William Raveis is a Revolutionary War buff.

That, plus the robust local housing market, was part of the draw when he brought his burgeoning real estate business to Lexington a handful of years ago.

And with the William Raveis office in Lexington Center wrapping up its big-time expansion, the namesake was in town yesterday, Oct. 13, to take in the new digs and talk history. Well, that and real estate.

“The world changed because of this place right here,” said Raveis during a casual conversation with local media. “It’s world famous. There’s a big market with great quality and an amazing town.”

At least part of the reason for Raveis' visit was the office’s 1,000-square foot expansion, which brought the office to about 3,200 square feet. The next stages of the buildout look to invite the public to take a look at the windows and real estate with flat screens and other window systems, Raveis said.

The Lexington Center office is now home to 26 agents who cover the town and adjacent communities. And the build out was part of a company-wide growth plan, which has seen 12 offices expanded in the past two years. 

“We feel the time to expand is during the downturns,” said Raveis. “Lexington hasn’t been as hard hit. We’re in about 500 communities and Lexington looks fairly good.”

David Spears, sales manager for the Lexington branch, spoke to Lexington’s appeal and why it has remained a strong market in tough times.

“Education is a big draw for Lexington,” he said. “And the community has branded itself very well. It’s a starting point for international relocations.”