THE RAVENEL FAMILY
A Storied Legacy of Service
story by HEATHER STEINBERGER photos by PAUL NURNBERG
To say the Ravenel family has deep roots in the Lowcountry is a massive understatement. Members of the persecuted French Protestant Huguenot minority in the 17th century, the Ravenels arrived in coastal South Carolina in 1685 and settled in Charleston in 1670.
The family has owned their Broad Street property since 1710. After the original home burned, generations of Ravenels lived in the 1796 home that replaced it; Daniel Ravenel Sr., chief executive officer of Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty, and his wife live there still.
“Dad is actually the ninth Daniel Ravenel, and I’m the 10th,” says Chief Operating Officer Daniel Ravenel Jr. “Our history definitely runs deep here, and we’re proud of it. It defines our approach, and it gives us authenticity and credibility that set us apart.”
Daniel Jr. and his sister, Chief Financial Officer Ruthie Ravenel, both say it was perhaps inevitable that they would join their father in his real estate business. They literally grew up with it.
“The day I was born, dad showed up with closing documents for an investment property on Meeting Street,” Ruthie says with a laugh. “As a 1-year-old, I went with him to get a license approved, and I had a sign around my neck that said ‘attorney.’”
“When we were in high school, our summer job was inspecting rental apartments,” Daniel Jr. remembers. “Still, I never thought I’d end up in real estate. I was young and idealistic, and I wanted to go my own way.”
He attended the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he majored in English. After two years, however, he decided the small, private liberal arts college and the prospect of a career in journalism were not right for him.
Instead, he moved home and attended the College of Charleston, intending to pursue psychology. He got involved in clinical Alzheimer’s research and psychological testing through an internship at the Medical University of South Carolina.
“I was 25 years old, and it was overwhelming,” he reflects. “After a year, I moved to Park City, Utah, to ski.”
Daniel Jr. was sidelined by an ACL injury in March 2009 when he received a call from his father. Not only was the Great Recession in full swing, his father was enduring a hostile takeover attempt at his property management company.
“Dad called and said, ‘I have a problem,’” Daniel Jr. says. “I could hear the need in his voice. I never planned to come back, but I decided to get out of my own way and take a chance.”
The move kick-started a successful career as Daniel Jr. worked with his father to stabilize the company with a new team. He worked in property management from 2009 until 2015-16, which opened his eyes to the tough side of real estate.
“It was baptism by fire,” he explains. “I learned how to handle all aspects of the business, including conflict resolution.”
Although he got his real estate license in 2016-17, Daniel Jr. recognized he did not have a passion for selling. Rather, he felt motivated by working directly with the agents.
“I took the COO position in 2018, and now I get to help people all the time,” he says. “I love it.”
Ruthie’s path to the family business had a similarly circuitous trajectory. After high school, she attended Boston College and studied in Strasbourg, France, for a year.
“I was a history major, with a minor in French and international studies,” Ruthie says. “I was a big traveler and wanted to take all the trips I could. After I graduated in 2008, I wanted to be a ski bum, so I moved to Park City.”
She quickly adds, “Daniel followed me!”
“No, no, you followed me,” he interjects, laughing.
In spring 2009, Deer Valley Resort experienced the collapse of its Park City property management businesses due to the Great Recession. It created new infrastructure that would allow it to hire resort people for those management roles.
Ruthie was working in the resort’s rental shop at the time, and she took a job as a lodging administrative assistant. She worked in rental property management for Deer Valley Resort for four years.
“We went from 30 individual homeowners to 400, and also signed on 12 hotel-style condos and lodges into management,” Ruthie remembers. “It was a great experience, but I sort of topped out. Dad came out in 2011 for a visit, and he finally was able to recruit me back to the Lowcountry.”
Ruthie returned to Charleston, where she worked in operations on the sales side. Then, when the marketing manager left, she took over that role, teaching herself how to handle everything from graphic design and photos to advertising and social media marketing.
In 2013, she got her real estate license. Unlike her brother, she discovered she loved sales.
“I built up the marketing department so I could step away,” Ruthie explains. “By 2015, I was in full-time sales and put in a lot of nights and weekends. It was a real passion for me.”
