Paragon’s Elliot Collins: ‘Homeownership Is One of The Great Equalizers.”

Elliot Collins is one of those people that wouldn’t mind house hunting every day for the rest of his life. For the better part of a year, he and his partner spent every night and weekend scouring Zillow and touring homes throughout Dallas with their realtor. He enjoyed the process so much, that he became a real estate agent.

CandysDirt: When did you begin selling real estate?

Elliot Collins: I began selling in 2013 but this is my first year selling real estate full-time.

CD: What was the market like then?

EC: Nothing like it is today. The market was coming back after the crash and was really starting to bounce back. There were foreclosures galore and sellers were much more willing to work with buyers.

CD: Why did you decide to join Paragon? Did you meet with other brokerages before deciding?

EC: I  did interview other places, but ultimately it was Paragon that really stood out to me for its quality training, high level of professional pride with which the agents carried themselves, and the overall warmth that I felt when I first walked into the office.

CD: Do you have a mentor or someone in the real estate business that’s helped you, and what lessons have they taught you?

EC: I  don’t think that I’ve ever verbalized it to him, but Tony Nuncio has been a friend I’ve learned so much from. You learn from experience with Tony. Watching how he works, and seeing how professional he is with his clients and his counterparts in a transaction, it’s inspirational.  So much of Tony’s success can be attributed to his high degree of professionalism, expertise, and respect for all parties in a transaction.  I’ve learned from him that if you operate with that mindset, success will surely come.

CD: What part of town do you live in?

EC: I’m in southern Oak Cliff in the Red Bird area. A neighborhood near the intersection of Hampton and Camp Wisdom called Elderoaks (named for its, you guessed it, huge oak trees). It’s a tiny neighborhood with 40 or 50 homes. Every Christmas, 85 to 95 percent of the homes participate in a huge light display.  It’s amazing to see the spectacle and provide a local attraction for people wanting to see Christmas lights without having to drive too far.  Before Covid, we had horse-drawn carriages and hot apple cider during the holiday season and even carolers from nearby schools. It’s great to move into a neighborhood with a sense of community and pride of ownership.

“There’s so much more to Oak Cliff than just Bishop Arts.”

I love Ann’s Health Food. Kendal Carsen’s has some of the best soul food I’ve tasted and great service, too. The Oak Cliff golf course is absolutely beautiful. And I can’t wait for the coming Redbird Mall development to be open to the public.  There’s so much here and there’s so much coming.  I’m excited to be able to experience that.

CD: What’s the best part of living there, or the hidden gem that people overlook about your neighborhood?

EC: It’s not really hidden, but the Heritage Oak Cliff home tour is one of my favorite events.  I can’t wait for it to return! Also, I really love the fact that I get a real sense of community in my neighborhood.  I still wave at everyone who drives by my house and my neighbors often stop the car to chat and catch up with me.  You don’t get that everywhere in the metroplex.  The people are what make any neighborhood great and we have some great people! 

CD: When we first connected, you said you were finishing up midterms for law school. You’re a busy guy with full-time real estate and law school.

EC: Yeah [chuckling]. And there’s so much more I want to do. As a kid, I went to St. Phillips, a predominantly black private school, and I participate in their scholarship selection process, but I wish I could do more to support this very special school. Also, my partner and I renovate and resell houses.

CD: What kind of home renovation do you do and how often?

EC: We started flipping homes in 2015 and then did some renovations for friends. We only do one to two houses a year.

CD: What’s the business called?

EC: ModProps. We focus on 1950s ranch homes and update them to 2022 standards. The thing about these homes is that they’re not tract homes. These are custom homes where somebody painstakingly chose everything. The way they were built, every design choice was made intentionally. So we try to honor the homes and the people who made those choices by marrying the old with the new.

“By just gutting a 1950s home and putting in on-trend 2022 style, you’re unintentionally dating the home for years down the road. It’s like when you see a historic home with a very 1980s remodel inside.”

CD: And you and your partner work together on these remodels? Tell me about him and your family.

EC: Yes, Kenneth and I have been together since 2006.  My mother lives with us. She retired as an executive for the Dallas Housing Authority. She always said that homeownership is one of the great equalizers. It’s true. I’ve taken that philosophy of hers with me.