For more than 22 years, Laura Lynne Kennedy Van Rensburg has successfully listed and sold in the luxury home market. She began her career in the St. Louis County market in her home state of Missouri working at the prestigious boutique-realty company of Janet McAfee in Ladue, MO. After a while, Laura's longing for an island lifestyle took her to the Florida Keys where she resumed her career at Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty. She soon gained the respect and attention of the largest real estate broker in the Keys, Brian Schmitt, who asked her to manage two of his five offices, one in Key Largo, the other in Islamorada. Throughout her time in the Keys, Laura became President of the Florida Keys Board of REALTORS®; received a Humanitarian of the Year Award, and earned her most coveted title, REALTOR® OF THE YEAR in 2014, an award earned by the recognition of her colleagues in the business. She eventually transitioned out of real estate management and after returning to her beloved sales position, Laura found frequent success as top lister and top salesperson month after month. She remained at Coldwell Banker Schmitt for eight more years. That is, until she fell in love with international architectural and lifestyle photographer, Andre Van Rensburg and the two were married and worked at the exclusive and private Ocean Reef Club in North Key Largo, Florida. Behind those ‘golden gates’ of the club, Laura worked for Watson Luxury Properties at Ocean Reef@ and in only three short years claimed her way up the real estate rankings from the ‘new kid on the block’ to respected, successful REALTOR@ selling over $14 million in 2023. After years of island living (and dodging hurricanes), The Van Rensburg’s decided mountain living might be a refreshing change of scenery, so off to North Carolina, they went! But after more than two decades in the business, Laura says “real estate gets in your blood, so it's in my DNA, so-to-speak.” She found herself longing to tackle the fourth real estate market of her career. She found a great place to land at Coldwell Banker High Country in Hiawassee, GA. Laura hopes to not only make the high country of Northeastern Georgia and Western North Carolina her home, but yours, too!
Laura and Andre reside in Hayesville, North Carolina with their pets-two Siamese cats and a Standard Poodle-with whom they take on three-to-four mile daily walks. They enjoy exploring the numerous scenic driving routes of Northeastern Georgia and Western North Carolina and frequently join in planned outings with the Appalachian Porsche Club. However, some of their most favorite excursions are on their pontoon boat on Lake Chatuge where ,so far, they have enjoyed three seasons of spectacular weather. The Van Rensburg’s regularly attend church at Hayesville Presbyterian as well.
