About Us
We've learned and perfected property management through our longevity.
In any human work there is a level of mastery that cannot be faked.
It cannot be bought, or licensed, or casually gained.
For it comes slowly over time, filters through generations.
A body of wisdom earned through the sweat of a brow,
Entire lives spent in pursuit of excellence.
It comes from the immersion of a family –
It’s collective contribution to its work.
It comes from being knocked down and getting up.
Better solutions, best practices.
We are the founders and stewards of a business,
But more importantly, we're builders of a city.
Now, more than a hundred years later,
We still serve the city we helped build.
And we bring to it not years of experience,
but generations of it.
We are Watts Realty. Next Generation Real Estate.
Integrity, Ethics, & Service are the foundations of our business
Our team
We have a versatile team of experts, with roots in the area, and in property management.
Our HERITAGE
With local family roots that run deep in real estate, this is our heritage.
Walk into our office on Third Avenue South and you'll see original architectural blueprints on the brick walls, watercolors of Birmingham landmarks our family helped shape, and historic photographs of a city rising from the red dust into a modern skyline. These aren't just decorations. They're reminders of what four generations of one family have poured into this place.
Since 1906, the Watts family has managed, built, and invested in Birmingham real estate. In 2007, the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce recognized Watts Realty with its Centennial Award. We know of no other firm in the city that has been owned and operated by the same founding family for this long. The continuity isn't a talking point - it's how we work. It shapes how we manage a single rental home and how we advise on a multimillion-dollar commercial portfolio.
First Generation
W.A. Watts came to real estate through construction. In 1906, he acquired the Cement Block & Manufacturing Company an began building some of Birmingham's earliest block-style homes - several of which survive today, preserved on the grounds of Sloss Furnaces. Over the next two decades he expanded into land development across the Southside, helped organize the Birmingham Building and Loan Association in 1925 (later federalized to become the Birmingham Federal Savings and Loan Association), and served as President of the Birmingham Board of Realtors. After years of clients and community referring to his business as simply "Watts Realty", W.A. officially changed it to Watts Realty Company, Inc.- the entity that endures today. Beyond real estate, W.A. chaired the fundraising effort that built the Crippled Children's Clinic, the predecessor of Children's Hospital of Alabama.
Second Generation
Bill Watts, Jr. joined the firm in 1946 after five years as an Air Force pilot in World War II. He earned the Certified Property Manager (CPM®) designation and served as President of both the Birmingham Board of Realtors and the Alabama Association of REALTORS. His most lasting mark on Birmingham came in the mid 1950s, when he assembled more than 10 1/2 blocks of land adjacent to the UAB Medical Center - property that, through Birmingham's first urban renewal project, allowed the campus to grow from four blocks into the medical district we know today. Bill, Jr. brought the same drive to civic life, serving as President of the YMCA Birmingham Metropolitan Board of Directors. He was named Realtor Emeritus by the National Association of REALTORS and received the YMCA's Order of the Red Triangle. He remains our standard for doing what is right in business and our personal lives.
Third Generation
Bill Watts III joined Watts Realty in 1970 after graduating from Auburn University and completing active-duty with the U.S. Air Force - the second generation to serve the country before serving the family business. Over more than 55 years, he built the firm's commercial management practice into one of Birmingham's largest and expanded it reach statewide. He holds the CPM, CCIM, and CRB designations, served as 1988 President of the Birmingham Association of Realtors, was named Alabama's 1991 Realtors of the Year, and served as 2006 President of the Alabama Association of Realtors. Like his father, Bill III played a direct role in shaping UAB's campus, counseling the university on land assembly for both the new hospital that opened in 2004 and the adjacent Women's and Children's Hospital expansion. Governor Bob Riley appointed him to the Alabama Real Estate Commission in 2007, where he served nearly 14 years, much of it as Chairman or Vice Chairman.
Bill III's charitable activities include former Chairman of the Board of Hargis Christian Retreat and Chair of the Diaconate and Mission Council Moderator of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Bill also completed multiple terms of service as Chairman of the Board of Management of YMCA Birmingham Camp Cosby, member of the Board of Management of YMCA Birmingham Hargis Retreat, and as a member of the YMCA Birmingham Metropolitan Board of Directors. In addition, Bill served 20 plus years as a Director on the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly Board of Directors in Black Mountain, North Carolina before his retirement in 2024.
