–Even after 40 years, It’s still a thrill to help people find homes–
I was born & raised in Nanaimo, my Dad was a teacher & Mom taught piano.
My initial career idea was to be a shop teacher in the school system, but instead I took a British Leyland mechanic-(MGB Jaguar etc) apprenticeship and completed 3 years of the program.
In my spare time, I began buying cheap houses and renting them out, my first property was $6,300.00 in 1975. When you make $ 2.50 per hour-I NEVER thought I’d pay for the place.
The Realtor I worked with suggested that I take the real estate course, to get the knowledge of how the business works-so I did-never thinking that it would be my life’s work.
I wanted to build and race cars. One November day I was lying on my back – under an MGB, with water dripping down on my face & my hands frozen almost solid & I said to myself —“NO”- –I will do something else in life!!!
Real Estate. There were two out twelve people who passed the pre-licensing course that term, and suddenly I had a real estate license and a “bull pen” cubical at Block Bros Realty. I had a red 1966 GMC pickup truck (good for the rentals) – and NO MONEY for advertising nor marketing, but off I went. I did well– very well, working many 16 hours days, to get money for clothes & a 4 door car. In 1980 I was asked to join a group forming a new real estate company, with brand new offices & with a personal assistant. That was “Bowen Realty”, which we built from 6 partners to over 30 salespeople in 3 years. This was 1980 thru 1984 – when interest rates went from 10% to over 20% and the average price of housing went DOWN 52% over a 5 year period.
We grew into 40 plus salespeople, moved to Woodgrove mall & bought the Re/Max franchise. I sold out and went independent for 12 years, and as we grow & learn in life I saw that the major worldwide brokerages -C21 –Re/Max —Royal Lepage were gaining more market share- because they can advertise more & small brokerages cannot compete in the internet age. As much as people may grumble about multiple national companies– in real estate brokerage game, it is the ONLY way to go. Over the 40 years, I’ve been involved in over 4,000 residential transactions in Nanaimo, and still find it a thrill to do business.
I’ve owned and managed 3 brokerages, including a condo specialist company, a property management company, construction company and owned many rental properties.
Sometimes people say “Why don’t you retire?” “And do what??” I ask.
There is nothing in my life more interesting—for me– than working (playing) in real estate.
Still love cars, and racing but I’m not going back to lying under an MGB.
Let me know -if I can help you.
Gord