When asked how they feel about working closely with their father, the siblings are thoughtful. Daniel Jr. points out that each family member has a unique and important role to play.
“You can work in your business or on your business, but you can’t do both,” he explains. “Dad was selling and managing for more than 30 years. Now, instead of everybody trying to do everything, we are playing to our strengths. We specialize. That’s why our family dynamic is healthy; we stay in our own lanes and collaborate as needed.”
Ruthie agrees, adding, “It’s a blessing to know our dad as a peer.”
For his part, Daniel Sr. did not know real estate would be in his future any more than his children did. When he was first coming of age, his mind was very much on the present and taking care of his family.
“My mother became ill when I was in high school at St. Andrew’s Sewanee School in Tennessee,” he says. “My dad was 70, so when most of my classmates went on to northern colleges, I went home to take care of her dialysis; for two and a half years, I ran the machine.”
As his son would do decades later, Daniel Sr. attended the College of Charleston. He studied history and graduated in 1972.
“I was an idealist too,” he says. “A lot of us were back then. Like Daniel, I also wanted to study psychology and help the world.”
Yet Daniel Sr. had an entrepreneurial spirit, and his home city was on the cusp of major change. It was an exciting time for someone who wanted to start a business.
“I was lucky to come along when Charleston was expanding economically,” he says. “My dad grew up between World War I and II, and he couldn’t make a living here. I had the opportunity to make enough money to live.”
In 1983, Daniel Sr. opened the doors to the Daniel Ravenel Real Estate Company on Broad Street. Then, in 2007, the business became an affiliate of the prestigious Sotheby’s International Realty brand.
“They’d been pursuing me for years,” he remembers. “I made the decision because I saw it would be impossible to compete otherwise. It was the best decision I could’ve made. I’d fought it off, but it matters, believe me. They have a first-class system that does what it says it will. We are very fortunate.”
The next big step forward came in 2021. In November of that year, Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty merged with Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty of Savannah, Georgia.
“I’ve had a friend and kindred spirit in Celia, and we often referred people to each other,” Daniel Sr. says. “We developed quite a relationship because everyone in Charleston has a friend in Savannah and vice versa.”
With the merger, the family business went from one office and 30 people to multiple offices and 120 people. Today, Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty has locations in Charleston, Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head, and Savannah.
The Ravenels are enthusiastic about their new Beaufort office, opened in 2024. They note that interest is high, which will not surprise anyone who already knows and loves the historic little city nestled in the heart of the Sea Islands.
“Many people are attracted to Charleston for the lifestyle but don’t want the congestion, the faster pace of life, or the higher prices,” Daniel Jr. says. “Beaufort has everything that’s great about Charleston but with a small-town vibe and more bucolic, relaxed environment.”
He notes that both Charleston and Beaufort regularly land on magazines’ Top 10 lists in various categories, which was unimaginable decades ago. The Lowcountry’s potential is starting to be realized.
“I’m proud to be part of the communities winning these awards,” he says. “As Beaufort grows, we’re looking forward to being part of its smart growth and its preservation, helping to protect what makes it special.”
Daniel Sr. says he feels fortunate to have his son and daughter at his side (a third child works as a clinical psychologist in California) as they continue to grow and serve their clients. Building long-term relationships based on that dedication to service, he says, lies at the heart of a true luxury experience.
“It means you would do anything for them,” he explains. “It’s a way of life. We stand out because we are full-time rather than part-time, we make an effort, and we get results.”
The Ravenels also strongly believe that a real estate purchase involves more than simply buying a particular property. It’s about finding a home and embracing the local lifestyle.
“Our approach is holistic,” Ruthie says. “We can help you find the right neighborhood, the right schools, and local connections to help you feel more comfortable.”
Clearly, the Ravenels have found a formula that works. Ninety-eight percent of their business involves returning clients and referrals.
Ruthie says the family’s long history in the Lowcountry gives them a unique perspective and ability to serve. They understand the importance of building lifelong relationships, and the significance of becoming a client’s first friend as they seek to put down their own roots.
“The long game is what we’re about, in an industry that often can feel purely transactional,” she says. “We take the responsibility of caring for our clients’ long-term well-being very seriously.”
