In such a time as this, when not only local markets but also the overall conglomerate real estate industry is at an unforeseen and questionable state, shouldn't we as current or potential local landholders turn to both our forefathers words of advice as well as our residing real estate visionaries for its understanding in the simplest of terms? How does ownership of property and land shape our communities in America? As a quest to find select individuals who help define our little pocket environments in the South, an opportunity presented itself to pick the brain of a local gentleman and his notions of land ownership and taking a stake in a small piece of America.
In January, South of MaDi sat down with real estate broker, Mr. Fred Miller, CEO and founder of Fred Miller Group. In order to understand a man such as Mr. Miller, one must take a look back and catch a glimpse of his history and journey to where he achieved his place in life as it is today. Take into account the Miller family history and their ties to Northeast Florida. The Miller's arrived in Jacksonville in 1910, with Fred's grandfather relocating to Florida where he began a commercial printing company appropriately named, "Miller Press". As a continuation of the company, Fred's father began working for Miller Press in 1937. As a teenager, Fred left Jacksonville to attend college in Tennessee at Sewanee, The University of the South, to soon return by joining Miller Press in 1964. But Fred eventually had other ideas in mind as the years carried on.
Fred resigned from Miller Press in 1978 and started his own marketing and advertising firm, Alfred Miller & Associates. Since sales and marketing seemed to drive his passion in the work industry, Fred took his experience to get his real estate license and then to establish Fred Miller Group with his wife, Carol, in 1990. He decided to open his new business in the westside of Jacksonville where he grew up and knew the community well. After searching for recognizable locations along the the US-17 corridor and thoroughfare from Timuquana Road to Riverside, he couldn't quite find what he was looking for. As a real estate firm, Fred knew if he did a good job at running an agency, he could risk being off the beaten path and succeed. So Fred returned to the heart of his roots in Old Ortega, nestled in the village area of the neighborhood on Corinthian Avenue.
"Ortega is like Mayberry, with a bank, a pharmacy and a number of services to make it a pleasant place to live. This is one of the areas oldest neighborhoods, pretty well built out with large oaks and lots of moss. It is never going to be the vanguard of growth. The saying goes that Ortega rolls up about 7 o'clock at night. I grew up here, it is lovely." states Miller.
As the legacy continues, Fred's son, Ted Miller joined the firm in 1997 and is now President of Fred Miller Group. Fred has two other sons who are in the real estate industry as well. From 2000 through 2006, FMG became the fastest growing realtor firm in town, growing to 60 associates at its peak. Fred Miller Group started out in one small office in the building and grew into occupying the entire first floor. In 2002, Fred and son Ted bought the building where he leases the second floor to other businesses that compliment his agency. FMG serves Northeast Florida with listing and sales in 5 neighboring counties. Fred reports that, "Our mission is to emphasize service and professionalism with the highest ethics and the deepest research. We have comprehensive marketing plans for each home and employ a high caliber of sales executives."
FMG markets itself with several advertisements within the area, and has received numerous awards, but most importantly, assists sellers and buyers with the largest financial transaction of their lives. When the economy took a major hit in 2008, FMG along with every realty agency suffered. "The industry got hot and needed to cool off, we just didn't need the deep freeze," Fred replies.
South of MaDi happened to sit down with Miller on Florida's primary election day. Being that it is an election year, one wonders how the real estate market sees the future in our leaders in this economic tumultuous state, so we asked Mr. Miller to give his insight. "Purchasing a home is vital to America and all Americans. It is important to get control of our federal government, to reduce the deficit and spending. We need to bring order to Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. These things are happening slowly but very important to election day."
What is it about real estate that Fred Miller continues to find an inspiration, even now with the trials and challenges of a tough economy and flippant market? "I find it very rewarding to assist a seller and buyer accomplish each of their respective goals." Miller believes that buying real estate, a home, a piece of land is one of the most important decisions in one's life. "We have assisted one family in 14 transactions on three generations levels. With some family's, they earn "frequent buyer miles" and get a small discount with each transaction."
Nevertheless, Fred Miller Group, remains to stay for the long haul. Fred believes that Northeast Florida and Jacksonville is the most vibrant city in America to live, work and play. Because Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated and became one unit in 1971, given it great size in square miles, there is room for tremendous growth. With a large professional marketplace; including manufacturing, insurance, banking and professional organizations, and a vast infrastructure of interstate and highway systems, it is a great place in which to prosper. The addition of our professional football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, in 1995, was perhaps "Jacksonville's single largest stimulus package," as Miller puts it. Fred believes that the beautiful waterways between the Atlantic Ocean and the St. John's River and the mild climate being, "not so hot, and not so cold", presents a great quality of life here.
In this city with such a fine quality of life, Fred enjoys his spare time by reading and spending time outdoors while walking, riding his bike in the neighborhood and he loves to fly fish the salt flats along the intracoastal waterway. Time spent with children and grandchildren and friends add to his enjoyment as well as "modest travel". "I've made some of my best friends in the real estate industry," he adds. "My family has lived in Jacksonville for 100 years after leaving central Tennessee in 1910, while living there for 100 years." In fact, Northeast Florida's Association of Realtors approaches its 100 anniversary in 2012, coincidentally.
Perhaps it is time for the Miller family to move on to another region in the South to stake their claim in shaping a different community, one might wonder? South of MaDi doesn't believe it to be true for a minute. One of Jacksonville's best assets is the new blood that comes to town and blending in with the old blood that laid the foundation of its history.
Just as a family grows through nomadic changes, our lands and communities grow. What is new becomes old, and the evolution is inevitable and continuous. As the land morphs and ebbs, just as the tide continues to redesign the shoreline, one thing should remain the same; the right and freedom for land ownership, to buy and to sell our stake in the most precious part of our state is owning a little piece of its treasure.
Please visit Fred Miller Group at www.fredmillergroup.com
