Jack Webb

Jack Webb started in real estate 22 years ago as an agent, then turned to developing, but has now focused most of his attention back to brokerage.

“I wanted to diversify my efforts,” he said. “The market is a little bit slower, but the Chattanooga metro area is still doing great, much better than Florida and other areas. It’s exciting to be a part of what’s going on in Chattanooga.”

Mr. Webb is dividing his labors, doing about two-thirds brokerage with Crye-Leike Realtors’ downtown Chattanooga office and a third in development, he said. His Crye-Leike work involves mostly commercial brokerage, but he also handles residential, land and investment properties, he said.

Mr. Webb has been known for the last six years as a developer and builder, having worked on high-profile neighborhoods like Fieldstone Farms and Greenbriar Cove. But his real estate experience began with Huffaker Realtors, where he moved up the ranks to become president under Hugh Huffaker.

When Mr. Huffaker wanted to retire, Mr. Webb said they reached out to Harold Crye of Crye-Leike Realtors, which had grown large in Memphis and Nashville. Crye-Leike in December 1997 acquired Huffaker’s four offices. Nearly all of the company’s 95 agents stayed on board, he said.

The Chattanooga native said he served as Crye-Leike’s area vice president and general manager for several years, until he decided to try residential development.

It was hard making his announcement to Mr. Crye, he said, because the company had been good to him. But, he had always wanted to be a developer, and he saw some great opportunities in developing. He kept his license and office at Crye-Leike even though his focus had changed.

Mr. Webb said he teamed with builders Ed Smith and Don and Mike Moon and bought 180 acres in Walker County to create Fieldstone Farms. They sold all of the 127 lots in the first phase to various builders, who have completed three-fourths of the houses, he said.

The next phase won’t start for at least another year, he said. County officials have approved the subdivision to have 500 homes, so it would become the largest community in Walker County upon completion, Mr. Webb said. Fieldstone Farms also features commercial businesses, including a bank and fitness center.

Mr. Smith said he has known Mr. Webb since their high school days at McCallie School, and their friendship has extended into business and other events, such as weekly Bible studies.

In their business dealings, Mr. Smith said Mr. Webb handled bill paying and sales, and was always scrupulous in financial matters.

“If there was a mistake on the closing, even if it hurt us, he pointed it out,” Mr. Smith said. “If there was an issue with someone’s house that was not resolved, he would solve it.”

Mr. Webb also worked with Mr. Smith and David Ambrosetti to develop Cummings Pointe, a 25-house component of the Cummings Cove community in Lookout Valley. And, Mr. Webb, Mr. Smith and Mr. Ambrosetti built 40 houses in Greenbriar Cove in Collegedale, which is being developed by Greg Vital and Franklin Farrow.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with some great mentors and partners,” Mr. Webb said. “Life has been a huge blessing.”