“I love creating connections with people, supporting local businesses, and answering questions
for first-time homeowners. I want to make an impact on people’s lives the best way that I can,”
says Top Producer Melissa McCandless.
Colorado Roots
Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Melissa has fond memories of her father working in
new construction. “A lot of my time was spent on new construction properties as a kid,” she
reminisces. “My dad built the house that my sister and I grew up in.” Melissa proudly wore her
hard hat as she would tour properties.
She attended school in Colorado and met her husband Ryan in high school. “We were high
school sweethearts and even went to prom together,” she smiles. After high school, they
worked at the local Ruby Tuesday’s for a year then Ryan decided to join the Army and serve our
country. Ryan was quickly stationed at Hunter Army Airfield and they made the move to
Savannah in 2015.
A Life of Service
Ryan is currently serving with the 1/75 Ranger Regiment. “He can be anywhere in the world in
18 hours,” says Melissa. She is immensely proud of her husband who has a heart to serve our
country. “He has been deployed multiple times and is currently working with the supply
logistics side of the unit.”
Just as Ryan has committed his career to serve others, Melissa has done the same. Despite
initially envisioning a career as an attorney, Melissa found herself drawn to the world of real
estate, a nod to her childhood days.
“I loved seeing houses be built from nothing and form beautiful homes. I loved seeing the
potential of the properties I grew up around,” she reflects. She and Ryan purchased their first
home using the VA loan, which opened up Melissa’s eyes to the promise and potential of real
estate.
Melissa started as a Real Estate Assistant before obtaining her license in 2018 and focusing on
helping first-time homebuyers, particularly military families with the VA loan. With her
experience and firsthand knowledge, she was able to help other military families to stop renting

and invest in their own home instead. Not only did she help her clients build a solid financial
future, Melissa found her future in the real estate industry.
Overcoming Obstacles

Melissa has faced challenges in her career as a young professional and was determined to
overcome them. “I started real estate when I was 25 and sometimes people don’t take you as
seriously when you’re younger with high-end properties. I dressed professionally and made
sure I knew all the information when meeting with clients. I was going to fake it until I made it,”
she says. Melissa works as a Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners and is
also a chair member of the Associate Leadership Council within the Brokerage.
Spread the Word
“I don’t want to be a secret agent,” says Melissa. She wished she had known in the beginning of
her career to tell everyone that she knew that she was in the real estate industry. “Tell
everyone you know that you are in real estate,” she comments, “even if you are new at it.”
Getting the word out helped others think of her when they thought of real estate. “I wish I had
been more open with everyone I had talked to and started networking earlier,” she says.
Melissa worked diligently to get reviews with clients. One rave review led to another as she
began to build her business. She took her time and worked with military families, catering to
their needs when relocating from around the country, and introduced them to the Savannah
area.

Leveraging Social Media

Melissa is able to leverage social media to get the word out about Savannah and all that it had
to offer. A huge supporter of buying local, she encouraged others to do the same and bolster
businesses in the area.

“On social media, my preference is Instagram,” says Melissa. “I started highlighting local
businesses and things to do. I don’t just focus on the house you want to live in, but the local
area in general. I want to be used as a reference for new restaurants, shopping, and for people
to find out what is going on in the community. It’s about loving the city you live in and not just
the house alone.”

Each week Melissa spotlights local businesses on Instagram @home.sweet.savannah,
and business owners are appreciative of her efforts. Connecting with the community is what
Melissa is all about as a Top Producer.