From Black Hawk Pilot to Clarksville Realtor: Travis Recer on Community, Real Estate, and Calling Clarksville Home
What makes a place feel like home?
For Travis Recer, it wasn't simply where he was stationed, where he went to school, or even where he started his career. It came down to relationships.
On this episode of the Clarksville Keys Podcast, I sat down with Travis Recer, owner and team leader of Recer Home Group at Connect Real Estate, to talk about his journey from Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot to longtime Clarksville Realtor, the changes he has watched happen across our community, and what more than two decades in real estate have taught him about people.
Travis has been part of the Clarksville and Fort Campbell community since 1989 and has worked as a full-time Realtor since 2003. He is also an Army veteran, military brat, husband, and father of six.
Our conversation covered a lot of ground, from military moves and Southern hospitality to real estate, Clarksville traffic, local restaurants, golf, faith, and even the unexpected reason Travis believes good salespeople have to get comfortable hearing the word "no."
Watch the Full Conversation
If you're PCSing to Fort Campbell, considering a move to Clarksville, already live here, or simply enjoy learning about the people behind our community, this conversation is worth watching.
Why Travis Recer Chose Clarksville
Travis grew up in a military family and attended 12 different schools.
That experience meant moving, starting over, meeting new people, and repeatedly rebuilding a sense of community.
Later, while serving in the Army, he experienced those transitions again firsthand.
One assignment even took him to Hawaii, a place many might consider a dream destination. But despite the beaches and beautiful weather, Travis said he missed something that mattered more.
Relationships.
He eventually realized that home wasn't necessarily the most beautiful place or the place with the best weather.
Home was where he had connections.
Clarksville was where many of those relationships existed, and ultimately that helped bring him back.
That perspective is particularly relevant in a community like ours, where thousands of military families arrive at Fort Campbell every year knowing few, if any, people in the area.
A PCS may bring you to Clarksville.
The relationships you build here often make it feel like home.
Getting Into Real Estate Without Knowing What to Expect
When Travis entered real estate in 2003, he admits he didn't fully understand what he was getting into.
He wasn't coming from a traditional sales background.
He essentially received an office, a phone, and the freedom to set his own schedule and go sell houses.
He quickly discovered that knowing real estate was only part of the job.
Finding people who needed your help was another matter entirely.
As Travis explained during our conversation, a disproportionate amount of a real estate professional's time can go to finding people considering buying or selling a home.
That lesson shaped how he eventually built his business and his team.
What It Really Takes to Succeed in Real Estate
I asked Travis what advice he would give someone considering becoming a Realtor.
His answer was straightforward.
First, you need to be a self-starter.
Nobody will force an independent real estate agent to show up and work.
Second, you need to be comfortable connecting with people.
That doesn't necessarily mean you need to be the most outgoing person in the room, but you do need to develop the ability to meet people, communicate effectively, follow up, and handle rejection.
In real estate, you will hear far more "no" responses than "yes."
The question becomes whether you're willing to keep going anyway.
For someone looking at real estate because it appears to offer unlimited flexibility, that's an important distinction.
Freedom and flexibility also require discipline.
What Has Made Clarksville a Better Place to Live?
Few people have had a better front-row seat to Clarksville's transformation than someone who has lived and worked here for several decades.
When I asked Travis what has made Clarksville a better place to live, his answer wasn't a new development, restaurant, road, or subdivision.
It was the people.
He described Clarksville as having a friendly atmosphere and pointed to something many longtime residents recognize: Clarksville is a true melting pot.
Fort Campbell has brought people here from virtually every corner of the United States and from around the world.
Some stay for a few years.
Others retire here.
Their children grow up here.
Before long, military families who originally arrived on orders become first-, second-, and even third-generation Clarksville families.
That combination of Southern hospitality and military diversity has helped create a community with a character all its own.
The Challenge That Comes With Clarksville's Growth
Growth brings opportunity.
It also brings traffic.
Travis didn't have to think very long when I asked about one of the biggest challenges Clarksville has experienced.
Infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with population growth.
Anyone who has attempted to drive Wilma Rudolph Boulevard around 5:00 p.m. knows exactly what he's talking about.
Clarksville continues to grow, new homes keep being built, and businesses keep arriving.
Keeping roads and infrastructure ahead of that growth remains one of the community's biggest challenges.
Still, neither of us could resist pointing out an easy way to make Wilma Rudolph Boulevard a little more enjoyable.
Don't drive it at quitting time.
Clarksville Keys Local Spotlight: Jeremy Bullock with Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance
One of Clarksville Keys' goals is to introduce people not only to our guests, but also to other local professionals serving the community.
In this episode, our first local spotlight is Jeremy Bullock with Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance.
Jeremy works with Clarksville-area families to protect their homes, vehicles, and what they've worked hard to build.
For homeowners, buyers, sellers, and military families relocating into the area, having local professionals you can call matters.
Jeremy Bullock with Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance
We appreciate Jeremy's support of Clarksville Keys and the work he does in our community.
Helping Clarksville Homeowners Move Up
One area Travis particularly enjoys is what many people call the "move-up" market.
These are homeowners who already own a home but have reached the point where it no longer works for their family.
