Vero Beach, FL – A pioneering force in the real estate industry with deep local roots is celebrating a major milestone this month. Private Communities Registry (PCR), a Vero Beach-based company that launched the nation’s first search engine dedicated to lifestyle and master-planned communities, is marking its 30th anniversary.
Founded in 1996—two years before the launch of Google—PCR established itself as an early innovator in the digital real estate space. While traditional real estate marketing focused almost exclusively on square footage and property specifications, PCR introduced a platform designed for buyers prioritizing lifestyle, amenities, and location.
The company was co-founded by Marie Roberts, a real estate industry veteran who previously worked as a broker in Vero Beach. Her experience in the local market, as well as her time at the Ocean Reef Club, helped her identify a specific gap in the industry: affluent buyers needed a way to compare communities based on how they wanted to live, rather than just the houses available.
“In the mid-1990s, lifestyle buyers had no trusted online resource to help them compare communities. I knew there had to be a better way to connect people with places that truly fit how they wanted to live. PCR was created to fill that gap—and 30 years later, that mission hasn’t changed.” — Marie Roberts, Co-Founder & President of PCR.
From Local Roots to National Reach
What began as a showcase for a handful of gated communities in Florida and the Southeast has expanded into a national platform. Today, PrivateCommunities.com features nearly 300 of the top private and master-planned communities across the United States. The platform attracts approximately one million visitors annually, catering to a demographic primarily aged 45 to 65+ who are seeking specific lifestyle amenities such as:
Over the last three decades, the Vero Beach-based registry has navigated significant industry upheavals, including the 2008 housing recession and the drastic market shifts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout these cycles, the company has maintained partnerships with some of the nation’s largest builders, including K. Hovnanian Homes, Lennar, Kolter Homes, and Minto Communities.
Navigating the Future of Real Estate
As the real estate sector faces new technological disruptions from artificial intelligence, PCR leadership believes their model remains relevant by focusing on “high-intent” buyers. Ben Keal, the Director of Sales & Operations and Managing Broker for Private Communities Realty, LLC, noted that while AI changes how consumers gather data, the fundamental need for trusted, lifestyle-specific information remains.
“PCR has always attracted buyers who are serious, informed, and ready to act,” said Keal. “What’s remarkable is how well that model still performs today—even as technology and search behavior evolve. Communities don’t just need traffic; they need the right traffic.”
As the company enters its fourth decade of operation from its headquarters in Indian River County, it continues to serve as a primary bridge between lifestyle-oriented homebuyers and developers, solidifying Vero Beach’s connection to the broader national real estate technology landscape.
