering residential real estate sales, Tom earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law and moved to Hilton Head Island, where he became the head real estate attorney at one of the island’s leading law firms.

In 2000, he transitioned from practicing law into residential real estate. He later became an owner of Charter One Realty in 2014 and ultimately assumed the role of President and Broker-in-Charge.

That combination of legal experience, real estate knowledge, transaction expertise and leadership has given Tom a particularly broad perspective on the Lowcountry market.

What Does a Broker-in-Charge Do?

For consumers, the role of a Broker-in-Charge often happens behind the scenes.

A Broker-in-Charge helps oversee brokerage operations, professional standards, regulatory compliance and the systems supporting agents and their clients.

At Charter One Realty, Tom’s role extends well beyond those responsibilities.

He works closely with company leadership, agents and staff on the strategic direction of the brokerage while remaining closely connected to the realities of today’s Hilton Head real estate, Bluffton real estate and Beaufort real estate markets.

That matters for consumers.

A real estate agent may be the person a buyer or seller interacts with most frequently, but that agent is supported by an entire brokerage infrastructure. Leadership, technology, marketing, training, market intelligence and professional oversight all contribute to the client experience.

Charter One Realty Recognized Among the Lowcountry’s Top Brokerages

The 2026 Lowcountry’s Best results also recognized Charter One Realty among the area’s top real estate brokerages.

For Charter One Realty, that recognition builds on four decades of serving buyers and sellers throughout the South Carolina Lowcountry.

The company was founded in 1986 and today serves clients throughout Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Okatie, Beaufort and surrounding communities.

Charter One Realty represents properties across a wide range of Lowcountry lifestyles, including oceanfront and beachfront homes, waterfront properties, private golf communities, historic residences, luxury estates, primary homes, vacation properties and second homes.

The brokerage has also established itself as a leader in the region’s luxury market, representing buyers and sellers throughout many of the Lowcountry’s most sought-after communities.

For consumers searching for Hilton Head homes for sale, Bluffton homes for sale or Beaufort homes for sale, the Lowcountry’s Best recognition adds another community-based measure of the company’s local reputation.

Kevin King Associates Recognized Among the Lowcountry’s Top Real Estate Teams

Kevin King Associates of Charter One Realty was also recognized among the Lowcountry’s top real estate teams in the 2026 Readers’ Choice awards.

Led by Kevin King, the team serves buyers and sellers throughout Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, Okatie and surrounding Lowcountry communities.

Kevin King Associates combines local market expertise with the marketing, technology and global reach available through Charter One Realty.

The team works across a broad spectrum of the Lowcountry market, from primary residences and private communities to waterfront homes and luxury properties.

Its recognition among the area’s top teams further demonstrates the depth of real estate experience available within Charter One Realty.

Herman and Davis Properties Recognized Among the Area’s Top Teams

Herman and Davis Properties of Charter One Realty also earned recognition among the Lowcountry’s top real estate teams.

The team serves clients throughout the region and has established a strong presence in the Lowcountry luxury real estate market.

Herman and Davis Properties represents buyers and sellers across some of the area’s most desirable communities, combining neighborhood knowledge, strategic marketing and the resources of Charter One Realty.

Having both Kevin King Associates and Herman and Davis Properties recognized among the area’s leading teams is particularly significant because it demonstrates that Charter One Realty’s success is not concentrated in one office, one agent or one segment of the market.

It is spread across a network of established real estate professionals serving buyers and sellers throughout the region.

One Brokerage, Multiple Community Honors

Taken together, the 2026 Lowcountry’s Best results tell a broader story.

Charter One Realty received recognition at three important levels:

• Leadership: Tom Reed was named Lowcountry’s Best Real Estate Broker.

• Brokerage: Charter One Realty was recognized among the area’s top real estate brokerages.

• Teams: Kevin King Associates and Herman and Davis Properties were recognized among the Lowcountry’s top real estate teams.

That depth matters.

