"I feel like real estate is part of who I am at this point," says REALTORⓇ Travis Smith with the Scott Team at Compass. “It never feels like work.”

An athlete throughout his life, Travis focused on baseball until he graduated from college. That his first job after college ended up being his lifelong career is something he attributes to sheer luck.

“Honestly, it was just happenstance,” says Travis. “I feel extremely lucky with how it played out. I didn't really know what I was getting into from the start, but I couldn't have asked for a better fit for a career.”

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Travis’s childhood was filled with encouragement combined with a focus on competing to achieve goals—a mindset that would stay with him through his college years and beyond.

“My parents were always my biggest cheerleaders,” Travis says. “They did everything in their power to set me up to be successful in life.” 

After graduating from high school, Travis attended the University of Michigan, where he played collegiate baseball and double-majored in political science and sociology. In academics and sports, he was expected to maintain a high level of hard work, focus, and discipline—an excellent foundation for his professional life. 

“Being in sports all my life, I enjoy the competitive nature of real estate and sales in general,” he says. “It was an easy fit from the start.”

Upon graduating from college in 2012, Travis knew he wanted to call Chicago home, but he wasn’t yet certain of his career path. He accepted that first job at HomeScout Realty (now part of Coldwell Banker) on a whim, thinking it would at least serve as a stepping stone toward a career that, at the time, he still couldn’t picture.

“I took my first job not knowing real estate would end up being my calling,” he laughs. “It all kind of fell into place.” 

Travis quickly adapted to the industry and found his niche, driven by the thrill of competing and the satisfaction of helping clients through such an important life moment. Early on, he met REALTOR® Darrell Scott, who was also at HomeScout. Their professional relationship quickly grew into a friendship, and Darrell, who has been a pivotal figure in Travis’s career ever since, soon became both a mentor and a steady source of support through the ups and downs of the real estate world. 

“Having someone like Darrell as a friend and mentor has made a sometimes difficult job much easier,” says Travis.

Travis initially focused on rentals, completing over 100 deals per year. This approach helped him learn the ins and outs of the Chicago market and the city’s neighborhoods, understand client needs, and expand his network. But he knew that his heart lay in real estate sales. The transition wasn’t easy, and he had to step out of his comfort zone. 

“I wanted to shift to sales, and with Darrell and the team’s help, I dove in,” Smith explains. “It was probably the only time in my career where I had to give up something that was working, learn a new process, and take a leap of faith that everything would work out.”

That leap paid off. Smith built a strong foundation in sales and began growing his business organically. Today, his business mainly consists of repeat clients and referrals.

Since moving with Darrell to Compass in 2019 as a senior broker associate of the Scott Group, Travis’s reputation for dedication and integrity has only grown. For him, success goes beyond accolades and sales numbers; it’s about the satisfaction of seeing his clients achieve their dreams.

“Numbers and recognition are always nice and are a product of hard work, but real success stems from helping each client achieve their individual goals,” Travis says.

Looking ahead, Travis envisions a lifelong career in real estate, which he believes will continue to give him purpose and allow him to provide for his young family and spend as much time as possible with them. He and his wife, Rachael, share their busy home with their daughter, Sutton (2); their son, Sonny (8 months old); and their two dogs, Rainey and Wells. 

“I plan on doing real estate forever,” he says. “It gives me the ability to balance work and my personal life, which, right now, is all about making memories.” 

Once their children are older, the Smiths plan to start traveling again. In the meantime, the family enjoys exploring Chicago’s rich culture, attending concerts and neighborhood festivals, finding new restaurants, and cheering on the Cubs.

Travis advises those entering real estate to work hard, be consistent, and find a great mentor—advice that reflects his own journey. 

“Always be learning,” he emphasizes, “and don’t stress over things you can’t control. Nothing in life, especially real estate, comes easy. Working hard and being a self-starter is key.”