Built to Last: How Tanner Schock Is Shaping His Future in Minot Real Estate

Success in real estate is often portrayed as quick wins and instant commissions. Tanner Schock will tell you that picture is incomplete.

Schock, a Minot-area realtor and the 2025 Rookie of the Year, did not enter the industry on a winning streak. Before real estate, he ran a social media management agency that struggled financially. Quitting crossed his mind, but so did a deeper question that ultimately redirected his path.

He began exploring different business models, everything from Amazon FBA to cryptocurrency to coding. At the end of that search, he asked himself a question that became foundational. What will still be relevant 30 years from now? For Schock, the answer was clear. Real estate.

“I thought it was something I could realistically do long term,” he said. “But it was tough starting out.”

Schock is not originally from Minot. He grew up in Towner, a town of roughly 500 people, and says that background shaped his mindset. He describes himself as having an underdog mentality, one built around hard work and persistence. He was raised around people in the trades, people who showed up early and stayed late, and that work ethic carried over as he entered the real estate world.

Early on, success was not immediate. There were no instant paychecks and no guaranteed pipeline of clients. Instead, Schock had to learn how to think like a business owner while building credibility from the ground up. He emphasizes that real estate is far more than paperwork and showings.

“You’re not going to be successful day one,” he said. “How you think about yourself is really important. You have to keep learning every day.”

That mindset helped carry him through the lean early stages of his career and continues to shape how he approaches the business today.

Minot itself plays a major role in Schock’s outlook. He believes the city is uniquely positioned compared to other markets in the region. With Minot Air Force Base and Project Sentinel to the north, the Bakken oil fields to the west, major industrial plants in places like Underwood to the south, and a university in town, Minot benefits from a diversified economic base.

Schock has seen that firsthand. Before real estate, he worked at a natural gas plant in Tioga and spent time around oil field operations. Those experiences gave him a strong understanding of how energy, industry, and employment cycles influence housing demand.

Looking ahead, he believes Minot may be on the verge of another significant shift. Reports from North American Iron suggest the possibility of an iron plant being built in the area. If the project moves forward, it could bring roughly 700 high-quality jobs to the region.

“This would be huge for Minot and North Dakota,” Schock said. “It’s also good for the country. The plant would produce pig iron that is currently 100 percent imported into the U.S.”

From a real estate perspective, the implications are substantial. An influx of jobs and attention could put pressure on the housing supply, particularly if construction does not keep pace with demand. Schock believes this could impact both home prices and rental markets.

“If I were a buyer, I’d be looking seriously at purchasing within the next 12 to 24 months,” he said. “Before something like that really takes off.”

Despite his recognition as Rookie of the Year, Schock does not define success by sales volume or income targets. For him, success is more personal and more demanding.

“If I’m doing the best that I can for my clients, that’s success,” he said.

He admits he puts a lot of pressure on himself, something he sees as both a strength and a challenge. Managing stress and expectations, he says, is essential to serving clients well and sustaining a long-term career.

When asked what advice he would give to someone entering real estate, Schock is candid.

“It’s going to be hard,” he said. “People may not use you, even close friends or family, because you’re new. You have to be willing to earn your stripes.”

His advice is simple but demanding. Keep learning. Be patient. Focus on becoming excellent rather than chasing quick wins.

Looking to the future, Schock sees himself continuing to improve daily and building a strong referral-based business rooted in trust. He also hopes to help others enter the industry and find their footing, just as he worked to find his own.

In an industry often defined by fast talk and flashy results, Tanner Schock is taking a slower, steadier approach. One built on consistency, humility, and a clear understanding that lasting success is earned over time.