Meet Michael Banks of Noble Group Realty

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Banks.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in the small northeast San Antonio suburb of Live Oak, TX in the 80’s and 90’s. That makes me a proud member of the bubble generation, sometimes referred to as x-ennials – kids trapped somewhere between Gen-X and Millennials, who had an analog childhood, but came into adulthood during the early days of the digital transformation. I’m just as comfortable putting on a record as I am streaming iTunes; I can operate a rotary phone as adeptly as asking Google to dial the phone number to my local pizza place. The wonder of the changing digital landscape led me to Texas A&M University, where I not only navigated the challenge of participating in the Corps of Cadets and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, but earned a Bachelors degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and became engaged to my high school girlfriend. 9/11 called many of my classmates into active duty military service, appropriately so, from a long-storied senior military college, but some fumbles with the Air Force recruiting office led me in another direction. Three days after graduation, I began a career in Quality Engineering at a major automotive electronics manufacturer in Seguin, TX. It was exciting work, with always something new to learn about the wide range of manufacturing technologies used to produce an engine control computer. If anything went wrong on the production line, at the car manufacturer, or in a dealer service center, we were responsible for discovering the source of the problem and developing a solution to ensure it never happened again. During the early years, I began taking night courses at the University of Texas San Antonio and earned a Master’s degree in Management of Technology. Shortly thereafter, I applied for and was promoted to a Quality Manager position, a role which I still fulfill to this day.

Yet, all this time, I’ve been building a passion-project. In 2018 my wife and I made our first property investment in College Station, TX. It was a small duplex, and we thought, if we purchase this now, we’ll both have a place to stay when visiting our kids (11 and 9 at the time; we tend to be very forward-looking) when they’re at Texas A&M, plus have a place for them to stay instead of a dorm or apartment. After some light renovation, we opened an Airbnb on one side of the duplex, and kept the other side for long-term rental. Not only was it fun interacting with the guests, but managing the other side as a long-term rental also brought joy and satisfaction, plus enough income to pay all the bills and have a little leftover. Two years later, we bought a four-plex around the corner from the first property. This brought additional challenges, but with a little creativity and engineering problem-solving, I also found great joy in managing this property. THEN I had the brilliant idea to get a real estate license to supercharge our real estate investing. A year later, we bought another duplex and it was my first transaction as a new agent with Noble Group Realty. I was hooked. The excitement of searching for property, evaluating its income potential and putting together a competitive and legal offer all spoke to me. I believe all my technical engineering background led me to this point, where I can manage a highly complex process with legal implications, with ease and attention to detail, plus have fun doing it. Since then, I’ve transacted over $1 million in the first nine months as a licensed real estate professional, and I have several other active opportunities.

And here I am now, at a crossroads, with one foot still in the engineering world, and another in real estate. I believe real estate has the potential to be a lucrative second career and offer a pathway to early retirement. I enjoy finding creative solutions for my clients, something the “engineering mindset” has blessed me with as an advantage among my peers. I’m passionate about enabling small businesses to find locations to call their own and add to our community. I implore people to invest in real estate as a way to build generational wealth and be better and more financially sound. It’s all there, waiting to be taken, waiting to fulfill someone’s American Dream. I started with humble, working-class roots and now I have a commitment to improving my community. I’m proud to be part of Noble Group Realty in Cibolo, TX and I’m especially honored to be named as the Branch Manager for Noble Group Commercial. Let’s get to work!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A big struggle in my life, which was not previously mentioned is my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at five years old. Early on, the full weight and responsibility for managing this illness fell on my wife and me, due to her age. We literally tell people, without exaggeration, she cheats death every day. The financial burden of this disease is a major headwind in taking a leap and fully transitioning into a career in commercial real estate. But, we continue to pray for a cure and partner with JDRF to raise funds and awareness for this deadly disease.

As you know, we’re big fans of Noble Group Realty. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Noble Group Realty is an independent real estate brokerage in Cibolo, TX. We pride ourselves on being highly involved in our local community and making a difference in the areas we serve. My broker, Donnovan Jackson, leads with a servant’s heart – his commitment to his agents and employees is unmatched and governed by an unshakable faith and principles. I serve as the Branch Manager for Noble Group Commercial – a newly formed business venture specializing in finding space for small businesses to operate and leasing and property management for building owners. Our deep Cibolo roots give us access and insight that is difficult to match at a “big name” brokerage.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am also privileged to serve as a member of the Board of Elders at Discovery Church in Cibolo, TX. Among other leadership duties within the church, I volunteer with the elementary children’s ministry. I’m also an active member in the Byron P Steele High School Band Boosters, in support of my son’s involvement in band, and JDRF in support of my daughter’s diabetes.

Contact Info:

• Email: michael.noblegroup@gmail.com
• Website: https://michaelbanks.properties
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelrbanksrealtor/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRBanksRealtor/
• Other: https://www.noblegrouprealty.com/

Image Credits
Photos by Elizabeth
Leland Banks
Pam Banks