BY ERIN EDGEMON

Laws Bouldin leans back in his chair in his new office on the Murfreesboro Public Square as he talks about the new commercial brokerage company he formed.

The Murfreesboro native has 18 years experience working in the Rutherford County commercial real estate market, which he says is slowing since its peak three years ago.

Bouldin said the commercial real estate market runs on a cyclical cycle that currently may be on a down slope.

"There are only a finite number of tenants that are going to come to Murfreesboro," he said. "I think we are really at the end of small shop space. I can't see much of that being built."

Despite his slightly negative take on the current market, Bouldin said Rutherford County will continue to see growth and land prices and lease rates are already rivaling Davidson County.

Bouldin said he formed Windsor Realty Group because he had gotten to the age where he wanted to do something for himself. Offices are located at 101 N. Maple St. at the corner with East Main Street.

Bouldin formerly worked for Phoenix Associates, which is slowing pulling out of the Rutherford County market, for almost nine years. Previously, he worked for Clark Maples Realty & Auction Co. and on the Johnny Jones Team at Coldwell Banker Snow & Wall.

Commercial agent Mike Baggett has joined the group.

Tad Craig, president of the Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors and broker and auctioneer with Craig and Wheeler Realty & Auction Co., said Bouldin is an experienced commercial broker who has his pulse on the local commercial market.

The commercial side of the real estate market is tougher to get enter than the residential side, Craig said. The commercial market revolves solely on return of investment rather than the emotions of the buyer that influences the residential market.

Bouldin said he formed his own commercial real estate company because he had the desire to make his own decisions. He no longer wanted to split the commission he made on sales and leases with a broker.

Despite a lull in the market, Bouldin said there is room in the market for his company.

He is relying on word of mouth and his connections in the market to compete.

"I get a lot of work from Nashville brokers who trust me," Bouldin said.

Bob Martin, formerly president of Phoenix Associates, has joined Bouldin in a commercial development company, RAMM Partners.

Martin and Baggett did not return phone messages left by The Murfreesboro Post.

The only commercial project that RAMM Partners is developing that Bouldin would disclose is an approximate 17,000-square-foot retail strip center along Memorial Boulevard between Medical Center Parkway and Ridgely Road in Carpenter Village.


Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.


Windsor Realty Group
RAMM Partners
101 N. Maple St.
895-9999


Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.