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, bought, licensed, or casually gained. For it comes slowly over time, filters through generations – an accumulation of the long learning of lives. It comes from the immersion of a family – it’s collective contribution to its work and to the city it helps grow.
Now more than a hundred years after our founding, we at Watts Realty 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.
Our team
We have a versatile team of experts, with roots in the area, and in property management.
Our History
With local family roots that run deep in real estate, this is our heritage.
Watts Realty Company, Inc., through four generations, continues to be a committed, conservative, ethical, and experienced management and sales team serving the Alabama real estate market and its local communities by active involvement through volunteer and public service. Watts knows of no other real estate company in Birmingham that has been owned and operated by the founding family for so long. These are just a few of the many reasons that give Watts Realty its real estate edge.
First Generation
After working as a Superintendent of Construction for Pratt Consolidated Coal Company, W.A. Watts sought an interest in construction and real estate through several companies. In 1906, he acquired the Cement Block and Manufacturing Co. with W. G. Oliver, constructing many frame and block homes in the area for investment and rentals. These were probably the first of what we now call "split face" block style buildings. Just a couple of the frame homes have survived today and were moved to the grounds of the historical Sloss Furnace in downtown Birmingham for preservation. In 1907, the Oliver-Watts Construction Company expanded its construction, to the purchasing and sales of properties. The Hillman-Watts Land Company of 1908 specialized in the building, buying, selling, dealing and owning of real estate.
This lasted until 1918 when Mr. Hillman passed away and the resulting business became known as W.A. Watts, Realtor. In 1925, W.A. Watts helped organize the Birmingham Building and Loan Association, later federalized to become the Birmingham Federal Savings and Loan Association. In 1931 W.A. and E.R. Watts and M.E. Watts began the Watts Land Co. which built hundreds of homes in the southside area that Hillman-Watts had built. In 1953, W.A. Watts, Realtor became Watts Realty Company, Inc., which exists today. W.A. Watts was a former President of the Birmingham Board of Realtors, and was the Building Chair and fundraiser for the Cripple Childrens Clinic, the predecessor of Childrens Hospital.
Second Generation
Bill Watts, Jr. joined his father at Watts Realty in 1946 after a five year tour of duty in World War II as an Air Force pilot. Bill, Jr. was a former President of the Birmingham Board of Realtors and former President of the Alabama Association of REALTORS. He also served as a National Director of the National Association of Real Estate Boards. Bill Watts, Jr. was recognized as Birmingham's 1963 Realtor of the Year, and as the winner of the 1986 President's Cup Award in Birmingham. The State Association named Bill, Jr. as Emeritus Realtor of the Year after serving for over 50 years in many capacities. His other charitable activities included former President of the Metropolitan Board of Directors of the YMCA, Birmingham, Chairman of the YMCA Birmingham Board of Trustees, former President of the Board of Directors of the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in North Carolina and its Chairman of Trustees.
He was awarded the professional designation of Certified Property Manager (CPM®) from the Institute of Real Estate Management. In the mid-1950's Bill, Jr. assembled over 10 1/2 blocks of land with substandard frame homes found immediately west of the campus for potential expansion of the Medical Center. On June 10, 1958 university officials obtained 10 1/2 blocks of land adjacent to the Medical Center. The first Birmingham Urban Renewal Project allowed the campus to grow west from its original four blocks. Bill, Jr.'s father passed away in 1956 and Bill, Jr. continued the firm until his retirement in 1997 for health reasons. He passed away in 2001. He is our continuing inspiration to do what is right in business and our personal lives. He was awarded Realtor Emeritus by the National Association of Realtors and was a member of the YMCA's Order of the Red Triangle.
Third Generation
In 1970, Bill Watts III joined the firm after graduating from Auburn University and an active duty tour with the U.S. Air Force. Bill III was awarded the national professional designations of Certified Property Manager (CPM®) in 1976, Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM®) in 1982, and Certified Real Estate Broker Manager in 1993. During his 30 plus years with Watts Realty, Bill III served the Birmingham Association of Realtors and was its President in 1988. He also founded and resided as President of the Realtors Service Corporation and as President of the Birmingham Multiple Listing Service. Bill was named the Commercial Member of the Year in 1989, Birmingham's 1990 Realtor of the Year, Alabama's 1991 Realtor of the Year and was awarded the Alabama Realtor's Robert Jemison Award in 1998. Bill is the second in the family to receive the Birmingham Association of Realtors President's Cup in 1998 and the Alabama Association of Realtors David D. Roberts, Sr. Award in 2008.
