Jimmy Byars, CEO/Broker of Hardy Realty, has been the owner of the company since 1994. Hardy Realty is a full service brokerage company specializing in residential and commercial sales and leasing, as well as property management. Hardy Realty, founded in 1925, is the oldest and largest real estate company in Northwest Georgia.
A native of Rome, Georiga, Jimmy graduated from Darlington School and Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. After graduation Jimmy taught school for 3 years before transitioning into manufacturing for the next 12 years. He has been a licensed Realtor in Georgia since 1994, an Associate Broker since 2002 and also holds an Alabama license. In 1996, Jimmy obtained the prestigious CCIM designation, which is one of the most recognized and coveted designations in the field of commercial real estate. The CCIM's rigorous course work and portfolio requirements demonstrate the designees as leaders in the field of commercial real estate.
For nearly 30 years, Jimmy has helped countless local, regional, national and international clients achieve their goals. With proven experience in leasing, selling and managing real estate, as well as his broad knowledge of the local and national markets, Jimmy has positioned himself as a well-respected expert in the Rome and Northwest Georgia real estate market.
Jimmy served as President of the Greater Rome Board of Realtors for two years and is a past 'Realtor of the Year' and ‘Humanitarian Award Recipient’ for the Rome Board. Jimmy is a member of the National and Georgia Association of Realtors in addition to the the Greater Rome Board of Realtors.
Jimmy currently serves as the Chairman of the Rome Floyd Development Authority and has served on this board since 2015. He also serves on the Synovous Northwest Georgia Division Advisory Board and is a member of Rome Rotary. He is the past Chair of the Rome Floyd Chamber of Commerce and past board member of Boys and Girls Club and the Davies Home Shelter. Hardy Realty, under Jimmy’s leadership, received the 2022 Heart of the Community Business Award.
Jimmy has been married to his wife Robin for over 40 years and has two grown children, a son-in-law and a new grandbaby.