Before we shift into full focus on 2026, I want to recognize what the amazing group of Associates at Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty accomplished together in 2025.
In short, we did REALLY WELL in 2025.
First, our year-over-year performance as a company (2025 vs. 2024). These statistics come from Brokerage Engine, and therefore account for our performance in both of our main MLS markets, WUAR and GGAR, without duplication. All percentages referenced are year-over-year growth.
- 419 total transactions (+14.48%)
- 450 total sides (+14.80%)
- $329.91M in total sales volume, (+12.75%)
- Average sales price: $754,590 (+3.93%)
- $9.29M in total GCI (+17.39%)
- $9.07M in adjusted GCI, (+18.75%)
Said plainly, our agents did smarter, higher-quality business in 2025
Now, let’s put that in context.
Across the Upstate MLS regions (Greater Greenville and Western Upstate), 2025 was a “normalizing” market: closed sales were up roughly 6–8% year-over-year, and prices rose about 3–4%, while inventory and months’ supply increased significantly.
Here’s how we stacked up against the rest of the market in general:
- While the market grew 6–8% in units, we grew nearly 15%, roughly DOUBLE THE MARKET’s PACE. In other words, we EXPANDED OUR MARKET SHARE.
- Market pricing rose around 3–4%, we slightly exceeded that, while operating at a dramatically higher average price point. Our client service, our local reputation, and our truly international, luxury brand ELEVATES our clients’ values.
- Market-level dollar volume growth was under 10%, while our GCI grew 17–19%. This reflects stronger listings, higher-value transactions, and disciplined execution from HSIR agents, as compared to the average agent / the market itself.
None of this came easy. We accomplished this in a year where inventory increased and competition intensified. Our Greenville agents worked out of a temporary office for part of the year, and then out of a semi-destroyed space under a giant blue tarp (courtesy of Hurricane Helene 16 months ago). I’ve always said that when top agents are working, they’re in someone else’s house, or in their car, or on their computer, and/or on their phone. We don’t need fancy offices to EXCEED THE MARKET, but having a fancy new GVL office (and a new lake office soon….) won’t hurt our performance in 2026 either.
Results like this don’t just “happen.” It comes from:
- Honor and Advocacy, in the way HSIR agents interact with outside agents and advise our clients.
- Expertise: in the form of disciplined pricing and adept negotiation strategies.
- Reputation: storytelling and brand alignment that earns and builds trust.
- Relationship-based client service. We are not transactional, our clients rely on us way beyond the closing, and we feel privileged to be their first call with any kind of question, not just real estate.
In short: while the pendulum swung, and the market normalized, we only got better.
That’s the difference between a brand that participates in the market, versus a brand that LEADS it.
We don’t just meet the standard, we set it.
I’m excited to see us carry this momentum into 2026.