What do you look for in a Real Estate Agent?
In my experience, the top three concerns that I repeatedly hear from Buyers and Sellers about agents they've worked with in the past are:
1. The agent is not actively listening to my needs and wants in buying/selling my home;
2. I'm feeling that the agent is not looking after my best interests either by not being patient with me while looking for a home, or wanting to under price in selling my home; and
3. Once the transaction was completed, I didn't hear from my agent again.
The longer I'm in the business, the more I realize that Buyers and Sellers are looking for an agent that they like and can trust. A home is more than just a house or condo. It's the place you will build memories with family and friends and take pride in the home that you have created. Doesn't it make sense then to work with an agent that understands this in addition to the typical real estate transactional services?
A little about me ... I was born in Toronto and have lived my entire life here. This has given me an advantage and an appreciation in understanding the history and transformation of this great city and how it got to what it is now.
I began my real estate career upon graduating in 1989 from Saint Mary's University with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA - Finance and Marketing). Prior to that in 1987, I graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor in Science (BSc - Pharmacology and Physiology). I attended high school at Royal York Collegiate (now the Etobicoke School of the Arts).
REAL ESTATE BROKER
During my real estate career I've worked in the Commercial Real Estate field buying investment properties on behalf of pension funds (Edgecombe Group - a subsidiary then of North America Life), to selling apartment buildings under Power of Sale for financial institutions during the early to mid 1990's (Royal LePage Commercial, Colliers Macaulay Nicolls), to running my own brokerage in offering Office Leasing services to downtown companies, (Keystone Commercial Inc.) and finally to the present, in working with home owners and investors in the purchase and sale of residential properties. Over 20 years experience in the business has given me insight into market cycles and trends, a firm understanding of what makes a good deal and how to best negotiate it in the best interest of my client.
In addition to being an Ontario licensed real estate broker, I have obtained the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation. Realtors for the most part represent the Seller, after all, it's the Seller's listing and they're paying the Realtor's fees. So who is representing the Buyer in all this? As a result, seeing a gap and to better represent Buyers I obtained the ABR designation.
MORTGAGE AGENT
Obtaining suitable financing is a critical part of any real estate transaction. Yet most people never get a chance to become experts in mortgages since its something they deal with once every several years either when they move or renew their mortgage. Most people at this point seek the comfort of their bank thinking that they will take care of them.
Having personally purchased several properties and hence had several mortgages, my experiences have been less than ideal and felt that and my options were not clearly spelled out for me. As a result of this need to look after the client’s best interests, I obtained my license as a Mortgage Agent. Its not just a matter of getting the lowest interest rate, but more importantly, on getting the best suited mortgage for the client, and advising them on how to pay it down as quickly as possible and become mortgage free.
REAL ESTATE INVESTOR
On a personal level, my interests are in real estate investing and renovating older but well located properties. From single family homes and townhouses to triplexes and fourplexes, I have created an investment portfolio for myself of cash flowing residential properties in Toronto, Kitchener and Brantford. My investment philosophy has been to buy undervalued properties in up and coming areas where I can create value through renovating and repurposing and then holding for the long term. I have done so on my own, but have also created joint venture partnerships with like minded investors/clients.
REAL ESTATE INSTRUCTOR
I take great joy in sharing with others my knowledge and experiences and seeing others succeed with their investing. I am also a real estate instructor with the Toronto District School Board's Continuing Education Program.
