We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jerell Fields a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jerell, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

As an individual agent from 2015 to 2018, I realized that I had learned so much in this business that could be beneficial to other agents, so I decided it was time to start sharing that knowledge with others. At the end of 2018, I and 4 other black agents at a previous firm started an accountability group to help us follow through on goals. When we made the turn into the new year, my business portfolio had picked up a lot and I needed more than accountability partners, I needed a team of agents who could be an extension of me! I asked the other agents if I were to start a team, would they join, and they all immediately said YES! I not only was able to give them more business but, I was also able to teach them how I conduct transactions and help build agents that resembled my successful business. This was an opportunity for all of us to grow and GROW we did! In May 2019 we launched NOIRE Real Estate Group and we quickly became one of the top groups at the office and soon the city!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My introduction to Real Estate came from my previous business! I used to be a golf professional at a local country club and after 4 years there, one of the members came up to me and said “You’re way to good to be here!” Me not knowing what she meant by that, I had to ask what she saw in me and why. She told me my personality and smile needed to be seen outside these country club gates and shared with the world! She introduced the idea of Real Estate and it immediately scared me thinking about commission only. I had a young child at the time and recently married, so not making a living was not an option! She believed in me so much that she paid for me to attend Real Estate school! I took the class and fell in love after the very first class! Although I fell in love, I failed the class, but that love for Real Estate pushed me back into the class. This time, my aunt and uncle put some funds together for me and got me registered! This time I passed! 3 weeks later I lost that job at the Country Club and i was off and running in the Real Estate streets!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After I received my real estate license, I was forced to find income. I started working as a Claims Adjuster for an Insurance company and I dreaded it! It was mentally and physically exhausting because I knew I wasn’t meant to be in someone’s office wasting my life away. I wasn’t having success selling homes just yet and I had to rely on being unhappy in insurance in order to provide for my family. One night all of the emotions came crashing down on me when I pulled up to a Burger King drive-thru and my card was declined. I had $2.73 in my bank account and not enough money to buy a burger for my kids. I pulled over in the parking lot and just cried my eyes out! After a crying session, I began to pray! I told God “If you give me ONE more chance, I promise I will make the best of it!” I wiped my eyes and remembered that I had money on my Venmo card so I went and got the food and headed home. I woke up the next morning, quit my job at the insurance company, and put EVERYTHING into becoming a successful real estate agent. July 3rd, 2017 is a day I will never forget!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

As a local real estate agent, it is important to be knowledgeable of the area in which you sell! Well, who is more knowledgeable than a person who has lived in the city for 20+ years of their life?! I took that knowledge and the connections I had built over the years, and I began to use my resources! Social Media was on the rise and I was able to publicly advertise my expertise in certain areas and my knowledge of the business! People took to my social media page for knowledge and I quickly became the resource for all things Charlotte Real Estate.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wearenoire.com
• Instagram: @Soldbyrell
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/NOIREREG
• Linkedin: Jerell Fields
• Twitter: @Soldbyrell
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@SoldByRell