He further served as a trustee of the Alabama Realtors Political Action Committee and served as its Chairman in 2001. Bill has served as Regional Vice President of the Alabama Association of Realtors and was elected as an officer in 2003. He served as President of the Alabama Association of Realtors in 2006. Bill III's commercial specializations grew Watts Realty into the 6th largest commercial property management firm in 1999 according to the Birmingham Business Journal and expanded Watts Realty's services across the state of Alabama. During the early 2000's, Bill and Watts Realty counseled with UAB and helped assemble the land for the new UAB hospital opened in 2004, as well as the land for the adjacent new UAB Women's and Children's Hospital.
Bill became Chairman of the Board of Watts Realty Co., Inc. in 2007. In June 2007, Alabama Governor Bob Riley appointed Bill to the Alabama Real Estate Commission representing the 6th Congressional District. 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 has also provided 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 continues to serve as a Director on the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly Board of Directors in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Bill III's wife, Jan, operated the newer firm, Watts Residential Sales, which was listed in 1999 as the 10th largest residential firm in Birmingham by the Birmingham Business Journal. Jan was also the third Watts to receive Birmingham's Realtor of the Year in 1999. In 2000, Watts Residential Sales affiliated with Coldwell Banker and in 2001 became Coldwell Banker Preferred Properties - this firm was sold in November 2003. Jan received her Masters of Divinity at Beeson's College of Divinity at Samford University, was ordained and is currently retired after 20 years of service as Minister of Music at Birmingham's First Christian Church.
Next Generation
W.A. Watts, IV known as "Chip", is part of the Next Generation in Real Estate. After graduation from Auburn University in 1996, Chip utilized his Wildlife Science degree by serving as an Environmental Educator at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC before joining Watts Realty in 1998. Chip received his Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM®) designation in 2002 and his Certified Property Manager (CPM®) designation in 2004. In late 2006, Chip became the fourth generation President of Watts Realty and began to enhance Watts Realty's services across the state of Alabama. Chip then promptly earned the prestigious Accredited Management Organization (AMO®) status for Watts Realty from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). In 2008, Chip identified new opportunities for real estate management in the troubled assets/special assets market as the nation's economy began to falter. New management opportunities with banks and other entities holding troubled commercial or residential assets began to emerge across the state of Alabama and Chip launched programs to enhance Watts Realty's services to fill the management needs of such entities. Chip served as the 2008 President of the Alabama Chapter 43 of IREM® and as well as the 2009 President of the Alabama CCIM® Chapter. Chip served as IREM's Regional Vice President for Region 5, covering the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, and as a Senior Vice President from 2015-2020. He served as President of the Birmingham Associations of REALTORS® in 2014. Chip currently serves as President of IREM® beginning in October 2020.
Chip dedicated extra time to the Birmingham YMCA Camp Cosby Board of Management, has served as its past Chairman and is a member of the Metropolitan Birmingham YMCA Finance Committee. Chip recently became a member of the Metropolitan Birmingham YMCA Board of Directors. Chip was honored by both YMCA Camp Cosby and the Metropolitan Birmingham YMCA as its 2007 Adult Volunteer of the Year and was recently honored by the Birmingham Association of Realtors® as its 2008 REALTOR® of the Year, the fourth Watts to receive such an honor.
Another part of the Next Generation to join the firm in 2006 is Michael Watts. With a degree in Communication Studies from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Michael is currently the Marketing Director of the firm, maintaining the firm's internet presence and marketing of clients' properties.
David graduated from Auburn University with a Business Administration degree with a concentration in Family Business Management to bring educational expertise & experiences in business administration and processes back to Watts Realty. He began his official real estate career in 2007, after growing up in a 4th generation real estate family local to the Birmingham, Alabama real estate market. David’s unofficial start was back in the 1980’s helping Watts Realty with basic office tasks like stuffing envelopes. David received his Certified Property Manager (CPM®) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) in 2011. David was awarded 2010 Commercial Real Estate Deal of the Year by the Birmingham Business Journal, 2017 Top Producer (Development) by Birmingham Commercial REALTORS® Council (BCRC), 2019 Most Transactions by BCRC, and continues to qualify as a Life Member from 2011-2021 for the Commercial Real Estate Club of Excellence by BCRC based on vetted transaction volume (BCRC disbanded in COVID19 era 2021). His gross sales and lease volume is reaching towards the $1 billion mark for all developments, investments, office, retail & industrial space leased and/or sold since 2007. David is currently managing real property assets valued over $100 million for investment portfolio clients. David & his wife, Anna Rebecca, are residents of the City of Hoover and attend Green Valley Church. They have two children, Preston (9) & Joshua (5). David is currently serving YMCA Camp Cosby in Alpine, AL on their Board of Directors (former Chairman of the Board). David has served on the Birmingham YMCA Board of Directors as well. In his spare time, he enjoys time with my family, running in local marathons, traveling, attending Auburn sporting events, volunteer workdays at Camp Cosby, playing golf, and enjoying the innovative Birmingham food scene.
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.

