Ten Years of Rabell Realty Group
(Twenty Years in the Making, If We’re Being Honest)
Rabell Realty Group is celebrating ten years as a brokerage.
But the truth is, this story didn’t begin in 2016.
It began nearly twenty years ago—long before there was a company name, a lease, staff, systems, or any formal acknowledgment that two women under 30 could survive, let alone thrive, in an industry that didn’t quite know what to do with them.
Kristen Rabell and Rebecca Johnson met in 2006 at Bosshardt Realty, at a time when real estate was dominated by professionals 45 and up and youthful ambition was often mistaken for inexperience. Wanting to work hard wasn’t yet a selling point. Wanting to do things differently was often met with skepticism.
So they did what they would continue to do for the next two decades:
They worked anyway.
Long before Rabell Realty Group was a name — the early years at Bosshardt Realty.
Before There Was a Brokerage, There Was the Work
Long before Rabell Realty Group existed, Kristen and Rebecca were already operating as a full-scale business—without a title, without staff, and without a safety net.
For years, it was just the two of them. They did everything. Listings, buyers, contracts, short sales, marketing, admin, troubleshooting, late-night calls, early mornings. They didn’t hire their first staff member until 2014, nearly eight years into working as a team.
Customer service wasn’t a buzzword. It was survival.
Two years after starting their real estate careers came the Big Short: 2008.
The market crashed. Hard.
In Gainesville alone, there were roughly 1,400 Realtors before the crash. By 2009, that number dropped to around 600. New and experienced agents exited the business in waves. Offices closed. Careers ended quietly.
Kristen and Rebecca didn’t leave.
They stayed.
They jokingly—but accurately—started calling themselves “Wartime Survivors.” They didn’t know what a “good market” felt like. They only knew how to work in a hard one. That ignorance turned out to be one of their greatest advantages.
At the time, 99% of their listings were short sales, and while many agents avoided listings altogether, they learned quickly that having listings—any listings—was the path to stability. They leaned in. They learned fast. They built expertise when others opted out.
At the same time, they began working closely with builders, eventually growing that segment until nearly half of their business came from builder relationships—a foundation that would continue to define their success for years to come.
Trust, Travel, and a Snake in a Bathtub
By 2009, their partnership had already been tested in real, unglamorous ways.
When Rebecca traveled to Spain, Kristen stayed behind to run the business. During that time, she attended a home inspection in Suburban Heights. While walking through the primary bathroom, she and the buyer noticed something coiled in the garden tub.
The inspector leaned in.
“It looks like a snake,” he said—just before poking it.
The snake sprang to life. And it wasn’t just any little noodle, it was the dangerous type—rattle and all.
Chaos followed. Screams. Jumping. Adrenaline. Near fainting straight into the tub. Thankfully, no one was bitten. Kristen walked away unharmed—and armed with a story she could not wait to tell Rebecca, who has a lifelong, deeply rooted fear of snakes.
Some partnerships are built on trust.
Others are reinforced by surviving reptiles.
Learning the Business From the Inside Out
In 2011, Kristen and Rebecca made a brief but pivotal move to Matchmaker Realty, a small, family-owned brokerage that completely reshaped how they viewed success. In just nine months, their business more than doubled.
The lesson was clear:
It wasn’t the brokerage name.
It was service, knowledge, and consistency.
In April 2012, close friends Matt and Tiffany Thomas opened their own brokerage, and Kristen and Rebecca joined them. Over the next four years, their business quadrupled. More importantly, they learned what it actually takes to run a brokerage—leadership, accountability, systems, culture, and the weight of responsibility.
They were preparing for something long before they named it.
The Thomas Group years — growth, teamwork, and community roots.
Suits, Heels, and One Very Memorable Fall
In the early years, they took every listing appointment—especially the ones where the answer might be no. Rejection didn’t discourage them. It fueled them.
They wore suits everywhere. Heels included. They wanted to look older. More seasoned. More “serious.”
At one listing appointment in a beautiful University Acres home with polished wood floors, Rebecca confidently strode across the room toward the seller.
And then—
She tripped.
Not a graceful stumble.
Not a quiet misstep.
She went down hard, landing on her knees directly in front of the seller, mid-presentation, in complete silence.
Time slowed. Faces froze. The seller stared. Kristen stood nearby, mouth agape.
It was awkward. It was mortifying. It was unforgettable.
She stood up, Kristen moved the seller past the fall, they finished the appointment, and kept going. Eventually laughing at that moment.
Because that’s what they’ve always done.
