Kay Hightower was just looking for an affordable temporary place to stay with her 4-year-old child and husband when she moved to Oxford in 1998.
The co-owner of Hightower Property Management, more commonly known on the Internet as Oxfordtownhouse.com, immediately recognized a glaring need in town for transition housing for people who require fully equipped living space for a short period of time.
In 2006 the Hightowers purchased some rental properties and began leasing them to short-term customers. “Shortly after that some people we knew with kids graduating from Ole Miss asked if we thought we could find people to rent their apartments,” she recalled. “My first reaction was ‘I have no idea.’ Soon people from all over the country were asking us to facilitate rentals and a thriving business was born.”
Kay and Roy took on the challenge and proved skillful at dealing with the public and running an efficient and high-quality rental business. Kay says the Hightowers had always dreamed of opening up a bed-and-breakfast, but have come to find the short-term rental business even more satisfying.
“This way we don’t have to fix people breakfast,” she says with a smile.
But don’t think hospitality isn’t priority one for the conscientious proprietor. “I love what I do because I love working with people to make sure their stay in town is enjoyable,” she said. “I enjoy meeting people from all over the country and my husband and I have made good friends with some of our clients over the years.”
Husband Roy works in Memphis, but helps out on busy football weeks by taking time off to help with check-ins and routine maintenance.
If you’re looking for a well-kept property for short-term weekend and weekly rentals, you can’t do better than contacting Kay Hightower at 662-801-6692 or clicking on kay@oxfordtownhouse.com
Andy Knef is managing editor of Hottytoddy.com
