By: Wyles Daniel
For Todd Jewell, real estate has never just been about transactions; it’s about listening, guiding, and ensuring clients feel supported through one of life’s significant decisions. His journey into the industry wasn’t linear, but each step helped prepare him to build a business rooted in service, relationships, and meaningful results.
Inspired by a long family line of teachers and coaches, Jewell initially majored in business and accounting before switching to education. He taught and coached public school for four years, a job he loved but one that left him struggling financially as a newlywed. A transition into banking provided him with a solid foundation in mortgages and finance, while also introducing him to developers and clients investing in residential communities. “That was where I fell in love with sales,” Jewell recalled. “Not the selling part, but the listening, the helping, and figuring out how to meet someone’s specific needs.”
He eventually left banking to work for a developer in East Tennessee, specializing in helping clients relocate for second homes and retirement. Unlike traditional agents, his team focused on building relationships over time, working with buyers from across the country who often didn’t set foot in the area until late in the process. “We were never just selling houses; we were helping people find the right fit for their lives,” he said.
Even after a market crash impacted much of the real estate industry, Jewell refused to walk away. He commuted for years to work for developers in South Carolina while his family remained in Tennessee, determined to stay in the field he loved. That drive eventually led him to open his own brokerage, which grew to multiple offices over the next decade. Still, Jewell wanted to get back to the type of work that energized him most: guiding people relocating to Knoxville.
Today, Jewell is doing exactly that. Through his company and his YouTube channel, Living in Knoxville, he’s helping clients navigate their move with clarity and confidence. His approach goes far beyond simply showing homes. “We’ve built our business around making relocation seamless,” Jewell explained. “It’s about anticipating needs, solving problems before they happen, and providing clients with a level of service that is rarely experienced.”
Part of what sets Jewell apart is his commitment to coaching, not just clients through the buying process, but agents as well. He’s spent the last three years learning from a respected American real-estate broker in New York, whose practice he describes as “the model for the future of real estate.” His vision is to build a Knoxville-based brokerage where agents are empowered with tools, video, photography, and branding resources that allow them to create their own identity and provide exceptional service. “I don’t want agents to simply work under our flag,” he said. “I want them to build their own brands while being fully equipped to meet what clients deserve.”
This philosophy is already taking shape through his daughter, who joined him in the business two years ago. After shadowing Jewell and proving her dedication, she’s become a trusted partner and a prime example of what intentional training and service-focused values can help achieve. “She’s the model for the kind of agent I want in this business,” Jewell said proudly. “She understands that going above and beyond isn’t extra, it’s just how it should be done.”
Jewell’s passion for coaching extends beyond his team. With years of sales training experience and proven success, he’s now working to share his knowledge with other agents who want to build meaningful businesses. “There’s a lot of noise out there about coaching,” he noted. “My rule is simple: never get coaching from someone who hasn’t accomplished what you’re trying to do. What we’ve done is small-scale, but it works. I know it works because I’ve observed it change our business.”
At its heart, Jewell’s story is about drive, purpose, and people. Whether he’s helping a family settle into Knoxville, mentoring his daughter, or preparing to train agents nationwide, his focus remains the same: helping others succeed. “I love this industry,” he said. “But more than anything, I love helping people. That’s what motivates me.”
