It all started when a local Wrightsville beach girl came home for a quick weekend visit from college. Enter, Ben a transplanted UNCW student from California who up until then had been mostly consumed with surfing. Their first encounter over a Fall firepit shifted his focus and he put aside his surfboard to pursue the southern girl! She warmed up to his West coast ways and hence began the joint passion for travel, surfing and adventure.
2 years later, the newly married pair find themselves in South Florida pursuing Ben’s career in aviation. While flying private jets throughout the islands, MaryChris is introduced to an exciting opportunity as marketing and design director with a Bahamian real estate development. This springboards into working alongside several highly acclaimed marketing firms, heading up event production and property design for an international clientele. This exposure to exotic travel, accommodations and luxury hospitality sparked the flame that has been blazing ever since!
With a unique offer to work in the real estate development side of our business, Ben decides to ground his career and earn his real estate license…blink and our son Cohen is born … Time to make another radical shift and return home to the “True” south, landing us back in beautiful Wrightsville Beach NC. Despite a grueling 3 years of the poor housing market, Ben kept stirring on the words of his early mentor:
"Real Estate is the best business in the world-wait on it”
Sure enough the tide shifted and with determination and the home field advantage in coastal NC, Ben is able to grow a $20M/year business when our next little adventure… Liya James greets the world full of zest and spice and we are a family of 4! A new reality of 4xs the luggage, toys, snacks, and surfboards makes travel and hotel stays feel a little more cumbersome. Thankfully the Airbnb empire was emerging and we were sold! Our initial experience as travelers is our foray into becoming investors. Our first STR property was bought in 2018. MC goes right to work renovating a 100 year old bungalow, savoring the imperfections and charms of the historic cottage. She was focused on preserving the character of the home while also incorporating the luxury touches and high end accommodation standards learned from her years working in the resort realm. This single investment was the launch pad for MC's boutique management company, Endless Summer Properties Management + Design. Merging our real estate, design and property management businesses has allowed us to develop a rockstar team and work with the most amazing clients. We truly love all entities of the business whether, buying, selling, renovating, construction, interior design or STR- its our jam:) MC has organically grown the hospitality business, establishing curated, standout properties, 5 Star reviews and a trusted service and referral network for her clients. Her passion today is still rooted in the upstart, creating spaces from scratch and inviting outstanding experiences for our clients and guests.
What's on the horizon? Definitely growing more rock-star properties. Maybe jump back into global destinations? International property management never loses luster but for now Wilmington and our surrounding beaches are pure paradise.
