With over 20 years at the top of Manhattan’s luxury real estate market, Noble Black regularly ranks among the nation’s top brokers. Known for representing some of New York’s most famous addresses, he maintains a loyal clientele. Now, after more than 10 years at another brokerage, Black has returned to Corcoran. He brings his team and a portfolio of high-end properties that covers Manhattan and the Hamptons. In this conversation, he discusses his decision to rejoin Corcoran, the shifting expectations of buyers, and what it takes to succeed in one of the world’s most competitive real estate markets.
Thank you for your time, Noble. You recently came back to Corcoran after more than ten years. What brought you back, and why is this the right time for this change?
There were several reasons for my return, not one in particular. I was really struck by how well Corcoran is doing so many things. Their international partnership with Savilles was very attractive. They continue to totally dominate the new development sector — the gold standard in service and research. The backbone of services they offer, from marketing to technology, was extremely impressive, as was their referral network. And of course, I was reminded and struck by just how engaged Pam is at every level of the business, whether on resales, international connections, or new developments. As I assessed where my business would grow the most and allow us to up the bar for what we offer our clients, it was a clear decision to me.
How do you balance the Hamptons and the city when it comes to listings/clients?
For a long time, I wanted to expand my business to the Hamptons, while I have had a home in the Hamptons for over a decade, over the years, I realized that so many of my clients were in the Hamptons as well as other luxury markets. For me, that meant finding the right agents — people who could deliver the same level of service and care that our clients have come to expect in the city. Today, we have a dedicated Hamptons team that combines our commitment to exceptional client service with deep, local expertise. Each of our agents has strong ties to the community — and two of them were even born and raised in the Hamptons — giving our clients true insider knowledge of the market.
Was there something specific about Corcoran’s culture, leadership, or platform that made you believe this was the best place for you and your team going forward?…