Redressing a Wrong
A disappointing experience buying his first house convinced Scottie Smith, 29, he needed to “protect others from making the same mistakes I did out of simple ignorance.” Smith makes sure his clients are well versed in real estate long before they reach the closing table. “I realized how much I didn’t know, and it fueled my desire to get my own license,” he says. As co-owner of the fastest-growing African-American–owned brokerage in Dallas, he has created “Real Estate Wine Downs,” seminars geared toward millennial buyers, sellers, and investors. Smith is also committed to helping lower-income buyers. He’s helping build 20 affordable, eco-friendly homes in one of Dallas’ poorest neighborhoods. Today, Smith says the frustration he felt as a novice buyer has been replaced by a love for helping other people build wealth through real estate.