Jim came to Chapel Hill back in March of 2001 for what he believed would be a routine visit with his daughter Tami. He left that weekend with anything but routine memories. Needing to occupy her father on that Saturday afternoon, Tami teamed up with a friend of Lynne’s and sent Jim off for “a cup of coffee” at Top of the Hill. Little did he or she know what the future held in that cup of coffee! A year and a half later, they would be married. Jim and Lynne are now in their 8th year of marriage and coasting into their 7th year as partners in real estate. What Jim brings to the team is irreplaceable. His experience and lifetime accomplishments give him a unique and invaluable perspective in the world of real estate.
Born in Cooperstown, NY, home to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Jim grew up just south in a small community that he describes as a “Northern Mayberry”. His mom taught school and his dad worked for the aircraft industry as an engineer. Childhood memories like learning to swim at the local swimming hole with his two younger brothers, gave Jim a sincere, humble approach to life. His loyalty and genuine commitment to helping others can be directly traced back to his years as a small town boy who spent afternoons earning his Eagle Scout award. Before beginning high school, Jim’s family packed up and moved south to Florida, where he first joined the workforce. Between playing high school football, water skiing and racquetball, Jim earned his first paychecks as a lifeguard and mowing lawns.
Jim loved teaching swim lessons and felt honored with the responsibility of saving lives. In these early years, Jim learned how to relate to others, a skill he has perfected with time…a skill he uses today in real estate. And having had built 5 houses of his own over time, he attends their buyers' inspections and assists the buyers and sellers in repair negotiations. That in addition to showing properties to prospective buyers or meeting with sellers and contractors to prepare sellers' houses for sale.
After graduating from Florida State University with a Bachelors degree in political science and economics, Jim’s plans for law school were interrupted by a growing situation in South East Asia. Vietnam took Jim out of Florida and sent him all the way to Japan, where he began a career in the Air Force. For 3 years Jim remained at Yokota Air Force Base in Japan as 2nd and then 1st Lieutenant of the 347th Civil Engineering Squad. Jim and his wife had their first child, Tami, while stationed in Japan. The Necrasons then moved to Charleston, SC where their small family nearly doubled with the birth of twin boys, Wes and Brad. Jim finished his service as a Captain. He then had to prepare for the civilian workforce, not an easy task after years of following military protocol. But that’s Jim, adaptable and committed to progress.
From his days in the service Jim gained the valuable experience of management and leadership, which he then put to use with the McDonalds Corporation. For over 10 years, Jim climbed the corporate ladder. He started as a store manager, moving on to area supervisor, then field consultant, then training manager and landing as Director of Training for the entire Florida region. Before leaving the corporation, Jim moved to NC, where he owned and operated 2 restaurants in Durham County. During all this hard work and dedication, Jim still found the time to watch his boys, play soccer and attend his daughter’s dance recitals. After leaving the McDonald’s Corp., Jim took a job with Equifax back in Florida, where he performed audits and surveys for insurance companies. Then he met Lynne on that fateful day in March, 2001. Today, Jim works alongside his wife Lynne. When he gets time away from work, he goes to the gym, or putzes around the house landscaping their one acre property. If he’s lucky enough to get days at a time, he and Lynne take the opportunity to visit their 10 grandchildren, of whom they are so proud. Or he and Lynne embark on an adventure traveling abroad!
Jim met his match in Lynne. And together they make an effective, top producing team.