Major Deal: Berkshire Hathaway Purchases ACRE in Marathon & Lower Keys

Major Deal: Berkshire Hathaway Purchases ACRE in Marathon & Lower Keys - A person standing in front of a door - Key West

On New Year’s Eve, the final papers were signed to transfer ownership of Christie’s American Caribbean Real Estate offices in Marathon and the Lower Keys to Berkshire HomeServices Knight & Gardner Realty of Key West.

“I spoke to many suitors,” said ACRE’s Ginger Henderson. “For me, (this) was the obvious choice. I am very excited about the sale. Our team will now be able to provide unmatched exposure for our sellers through Berkshire Hathaway branding and the advanced technology available to us as agents will enable us to provide unmatched service to our buyers as well.”

Henderson, 35-year owner of American Caribbean Real Estate, will remain with BHHS Keys Real Estate as an agent and mentor to the group. 

“We are thrilled to join forces with one of the most respected brokerages in the Florida Keys,” said Will Langley, president of Knight & Gardner Real Estate & Keys Real Estate. “Ginger and her team are highly regarded in the region for their skill, integrity and expertise in resort and high-end property. We’re proud they will represent our growing brokerage family and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network.”

The purchase affects 24 staffers including 18 agents and support staff, who closed $104 million in sales this past year. It also did $4 million worth of vacation rental business. Marathon professional Leslie Christensen purchased the vacation rental side of the business, now called American Coastal Vacation Rentals, and will work alongside the agents and Langley. The business will manage a current inventory of about 100 homes.

“I’ve worked with Ginger for fourteen years, and this has always been my goal — to take over the rental division,” Christensen said. “It will be a good flow, back and forth in the same building. Will (Langley) will be doing all the sales, and I’ll be doing all the rentals. It will be a nice refresher for our office – two young, energetic people taking charge. 

“The only reason this dream is even a possibility for me is because of my staff — maintenance, cleaning and administrative. They are amazing,” she said.

Knight & Gardner Realty is a full-service real estate brokerage serving Key West, the Lower, Middle and Upper Keys and the Outlying Islands. The brokerage, founded in 1957, is Key West’s oldest real estate company and a perennial market leader. Visit www.keysrealestate.com. 

Sara Matthis thinks community journalism is important, but not serious; likes weird and wonderful children (she has two); and occasionally tortures herself with sprint-distance triathlons, but only if she has a good chance of beating her sister.