For Ryan Sautman, the concept of home has always been less about a structure and more about the soil beneath it. Growing up on the quiet edge of the Highland School District, Ryan’s childhood was defined by a hundred-acre expanse owned by his grandfather—a patchwork of family plots where cousins lived as neighbors and the boundary between play and responsibility was as thin as a country fence.

It was an upbringing rooted in tradition and proximity, one that Ryan and his cousin often dreamed of replicating. "From the time we were kids, we always talked about how cool it would be if one day we could both raise our families out there too," Ryan reflects. "As life worked out, that childhood dream actually became a reality."

In 2019, the vision came full circle when Ryan built a home on those same ancestral acres. Shortly after, his cousin followed suit. Today, the legacy continues with a new generation. "Now our four kids and his four kids get to grow up right next to each other, just like we did," he says.

Ryan’s path to the upper echelon of real estate wasn’t a straight line, but every stop along the way added a tool to his belt. His first brush with the art of the deal came shortly after he got his driver’s license, fueled by a passion for classic American muscle. He developed a knack for buying Camaros and Trans Ams, driving them for a season, and selling them for a profit.

"It was really my first introduction to sales," Ryan notes. "It helped me realize how much I enjoyed the process of buying, selling, and negotiating."

While he eventually earned a degree in Elementary Education from Greenville College, Ryan realized before graduation that the traditional classroom wasn't his ultimate calling. Instead, he pivoted to the insurance industry, spending nearly eight years—five of those as a brokerage owner—finessing the balance between high-stakes sales and client advocacy.

By 2018, as an affiliate member of the local Realtor Association, the pull of property became undeniable. He wanted to understand the market from the inside out, initially to bolster his own interest in real estate investing and rehabbing. However, the motivation quickly shifted from the physical asset to the human element.

"What I quickly realized was that the biggest benefit wasn’t just the knowledge for investing—it was the people," Ryan explains. "Just like in insurance, I still get to help clients with important decisions... but in real estate, I’m able to spend much more time with them. That allows me to build deeper relationships."

Ryan obtained his license in 2020, hitting the ground running under the mentorship of Rick Swain. Today, he leads the RYZN Group at REAL Broker, supported by a dedicated team including agents Logan Kharibian and Jonathan McCammon, alongside a support staff focused on marketing and coordination.

Despite the rapid growth of his business, Ryan remains anchored by a "family-first" mantra. He and his wife, Jocelyn, share a busy life with their four children: Payton (12), John (10), James (8), and Nora (5). For the Sautmans, homeschooling is the engine that allows them to navigate the unpredictable tides of a real estate career.

"One of the things I enjoy most is working from home and hearing the kids learning, playing, and running around in the background," Ryan shares. "It’s something I never take for granted. I truly feel like God has blessed us with a great family and the ability to structure life in a way that lets us spend so much time together."

In a crowded marketplace, Ryan distinguishes himself by leaning back into his educational roots. He views his role not just as a facilitator, but as a coach. He has traded the defensiveness of a novice for the steady hand of an educator, focusing on empowering clients through data and market trends.

"I also try to lean on my background in education to help coach my clients toward whatever finish line they’re working toward," he says. "My role is to help them understand the options... so they can make the best decision for themselves."

This empathy-driven approach is a byproduct of a childhood spent in a "Godly home" where kindness was the primary currency. Ryan recalls a pivotal moment at age seven, seeing a girl in a wheelchair and feeling a profound sense of heartbreak that stayed with him. It sparked a lifelong awareness of the importance of compassion—a trait he now uses to lift the weight off the shoulders of clients facing "impossible" real estate hurdles.

As he looks toward the future, Ryan isn't interested in chasing awards at the expense of his presence at home. He is content in this current chapter, finding success in the balance of a morning round of golf and a quiet moment of prayer before the workday begins.

"Success also means being present for the moments that matter most," Ryan concludes. "There may come a time when I’m chasing bigger production numbers again, but right now my goal is to build a great business while still being there for my kids’ games, their milestones, and the everyday moments that go by far too quickly."