NBI PROPERTIES, INC.
FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA

A sixth generation native of the Emerald Coast, Craig Barrett grew up in Fort Walton Beach and never found a reason to leave. His devotion to the region is one of the reasons why he and partner Jayme Nabors have established arguably the most successful commercial real estate brokerage in the Southeast. Since the two teamed up nine years ago, NBI Properties has leased more than one million square feet of commercial real estate to investors and business owners. Whether it's industrial space, office buildings, shopping centers or mixed-use facilities, Barrett thrives on letting his clients know the Emerald Coast is great for business. He firmly believes that unparalleled knowledge of the local market is what sets NBI apart from its competitors. “No one knows the market like we do,” he said. “Honesty and integrity is what we are known for, so we always tell our clients the truth – even when they don’t like to hear it! “ Humble to the core, Barrett also attributes much of the company's success to his partnership with Nabors. When they founded NBI Properties in 2005, they shared the same goals and vision about what they wanted to accomplish in the commercial real estate market. “Jayme is one of the smartest people I have ever been around in the real estate business,” said Barrett. “There's a long line of successful entrepreneurs in his family, so it's no surprise he has an incredible business sense. When we founded NBI, we both agreed that our source would be God and that we would not be motivated by greed. We said we would always put the needs of our clients first, and we have." Hard work was a habit instilled in Barrett at an early age. A graduate of Choctawhatchee High School and Okaloosa Walton College, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service and for Federal Express several years before he was bitten by the real estate bug. His first stint was as an employee of Realty House, where he worked for eight years and found his niche for commercial real estate. He worked with many investors who recognized the potential of the Emerald Coast despite the volatile national real estate forecasts. “The fact that tourism is a huge draw and brings 8-14 million people to the area every year is always a plus for investors and business owners,” he said. “And when you add our enormous military bases to the mix, there’s always going to be a lot of people looking to put down roots in this area.” "If I'm trying to help someone with a property, there's no such thing as an interruption," he explained. "I can talk about why they should come to this area all day long." For three generations, Jayme Nabors and his family have had a special affinity for the land in northwest Florida. Taught to love and respect the unique offerings of the Emerald Coast, Nabors is a true sportsman who enjoys boating, fishing, surfing, diving and exploring every inch of the state’s coastline. When he’s not spending time in the water, he gets a splendid bird’s eye view of the area as a licensed pilot who takes frequent excursions with his family, friends, and clients. Always interested in preserving the area’s natural beauty while also embracing progress and commercial development, it was only fitting that Nabors would pursue real estate as his passion and establish the most successful, fastest growing firm in the Southeast. With an unsurpassed knowledge of the area, family ties to the community, and an entrepreneurial background, Nabors is recognized by many as one of the most astute commercial real estate minds in the business. A graduate of the University of Florida, he studied wildlife, ecology and conservation and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Following graduation he obtained his real estate license and built up a loyal clientele while focusing on commercial real estate, property management, sales and leasing. In 2005 he decided to start his own firm and partnered with Craig Barrett to launch Nabors-Barrett Investments in Fort Walton Beach. Insiders joke that NBI stands for “Nothing But Increase” as the firm and its clients have experienced unprecedented growth and investment returns despite the often volatile real estate market. “It’s amazing, but we are blessed because we have never experienced a downturn,” said Nabors. “We started with the simple premise that we would always put the needs of our clients first, and I believe that’s the reason we are celebrating seven great years now. We have refused to get complacent and remain steadfastly committed to offering unparalleled service, expertise, and advice that our clients can depend on. ” Nabors has an extensive background in business development and has managed commercial real estate and development projects of all sizes. His specialties include brokerage of retail power centers and executive office buildings as well as industrial and large tracts of land. Although the economy has presented investors with some challenges, Nabors believes commercial real estate on the Emerald Coast is fortunate to hinge on military bases and defense contractors in areas such as Fort Walton Beach and a steady retail market in Destin. “A lot of businesses occupying the office space in Fort Walton are centered around the defense business,” he said. “Destin always thrives on tourism, so the retail market there is fairly good. Overall, I think the outlook will improve once the banks start clearing out inventory and some price corrections take place.” Currently, NBI Properties has sold and leased countless properties valued in the hundreds of millions and manages more than 1,300 properties. The firm’s impressive client list includes many of the nation’s top retailers, defense contractors and private investors. In 2011, the company added a division named Lifestyle Properties to handle vacation rentals and in 2012 they anticipate launching NBI Residential. As the burgeoning firm lays claim to much of the prime real estate to be found on the Emerald Coast, Nabors says his philosophy is the same as it was seven years ago.