#30: Carter Dorsch - Growing a Brokerage, Building Trust, and Selling the Forgotten Coast

In this episode, I sit down with Carter Dorsch, Co-Owner at 98 Real Estate Group, to talk about real estate on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. We get into Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Hurricane Michael, what makes the area so unique, and how Carter went from sitting in empty open houses with a chair and flyers to helping build one of the top real estate brands in the market.We also talk about branding, newsletters, handwritten letters, AI listing descriptions that sound like a robot had too much coffee, Ed Ball, the St. Joe Company, college football, local food spots, and why “don’t half-ass it” is solid life advice. Carter is sharp, honest, and easy to talk to, and this was a really fun one for anyone interested in real estate, marketing, or coastal towns. Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact.Chapters: 00:00 Intro02:24 Carter Dorsch Joins the Show02:54 Running 98 Real Estate Group03:43 Florida’s Forgotten Coast04:45 COVID and Coastal Demand06:09 Hurricane Michael and Mexico Beach08:30 Building Codes and Stronger Homes12:15 Rebuilding After the Storm14:36 Getting Started at 9817:31 Early Pressure and Eating What You Kill21:43 Buying Into the Business23:34 Lessons From Ownership25:03 Branding and Visibility26:52 Newsletters and Referrals28:40 AI in Real Estate31:34 Smarter Direct Mail34:51 Fastest-Growing Coastal Markets37:27 Recruiting Agents and Protecting the Brand40:59 Ed Ball, DuPont, and George Washington43:25 The St. Joe Company53:17 The Future of the Forgotten Coast59:45 Carter’s Long-Term Vision1:02:34 College Football1:05:52 Rapid Fire1:10:29 Handwritten Letters Still Work1:14:08 Famous Clients1:15:32 Don’t Half-Ass It1:17:35 The Myrtle Beach Closing Story1:19:53 Where to Find Carter