As one of the original agents who helped establish the trusted Charleston-based brokerage at RE/MAX Reach, Emily Rapp has had a front row seat to what makes the firm a standout in the industry. Rapp began her real estate career in 2015, and over the past 10 years, she has built a thriving career as an agent and fully licensed broker.
As passionately driven as she is about real estate, Rapp is equally ambitious when it comes to her time on the fairway—and she believes deeply that the two go hand in hand. “The golf course creates an environment where you can get to know a complete stranger in two to four hours,” she explains. “It’s so unique because those individuals can range from 4 years old to over 90! Through the years, I’ve gained some fruitful relationships professionally as a real estate broker that have stemmed from these on-course, chance encounters. Still, it is important to me that the relationship always comes first, followed by a real estate tie.”
Rapp has been playing golf for nearly 30 years, beginning around the age of 10. “I started playing in weekly summer events with the local division of the South Carolina Junior Golf Association in the Greenville, South Carolina, area,” she recalls. “Soon after, I started playing golf year-round in various events and weekend tournaments throughout the state. I eventually earned a full scholarship to play golf at the College of Charleston, and this is where my love for the city started. I lived in Greenville briefly after college but couldn’t stay away from Charleston for long! Since moving back, I have built meaningful relationships with members of the golf community here. The Charleston Municipal course has become my home course, where I am a two-time Women’s City Amateur champion!”
That home course has been the tee off for a number of deals, as Rapp has created an invaluable rapport with individuals who later became clients, trusting her with their real estate needs as an area expert, as well as an expert on the local greens. “Being successful in the game shows a side of strength and diligence that can be correlated to other parts of life, like your professional career,” says Rapp, whose handicap currently hovers around 3. “People who play golf understand the frustration and elation this game can bring—all within moments of each other! Sharing these enjoyable and exciting experiences have led to acquiring clients. I’ve even gained clients from the sole fact that I am a golfer, and that still continues to shock me!”
Rapp’s time on the course has also led to work with community organizations, which result in further networking opportunities. “After winning the City Amateur Championship for the first time in 2021, I was recruited to join the Friends of the Muni, a nonprofit organization associated with the Charleston Municipal Golf Course,” Rapp notes. “I was recognized for my spirit for the game, community involvement and connections, and asked to join the board in 2022. Within the organization, I have served as the development chair and act as the tournament chair for the annual pro-amateur tournament that we host each December. Our main overall focus remains consistent in providing an accessible and affordable place for everyone to enjoy while continuing to improve programming, community involvement and infrastructure.”
Rapp is also a member of Youth Advisory Council (YAC), a nonprofit affiliated with the First Tee organization, whose focus is to help young people grow life skills through golf. “The group is an eclectic collection of young professionals in which we share our individual expertise and also make beneficial personal and professional connections,” she says. “Both of these organizations have opened the door to being surrounded by some of the most influential people of our community—which is also incredibly important to my work as a broker.”
In addition to working as a broker and crushing it on the course, Rapp has become an expert in flipping and rehabbing homes and investing in rental properties. “When I was in high school, my family decided to work on flipping our first house together,” she says, explaining how she caught the flipping bug. “My parents purchased the property, and we flipped and sold it within a few months. I loved learning the hands-on skills it takes to build or repair a house and the gratification of seeing a completed project. I also loved that my brother and I were able to share some of the profits! Since then, I have had my hands on close to a dozen properties. Having the ability to see a wide variety of property diversity has been incredibly insightful for personal and business growth.”
On the rental side, Rapp and her wife have a total of three personal properties that they rent and manage together, plus additional properties that they manage between both of their families, resulting in a diverse portfolio that ranges from condos all the way to a duplex. “Rental properties aren’t for the faint of heart, but it can be a great way to build your own wealth,” Rapp notes. “We like to look at it as a secure, higher yielding investment than what we would find with a conservative financial institution. You may be in it for the long haul but the reward is inevitable.”
In whatever she puts her hand to, be it a club, a hammer or a brokerage agreement, Rapp approaches every undertaking with passion, professionalism and a desire to achieve the greatest result possible. *
Liesel Schmidt lives in Navarre, Florida, and works as a freelance writer for local and regional magazines. She is also a web content writer and book editor. Follow her on X at @laswrites or download her novels, Coming Home to You, The Secret of Us and Life Without You, at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
As passionately driven as she is about real estate, Rapp is equally ambitious when it comes to her time on the fairway–and she believes deeply that the two go hand in hand.
