‘Extreme Buyers Club’: Noel Collier on New HGTV Show & Her Weirdest Client Requests

Noel Collier is the newest addition to the HGTV block. The adventurous real estate expert looks to fulfill some of the most out there property requests in Extreme Buyers Club. The Texan meets clients in their elements to get an idea what they are looking for, which as Collier puts it aren’t neatly found in the online search bar. 

For example, during the July 21 premiere she’ll help a recent divorcée wanting a fresh start with a place this llama mama and her many animals can enjoy. The first of the eight episodes also sees the personality assist survivalists hoping to prepare for whatever end of the world type of catastrophe may come in their residence. From there, Collier goes from ghost adventurers to a professional mermaid. 

Here the home guru opens up about the unique experiences she had filming, joining the network, and what comes with that. 

Noel Collier (HGTV)

It’s becoming more real now. How does it feel to have this show on HGTV and be part of that universe? 

Noel Collier: I don’t know! It is so surreal. It feels surreal. I was down in New Orleans this weekend where they do the Essence Festival every year. I went with my sisters and best friends and just hung out and walked around. They will randomly go, “Oh my gosh, the next time you come here you’re going to be on HGTV. I forget about it until someone brings it up like now. We’re actually still filming. 

How long has this show been in the works? Take me through the journey up until now. 

It has been a long process. We started the process about three years ago. I linked up with the production company. I was scouted on Instagram as the best way to describe it. Being a successful real estate professional in Houston, we get hit up all the time. Like, “Hey, we want you to be part of this.” A lot of the time it’s scams. Like you can be on TV, but you have to pay. That’s not real. I learned that from Tyra Banks on America’s Next Top Model way before then. If you have to pay for it, it’s not real. I had a request to come in. I sent things over to the PR company I was working with at that time. They vetted it as a real opportunity. We started that journey and shopped to two networks before HGTV. There were actually many more real estate agents that were involved before. I was supposed to be a ‘friend’ on the show during the initial concept. By the time it got to HGTV, they thought those other agents were great, all 11 of them, but they decided we want to work with Noel. 

You’re a natural I’d say. Your energy is infectious. It’s fun to see you in different environments and dressed to the nines.’ What was it like to film and embrace the concept?  

I don’t know if I ever got used to it. It was a struggle because in my world of real estate and being a real estate professional and living in Texas, the heat is brutal, especially during the time we were filming. It’s funny that I told my girlfriend of mine, “Girl listen, you’re going to see a lot of lifted lace up front because my wig was sliding back. The heat was so hot with pit stains. I didn’t have to get accustomed to the cameras. The cameras were normal. The heat…not so much. 

What were some of your most memorable experiences? 

I visited a llama farm. I have never been up close and personal with llamas ever. I was terrified, but I left there wanting to leave with a llama. I wanted Cora to come with me. I’m like, “I love Cora. She has an old black lady’s name. I love her.” I think they kept that cut. I was laughing so hard thinking did that even come out of my mouth? Then there were the sideshow performers. There was a couple who wanted a bunker in Texas. Hello! We don’t have basements in Texas. There are just so many unique and fun and funny moments. We even visited a birthing center. A woman who births babies. They have a farm with things they sell from the farm off the side of the road essentially. After I wrapped on that episode I found out she delivered my baby cousin. I had no idea. That was probably the most unique thing that came from this. The couple we filmed, the wife was the midwife. I had never met her before, heard of her before. Once we wrapped that episode we went to celebrate my aunt’s 100th birthday, and I was telling my cousins about that episode. My cousin was like, “Wait? Is her name Deshawn?” I said, yeah. “She delivered my baby. She was my midwife.” That’s cool, right! 

Very! When it comes to clients, a lot of these owners are entering a new phase of life, entrusting you to find their dream property that fits their unique needs. How was it working with them? 

