At the tender age of 24, John Jones entered the real estate business with little knowledge of what was to come.
Twenty-five years and more than 5,000 transactions later he is a leader in the field and head of his own firm, John Jones Realty.
"At 24, I didn’t even own a home. I moved back here and lived with my mom," he told the friends, family and employees who gathered Friday morning, March 2 to surprise him with a cake.
He said he didn't think anyone who would trust him enough to buy a house from him. But with the help of his mentors, he built a name for himself.
"When I look back at my career, I look at the people god put in my path," Jones said.
The top two men to make a mark on his life were Howard Wall at Snow & Wall Realty and builder John Floyd.
"If I didn’t have those two guys, I don’t know where I’d be," Jones said.
When Jones went to work for Snow & Wall, Wall took him under his wing and assigned him to the office next to his, John Floyd.
Floyd, who founded Ole South Properties and was named the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Business Legend of the Year, began building houses in 1986. In 1993 when the young Jones moved into the office next door, Floyd saw an opportunity for the young man. Floyd gave him some tips and tricks of the trade, Jones said.
"Sure enough, it worked like a charm," Jones said.
As his business grew, he decided he needed help so he hired Michele Bufford, who went to work organizing his business life. More than 20 years later, she is still his right hand.
Jones also thanked other people in the industry as well as his family for supporting him over the years.
"Everybody in his room has touched me in some way," he said, pointing out builders who have erected houses, real estate agents who have sold for him, partners in his business ventures from over the years.
About John Jones
Before opening his own brokerage he was a perennial top producer for Coldwell Banker from 1998 to 2008, consistently ranking among the top 1% of agents in the nation.
In 2007, The John Jones Team was ranked 43rd in the country and #1 in the state of Tennessee in units sold by The Wall Street Journal. Additionally, in 2005, John was recognized as one of the top real estate professionals in North America when he was named a STAR POWER "STAR".
In October of 2008, John realized his vision of a small boutique real estate firm that offers the best in customer service, market knowledge, wealth building opportunities, and innovative techniques that get homes sold.
A real estate innovator both locally and nationally, John is one of the first agents here to utilize a support staff that includes an Office Manager, Closing Coordinator, Operations Manager, Listing Coordinator, Marketing and Technology Consultant, and five full-time Sales Consultants.
He was born and raised right here in Murfreesboro. A second generation realtor, he followed in his father’s and uncle’s footsteps and began his real estate career in 1993 at the young age of 24.
Always a true innovator, John was the first realtor in Rutherford Country to employ the team approach.
John has achieved numerous regional, state, and national awards and enjoys occasionally training and speaking to sales groups all over the country. His loyalties, however, are here where he adds value to his client’s lives daily.
John outside interests mainly consist of following his children's sporting events. He has one son playing football for the University of Tennessee and his two girls play basketball for Providence Christian Academy.
He has been married to his wife Tracy since 1994 and has four children, Jack, Pruitt, Liza Jane, and Mary Margaret.
In addition to being a leader in the real estate industry and dedicated father, he has also served on the board of the Murfreesboro Housing Authority and as treasurer for the Oakland Endzone Club as well as on several nonprofit boards and is currently involved with A Soldier’s Child and many youth sports programs here in Rutherford County.
Michelle Willard is a freelance journalist who fills her days with social media marketing, politics, true crime, and taking complaints. You can complain to her on Twitter @MichWillard or by email michelle(at)murfreesborovoice.com.
