Good Neighbor Podcast: TN-WNC-SWVA

EP # 346: This is what a relationship-first real estate firm looks: Noble &Co. Realty

• Skip Mauney & Mary Noble Braden • Episode 346

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Ever wonder what really holds a home purchase together when the clock is ticking and the inspection just got messy? We sat down with Mary Noble Braden—co-owner of Noble and Company Realty—to unpack what a relationship-first real estate practice looks like when the pressure rises. From Black Mountain roots to a regional footprint across Western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina, and Tennessee, Mary shares how a small, community-based brokerage delivers outsized results by leading with integrity, patience, and practical know-how.

We trace her path from running a garden shop and a restaurant to building a boutique firm, and how the 2008 downturn nudged her into a calling that blends interior design instincts, landscaping sensibility, and a lifetime around real estate. Mary breaks down the most persistent myths—no, agents don’t just “write the contract”—and reveals the hidden choreography behind successful deals: surveyors, appraisers, inspectors, contractors, and handypeople who show up and do the job right. She explains why understanding a client’s true goal—schools, trails, commute, a great kitchen window—matters as much as comps, and how patience and clear communication often save a deal when emotions run high.

We also talk about Mountain Magnolias, Mary’s community podcast that “reveals the heart and soul” of local life, and how storytelling builds trust long before a listing goes live. Beyond work, Mary’s world—hiking with three Springer Spaniels, farmers’ market cooking, a love of water—mirrors the lifestyle many buyers seek in the mountains. The throughline is simple: people over transactions. If you’re looking for a team that treats you like a neighbor and stands on integrity, this conversation shows how that promise plays out from first call to closing.

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your feedback helps more neighbors find the stories that bring our community together.

SPEAKER_00:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Skip Marty.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, hello everyone, and welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee. So I am very excited today to uh have a very special guest with us, uh, who uh uh uh owns and operates a business as well as has a podcast, which I'm a fellow podcaster. I'm excited about that. Um and uh uh I'm sure you'll be just as excited to learn all about them and and their business and what they do because today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Miss Mary Noble Braden, who is co-owner of Noble and Company Realty. Mary Noble, welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_02:

Hey Skip, thanks so much. I'm looking forward to getting to know you and and having somebody ask me questions instead of the other way around.

SPEAKER_03:

There you go. There you go. Well, here's your chance. Like I said, super excited to learn all about you and and and what you do. So if you don't mind, why don't you kick us off by telling us about your company?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, yeah. Um, so my company's name is Noble and Company Realty. Uh our office is located downtown Black Mountain, and we service Western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina, um, as well as Tennessee. And very community-based. Uh, it's a small boutique firm. We really like to pride ourselves in customer service and also supporting our community.

SPEAKER_03:

Very good. Sounds awesome supporting the comp the community. We're all about that. So thank you for thank you for that. So uh uh Mary, how uh let's tell you tell us about your journey. How did you get started in this business?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I moved to Black Mountain um about 20 years ago. I had just had my first child. Foster was uh nine months old, and I started a garden shop in downtown Black Mountain. Um, and it was it was wonderful. Loved working with all the plants and then also started a restaurant. Um 2008 came and I was like, oh, this is not gonna work. So it's funny, my dad actually owned a real estate television network probably back in 1985. And uh his friend owned a big real estate company down there. And so I don't know, I always loved uh interior design, oh landscaping, and real estate just came and um right in front of me, and uh I decided to go for it and here I am 20 years later.

SPEAKER_03:

Apparently it agreed with you. 20 years later, congratulations, nothing to sneeze at at all. So, what are some myths or misconceptions in the real estate industry that you can think of?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, gosh, there's um there's a lot of them. I I mean I think that um it's one of those things when when you meet clients, you really um it's gonna take time to get to know your clients and also get to know the house. And so I like it when I get to work with clients for a while because I get an idea of of what they what they're wanting. And um so when we find a house that I feel like fits the fits them, it it makes sense. So I guess the myth is sometimes things can happen really fast, but most of the time they don't. And and the myth would be that real estate agents just write the contract, submit it, and it happens. There's a lot of work that goes into knowing this industry, you have to have people that you trust and know that can get the job done, whether it's a surveyor, appraiser, home inspector, contractor, handyman, and you have to be able to be a mover and shaker to sometimes to either make a deal work or save a deal.

SPEAKER_03:

It's not as easy as it as it seems, as it looks, right?

SPEAKER_02:

Every now it is, every now and then it is, you know, not most of the time it's it's not. Um, but in that life, usually.

SPEAKER_03:

That's right. That's right. Well, I know sometimes, you know, when you're buying or selling a house and and and in the closing, you're stroking a check, and and they're saying, okay, this much goes to the realtor. Like, oh my gosh, what you know, but it's it's a lot of work.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, wait till you own the company. Uh most of that, Doug, goes somewhere else.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, I understand. I understand. So um outside of work, and I know one thing you like to do, but uh outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I I have three Springer Spaniels, I have one just right here, and I love to hike in the woods uh with my three dogs and my husband, and um I have two children. We love to cook. Um, we go to the farmer's market a lot and and cook really good food. And I love to hang out with friends in our community, go to some nice restaurants, um, drink some good wine, and I also love to be around water. I grew up around water, and one of my favorite things is is to boat as well. So um I'd say hiking, cooking, gardening, and uh yeah, it's spending time with my family.

