Monthly Archives: January 2015

Spouse/children(ages)/pets: Wife, Abbey, and son, Will (and dog, Sweet Pea).

Place of employment: Broker at Steve Owen and Associates

You recently were voted in as President of the Asheville Board of Realtors (recently merged with the Brevard Board of Realtors). What are your duties there?
I will serve this year as President Elect, and next year I will be President. The duties include leading the board of directors in business of the board, evaluation of opportunities and potential growth, keeping our membership updated and working to keep down costs for members to do business.

Any crazy/fun stories to share about your years working in real estate?
I’ve been very fortunate to work with a lot of great folks, both clients and agents. There are a few that really stand out but probably my most memorable story is getting lost in the woods trying to find property lines. I was with another agent scouting a property we had just listed and there were a series of trails that ran through the property and into the National Forest. I didn’t realize that there were several trails not identified on the maps I was using, and wound up in the middle of Pisgah National Forest. After a lot of extra hiking, we made it to a paved road, but we were so lost we walked the wrong way. It was a VERY long day!

You’re a new dad! Tell us about Will! How is the balancing of work and family life coming along?
It’s so amazing, I keep catching myself staring at him thinking this is the greatest thing ever! He’s a great kid and has a lot of personality, it’s so much fun. Work and family have always been intertwined for me working in a family business, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. At Steve Owen and Associates, we are a big family, so it’s been great to share the experience with everyone there and to have them lean on when I haven’t slept too much or need some parenting advice!

What’s the status of the real estate market in Brevard? (what can we expect next year?)
The market in Brevard is improving, we saw double digit increases in both the number of homes sold and total volume, and average sales price increased about $30,000 from 2013. Average list price decreased, and there is still a high level of supply, but we are seeing good signs. Land sales have been steady and the number of sales was up slightly in 2014 over 2013. I expect the market to continue on this positive path of slow growth for 2015.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I don’t know if I ever really told anyone when I was young, but I wanted to be a meteorologist. I’ve always been fascinated by the weather and wanted to chase storms and be in the field. I never wanted to be on TV though.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I spent 5 years in the Marine Corps which was a great experience, and I came very close to making it a career.

What’s one item still on your bucket list? I want to visit WWII sites in Europe and the Pacific.

What are your hobbies? I like spending time with family, gardening, golf, college football.

Ever had a brush with a celebrity? Sara Evans, at her concert, she sang a song to me. I love her. Abbey knows and is ok with it.

What are you most proud of in your life?
I’m proud of serving our country, and the fact that my family and our business have been able to have a positive impact on the community and that although we’re not perfect, we try hard to always do the right thing and live by the golden rule.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Brevard?
I love the fact that people care about each other, and that it’s a laid back, fun place to be. There is a lot of excitement about the great things happening here, and I believe we are on the verge of something special.

What was your first job ever? I worked with my Grandfather installing vinyl siding and windows

What was the last home-cooked meal you prepared?  Collard greens, black eyed peas, turnips, and corn bread. Abbey fixed it, but I held Will and watched so that counts, right?

Do you have a secret you never told your parents?  Yes.

What’s one thing you did as a child you hope Will never does? Just reading the question makes my anxiety level shoot through the roof. HA!

When you played make-believe as a child, what did you pretend?
I pretended to be a Marine hitting the beach at Okinawa.

Name some popular hit songs from your youth. Aerosmith, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, George Strait, Clint Black, Wynonna, on the country side.

Who was your favorite singer or group? Willie Nelson. I begged Abbey to name Will after him but didn’t win that one.

What music do you like to listen to today? I love Willie Nelson, Sara Evans, Johnny Cash, Aerosmith, George Jones

Describe a very proud moment in your childhood.
I remember finding a wallet at the grocery store and it was full of money. I took it to the manager and the owner was found in the store. She was very thankful of course, and I just remember that was a cool moment to see her smile and I thought if that was my grandmother, I hope someone would do the same thing I did.

How did you meet Abbey? We went to high school together, she’s a little younger than me but we knew each other. We ran into each other when she was home from college for Christmas and she began her pursuit of me then.

What other names did your parents consider naming you? I think it was Jeremy or Casey

Do you know how your first name was chosen? I don’t but I would guess knowing Dad he flipped a coin.

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions for 2015? Just to spend time with Will and Abbey and my family, and to do good.

What’s the naughtiest thing you did as a child? I don’t remember? Can I get away with that?

What are your dreams for the coming year? The next 5 years? I’m excited about seeing Will grow up and all the firsts. Crawling, walking, talking those things. My family has been here for many generations and I plan to stay here, so I intend to do my part to make this the best community possible. I want to see more economic growth and more well paying jobs, and smart growth that will enable Will to someday have a business here and raise his family in Brevard if that’s what he decides to do.