From Intern to Principal: What It Takes to Go from Intern to Top CRE Broker and Principal S01EP06

In this episode of RESOLUT REveal, we go behind the scenes with Michael Noteboom, Principal at RESOLUT RE in Austin. From leasing West Campus apartments as a student to becoming a market-leading commercial broker, Michael shares the mindset, systems, and lessons that helped him rise fast in a competitive industry. Whether you’re a landlord, junior broker, or aspiring principal, this episode is a deep dive into what it really takes to grow a career in retail real estate brokerage—and lead others while doing it. Timestamps & Topics 00:00 – Why chasing big deals first is the wrong move 00:23 – Ray and Martin introduce the episode and guest 00:47 – Michael’s profile as a principal and reputation in Austin 01:20 – His NICU story and balancing family with brokerage 03:10 – Early start: West Campus leasing and 100% commission life 06:14 – The hustle: building income through volume 08:14 – Starting at RESOLUT and getting first deals done 11:38 – Why volume is better than volatility in brokerage 14:22 – Leasing builds the pipeline for investment sales 15:12 – First commercial lease deal and value of mentorship 20:27 – The “Buffet System” at RESOLUT explained 25:18 – Long-term mindset: why shared deals work 27:24 – Why landlord rep made more sense for him 32:23 – How to qualify tenants without killing deals 37:15 – What changed after becoming Principal 41:01 – Why showing up to the office still matters 43:02 – Mentorship by collaboration on deals 47:05 – Every deal is a rep—volume makes you better 48:24 – Best advice: “Don’t expect more than what you put in” 50:25 – Favorite deal: a 9-day, $40K close from a simple call 52:31 – If not brokerage? High school football coach 54:29 – Final message: exposure wins, not empty guaranteesKey Takeaways Start with smaller deals to build trust, experience, and momentum—don’t chase six-figure wins out of the gate. Volume leasing is a training ground for every skill you need in commercial real estate. The “Buffet System” at RESOLUT allows brokers to scale fast by working deals across a shared portfolio. Being in the office creates opportunity: leads, mentorship, energy, and collaboration. Landlord rep is more than commission—it’s a long-term strategy to become a property owner yourself. Qualifying tenants upfront protects your time, your landlords, and your reputation. Leadership isn’t about the title—it’s earned by presence, performance, and lifting others up. At the end of the day, exposure—not overpromising—is the broker’s best value to clients. 🎧 Subscribe to RESOLUT REveal for real stories, strategies, and market insights from top brokers and leaders in commercial real estate. 📩 Get in touch or learn more: https://www.resolutre.com | [email protected] #CommercialRealEstate #CREBroker #RayCREBroker #RetailRealEstate #RESOLUTRE #AustinRealEstate #RealEstateLeadership #TenantRep #LandlordRep #BrokerLife