Ashley Severance, owner and broker-in-charge of Atlantic Properties of the Lowcountry, has a grace and calm that belies the many responsibilities and challenges in her life. She is the eye of the storm, the gatherer of details, the intuitive and caring advocate, and a master problem solver who knows how to see a task through to its satisfying conclusion. What those around her see is a woman who’s got it all together. Severance’s impressive combination of natural talent, hard-earned skills, experience and knowledge has brought her to where she is today—at the top of her game. In 2023, Severance was the number one MLS agent in a field of 8,000 in Charleston. That represents over $207 million in sales volume and 90 satisfied customers in a single year. No small feat.
Behind Severance’s stylish and polished demeanor is the hardworking owner of one of Charleston’s top residential real estate companies. She is also the mother of four and wife to a top administrator at Charleston’s MUSC Hospital. Challenges abound, but Severance has what it takes to meet them.
Severance grew up in Florida and made her foray into South Carolina via Furman University, where she double majored in business administration and Spanish, all while playing Division 1 tennis. Post-college, she would go on to a nine-year stint with Eli Lilly and Company, working her way through eight positions and, in the process, developing an impressive skill set in sales management, marketing management and global operations.
Though Severance truly enjoyed this work, she felt her true calling was elsewhere, and perhaps within the Charleston community. Having lived in Madrid, Boston and New York and traveled to various European cities, Severance discovered a passion for historic properties and luxury real estate. And here she was in Charleston, a region teeming with both. The timing felt right for turning this hobby into a profession.
In 2005, Severance joined forces with close family friend Robby Marion, who was armed with a broker’s license, and the two of them founded Atlantic Properties. Realty proved to be the right career path for this busy mother, a profession with the flexible schedule needed to balance out the inevitable challenges of parenting. “Given my past experience in marketing in big pharma and biotech, I knew what it took to market something well and to take the time to do so,” she says.
In reflecting on her nearly 18 years in business, Severance is unambivalent about her role and the goals most important for Atlantic Properties. First and foremost: focusing on the client and coming to understand who they are and their objectives in the real estate journey. She says: “Finding someone a home is personal and far more than a business transaction. The process begins by getting to know the person, couple or family. We need to understand their priorities, their style and the feel they want in a home. On some occasions, the buyer has solidified what it is they want, and in those cases, the sale can happen quickly. Other times, it’s a discovery process and takes time. It’s my job to meet them wherever they are in the process and work with them at a comfortable pace, their pace.”
Today, Severance leads a dynamic, all-female support team that ensures each client receives exceptional, concierge-level service. Her team’s shared dedication to professionalism, kindness and efficiency is what sets her apart in a competitive market. On her roster is lead broker’s assistant/Realtor Jordan Gahafer; broker’s assistant/Realtor Blake Grice; marketing manager and design assistant Meredith Downer; design and renovations manager Mindy Scott; and marketing and renovations coordinator Bailey Walser. “An unmatched work ethic and determination to succeed for our clients drives our everyday,” Severance says of her team.
Atlantic Properties of the Lowcountry offers buyers and sellers alike a concierge-style experience, a process that is enjoyable and stress-free. The team takes care of all planning, coordination of fine details and the execution of any needed services. “Our team group thinks creatively and innovatively to strategize on what to do before taking a home to market, how to price the property and the best way to market the home,” Severance notes. It is these refined listing packages and comprehensive marketing strategies that set Atlantic Properties apart from the competition.
In closing, Severance says: “Buying and selling a property is a very personal experience, and when a client invites us to join them on this journey, we take that seriously. It is our honor to be part of it.”
Christina Andrews is a freelance writer from the Napa Valley who specializes in personal and business bios, food and wine, visual arts, music, hospitality, the event industry, community interest stories, obituaries and political satire.
