Regional Real Estate Powerhouse

SAVANNAH, GA - Bay Street Realty Group, a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices franchisee based in Beaufort, SC, announced today they have formally acquired one of Coastal Georgia's leading real estate firms, Cora Bett Thomas Realty. Cora Bett Thomas Realty has been a market leader in the Savannah/SC Lowcountry region for more than 26 years. 

Thomas, who came to Savannah in 1969, immediately became active in historic home restoration and jumped into the real estate arena in 1976. Nationally featured in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times for her luxurious listings, Cora Bett decided to start her own agency on her dining room table in 1994. 

Immediately Cora Bett Thomas Realty grew to become the market leader in the Savannah/SC Lowcountry region, with currently over 50 agents handling both commercial and residential real estate in Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, Savannah, Pooler, and St. Simons Island. 

In 2019, Bay Street Realty Group grew into the Georgia market by acquiring Bob and Reba Laramy's successful Savannah, GA Skidaway Island-based real estate company, acquiring 35 new agents. Later this summer, the company will open its Georgia headquarters located at Savannah's historic Chippewa Square, making room for their new, expanded team. 

This acquisition, now working together as a team that produced $291 million in sales in 2019, will make Bay Street Realty Group the largest agency covering both the SC Lowcountry and Coastal Georgia. 

"I am not able to truly express my high honor and excitement to be able to welcome Cora Bett Thomas to our group's leadership," said Georgia managing broker Will Thurman. "We are now the region's real estate powerhouse; composed of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable experts in our area." 

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is one of America's fastest-growing real estate brokerage franchise networks with nearly 50,000 agents and 1,500 offices since its September 2013 launch. 

"Being part of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices growing global network will only enhance the way Cora Bett Thomas Realty takes care of our growing clientele," says Thomas. "Our amazing team is not going anywhere and I plan to keep working and feeling blessed to be lucky enough to sell real estate in the most beautiful region in the world. Together with Bay Street Realty, we are going to build an extraordinary partnership. 

We intend to continue to embrace change, new technologies, and our new everyday normal. I truly believe the best is yet to come for our amazing coastal region." 

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Bay Street Realty Group's history began in 1990 when partners David Hornsby and Ken Willis literally put Fripp Island, South Carolina on the map as they successfully developed this beautiful island. In 2017 Bay Street Realty Group acquired Island Realty, where partner Todd McDaniel was managing member and one of the founding owners. In 2018 Bay Street Realty Group entered into its franchise relationship with global real estate brokerage franchise powerhouse Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. 

Bay Street Realty Group has over 150 years of combined lifestyle-based community home sales and development experience including Fripp Island, Harbor Island, Pleasant Point, Old Tabby Park at Cat Island, Sweetwater, Grand Harbor Golf and Yacht Club, Stoney Point Golf Club and over seven projects in St. Simons Island, Georgia. For more information, visit www.baystreetrealtygroup.com.