Hayden buys Home Realty from Barnetts | News
Blake Hayden, a fifth generation real estate agent in Owensboro, has bought Home Realty, 3424 Frederica St., from Gordon and Connie Lou Barnett.
The sale includes brokerage, property management and the building.
The price was not disclosed.
But the property is valued at $ 805,400.
The Home Realty franchise is no longer in use, Hayden said.
The business becomes the Blake Hayden Group.
Gordon Barnett said Home Realty opened in Owensboro in 1964, making it the city’s oldest real estate office.
It was owned by J. Henry O’Bryan until 1984 when the Barnetts bought the business.
They started working at Home Realty in 1981, Barnett said.
He said he and his wife will continue to work as brokers for the new Blake Hayden Group.
“We didn’t plan to sell it,” he said. “But after a casual meeting at the HealthPark and other meetings, we decided to sell to him. His vision for the future is the same as ours. “
Since they don’t have to work in management, they have more time to work with clients, Barnett said.
Hayden’s roots in the Owensboro real estate business date back to 1906 when his great-great-grandfather, JR Laswell East End Realty Co. at 1020-1022 E. Fourth St.
It later became JR Laswell & Sons.
Hayden began his career in 2012 with the ReMax Professional Realty Group.
“It took me about a year to do something,” he said. “But within six months I knew I would do it. In 18 months I wanted to be the best. You have to want it. It’s becoming a lifestyle. “
On February 1, 2020, Hayden founded the Blake Hayden Group.
He said he expected the sale to close on June 19th.
Then, Hayden said, a five-week renovation of the building will begin and be completed by the end of July.
By then, he said, the agency will have 16 to 18 licensed brokers and five or six employees.
Together, Hayden said, the two agencies generated more than $ 30 million in revenue last year.
“I expect to recruit more agents,” he said. “My goal is a significantly higher turnover in ’21.”
Hayden said, despite rising house prices, “I don’t think we’re in a bubble. The demand is simply great. “
He said he recently brought on board Ted Belcher, formerly at David Hocker & Associates, to help grow the commercial division.
The business is now 80% residential and 20% commercial.
However, Hayden said he expected commercial sales to grow.
“Demand for leases is increasing as COVID restrictions are lifted,” he said. “I’m more optimistic today.”
Hayden said he is working with an international company that could have “one of the, if not the greatest economic effects of all time on Owensboro” – if the deal goes through.
That deal is about two years away, he said.
The Barnetts’ decision to sell their agency to him, said Hayden, “is a great honor”.