Last Updated on August 26, 2025
Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate, the #1 family-owned and operated independent real estate firm in the country and the #1 brokerage in the Carolinas, has expanded its Southeast presence with the acquisition of Coastal Properties, a leading family-owned real estate company serving the South Carolina Lowcountry and coastal Georgia.
This acquisition is Howard Hanna Allen Tate’s second expansion in the Lowcountry in less than a year, following the October 2024 acquisition of The Alliance Group Realty with offices in Hilton Head and Bluffton. The addition of Coastal Properties marks Howard Hanna’s official entry into Georgia while further strengthening its established footprint in the Lowcountry and deepening their ability to connect buyers and sellers in the Carolinas, Georgia, and beyond.
Founded in 1998 by Karen and Joe Ryan, Coastal Properties began as a single Hilton Head office with one agent and has grown into one of the Lowcountry’s most successful brokerages. Today, the company operates five offices in Hilton Head, Bluffton, Okatie, Beaufort, and Savannah, with more than 160 agents and employees. In 2024, the firm closed 731 transactions totaling $467 million in sales, ranking among the top three brokerages in the region.
“At Howard Hanna, we’re committed to investing in communities where we see opportunity, growth, and strong partnerships that deliver results,” said Howard W. “Hoby” Hanna IV, president of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. “The Lowcountry and Savannah markets are dynamic and thriving, and bringing Coastal Properties into our family allows us to expand our reach while building on Karen and Joe Ryan’s incredible legacy. Together, we’re positioned to create even more meaningful connections for buyers and sellers in the Southeast region.”
“Karen, Joe, and the Coastal Properties team have grown strategically over the past three decades to become one of the premier firms in the Lowcountry,” said Gary Scott, president of the Southeast Region, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. “Their deep local roots, strong community ties, and proven track record make them the ideal partner as we expand in South Carolina and enter Georgia.”
The Ryan family will continue to lead the company: Karen Ryan as chief executive officer, Joe Ryan as chief financial officer and broker-in-charge, and Kelly Ryan Wiechert as vice president and marketing director.
“We founded Coastal Properties with a vision to create a company that felt like family,” said Karen Ryan, CEO, Coastal Properties. “As a family-owned business, we’ve always valued trust, collaboration, and personal service. Howard Hanna Allen Tate not only shares those values but also brings something transformational to our agents and clients: direct access to key feeder markets. For the first time, we’ll have unparalleled reach into Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina — markets that consistently send buyers to the Lowcountry and coastal Georgia. This partnership opens doors for more referrals, more connections, and more opportunities.”
Karen Ryan is a career professional, community leader, and industry trailblazer. She has closed more than $250 million in career sales volume, served as past president of the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors, founding president of the Women’s Council of Realtors Lowcountry, and board member of the Hilton Head/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. Her honors include Realtor of the Year, the Lifetime Distinguished Sales Award, and recognition as one of the Outstanding Women of the Year by the Hilton Head/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.
For more information or to connect with an agent in the Lowcountry or coastal Georgia, visit www.howardhannatate.com.
Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate is the #1 real estate company in the Carolinas, with more than 80 offices and 1,800 agents serving communities across North and South Carolina. As part of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the largest family-owned and operated real estate company in the United States, Howard Hanna Allen Tate offers a full suite of real estate services, including mortgage, insurance, title and relocation. For more information, visit www.howardhannatate.com.
