News of a significant real estate partnership broke during the holiday season. Locally grown firm Town & Country Real Estate announced a merger with William Raveis Real Estate, one of the largest family-owned brokerages in New England, South Carolina, and Florida. The collaboration marks a milestone for both companies—especially for William M. “Bill” Raveis Jr., the chairman and CEO of William Raveis Real Estate.
“We will bring another level of service to the Hamptons that nobody else has,” Raveis said in a recent interview. His vision for the merger reflects a decade-long pursuit to establish a foothold in the exclusive Hamptons market.
A Unique Offering for the Hamptons
William Raveis Real Estate stands apart with its integrated services, including mortgage, insurance, and title companies. “Nobody else in the Hamptons has this full suite of financial services,” Raveis explained. He sees this merger as an opportunity to elevate Long Island’s East End service offerings.
Celebrating 50 years in business, William Raveis Real Estate has grown to include 4,500 agents and boasts accolades, such as being named Top Brokerage in the US by Inman in 2023. The firm has been aggressively expanding, acquiring boutique firms in luxury markets such as Nantucket and Palm Beach.
Building Bridges With Town & Country
The partnership with Town & Country Real Estate connects the dots for Raveis, who has long envisioned a comprehensive presence across the Hamptons. “I’ve been looking to do this for a long time,” he confirmed. Town & Country founder and CEO Judi Desiderio echoed his enthusiasm: “We’re very excited about this new partnership with William Raveis—the brand synonymous with luxury real estate.”
The merger includes more than 150 sales agents from Town & Country, Desiderio, and managing partner Janet Hummel. The two will remain as partners. “She’s done a marvelous job with her business,” Raveis said of Desiderio. “She treats her company like family, and we share that philosophy.”
A Family Legacy
Raveis built his company from humble beginnings. The Connecticut native’s father was a bricklayer, and Raveis started his career as a systems analyst. In 1974, he borrowed $2,000 to launch his real estate firm above a grocery store. Within a decade, Raveis had expanded to include a mortgage company and insurance agency. The moves set the foundation for the full-service brokerage it is today.
His sons, Chris and Ryan, continue the family legacy as co-presidents. “We’re not a Wall Street company; we’re a family business,” Raveis insisted. “We know our agents personally and help them build their businesses.”
Innovations in Real Estate Technology
Raveis attributes much of his company’s success to its investment in technology. “We spend millions upgrading our tools,” he noted, highlighting Raveis365, a mobile real estate platform developed in collaboration with Microsoft. The platform empowers agents to provide seamless client service by unifying home-selling tools.
The merger will also bring a unique feature to the Hamptons market: the Elite Concierge Service. “We’ll help people move in, renovate their houses, and even find locksmiths,” Raveis explained. Inspired by luxury hotel services, the program aims to redefine real estate client care.
Looking Ahead
Raveis predicts a strong year in real estate. “I think ’25 is going to be outstanding,” he said, citing an increase in inventory across markets like Palm Beach. “We’re gradually getting back to where we were three, four years ago.”
As agents from both brokerages settle into the partnership, the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Raveis believes its comprehensive services and personalized approach will continue to attract top-tier talent and high-net-worth clients.
“When our agents succeed, we succeed,” he concluded.
With this merger, William Raveis Real Estate is poised to make a lasting impact on the Hamptons—all while cementing its status as a leader in luxury real estate.
