Erica Rawls
When La-Nysa Ravenel decided she was ready to buy a house, she had no idea what she was looking for.
But that was no problem for realtor Erica Rawls. Helping clients like Ravenel is Rawls’ bread and butter.
“She was really good because, as a first-time homebuyer, I hadn’t looked at anything,” Ravenel said. “It was all kind of new to me.”
Rawls started her own real estate team at Keller Williams of Central PA over a decade ago, following years of working in the industry. However, the past year has proved pivotal for her, as Rawls said she’s really started to cast a clearer vision for her business—that includes strengthening her mission, while widening her reach.
Still, her underlying passion has remained the same for years—helping first-time homebuyers and clients from underserved communities.
“Where I am is where I’m supposed to be. Me helping people, that’s what gives me passion,” Rawls said.
An Advocate
Even though her calling seems so clear now, Rawls didn’t begin her professional life in real estate, but as an accountant. However, she realized that the typical 9-to-5 job wasn’t for her, and she saw real estate as a chance to work for herself.
“I’m a huge risk taker. I’ll jump into something and figure it out once I’m in there,” she said. “That’s just the way I am.”
Rawls admitted that her initial motivation in the new industry was tied to financial gain, but that it quickly became much more.
“Once I figured out that my true purpose was to help people who may otherwise not be able to purchase a home, I was able to communicate that and build that message so I could attract those type of people—first-time home buyers, first-time home sellers, first-time investors,” she said.
When Rawls got into real estate, she entered a field that hasn’t proven to be especially diverse.
According to a 2024 report by the National Association of Realtors, 79% of realtors are white, while only 6% are Black.
On the home-buyer side, the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2020, showed that Black homeowners made up only about 8% of total U.S. homeowners.
“We know that the Black and brown communities are the most underserved when it comes to purchasing a home, financial wellbeing. Those are facts,” Rawls said. “There are some unspoken biases in our industry that we have to overcome. I think part of our responsibility as people of color in the real estate industry is to make people aware.”
Rawls also explained how her presence in the field offers representation to often underrepresented homebuyers, often making the purchasing process more comfortable for them. On the other hand, that can add pressure on Rawls.
“The responsibility is even greater. The expectation is that much higher,” she said. “They’re looking for an advocate. They’re looking for someone who’s going to be able to lead the way for them, to give them a better understanding without being judged.”
Changing the Narrative
Currently, Rawls’ team consists of two agents—herself and her son, Aris Scott, who was inspired to enter the field by his mom.
Like Rawls, Scott favored the idea of working in a field that allowed him the chance to hustle and “get out of it what you put in.” He quickly realized that not only was he in the field’s minority by being Black, but also by being a man, as realtors are majority female.
“Being a Black man in real estate is scarce,” he said. “It motivated me even more to pursue it and be good at it.”
Scott also sees his Harrisburg roots and younger age as ways to reach more people in the area, especially younger first-time buyers
Scott and Rawls both make a point to educate and inform their clients during the home-buying process, and their community, through educational workshops, podcasting and social media outreach.
“Our heart, and the narrative we are trying to change, is that anyone can purchase a home,” Scott said.
Ravenel not only received that kind of guidance as she purchased her first home with Rawls, but Rawls inspired her to begin investing in properties as well. Ravenel now rents apartments and short-term rentals.
“I talk to Erica now all the time,” she said. “She’s a really valuable resource.”
Looking ahead, Rawls plans to continue helping clients like Ravenel purchase homes and build wealth, and she’s encouraged by the increasing diversity both of realtors and homebuyers. She hopes to continue to grow her team and expand their reach. And most importantly, she aims to make the buying or selling process a quality experience no matter the client’s budget.
“Whether you’re looking for a condo or a $3 million house, we are here to service you,” she said. “I think we all deserve the opportunity to be homeowners, if we choose to.”
For more information about The Erica Rawls Team, visit ericarawls.com.
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