#71 - Charity Starts at Home: A Conversation with realtor Parrish Myers

This episode of Frugalocity dives deep into the life,mission, and heart of Parrish Myers —  pastor, former teacher and hospice chaplain, and now a real estate agent with a purpose. From the opening blues‑music banterto the final laughs about pickleball and guacamole, the conversation reveals a man whose entire career has been shaped by service.Parrish shares how his journey from Watkinsville to thepulpit to the classroom prepared him for real estate in ways most agents never experience. As he puts it, buying or selling a home is “your most expensive asset… your entire retirement” and people deserve someone who treats thatresponsibility with integrity and compassion. His pastoral and teaching background gives him a unique ability to guide, support, and genuinely care for clients during one of life’s most emotional financial decisions.But the heart of the episode — and the reason Richardbrought him on — is Parrish’s extraordinary commitment to giving away 10% of his net commission to local charities. Not national organizations with vague overhead, but vetted, boots‑on‑the‑ground ministries he personally tours,reviews, and believes in. As he explains, “I will take that 10% amount… and slide it across the desk to them… and here is a list of charities that I have personally vetted. You choose from this list.”He even invites clients to join him when he delivers thedonation so they can see exactly where the money goes.One of the most powerful moments comes when Parrish recounts watching a hungry student tear into a backpack of donated food — “his cheeks puffed out like a squirrel” — because he knew it would be divided among hisfamily when he got home. That moment shaped his lifelong commitment to supporting organizations like iServe, which distributes food boxes and thousands of weekend backpacks to kids in Jackson and Madison counties.The episode also tackles the big question: How are youngbuyers supposed to afford a home in 2026? Parrish breaks down FHA loans, VA loans, credit pitfalls, and the biggest mistake first‑time buyers make — falling in love with a house before knowing what they can actually afford. Ashe puts it, “Stop thinking you should have everything your parents have right now… they worked a lifetime for that.”The conversation winds through the Athens‑area market, therealities of renting vs. owning, and the importance of building generational wealth — all delivered with the signature Frugalocity mix of humor, honesty, and practical wisdom.To wrap things up, Parrish shares the fun side of his life:Harlan Coben novels, retro TV binges, pickleball misadventures, and the guacamole that nearly stole Amanda’s heart.Sites we like and follow: FrugalocityDrink Choffy, use Richard15Instagram sites Snoophoggyhawg and Frugalocity2Parrish Myers, RealtorKeller Williams Greater Athens RealtyiServe Ministries