A strong brokerage is not defined by one individual award. It is built through experienced leadership, productive agents and teams, professional support, sophisticated marketing and an ongoing connection to the communities it serves.

These recognitions reinforce Charter One Realty’s position as a trusted real estate resource throughout Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort and the surrounding Lowcountry.

Why Community Recognition Matters in Real Estate

Real estate is an intensely local business.

Market statistics can tell you who sold the most homes. National rankings can measure production. Industry awards can recognize performance.

Readers’ Choice awards measure something slightly different: local reputation and community support.

The Lowcountry’s Best program gives residents the opportunity to recognize the businesses and professionals they value in their communities.

For a brokerage that has served the region for 40 years, that makes these honors particularly meaningful.

Charter One Realty’s success has been built through thousands of relationships with buyers, sellers, homeowners, businesses and community organizations throughout the Lowcountry.

What These Honors Mean for Buyers and Sellers

For someone choosing a real estate company, awards alone should never replace experience, local knowledge and results.

But independent and community recognition can provide another useful indicator.

Buyers evaluating Hilton Head real estate, Bluffton real estate or Beaufort real estate want professionals who understand not only property values, but also communities, club structures, neighborhoods, insurance considerations, flood zones, lifestyle differences and the nuances that can change from one part of the Lowcountry to another.

Sellers need equally specialized expertise.

Pricing strategy, photography, digital advertising, video, online exposure, brokerage networks and targeted marketing can all influence how effectively a property reaches qualified buyers.

Strong agents backed by an experienced brokerage can bring those pieces together.

The 2026 Lowcountry’s Best honors recognize the leadership, teams and organization behind that experience at Charter One Realty.

A Career and Company Rooted in the Lowcountry

Tom Reed’s recognition as Lowcountry’s Best Real Estate Broker is particularly fitting because his career has evolved alongside the market he now helps lead.

His professional experience includes real estate law, residential sales, brokerage leadership and service to the organizations supporting the local real estate industry.

He has previously served on the board of the Hilton Head Island Multiple Listing Service and helped guide its transition to REsides MLS, where he continues to serve on the board.

His community involvement has also extended beyond real estate, including service as Chairman of the Board for Osprey Village, a nonprofit organization focused on creating an inclusive residential community for adults with special needs.

That combination of real estate leadership and community involvement reflects the broader philosophy behind Charter One Realty.

Celebrating the People Behind Charter One Realty

Charter One Realty congratulates Tom Reed, Kevin King Associates and Herman and Davis Properties on their 2026 Lowcountry’s Best recognition.

We are equally proud to see Charter One Realty recognized among the area’s top brokerages.

Most importantly, we thank the clients, residents and community members who voted and who continue to place their trust in Charter One Realty.

For 40 years, that trust has helped shape our company.

Today, it continues to drive us forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was named Lowcountry’s Best Real Estate Broker in 2026?

Tom Reed, President and Broker-in-Charge of Charter One Realty, was named Lowcountry’s Best Real Estate Broker in the 2026 Lowcountry’s Best Readers’ Choice awards.

Was Charter One Realty recognized in the 2026 Lowcountry’s Best awards?

Yes. Charter One Realty was recognized among the top real estate brokerages in the Lowcountry.

Which Charter One Realty teams were recognized by Lowcountry’s Best in 2026?

Kevin King Associates and Herman and Davis Properties, both of Charter One Realty, were recognized among the area’s top real estate teams.

Who is Tom Reed?

Tom Reed is President and Broker-in-Charge of Charter One Realty. He began his Lowcountry career as a real estate attorney before entering residential real estate sales in 2000 and later becoming an owner and leader of Charter One Realty.

What areas does Charter One Realty serve?

Charter One Realty serves buyers and sellers throughout Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Okatie, Beaufort and surrounding areas of the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Where can buyers search for Lowcountry homes?

Buyers can explore Hilton Head homes for sale, Bluffton homes for sale and Beaufort homes for sale with Charter One Realty and connect with local professionals who specialize in the communities and lifestyles found throughout the region.