Carolyn Ragone, broker/owner of Carolyn Ragone Real Estate, recently announced her firm's charter membership in the newly formed Southeast Resort Realty Associates (SRRA).

In addition to her firm in the Southern Pines/Pinehurst area, charter member firms are located in Myrtle Beach and Charleston in South Carolina and Asheville and the Brunswick Islands in North Carolina. The SRRA is also in the process of selecting member firms for its Wilmington, N.C., and Hilton Head, S.C., resort locations, and plans to add offices in three additional resort areas in the next 12 months.

The primary objectives of SRRA member firms are to share market trends and information specific to each of the resort areas in which they practice, and to provide cooperative professional services to clients living in one member's area who may wish to purchase property in a different member's area.

Ragone said she joined the SRRA because she "often has clients that wish to purchase second homes, rental property or land for investment purposes in other resort areas of the southeast United States. Before becoming a member of the SRRA, I oftentimes did not know of an experienced agent in the area in which my client had an interest.

"With the SRRA, I personally know agents that I can depend on to look out for the best interests of my clients and who will work hand-in-hand with me to identify and resolve any issues or problems."

Ragone also said that she "looks forward to the opportunity to stay up to date on market changes, economic trends and opportunities for property purchases in all of the resort areas covered by the SRRA organization."

In addition to having a record of proven resort property sales in the resort area in which they operate, the owner/operator of each charter member firm or one of its principal agents is a certified residential specialist (CRS). The CRS designation is nationally recognized as being the highest recognition awarded to associates in the residential sales field.

To earn the coveted CRS designation, a candidate must meet stringent standards that include a proven history of successful sales transactions and the satisfactory completion of rigorous educational requirements.

Anyone interested in learning more about purchasing property in one of the SRRA resort areas should contact Ragone 603-4114 or by e-mail at cragone1@nc.rr. com.