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BRAD OWEN As CEO of The Montgomery Area Association of REALTORS, Brad Owen’s primary job is to help area Realtors be the best they can in their job. It’s a responsibility he takes seriously and a role he finds immensely rewarding. What first got you interested in real estate?
more demand. Right now, demand is outpacing inventory, and
I actually didn’t come here with a background in real estate. I
hopefully, that translates into more sales but more construction
came from a governmental affairs background, but that makes
too. I think there is pent-up demand to purchase a new home.
sense for what we do. We are not listing and selling homes; we are providing the tools for our members to do that effectively,
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
as well as doing governmental affairs work for our industry.
Keeping our members ahead of the curve. This industry changes a lot and changes quickly, and a lot of that is driven
What is the Association’s primary purpose?
by the consumer. I love anticipating needs and ensuring our
We are a trade association for Realtors, which means we
members have the latest tools before they even know they
assist our members with education requirements, provide the
need them. That way, they are better at what they do, and
lock-box systems they use, provide and maintain the Multiple
helping Realtors help their customers is very fulfilling.
Listing Service (MLS) for the area and handle arbitration when needed. We basically provide all the necessary resources for Realtors to stay in the industry and be successful.
What does Montgomery’s current business climate mean for Realtors and the industry? We think the city is in a good spot. The cost of living is
How many members does the Association currently have? About 1,750. Our territory includes
relatively cheap. The work-from-home movement has opened
Montgomery and the River Region but also from Clanton to
and move to a spot like Montgomery and get a lot more house
Troy and Selma over to Auburn.
and more space for their money and enjoy a higher quality
eyes, and many are finding they can leave a higher-priced area
of life. The pandemic changed people’s mindsets about their
What is your role? I oversee operations and oversee the
homes; many realized they wanted different things: different
staff as we assist the executive committees of both boards [the
layouts and spaces, a bigger yard, a pool. Our area affords
association board and the separate MLS board] in their duties.
the opportunities to have those things better than some other
So, I do a little bit of everything really.
areas.
How have Realtors’ jobs changed in recent years? Technology has allowed the consumer to learn
Why do you choose to be so supportive of the Chamber? The Chamber gives our business community
and know so much more about real estate and properties.
a great, strong voice, so that puts us on the same page and
Sometimes, they now know more than the Realtor does, at
gives us common goals. What the Chamber works to do—
least in the beginning, because they have done extensive
create a better community—falls right in line with what we strive
research online before even contacting a Realtor. In 2003,
for too, so we are a natural fit.
when I started in this job, the Realtor was providing the data.
What are your interests outside of work? I play a
service. The consumer already has the information; the Realtor
little golf. I love hunting and fishing with my kids and traveling
is helping with the transaction.
with my family. This job has blessed me with the chance to travel a lot and expose my kids to a lot, like seeing different
What’s on the horizon for residential real estate in our area? The biggest change coming is not really
scenery, trying different foods, even experiencing foreign
change but growth. I believe we will keep seeing more and
Montgomery, but it is equally nice to come home too.
countries. It’s nice to be able to show them what is outside of
26 MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT FOUTS.
Today, a Realtor’s function has shifted to more customer
