In the Spotlight : Sarah Noet

Finding Creative Ways to Use Space

Sarah Noet has always found creative ways to make things work. Whether in lending, real estate, or construction, she has a knack for seeing what’s available and figuring out how to use it in a way that makes sense.

Her background in lending taught her how to navigate tricky financial situations and help people find solutions. When she moved into real estate, that same mindset carried over—only this time, she wasn’t just helping people buy homes, she was also thinking about how else unoccupied homes could be used.

Photography has always been part of her life, and at one point, she found herself wanting more interesting places for photoshoots. Staged real estate listings had everything she was looking for—beautiful design, unique spaces, and a different feel in every home. So she started reaching out, asking for permission to use them. Some people thought the idea was strange, but eventually, she found homeowners who were on board. It worked.

Later, she realized that the same idea could apply beyond photography. If listings could be great for creative shoots, why couldn’t they also be used for gatherings? Networking events, meetings, and community spaces—there were so many possibilities beyond traditional open houses.

That way of thinking made her a natural fit for Village, a community-driven group focused on bringing people together in structured, intentional spaces. One of the biggest challenges was always where to meet. Sarah had already been solving that problem in different ways for years. Instead of searching for venues, she looked at what was available—listings that were already staged and sitting empty.

Now, whether she’s working on real estate, photography, or introducing something new—like the low-carbon, water-permeable pavers she’s helping bring to market—her approach is the same: look at what’s already there and find a way to use it in a way that works for everyone.

She doesn’t have all the answers, but she enjoys figuring things out, bringing people together, and finding creative ways to make ideas work.

Food for Thought

1. How else can we be creative with spaces?

2. What other public places can we hold community gatherings?

3. When have you had an unconventional solution to a need?