Michael Rogers Returns to Lead Atlanta's Oldest, Privately Held Realty Firm

Favorite

MichaelRogersDorsey Alston, Realtors, “Atlanta’s First Family of Real Estate,” is welcoming home the head of its family, Michael Rogers, who is returning to Atlanta from California to lead the city’s longest-established private realty company. Rogers’ father, the late E. Paul Rogers Jr., acquired Dorsey Alston from the firm’s remaining prominent Atlanta founder, Roy Dorsey in 1985. The second generation Rogers has been active with the firm since 2000, the year his father passed away.

Despite the significant downturn in the Atlanta housing market, 2008 was a rebounding year for Dorsey Alston. Changes in the management and ownership of several other longtime Atlanta real estate firms, now owned by large corporate conglomerates, have contributed to the increase in the number of agents affiliated with Dorsey Alston. This brings their active roster to 110 agents and growing, more than doubling their size in just over one year.

Noting the significant number of bank-owned properties at all strata of housing, Dorsey Alston also formed a foreclosure unit, specializing in short-sales as well as detailed assistance and customer service to distressed sellers and financial institutions. As a result of successes in this area, Fairway Capital Partners, is making Dorsey Alston its exclusive listing agent for bank-owned properties in Buckhead, and United Community Bank has already successfully completed the disposition of 12 properties with Dorsey Alston and recently listed 3 more.

The firm is enjoying a healthy amount of momentum in preparation for Atlanta’s market recovery, as well as the return to family leadership in owner, Michael Rogers, who will helm the company as the market emerges from these challenging times.

“This has always been a family-focused, family owned business," said Jody Abstance, former President and Managing Broker for Dorsey Alston. "I am proud to have helped carry on that tradition. Michael’s return is welcomed by our agents, his own family and in-laws and many longtime clients of Dorsey Alston, who have bought and sold their homes with us for generations.”

Rogers will return to the firm in the role of CEO and President, thanking and applauding Abstance for maintaining and growing the family agency over the past two years. Abstance is planning a move north to pursue a new venture in the Carolinas later this spring. Spalding White, a longtime leading Atlanta Realtor, will remain the firm's Senior Vice President and will assume the role of Managing Broker.

“Several unique and potentially historic market forces have allowed us to capitalize on an opportunity to build our team and strengthen our commitment to providing the highest level of client services," said Michael Rogers. "I am thrilled to formally take the lead of the Dorsey Alston team and excited by the opportunities that lay ahead for our firm. I am also looking forward to making Atlanta my home again.”

Rogers, raised in Atlanta, graduated from Westminster, the University of Virginia, and later the Stanford Graduate School of Business, now returns to Atlanta from Palo Alto, Calif., along with his wife, Edith Martin Rogers, a veterinarian and their young son Emory Paul. The Rogers family is now calling Buckhead home again.

About Dorsey Alston

Founded in 1947 by Roy Dorsey and Robert Alston, Dorsey Alston, “Atlanta’s First Family of Real Estate,” has a distinguished track record representing generations of clients and their fine properties in Buckhead, Sandy Springs and Vinings as well the neighborhoods of Ansley Park, Brookhaven and Brookwood Hills. Dorsey Alston remains Atlanta’s longest established and privately owned residential real estate agency. The firm’s detailed knowledge of the market, and commitment to customer service is legendary. You can learn more at http://www.dorseyalston.com