Scott Noblett got into real estate to serve. After a great career in the corporate world, he’d seen it all and had a blast working with major companies. But when he reached a place where he could take a risk and plot a destination, he planted his feet firmly in residential real estate with an emphasis on serving the underserved.
Tell us a little about your background and why giving back and service are important to you.
Scott Noblett: I grew up poor in a small town in Arkansas. We lived in a camper trailer, so there was no one teaching me how to be a homeowner. As a first-generation college student, I saw a career in real estate as my opportunity to help those that may be overlooked because of the price point. I started helping people who did not think they had an opportunity to have a home.
You spent several years in the corporate world, including a position at the Walmart corporation in real estate accounting, before you left Arkansas. Tell us about that and how corporate work experience prepared you for residential real estate.
SN: My degree is in business marketing and finance from The University of Arkansas. I had college friends from Dallas. One of their fathers told me I should be in a diverse city with more options. This was when JCPenny had their big catalog. He had some connections there, so I interviewed and got hired! I worked at the corporate headquarters and learned a lot. I have great memories of my time there.
Why did you leave JCPenney?
SN: I did a lot of volunteering, so I knew a lot of people. Penny’s had a layoff and some friends went to Zales. They knew real estate was my passion and that I had previous real estate experience so recommended me for a new position, managing new store openings and operations. It was another door that opened because of my friendships and connections, and it was a dream job. I got to travel all over Canada and the U.S. and have an influence on new store design. It was fun and a stepping stone in the real estate world. It was another great experience with wonderful people. I have been blessed in Texas with great bosses, and I consider them all friends now. I left Zales when they moved their corporate headquarters to Ohio because I wanted to stay in Dallas.
That must have been scary. What was your plan?
SN: I gave myself a deadline and decided I would go into residential real estate if I hadn’t secured a job by then. It had always been in the back of my mind, but I worried about commission sales. It had never seemed a safe option for me. I’d had an internship in the insurance profession in college and won awards, so I knew I could sell. I also knew from my experience in corporate work that these big companies aren’t a sure bet either. They get sold, move headquarters, or lay off employees. I felt I needed to take a leap of faith and attempt a commission role. I thought if I don’t do it now, I may never do it. So, I went to Champions School of Real Estate and got my license in 2016.
How did you decide on a brokerage?
SN: I interviewed 11 brokers before I decided to hang my hat at Paragon. When I walked in, the feeling was completely different from anywhere else I’d been. The seasoned agents were open to giving advice and sharing. I had three pages of questions, and every single one was answered. I think we have some of the best people here. To have busy agents like Britt Lopez and Tony Nuncio, taking time to sit with me and do a two-hour conversation with no topic off limits is unheard of. And they do it with such grace and willingness to help. Everyone here has a service attitude. It was the right fit for me.
Did that first year confirm you’d that you’d made the right choice?
SN: Yes, I was pretty successful immediately. I worked hard, and I remember being so tired! I leveraged the things I knew were available to me for free, like social media, which at the time was not used as much as it is now. I documented everything, real-life struggles, and my learning phase on social media. By the time I got my license, I already had two clients lined up. Much of my immediate success came from past relationships and contacts from volunteering.
With the current challenges of locating homes in affordable price ranges, how do you continue to help that underserved market of clients wanting to be homeowners?
SN: It’s difficult to continue that passion, but I’ve pivoted and found ways to get deals done. I think my corporate experience has been helpful because you always pivot in corporations. I can’t say it’s been easy, but it has been a little more rewarding now when you get a deal done. I’m determined, and I don’t give up.
Do you have a favorite story that exemplifies your service attitude in real estate?
SN: A client, who was a school teacher, came to me for help. He was an older gentleman in an abusive relationship and felt the world was ending for him. He watched my videos on Facebook and reached out. It was a tough situation. The abusive partner was in control of all the finances. I had to get my whole team of people to help. We got grants for him, found him a home, and even arranged police protection and had the address sealed from the public so he would be protected. To see this older, almost retired teacher, who has given his whole life to students, have a safe place to live was special to me. Coming from such a small community, growing up as a gay child in a very conservative community, the teachers I had were so instrumental for me. To help someone that reminded me of the teachers I admired from my childhood was fulfilling in many ways. I will never forget him and I’m thankful that I had partners working with me who have that same passion.
So, you’ve not only found not only a great career, but also a way to fulfill your passion.
SN Yes! I love real estate and will always find ways to help people.
