During the 1970's Folly Beach was a sleepy little town known for it's old beach cottages and eclectric residents. The island would come to life during the summer with the surge of Charlestonians that came to play along the water and dance upon the pier. The winter months found the local townspeople catching up on some much-needed rest and relaxation, re-energizing for the summer months to come. Folly Beach was still a low country secret with it's potential yet untapped.
In the summer of 1973, Fred and Eloise Holland, owners of Fred Holland Realty in Myrtle Beach, decided to look for a place to semi-retire. They set out for Folly Beach, an island they had visited in their youth, and saw the opportunity it had to offer. With the purchase of a small white cottage on Center Street and a single red sign, Fred Holland Realty of Folly Beach was established. With one associate and a broker-in-charge, the office dealt solely with the buying and selling of real estate. Little did the Hollands know that their new business would be instrumental in helping strengthen the economy of Folly Beach over the next three decades.
LaJuan Kennedy, a lifelong resident of Folly Beach, became associated with Fred Holland Realty in 1974. With the increase of investment property sales LaJuan saw the potential for a rental management market. She took the idea to Fred and after much deliberation the property management division of Fred Holland Realty began.
Starting with only ten very basic beach houses, no one knew that one day Fred Holland Realty would manage over two hundred vacation rental units in addition to annually leased homes. The initial ten vacation houses were typical beach cottages, a place to lay your head after a day in the sun. Unlike the modern houses of today these cottage had no televisions or telephones and only one house had air conditioning!
As the years went by and times changed so did the needs of Folly Beach visitors. Although the development of the island was kept to a minimum, it happened all the same. Condominiums and large beach houses were built and fitted with all the modern conveniences and amenities that vacationers had become accustomed to.
Today, walking down Center Street the feel of small town living still exists. Even coming upon the Fred Holland Realty office gives a sense of old-time Folly. Although the original white cottage has had additions, little has changed of the exterior keeping the charm of an old Folly Beach cottage.
Walking through the front door visitors are warmly greeted by our friendly staff with a welcoming smile. Fred and Lajuan can still be found working in the office, always quick with a story of the past 30 years. No one knows Folly like we do! |
