REAL ESTATE.

Property values in North Carolina continued to soar over the last year, creating an unprecedented bullish real estate environment. The average home value in most of the state's largest metropolitan areas increased by more than 15% over the last year, according to Attorn Data Solutions research. Rental rates showed similar gains. The number of homes for sale remained depressed even as new starts picked up. This section includes many successful North Carolina contractors, developers and brokerage executives.

BRIAN ALLEN

president | Precision Walls

Cary

The Cary native and Campbell University graduate joined the family business after graduating from Campbell University in 1996. In 2019 ownership transferred to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan to improve retirement benefits and succession planning. It has more than 1.000 employees and 11 offices in four states.

ALEX ANDY' ANDREWS IV

chair, CEO | Dominion Realty Partners

Raleigh

The former tennis pro started his business in 2005 and has become a leading regional developer with offices in Raleigh. Charlotte and Richmond, Va. The Woodberry Forest School graduate has raised more than $9 million for tennis programs involving low-income children.

Pre-workday motivation: Being fortunate to do what I do every day.

Key to industry success: Creativity in solving problems.

Best advice: Make the most out of your opportunities.

Three people to share a meal: Roger Federer. Tack Nicklaus and Elon Musk.

Proud family accomplishment: How we all dealt with the loss of my 31-year-old daughter who died of cancer.

Favorite hobby: Golf.

Where to entertain a visitor: Carolina Hurricanes hockey game.

ROB BARNHILL

president | Barnhill Contracting

Rocky Mount

He's had his post since 2010 at the company founded by his grandfather and previously led by his father. Bob. The company's work on the Greg Poole Tr. All Faiths Chapel at Raleigh's Dorothea Dix Park was named a "Best Building Project" by the Carolinas Association of General Contractors in January.

JON BELL

executive chair | Bell Partners

Greensboro

The UNC Chapel Hill MBA transitioned to his role in January after serving as CEO for six years. He has worked for the company started by his father, Steve, since 2001. It has raised $3.5 billion for apartments and other real estate investments since 2006.

KIRK BRADLEY

chair, CEO | Lee-Moore Capital

Sanford

The University of Georgia graduate and Duke University MBA has spent his professional career at his family's business, which started in 1932 as Lee-Moore Oil Company. In 2006, he sold the gasoline division. His best-known project is the Governors Club golf-course community in Chapel Hill. He was named to the UNC System Board of Governors last year.

Pre-workday motivation: Finding a scalable solution to workforce and affordable housing.

Key to industry success: Real estate is a team sport. Having a wide and deep professional network is key.

Best advice: Do your best to help everybody you can.

Three people to share a meal: Benjamin Franklin. Elon Musk and Peter Thiel.

Proud family accomplishment: That we all love and enjoy each other's company. Lots of fun and laughter when we are together.

Favorite hobby: Reading, travel, hunting and golf.

Where to entertain a visitor: Duke Chapel

CALVIN BRODIE

president | Brodie Contractors

Raleigh

After starting his masonry business in 1989. he's employing more than 300 people with projects across the state. He's overseen lots of education and health care construction including many UNC System and Wake County buildings. He grew up in Franklin County, graduating from Bunn High School.

ANDPEA BUSHNELL

CEO | NC Realtors

Greensboro

The Montana State University graduate earned a law degree at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Ore. She worked at Oregon's Realtors association for nearly 14 years before joining the N.C. group in 2010.

Key to Industry success: As the CEO of the state's largest trade association, I have learned to have incredible respect for the challenges facing our 57,000 members every day in their professional lives. It is critical to understand those challenges in order to create and implement solutions. Empathy, creativity, patience, open-mindedness and the ability to quickly analyze an issue and rapidly respond are all essential to success.

Best advice: My parents encouraged me to travel, to be an intrepid explorer, to respect and experience the natural world and to always be open to new ideas, experiences and opportunities.

Proud family accomplishment: My kids all know their way around the kitchen. All four enjoy cooking. Truly, my husband and kids are making their way in the world successfully and happily. What more could a wife and mom ask for?

Favorite hobby: Tennis.

TOMMY CAMP

president, CEO | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Carolinas Realty

Charlotte

The University of South Carolina graduate has led what was previously Prudential Carolinas Realty since 2005. Warren Buffett's company bought the business in 2915. He oversees more than 900 agents across 15 offices.

ROY CARROLL II

founder, president, CEO | The Carroll Companies

Greensboro

The Greensboro native is a major Triad developer, with more than $4 billion in real estate assets owned or under development. In February he said he was converting a former Macy's store in Greensboro into a storage rental business, including space for collector cars.

DAVID CUTHBERTSON

co-owner | True Homes

Monroe

Cuthbertson helped start the business that became the 39th largest U.S. home builder in 2020 with 2,004 sales and $508 million in revenue, according to Builder magazine. He helped start American Community Bancshares in 1998--it was sold in 2009 and then American Bank & Trust in 2019.

PAT DEAN

senior vice president, national operations | Balfour Beatty

Charlotte

Dean joined the London-based contractor as the company's Carolinas business unit leader in 2006. In 2020, the Kansas State University graduate took his national-scope job. The company has worked on office towers for SPX, MetLife, Bank of America and other N.C. employers.

BRETT CRAY

managing principal | Cushman & Wakefield

Charlotte

The UNC Chapel Hill graduate joined the national real estate services firm in 2012 and has had his current...