Next Generation
Modern Management & Global Perspective
The fourth generation joined Watts Realty between 1998 and 2007, each bringing a distinct strength to modernize the firm while honoring 120 years of family commitment to Birmingham
W.A. "Chip" Watts, IV joined Watts Realty in1998, and became the fourth-generation President in 2006. Before entering real estate, he worked as an environmental educator at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in North Carolina—the same organization where his father and grandfather served on the Board of Directors. He holds the CPM® and CCIM® designations and promptly earned the firm’s Accredited Management Organization (AMO®) credential from IREM. When the economy faltered in 2008, Chip launched programs to serve banks and institutional holders managing troubled and special assets across Alabama. His leadership has been both local and international: 2014 President of the Birmingham Association of Realtors (the fourth Watts to be named BAR Realtor of the Year), 2021 International President of IREM, and a current member of the NAR Executive Committee and Board of Directors. He continues the family’s deep YMCA ties as 2025/2026 Chief Volunteer Officer/Chairman of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham and a 2026 appointee to the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly Board of Directors.
David, CPM® joined the firm in 2006 and now serves as Director of Property Management, overseeing commercial assets valued at more than $100 million for investment portfolio clients. His career gross sales and lease volume approaches $1 billion across development, office, retail, and industrial properties. David continues the family tradition of YMCA service on the Camp Cosby Board of Directors.
Michael joined the firm in 2006 and serves as Marketing Director, ensuring that a firm founded in 1906 stays at the leading edge of how clients and prospects find and evaluate real estate services today.
Accreditations
Recognizes excellence among real estate management firms. Only those firms that achieve the highest level of performance, experience and financial stability can earn the AMO® credential.
Ensures recognized expertise in the disciplines of commercial and investment real estate. A CCIM® is an invaluable resource to the commercial real estate owner, investor, and user, and is among an elite corps of 7,500 professionals across North America who hold the CCIM® designation. CCIM® Alabama Chapter
Educates and certifies the competence and professionalism of individuals and organizations engaged in the management of real estate, serves as an advocate on issues affecting the industry, and enhances its members' professional competence so they can better identify and meet the needs of those who use their services. IREM® Chapter 43
The CPM® is an internationally recognized symbol of ethical leadership and a well-managed property. A CPM® is an invaluable resource for owners and investors who need ethical and experienced managers to care for their real estate investments.
The CRB® designation is designed for experienced owners, brokers, managers, and supervisors to raise professional standards, strengthen individual and office performance, and sharpen expertise in brokerage management. Since 1968, CRB has represented the highest level of professional achievement in real estate brokerage management.
Associations
America's largest trade association, representing 1.3 million members, including NAR®'s institutes, societies, and councils, involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
The largest statewide organization of real estate professionals comprised of over 16,000 members from 26 boards and 1,200 real estate companies. United by adherence to a Code of Ethics, members work as real estate professionals in the sale, lease, appraisal, management and development of residential, commercial, rural and resort properties throughout Alabama.
The Commission has a long-standing tradition dating back to January 1st of 1928 of serving the public through the licensing and regulating of licensees. With over thirty-three employees working in areas of accounting, investigation, public relations, information technology, licensing, and education, AREC ensures excellence in our profession by exhibiting stewardship, service, innovation and integrity in everything we do. The governing leadership of nine commissioners helps build a broad statewide perspective.
Started as far back as 1890, The BAR promotes the value of using a REALTOR®, enhances members’ opportunities to serve professionally and ethically, and advocates for real property rights.

Birmingham Commercial Real Estate Council (BCRC)
The BCRC provides services to Birmingham’s commercial brokers, appraisers, property managers, consultants, developers and others specialists in commercial real estate.

NAIOP® provides advocacy, education and business opportunities by connecting members in a powerful North American network in the commercial real estate development and investment industry.
The National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM®), founded in October 1988, provides a permanent trade organization for the single family and small residential property management industry. NARPM® continues to be the premier professional association of residential property managers, currently representing more than 6,000 members comprised of real estate agents, brokers, managers, and their employees.

