With a family legacy in real estate, development, construction, and finance, Brian Hughs built his career on a strong foundation of market knowledge and local expertise. As a lifelong resident of Gainesville and Hall County and co-founder of Candler Real Estate, Brian is dedicated to helping clients achieve their commercial real estate goals throughout Northeast Georgia and metro Atlanta.

Brian began his commercial real estate career with The Simpson Company in Gainesville, where he established a reputation for exceptional client service and market expertise. He remained with the firm through its merger with Avison Young in 2021 before co-founding Candler Real Estate.

Brian specializes in commercial investment sales, as well as the sale and leasing of office and industrial properties throughout Gainesville, Hall County, Northeast Georgia, and metro Atlanta. His broad experience also includes retail properties, commercial land, recreational land, multifamily properties, and apartment investments, allowing him to provide strategic guidance across a wide range of commercial real estate transactions.

Recognized as one of the region's leading commercial real estate professionals, Brian is a Life Member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS® (ACBR) Million Dollar Club and recipient of the prestigious Phoenix Award, honoring members who have qualified for the Million Dollar Club for ten or more years. He earned the highly respected Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation in 2012, demonstrating advanced expertise in commercial real estate investment analysis, brokerage, and negotiations.

Brian is deeply committed to serving the Gainesville and Northeast Georgia community. He currently serves on the Board of the Georgia Mountains YMCA and was Chairman of the Board in 2022. In 2025, he was honored as the Gainesville Jaycees Young Man of the Year in recognition of his professional accomplishments and community leadership.

His previous leadership roles include serving on the Georgia CCIM Chapter Board of Directors, the Georgia Mountain Food Bank Board of Directors, the United Way Capital Campaign Committee, the Executive Board of the Gainesville Jaycees, and the Finance Committee of Gainesville First United Methodist Church.

Brian is also a graduate of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Hall program (2011–2012). A graduate of Gainesville High School, he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, graduating with honors from Auburn University.

Brian and his wife, Callie, live in Gainesville with their three children and attend Asbury Chapel. Outside of the office, he enjoys golfing, hunting, traveling, and spending time with his family while cheering on his children's athletic pursuits.

Whether assisting clients with commercial property acquisitions, investment sales, office leasing, industrial facilities, commercial land, or multifamily investments, Brian combines financial expertise, local market knowledge, and decades of commercial real estate experience to help clients make informed decisions and maximize value throughout Gainesville, Hall County, Northeast Georgia, and metro Atlanta.