SPEAKER_03:

Which is always the best answer. You like the podcast too, right? You have a community podcast?

SPEAKER_02:

I do, I do. Uh it kind of fell in my lap. Um, I didn't realize that I would that would be something I would be into. And now I'm on episode 60 for the mountain magnolias, and it's all about revealing the heart and soul of our community. So I love to connect with people in our community, and I love to actually uh network and and bring people together.

SPEAKER_03:

Awesome, and podcast, perfect way to do it. That's my goal as well. Sounds good, yeah. So um, let's switch gears for just a second. Can you describe a hardship or a life challenge that you've overcome and how it made you stronger when you came out the other side? Does anything come to mind?

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, I would say I was really surprised in my late 40s and 50s, uh, how many lessons are available, you know, to learn. I thought maybe by the time I'm 35 or 40, I wouldn't learn anymore, but man, I've learned a lot of lessons in my early days. Yeah. So um I would say wanting to walk away, whether it be a business or personal situation, and really the patience and understanding to not only love the person I am going through this with, but myself and be patient and not expect things to change fast, fast. But instead of being nice, be kind because kindness is something that you're doing from your heart and it's truly who you are. And I feel like God made all of us uh oh different ways that we're all beautiful in our own way. So being able to work through hard conversations, hard situations, not giving up and walking away. Because in our this day in life, that's what a lot happens because things happen so fast.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes, they do. And the challenge.

SPEAKER_02:

Can I answer a question? I mean, I know I was vague, but no, no, I think you did.

SPEAKER_03:

You did. No, I mean it's don't don't give up and be kind, you know, and and forgive people because that's what we're supposed to do.

SPEAKER_02:

And and and kindness is also about you being honest with your with yourself, you know.

SPEAKER_03:

Absolutely. Absolutely. Be kind to yourself for sure. Absolutely. Well, very good. Thank you for that. Um if uh Mary, if you could if you could think of one thing that you would like our listeners and viewers to remember about you and about Noble and Company Realty, what would that be?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I think uh one thing would be that um when we work as your realtor or as a company, we really care about relationships and um it's not gonna just be to list your house or sell your house. We come in um and we want to know we want to know what your goal is and we want to really get to know you, have a connection, and help guide you to the next level. And so it's not just you're not just a person or a transaction, it is something that uh we are here service heart, we have a service heart, and we're here to help you on the next level. So I guess I would say I want people to know that um they matter. Um integrity is is a big deal to me.

SPEAKER_03:

Very good thing to remember. Integrity is important, and you're not just a number, and so that means a lot. That means a lot. So um, for those of us who are interested, uh would like to uh, you know, uh thinking about buying or selling a home or make doing an investment, um, how can they learn more?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, they can go to our website at nc-realty.com. We've got a great website, it shows our team. If you are um, if you're a seller or a buyer, it'll show you where to click. And if you want to have a conversation and and actually talk to a real person instead of just get an automated um voice message, yeah you can still email us and say, hey, I'd like to talk to somebody about listing my house, or I'd like to talk to somebody about the buying process, and you will get a a real person. And if you don't, you can look my number up, Mary Noble Braden. I do I go by Mary Noble, and uh I'll call you back.

SPEAKER_03:

All right, very good. And by the way, uh ncrealty.com. What a URL. That's a heck of a URL to have.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, NC Dash Realty.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes, yes, NC Dash Realty, absolutely. That's uh anyway. Good job with the with the URL there. That's that's that's strong. That's strong. Yeah, well, um, well, Mary, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule because I know realtors uh and brokers are incredibly busy.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, thanks for uh oh taking you taking the time to speak with me today. I know yesterday we tried and uh I was on the road. I was like, oh, we're doing this today. So that's okay.

SPEAKER_03:

I'm glad we we finally got it together.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, you you want to um meet one person? Come here, come here, come be on the show. Come here, let me show you somebody real quick. There we go. Hi, Camille. There she is.

SPEAKER_03:

What's her name?

SPEAKER_01:

Camille.

SPEAKER_03:

Camille, hi Camille. I bet she likes birds too.

SPEAKER_01:

She does. She likes she likes birds and rabbits.

SPEAKER_03:

I bet she does. Does she have any?

SPEAKER_01:

Um, her and her brother do.

SPEAKER_02:

They um oh they chase rabbits.

SPEAKER_03:

Chase rabbits, there you go. Lots of fun. Well, thank you for introducing us to Camille.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, just uh do something a little fun, right?

SPEAKER_03:

Absolutely. And thanks again. We appreciate your time and uh would love to uh to have you back on the show sometime.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, Skip, I appreciate you reaching out, and I'm looking forward to uh checking out uh your podcast and and sharing it as well.

SPEAKER_03:

All right, sounds wonderful. And moving forward, wish you, your family, your dog, uh, and your clients all the best.

SPEAKER_02:

You as well, Skip. Thanks so much for connecting. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00:

All right, we will talk soon.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, take care.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNP Tri-Dash Cities dot com. That's GNP Tri-Dash Cities dot com or call four two three seven one nine five eight seven three.