They are putting a lot of time, money, and effort. I would say the challenge has been the timeframe it all needs to be done in. I’m naturally a woman that loves a challenge. Again, I feel like that is where you grow. You grow when you’re challenged. You don’t grow when you’re comfortable. So, the challenge, aside from the heat and my sliding wig, was the timeframe I had to help each individual person. A real estate purchase is likely the most expensive purchase that people will make in their lifetime. We have to take that seriously. I do not play with people’s money at all. So, it is my goal every time we make sure I’m getting the buyer exactly what they are looking for or as close to it as possible. 

And these aren’t your typical properties you are going for. That adds another level of difficulty. 

It’s another level of challenge. For the 727 [Boeing] airplane, I have to find property for that airplane to go on. Oh my gosh, I’ve never found property for an airplane before. That was a new thing. That was probably one of the wildest things along with the picture one. I had to help a couple find a home based on a feeling that they felt from the picture. Not bedroom count, bathroom count, not square footage. How the hell am I supposed to help you find a house based on how you feel? I don’t know how you feel. That was also very challenging, but if we’re asked to do these things again, I can do it because now I’ve done it. 

You’re so natural on camera, but HGTV is a whole different animal. How have you prepared for this transition where you’re scrutinized, your personal life is talked about, etc.? 

I think turning 42 helped with that. If this opportunity would have come 10 years ago, I probably would have been thinking about things like what people are going to say in the comments [online]. I’m a grown woman. I’ve been through some things in this life. I’m not this way by chance based on my experiences. I’ve not had an easy life. If I can be a single mom at 16, move out of my mom’s home because it was toxic and move into my own spot with my son, go to school, work two jobs. Then be a first-generation college graduate and homeowner. What people say about me online doesn’t matter. They don’t know me. I hold in regard the people who know me, what they have to say. Also in that same breath, I’m equally excited for people to get to know me. I feel like I’m a pretty good person. I love people. 

Noel Collier meeting buyers Graylin and Janelle, as seen on ‘Extreme Buyers Club’, Season 1. (HGTV)

You’re a mom of three. Are we going to see your family featured at all? 

Hopefully, I can squeeze my baby boy [Zay Jr] in. He is eight and actually the real star of this family. I have a 25-year-old [Lee], a 16-year-old [Zaria], and the 16-year-old is my only girl. She is a volleyball player and six-foot tall. She is taller than my oldest son, and I think he feels a way about it. My baby boy is eight. He is just so snuggly still. I call him Bubby. He is a real star. He is so fun and energetic and exciting .This last piece of an episode we are filming on Monday. I want him to come with me to do the zipline. We’re going to have a zipline moment. So, I don’t want to do that. I want to convince him to do it for me. 

Anyone you look to or have you built connections with in terms of other HGTV personalities? 

I have! Page Turner from Love It or List It has been, when I say a beautiful soul. She is such a beautiful person. She prays for me, supports me, encourages me, we just exchanged phone numbers. She is that listening ear. Jared [J. Paul  Foster] also had a new show that premiered on HGTV. We have really learned from each other how we seize the moment. We have delivered a lot of sweat equity in these projects. It’s 12-13 hours on set, a lot of fun by the way, but a lot of hard work also. How to make the best of the moment and make sure I don’t get lost in the moment. 

Any piece of advice Page gave you too to heart? 

Yes, be Noel. That’s what they want. Be Noel a hundred percent. 

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What do you want to tease about what’s to come? When it is extreme, it doesn’t seem like false advertising. 

No false advertising! I will say this. In the first episode the kangaroo is not the craziest animal you’ll see. Not even the llamas. They are not the craziest. There are more. It gets extreme! 

What did you walk away with this season? Do you find filming the show got you out of your comfort zone in some way? 

For sure, I’m a woman of faith. My husband is a pastor, so doing a ghost hunt was not on my Bingo card. Kind of working a fine line, but I’m so glad I did it. It was so scary, but it was so fun. So now I’m like is there a spirit in here? I just feel like I’m an expert at detecting spirits now. Your phone went dead? It drained your battery. Someone is trying to talk to you. 

Extreme Buyers Club series premiere, July 21, 9/8c, HGTV