Kaylee Simons
Elmore Autauga News
In neighborhoods across the River Region, some homes hold more than worn roofs or overgrown yards. They hold history. They hold memories. And sometimes, they sit quietly for years, waiting for someone to step in and give them a second chance.
For lifelong locals Derek Fuller and Matt Watson, that work has become more than a business. It has become a responsibility. The two, friends since high school, did not start with a plan to reshape neighborhoods. They simply knew they wanted more for themselves and for their families.
“We were always staying busy with side jobs,” Fuller said. “At the exact same time, we both decided we wanted more. We were just hanging out one day and decided we needed to do something.” What began as an idea to buy a rental property here and there gradually evolved, and over time, they found their place restoring homes that had been left behind, and River Region Home Buyers was born.
Fuller’s background helped shape that path. After high school, he worked for Watson’s father, a contractor with more than 40 years of experience. That time gave him a working knowledge of construction that now carries into each project.
Today, their work often begins where others might walk away. “There’s nothing like taking a property that was abandoned or needed major repairs and making it into a beautiful home for a family to enjoy,” Fuller said. “The before and after have the same effect as they did when we first got started.”
Because they were born and raised in the River Region, Fuller said there is an understanding that comes with working in your own community. “We try to keep things straightforward and relationship-driven,” he said. “We’re in the community. We have to treat people the way they want to be treated if we want to continue doing business, because word gets out quickly if you aren’t.”
That approach is especially important when working with homeowners facing difficult situations.
Many of the properties they take on come with complicated stories. Some are inherited homes. Others have been sitting vacant for years. In many cases, the owners are simply overwhelmed.
“In most situations, we’re out to solve a problem for the seller,” Fuller said. “There are no inspections, no repairs. We’re extremely flexible on timeline, and since we pay cash, we don’t have to meet the requirements a lender would have. People just want to start over or get rid of an inherited house without the headache, and that’s when we come in.”
In one case, that meant helping a family who lived out of state sell a home they had purchased years earlier for a friend in Prattville. Over time, the property had fallen into disrepair, with overgrown grass, structural issues, and other challenges inside.
Fuller and Watson made an offer and closed within two weeks, allowing the sellers to move forward without returning. What stood out most came afterward.
“After the first time we went over to cut the yard, the neighbors thanked us,” Fuller said. “They mentioned they had considered moving because they were afraid things were going to keep getting worse.” Moments like that reflect a side of the work that is not always visible.
“A lot of these neighborhoods aren’t just houses. They’re history for the families that have lived there a long time,” Fuller said. “We try to think through the long-term effect of the properties after they are completed. We try to be respectful while working and provide a product that will benefit the neighborhood, not drag it down.”
In communities where one neglected property can impact an entire street, that kind of work carries weight. It is not just about improving a single home. It is about restoring stability, and in some cases, a sense of safety for the people living nearby.
For Fuller and Watson, that responsibility is personal. They are not investing from a distance. They are working in the same communities their families are part of, and the same neighborhoods their children will grow up in.
That perspective continues to shape the way they approach each project.
At the end of the day, Fuller said their goal is to help people move forward. “If you do reach out to us, there’s no pressure,” he said. “We’ll be straightforward with you, let you know what we can and can’t do, and if I’m not the right fit, I’ll tell you that too. Sometimes just having a plan can take weight off your shoulders.”
In a region where homes carry stories long before and long after ownership changes, their work is not just about renovation, it is about renewal.
