The Nisbet surname is one of the oldest names in San Antonio real estate going back to when Helen and Alfred Nisbet arrived in the 1940s. Alfred was the second ophthalmologist in town at a time when they told him he would never make it since one was all the city could support. Helen was the second female ranch broker in the state working for years finding ranch investments for renowned San Antonio land developer David Miller and when he retired, for Aaron Mandel. Helen and Alfred had five children, two of whom followed in the family business. David joined her in real estate in the 1970s, selling 100s of millions of dollars in retail ranch sales with many of Texas’ most successful businessmen and women. Stephen maintained a general legal practice in San Antonio for over 35 years, specializing in real estate law. David’s son and Stephen’s nephew, John, followed in the family’s San Antonio real estate tradition as an attorney specializing in real estate and real estate broker.
Licensure:
- State Bar of Texas License #24053393, 2006-Present
- Texas Real Estate Broker’s License #533716, 2007-Present
Board Certification:
- Board Certified in Residential Real Estate Law, 2021-Present
- Covering acquisition, financing and disposition; taxes and lien rights; broker and agent laws/regulations; construction contracts and liens; development, zoning and platting; condemnation; easements; foreclosures; insurance and indemnities; interests and estates including bankruptcy, divorce and death; homestead rights and voluntary liens; landlord/tenant; mineral and water rights; premises liability; property owner associations, restrictive covenants and deed restrictions; title insurance including examination of commitment and policy for coverage, endorsements, exceptions, and requirements; fraud and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act; procedural actions and statutes affecting real estate.
Education:
- St. Mary’s University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2005 | Dean’s Scholar, 2002 - University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Science, 2002 | Commended National Merit Student - UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
Mini MBA, 2013 | Business Essentials Certificate - University of Texas School of Law
Mediation Certificate, 2007 - Austin Dispute Resolution Center
Advanced Family Mediation Certificate, 2013
Legal Experience:
- Underwriting Counsel for Stewart Title Guaranty Company, one of the largest title insurers in the country, counseling policy issuing agents and directing company personnel and customers in residential, ranch, and commercial title insurance underwriting and policy issuance operations.
- General Counsel to agents, brokerage departments, and executive management in the marketing, negotiation, and sale of luxury residential, ranch, and commercial real estate across thousands of transactions per year and billions in production with Phyllis Browning Company, one of the largest independent real estate brokerages in Texas.
- 12+ years as broker-attorney with ~$40+ million in transactions with career-high sale of $7,500,000 with partner investors in large ranch investment properties ranging from $1,000,000 to $8,000,000.
Related Experience:
Projects with investor partners:
- 2,282 acre James River Ranch (Mason County, Texas)
- 244 acre Big Creek Ranch (Blanco County, Texas)
- 1,389 acre Reunion Creek Ranch (Kerr County, Texas)
- 717 acre Cordova Bend Ranch (Comal County, Texas) – went into development
- 2,287 acre Live Springs Ranch (Kerr County, Texas) – went into development
- 195 acre Dripping Springs Ranch (Blanco County, Texas)
Related ranch sales transactions:
- 345 acre Wagon Wheel Ranch (Kerr County, Texas)
- 314 acre Brushy Top Mountain Ranch (Blanco County, Texas)
Residential sales and flips: San Antonio, Texas Hill Country & Colorado (x14)
Memberships:
- Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
- Past Chair of the San Antonio Bar Association Real Estate Section
- State Bar of Texas Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section
- Texas Land Title Association
- San Antonio Board of REALTORS®
- Texas & National Association of REALTORS®
- Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
- Proud Supporter of The All Rise Movement
Speaking Engagements & Presentations:
- “New NAR Rule Changes”
Presentation for Stewart Title w/ Gilbert Gonzales, CEO of SABOR, and Michelle Ellis, Sales Director for Phyllis Browning Company
In-Person in San Antonio
(October 2024) - “Top 5 Closing Disruptors”
Presentation for Stewart Title w/ Krysta Baring
In-Person in New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, and Castroville
(June-July 2024) - “Cross-Border Confidence: Navigating Foreign Client Concerns”
Presentation for Stewart Title w/ Zoiliss Rios
In-Person in Laredo, Texas
(April 2024) - “Don’t Be Afraid of Commitments”
Presentation for Stewart Title
Virtual/Online
(February 2024) - “Ethics – Creative vs Unethical”
Continuing Education (CLE)
Presentation for Stewart Title w/ Heidi Junge
In-Person in Houston, Texas
(January 2024) - “How To Not Get Sued”
Continuing Education (CE)
Presentation for Phyllis Browning Company
Biennially Updated & Bimonthly Presented
(Monthly 2020-2023) - “TREC Legal Update I & II”
Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE)
Presentation for Phyllis Browning Company
Biennially Updated & Biannually Presented
(Semi-Annually 2020-2022) - “Brokerage Law with a Side of Market Update”
Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
Presentation for San Antonio Bar Association’s Real Estate Section
In-Person in San Antonio, Texas
(January & November, 2022) - “TREC Contracts: When Good Clients Go Bad”
Continuing Education (CE)
Presentation for Phyllis Browning Company
Virtual/Online
(April & September, 2021) - “Modernize Your Transaction”
Continuing Education (CE)
Presentation for Phyllis Browning Company
& KTSA Radio, “What’s It Worth” Show
Virtual/Online and On-Air Live Radio
(May 2020)
