Nationally Recognized SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate Celebrates 25 Years in Business

November 01, 2021   |   Brokerage

People and the relationships we've built over these past 25 years are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Our continued success is a direct reflection of this, and we want to thank all those that have contributed, advised, and helped us along the way.

LAKELAND, FL, November 1, 2021 – SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate, a full-service land and commercial real estate brokerage firm is celebrating 25 years of success this year. The company is looking back proudly at the many milestones in its history of real estate success.

Relationships are key

Today, after 25 years, the firm is led by three top industry brokers who offer clients a comprehensive range of real estate services based upon their unique contributions to the real estate industry. 

People and the relationships we’ve built over these past 25 years are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Our continued success is a direct reflection of this, and we want to thank all those that have contributed, advised, and helped us along the way,” said Dean Saunders, Founder & Senior Advisor of SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate.

An eventful history

The firm was founded in 1996 by Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM, as Saunders Real Estate, LLC, the company that specialized in land and conservation easements. Beginning in 2006, with a Coldwell Banker Commercial affiliation, the company and many of its advisors earned substantial recognition and awards as a high-performing office.

In 2011, Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM, Gary Ralston, CCIM, SIOR, and R. Todd Dantzler, CCIM, founded a sister brokerage to provide a holistic services approach to new and long-standing clients with office, retail, industrial, and multi-family properties.

The following years were filled with watershed moments, including the creation of a specialty group of foresters, who are licensed real estate agents and brokers in 2013. In 2014, the firm opened a satellite office in Lake City, Florida, to provide timber services. The company opened Saunders Auctions in 2016, which provides an accelerated avenue to sell property.

In 2019, the company joined the SVN Shared Value Network®, a globally recognized commercial real estate brand united by a shared vision of creating value with clients, colleagues, and communities. Now unified as one marketing brand under SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate, the alignment provides expanded marketing reach through a global, growing brand.

Over the past 38 years of my real estate career, I am thankful for everyone’s part in the growth and development of our company, and I am excited for what is yet to come,” said R. Todd Dantzler, Partner & Senior Advisor.

History-making deals

Through the firm’s three office locations in Florida and Georgia, commercial and land real estate transactions have ranged from as high as $565,000,000 to 124,500 square feet to 9,000 acres. They have reached as far as Colorado to South America. Most notable, recent transactions in 2020 include the sale of a central Florida industrial park selling for $7,050,000, a portion of a 1,265 ± acre high fenced ranch in Georgia, and the most notable sale of The Bluffs of St. Teresa. The 17,000-acre transaction was purchased by the State of Florida for $43,000,000 and awarded the Deal of the Year by LandReport Magazine.

The partners, senior advisors, and advisors of SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate have landed some of the most impressive listings in 2020, some that are still on target to hit the market by year’s end. We have some of the industry’s most result-producing talent”, Gary Ralston, Partner & Senior Advisor at SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate says, “It has been an honor to work alongside so many amazing people over the past years.”

Commitment to excellence

SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate is on track to reach nearly $4 billion in total sales by the end of the year. The ongoing growth and continued momentum are supported by contributions from the three partners, 65 advisors, and in-house team members. 

The firm’s land advisors have histories of land ownership and management, and experience brokering development, agriculture, cattle, citrus, timber, and international land and lend their expertise through the specialty divisions including forestry, conservation easement, hunting lease management, auction, and global sales. Seven (7) advisors have earned their Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation.

Commercial services are managed by in-office expert advisors, including ten (10) Certified Commercial Investment Members (CCIM’s), who offer diverse backgrounds, participate in advanced training, and hold industry accreditations. Services include commercial and business brokerage, property management, leasing/tenant representation, and valuation/market positioning.

Saunders, who currently serves as the 2021 President-Elect on the REALTORS® Land Institute Executive Committee, recognizes this, “Our commitment to excellence, exceptional staff, and expert advisors are an essential key to our current and future success. I’m proud of our accomplishments and thrilled to be part of the ride.”

Media Contact:
Jennifer Williamson
Marketing Director
jennifer.williamson@svn.com
863.272.7151



About SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler

SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate is a full-service land and commercial real estate brokerage representing buyers, sellers, investors, institutions, and landowners since 1996. The firm is nationally recognized as an authority on all types of land and commercial real estate, including agriculture, ranch, recreation, timber, and development, as well as office, retail, industrial, and multifamily properties. Services include brokerage and advisory, land consulting and entitlement, land management, commercial property management, leasing and tenant representation, site selection, property valuation, data-driven market reports, and conservation easement negotiation. With an extensive team of real estate advisors located throughout the Southeast and offices in Florida, Georgia, and Arkansas, SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate has the knowledge and resources available to help clients realize their real estate investment goals.