August 2015: When the Idea Wouldn’t Leave
After returning from the Florida Realtors Conference in August 2015, something shifted.
While walking through the Village of Haile Plantation, Kristen and Rebecca passed one of their favorite buildings—directly across from the very first brokerage they had ever worked at.
There was a For Rent / For Sale sign.
The building that sparked the next chapter — the sign that wouldn’t let them walk away.
They went to lunch at LimeRock.
They called for details.
Then they told themselves to wait.
They gave it a few months to see if the feeling passed.
It didn’t.
By December 2015, the pull was undeniable. They signed the lease and sealed it with a pinky promise—simple, sincere, and unbreakable.
They committed to building something together. For themselves. Their families. Their future agents. And an industry they believed could be better.
2016: Rabell Realty Group Is Born
With encouragement from their families and guidance from Kristen’s father, Ivo Rabell, Rabell Realty Group officially opened its doors in 2016.
Kristen’s father acted as their Broker while they remained deeply immersed in production—so busy, in fact, that they hired a real estate instructor from Tampa to come to Gainesville to teach classes on-site.
They were joined by Angela Keidel, their first Realtor, followed by many others who believed real estate could be professional without being stuffy—and successful without losing its humanity.
Ribbon cutting day — unscripted, joyful, entirely on brand.
At the ribbon cutting, the Chamber of Commerce asked everyone to pause for photos before cutting the ribbon. The kids had other plans. The ribbon was cut early, capturing a perfectly timed photograph of collective shock—still one of the company’s favorite memories.
Unscripted. Joyful. Entirely on brand.
Then everything changed.
Kristen’s father suffered a major heart attack.
Suddenly, everything stopped.
They had to reset systems.
Reset leadership.
Reset expectations.
It was a stark reminder that building a business is never clean or convenient.
They hired staff. They hired agents. They made mistakes. They fired people. They felt hurt when agents left for other companies. They questioned decisions. They grieved losses—including the devastating death of an early staff member in a tragic motorcycle accident.
And they kept going.
People, Legacy, and the Long View
Some of the most meaningful growth came from unexpected places.
Their long-term bookkeeper, Amanda Fritz, was once a buyer they worked with while representing Innovative Home Builders in Cinnamon Hills—a neighborhood where Kristen and Rebecca both built and lived.
They brought on Skye Maze, Kristen’s longtime friend and PK Yonge classmate—also a past client. They helped her build her career, watched her leave, and welcomed her back when she returned.
Kristen’s wife, Susan Hicks, made a life-changing decision to leave her career as a police officer and join the brokerage as a Realtor—bringing family into the business in the most literal way.
Over time, Kristen and Rebecca transitioned from closing high volumes of real estate to training, mentoring, and teaching agents.
Behind the scenes — building systems, training, and growing together.
They tested systems. Tried teams. Invested in lead generation. Paid for expensive coaches who mostly told them to do what they already knew—and encouraged them to buy the same products that made those coaches successful.
They tried to mirror other brokerages.
They learned they didn’t fit that mold.
And that was okay.
Wins, Growth, and Giving Back
There were wins—real ones.
They consistently defied the odds by maintaining strong numbers and deep builder relationships. In 2017, Rabell Realty Group was honored with the Gainesville Area Chamber Startup Business of the Year Award.
They opened a property management company, later rebranded it, and continued evolving.
They gave back—through donations, nonprofit boards, real estate organizations, and community leadership.
One of the moments we’re most proud of — giving back to our community.
Today, Rebecca runs KNR Property Management, while Kristen serves as the primary trainer and Broker, overseeing agents and shaping the future of Rabell Realty Group.
Ten Years In. Twenty Years Together. Still Standing. Forever Grateful.
Most businesses don’t make it ten years.
In fact, only about 30–35% of small businesses survive a decade.
Rabell Realty Group did.
Twenty years as teammates.
Ten years as Broker-Owners.
In an industry many believe is easy—or unnecessary.
And yet, here they are.
While the Village at Haile Plantation will always hold a special place in the Rabell Realty Group story, growth has a way of inviting change. In April 2025, it became clear that it was time for a new chapter. The company moved to a northwest location that better supports what Rabell Realty Group continues to become.
A new chapter — the move that better supports what Rabell Realty Group continues to become.
The address changed.
Systems changed.
Programs evolved.
New agents joined.
The values did not.
We are eternally grateful for the mentors, colleagues, and industry professionals who shared their knowledge and guidance along the way. To every brokerage that helped shape our understanding of this business—thank you.
