Professional experience

Jim Collins joined BWE as Executive Vice President in 2024 as part of the acquisition of First Southern Mortgage Corp. of Tennessee. With over 40 years of commercial real estate experience, Jim has vast knowledge and experience to share with clients and assist in financing needs. Jim specializes in providing financing solutions for a broad range of commercial properties, including retail, office, industrial, and multifamily throughout the Southeast and US.

After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Jim joined his father’s appraisal practice (Scott Collins Company) in 1980 and obtained the MAI designation in 1987. Jim joined First Southern Mortgage Corp in July 1996 as a mortgage producer and became a partner in First Southern in 2000. Jim became President of First Southern in 2015.

Jim has personally placed more than $2 billion in permanent loans with life insurance companies, Wall Street conduits, pension funds, banks, and government agencies, garnering “high producer” awards with several lenders. With over 40 years in commercial real estate, Jim brings extensive valuation skills for loan underwriting, asset valuation, and portfolio review.

Education

Affiliations