A Columbia native is quickly making a name for himself in the world of real estate.
Luke Pyles, a 2014 Adair County High School graduate, has made an immediate splash in his new career in Bowling Green. He is excited to branch out and take his talents back home to serve the people of Adair County.
This time a year ago, Pyles would have never guessed this is what he’d be doing. The son of Doug and Tammy Pyles was working in the business he grew up around — concrete. This past January, however, Pyles saw an opportunity and made a change.
“I did ready mix concrete for a long time, which is a big part of the construction process,” Pyles explains, “but whenever I was on job sites, I always thought that being a realtor would be so cool. Now that I’m in Bowling Green, I kind of have to forge my own path a little bit in a town and industry where I knew almost no one.”
New goal in mind, Pyles acted quickly and without hesitation. He didn’t forge a path as much as he blazed a trail. By March, Pyles was a licensed realtor.
“I had some great clients reach out on day one of me having my license,” Pyles says. “Three weeks later, we’ve got something under contract.”
The right-off-the-bat duplex sale was not beginner’s luck, and Pyles’ confidence grew.
“I realized, ‘Hey, I might have something here,’” Pyles says. “I knew when I got in this that I wanted to take it seriously and that I would work hard; I just didn’t have really high expectations for it.”
Pyles sales under contract have already reached approximately $2 million, and he has not limited the scope of his business. The 2018 Western Kentucky grad sells commercial, residential, and industrial properties. He recently decided to expand his area of service to include his hometown.
“I come to Columbia multiple times per week,” he says. “It’s my hometown, and I don’t live that far away. Part of why I like Bowling Green is because it is so close.”
Pyles once again turned his dream into reality in short order. He made his first local sale last week.
“I’m excited to be a part of the real estate world in Adair County,” Pyles says. “I love the community. This is where I grew up, where I played football, where I know people, and I’m looking forward to helping them.”
Helping people is one of the factors that first attracted Pyles to real estate.
“I love working with people to get them into homes and investment properties,” he says. “Owning a home is not just about making a mortgage payment. It’s about saying, ‘OK. This is where I’m planting my roots,’ and you become more attached to the community. It’s also a known statistic that, over time, home ownership builds substantial family wealth. It’s exciting to help people achieve that.”
In spite of all evidence, Pyles insists the transition into a new career has not been easy. Working in Bowling Green, he says, presents unique challenges.
“The realtors’ association here has 800 members,” he says. “It’s insanely competitive, crazy fast paced, a totally different world than what I’m used to. However, it’s taught me a lot, and I’ve been able to learn from people who have been in this fast-paced market.”
Another factor has been establishing a strong network of connections, which he knew would be important.
“I don’t know as many people in Bowling Green,” he says. “When I worked in concrete, everyone in the concrete world knew several members of my family and more than likely had been doing business with our company for decades. I’m starting brand new — and it’s been a struggle — but I love the newness and freshness of it all.”
One advantage Pyles enjoys in his new career is a strong network of people familiar with the industry.
He can point to construction experience on almost every branch of his family tree. His maternal grandfather, Roger Carnes, ran an excavating company and laid pipeline all over the U.S. with his brother. His paternal grandfather, Randall Pyles, was heavily involved in a multitude of construction projects over the years, all over the Commonwealth.
His wife, Amber Allen-Pyles, of Albany, has a background in interior design. “My wife will be super involved in the home-building stuff,” he says.
Amber’s family has long been established in the flooring industry. Her grandmother owns Upchurch Carpet and hardwood store in Albany, and her father sells flooring in Florida.
“Basically everyone in my family — both sides — did some form of construction or contracting,” Pyles says.
Inspired by the early success and family support, Pyles is excited for his career’s future prospects, both in Bowling Green and Columbia. He is in the process of becoming a general contractor and has several projects on the horizon.
“I’m just very thankful that I found my passion for construction from working in the concrete business, being on a bunch of job sites,” he says. “I’ve got so many things I want to do. I’ve got a lot of projects coming, and I can’t wait to see where this all goes.”