To our clients—past, present, and future—your trust humbles us more than you know.
And to our families: thank you for your patience, support, and understanding. For the phone calls taken on vacation, the business handled in theme-park lines, and the unwavering encouragement that made everything possible.
The future will bring growth.
It will bring challenges.
It may bring another full market reset—just like the one they started in.
But grit doesn’t disappear.
Momentum doesn’t fade.
And unwavering belief doesn’t break easily.
The Gainesville real estate market has known the Rabell name for generations—from Kristen’s grandfather, to her father, to what it has become today.
That legacy isn’t ending.
It’s only getting bigger.
And better.
Still growing.
Still learning.
Still grateful.
And still in it—to win it.
Come Celebrate With Us
Join us as we celebrate ten years as a brokerage — and twenty years in the making.
Ten years as a brokerage deserves a moment—and we want to celebrate it with the people who helped build it.
We’re hosting a 10-Year Anniversary Celebration and would love for you to join us.
Event details + RSVP here:
Rabell Realty Group 10-Year Anniversary Celebration (Facebook Event)
With Deep Gratitude to Our Sponsors
This celebration would not be possible without the generosity and support of the incredible community partners who continue to invest in our business and our mission. We are sincerely thankful to each of the sponsors who stepped up to help us mark this milestone.
- Eric Remy — Landmark Mortgage
https://gainesvillemortgageloans.com/eric-remy/ - Kerry Ward — Darr Schackow Insurance Agency
https://www.dsins.biz/contact/kerry_ward.aspx - Maury Ivey — Scruggs Carmichael & Wershow, P.A.
https://www.scruggs-carmichael.com/attorney-profiles/maury-ivey/ - The Best Restoration
https://thebestrestoration.com/water-extraction-gainesville/ - Libby Mills — The GNV Law Firm of Holden, Roscow & Caedington, PL
https://www.gnv-law.com - Brian Goldman & Kristen Little — Evergreen Home Loans
https://www.evergreenhomeloans.com/loan-officers/brian-goldman - Brian Rundle - Americas Mortgage Professionals, LLC
https://www.experience.com/reviews/brian-13348354
To each sponsor: thank you for being part of our story, and for helping us celebrate the past while supporting what’s still ahead.
Business Growth – One of the strongest referral networks in the country, opening doors to new clients and partnerships.
Community & Mentorship – A supportive network where peers encourage one another and share knowledge instead of competing.
Education & Training – Workshops, programs, and conferences that keep members sharp and ahead of industry trends.
In short: WCR is where REALTORS® go to grow.
From all of us at Rabell Realty Group — congratulations, Susan! This is a HUGE honor, and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate this milestone with you.
Living in Gainesville means you’re never far from natural beauty, historical gems, and the salty air of the coast. Whether you’re dreaming of lazy beach days, charming mountain towns, or a weekend at sea, there’s something rejuvenating waiting just a few hours away.
Willing to Travel a Bit Farther? Try These Dreamy Destinations:
Need a Quick Recharge? Try a Weekend Cruise!
Affordable Options for Set Incomes:
Final Thought: Life’s Short—Take the Trip
Hurricane Season officially kicks off this Sunday, June 1st—and while folks on the coasts are already clearing the bread aisles and panic-Googling “how to board windows,” here in Alachua County, we can take a deep breath.
), here’s your guide to staying calm, safe, and storm-savvy in Alachua County.
A Note for Homebuyers: Don’t Let a Storm Delay Your Closing!
If a storm is named and projected anywhere near Florida, insurance companies can temporarily pause issuing new policies—even if your home isn’t in the path.
What You Actually Need to Have on Hand
But What About the Yard?
Where to Park if You Live in a Flood-Prone Area
“A Hurricane Has Formed” — Now What?
Reminder: Calm is Contagious
Celebrate Pride Month 2025 in Gainesville & Alachua County
Kick Off Pride: Queer Makers Market
Saturday, June 1 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
4th Ave Food Park, Gainesville
Pride Party @ First Magnitude Brewing Co
Pride Month at The Hippodrome Cinema
Hosted at The CandE Factory (1125 SE 4th St)
Pride Bracelet Night (Sensory-Friendly)
PRIDE at Heartwood: Bimbo Night
Featuring DJs: Kill Zach, Çrisca, and Rafaga
Sliding scale entry | Donations benefit 
Happy Hour: 8–9 PM
Dancing: 9–12 AM
Food vendors on site
More Pride Events to Check Out
Pride is for Everyone