Maybe there are more children.
Maybe everyone needs more space.
Maybe lifestyles or jobs have changed.
The complicated part is often not deciding that it's time for a larger home.
It's figuring out how to get there.
Do you sell first?
Do you buy first?
Can both transactions happen at roughly the same time?
How do you avoid putting your family through two moves?
Those are the kinds of problems Travis and his team regularly help clients work through.
During our conversation, Travis also discussed a trade-up program offered by his team in which, under qualifying circumstances, they may sell a client's current home commission-free when that homeowner trades up to one of the team's listings.
Anyone interested in that particular program should contact Recer Home Group directly for its current terms, eligibility, and availability.
Why Following Up Matters
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation had very little to do with houses.
It had to do with communication.
Travis explained that his team is extremely intentional about staying in touch with people.
Sometimes that relationship lasts for years before someone is actually ready to buy or sell.
That struck a nerve with me because few things are more frustrating as a consumer than deciding you're ready to do business with someone and then discovering you can't get them to answer the phone.
Buying or selling a home is a major financial decision.
Communication shouldn't disappear the moment somebody becomes busy.
For Travis, consistent follow-up has become a fundamental part of how his team operates.
Clarksville Restaurant Spotlight: Roma Ristorante
Talking about Clarksville wouldn't be complete without talking about food.
For this episode, our restaurant spotlight is Roma Ristorante, located near the Tiny Town Road area.
It turns out Travis and I are both fans.
He and his wife had recently visited Roma twice within just a few weeks because they enjoyed their first visit so much.
Travis found his favorite quickly: a spinach and beef cannelloni.
His wife was still working her way through the menu.
I'm apparently a lot like Travis because when I find something I like, I tend to stick with it too.
I chose the steak Gorgonzola with fettuccine.
This portion of the podcast probably should have come after lunch.
If you're looking for another locally owned restaurant to try in Clarksville, Roma deserves a spot on the list.
Faith, Family, and Community
When I asked Travis where he would take someone if he had one day to show them what makes Clarksville special, his answer surprised me.
He talked about our churches.
Travis and his family have been part of LifePoint Church for years, and he also spoke positively about Grace Community Church.
For him, churches and the relationships built within them are part of what creates a strong community and family life.
It also brought our conversation back to where it started.
People.
Buildings change.
Businesses come and go.
Roads expand.
Neighborhoods grow.
But ultimately, what makes a community home is the relationships you build inside it.
The Clarksville Keys Quick Six
We finished the episode with the Clarksville Keys Quick Six, where guests have to answer six shorter questions without overthinking them.
We learned quite a bit about Travis.
Coffee?
Black.
An underrated Clarksville spot?
Johnny's Big Burger.
Travis has eaten there since his college days in the early 1990s and says the burgers still taste the way he remembers.
Plan everything or wing it?
Definitely plan.
A completely free Saturday in Clarksville?
He's most likely playing golf at Eastland Green Golf Course or Swan Lake Golf Course.
And something people might be surprised to learn?
Travis writes music, plays guitar, and sings.
He previously spent years playing worship music and still occasionally leads.
That was one I didn't know, even though I've known Travis for quite some time.
Quick Six Spotlight: Robards Pest Control
The Clarksville Keys Quick Six is sponsored by Robards Pest Control, a locally owned Clarksville company helping homeowners deal with the things that crawl, bite, and generally have no business living in your house.
We appreciate Robards Pest Control supporting the show and another locally owned Clarksville business.
Get to Know Travis Recer and Recer Home Group
If you're considering buying or selling a home in Clarksville or the surrounding area and want to learn more about Travis and his team, you can connect with Recer Home Group at Connect Real Estate.
Website: RecerHomeGroup.com
Travis also encouraged people to look at the team's reviews on Google and Zillow and connect with them through social media.
More importantly, watch the full conversation above.
One reason I created Clarksville Keys was to go beyond advertisements, business cards, and social media profiles and actually introduce people to the person behind the business.
After more than two decades in real estate and even longer as part of the Clarksville and Fort Campbell community, Travis Recer has seen a lot change.
But one theme ran through our conversation:
Relationships matter.
In the military.
In business.
In real estate.
And in deciding where you eventually call home.
Crack the Code to Clarksville Living
The Clarksville Keys Podcast introduces you to the Realtors, business owners, veterans, community leaders, and other people helping make Clarksville, Tennessee a place worth knowing.
If you're PCSing to Fort Campbell, relocating to Clarksville, or already live here and want to discover more about the community, subscribe to the podcast and join us for the next episode.
You can watch Clarksville Keys on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
And if you have questions about buying a home, VA financing, or preparing for a PCS to Fort Campbell, I'm always happy to be a resource.
Travis Egan | VA Mortgage Vet
Marine Corps veteran and mortgage professional
NMLS #655284
Loan Factory, NMLS #320841
travisegan.com
(931) 208-6280
Missed the Previous Episode?
Catch up on the last episode of the Clarksville Keys Podcast, where I sat down with Deana Watson to talk about her Clarksville story, real estate, the military community, and what she has learned from serving families in this area.
Watch or read the previous episode: Run Your Own Race: Deana Watson on Clarksville, Real Estate, and Community
