SEABROOK -- Despite what has been described as an ailing real estate market in comparison to recent years, one local realtor — Yankee Trader — not only continues to thrive, but expand.

Part of that growth can be attributed to two fresh faces in the business, Kara Schaake and Kathy Macgregor.

"We're basically coming at it with a combined 17 years of real estate experience," said Schaake. "We are concentrating on the immediate Seacoast market. There is a limited amount of coastal property. That market hasn't really seemed to decline. We want to be known as the leading coastal property."

Since February, Macgregor and Schaake have been bringing fresh ideas and approaches to the business. They have added rentals to the business' forte that already includes such diverse properties as studio condos to luxury waterfront homes as well as small and large-scale commercial properties.

"We've had great response to it," said Macgregor.

They've also added a fresh new look to the company's Web site.

Schaake and Macgregor are also looking at new ways to market the business.

"We're tailoring the marketing to each property as opposed to blanket marketing," said Macgregor. "We have a slightly different business philosophy."

That includes radio promotions, gearing up for a television production and further utilization of the Internet.

The two women join the second oldest realtor on the Seacoast. Yankee Trader was established in 1957 by Al Janvrin. In the early 1970s Fred Schaake acquired the company.

"Fred has done a lot of development," said 22-year Yankee Trader veteran Jimmy Kennedy. "He's built over 500 homes on the Seacoast."

Schaake acknowledged she and Macgregor are joining a strong company with several years of experience on the Seacoast.

"We're expanding in an existing company," she said. "We saw an opportunity to do things in a fresher, better way. We've joined a company that would allow us to do that. They already have a market presence, we're just hoping to expand the business. We're adding a fresh perspective and we both have a passion for beach real estate. We're bringing new energy to the company."

Kennedy added the future has a good outlook for the company.

"This year the rental market is stronger than it has been in recent years," he said. "We anticipate a good future."

To own your own piece of the Seacoast contact Yankee Trader Real Estate at one of their three locations at 724 Lafayette Road in Hampton (603) 926-3232, along Hampton Beach at 333 Ocean Boulevard (603) 929-4030 or on Seabrook Beach at 12 Ocean Boulevard (603) 474-1040.