Real Estate with Howard Drukarsh: Recent Episodes
Reocast & Howard Drukarsh
CEO of OREA Tim Hudak joins Howard to speak about the Reality + conference and the incredible lineup of speakers featured at this year’s event, including President Bill Clinton and Action Star Simu Liu. Tim also weighs in on housing supply, affordability, what is being done to address those issues, and more.
Visit realityconference.ca to learn more about this incredible event taking place November 23 to 23 in Toronto.
Tim Hudak is the CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association, Canada’s largest provincial real estate industry association representing 78,000 REALTORS®.
Tim joined OREA after a distinguished 21 years of public service in the Ontario Legislature – including five years as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
Since becoming CEO in December 2016, he and his OREA team have focused on transforming OREA into Ontario’s most effective professional association that delivers high-impact advocacy on behalf of REALTORS® and consumers and provides quality services to members. During his first year as OREA CEO, he was named one of the most powerful people in residential real estate by Swanepoel Power 200 2017/18.
This episode is jam-packed with techie goodness. Join Howard and his guest Eric Bryant Director of North American Operations at Oppen, about the Openn offer management platform, the future of making offers on Realtor.ca, the blockchain, tokenization, fractional home ownership, and investment.
Eris Bryant leads Openn North America as Director of Operations. With over 25 years of experience in real estate services, strategy and technology, Eric has deep experience with real estate business development and extensive networks in the sector across North America.
Prior to joining Openn, Eric was the National Accounts Director with First American Data & Analytics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF). Previous to that, he led his own national real estate technology consultancy, a role that included several years as host of the radio talk show, “Keeping it Real Estate.”
Eric is also the Southern CA Regional Chair for FIBREE.org (The Foundation for International Blockchain in Real Estate Expertise), an organization dedicated to empowering the real estate industry through the education of distributed ledger technology.
Jeff Hauswirth Vice Chairman at Ferguson Partners Corporate Talent Management Canada, speaks with Howard about the traits of great leaders, the importance of truly connecting with people, and his passion for working with Second Harvest food rescue.
Jeff has gained over 25 years of experience advising clients in boardrooms around the world and developing lasting relationships with leaders in many sectors. He is driven by purpose, naturally cultivates followership, and has demonstrated the ability to turn around and grow professional services businesses globally. Clients describe him as a creative, trusted advisor and his colleagues and teams are inspired by his ability to convey the upside in any given situation.
Jeff joined Ferguson Partners, a boutique Chicago-headquartered global real estate and infrastructure firm in 2018. He serves as Vice Chairman and head of the North American business, based in the firm’s Toronto office. Jeff was recruited to work closely with the founder and leadership team to build the Canadian platform and to expand the firm’s global brand and footprint through refining and implementing new business strategies and service offerings and recruiting and mentoring consultants globally. He also leads the firm’s CEO Succession Practice and participates in both the Board Recruitment & Advisory Practice and the PE/REIM Practice.
Prior, Jeff spent 25 years with Spencer Stuart, conducting over 100 CEO searches globally, over 50 board director searches and developing specialized expertise in the telecommunications and real estate sectors. He also held progressively more complex leadership roles alongside his client work. He joined SSI as a consultant in the Toronto office and was soon appointed Toronto Office Manager, then Country Manager Canada with P&L and national strategy for 10 years, including openingaCalgaryofficeandrebuildingMontreal. Revenuesgrewfromthetimehejoined,from$5M to $25M. Concurrent to this leadership role, he helped establish offices in Mumbai and Delhi where he spent 6 months, all the while still carrying a full search load with Canadian clients. Jeff was elected to the Spencer Stuart Board of Directors twice: in 2005 and 2008, and chaired its Compensation Committee. Jeff stepped off the Board at the start of his third term when asked by the CEO to relocate to Asia (Australia) to co-lead, along with a partner based in Hong Kong, the firm’s Asia Pacific
Region. Different from his prior leadership experience establishing and growing the business across Canada and India, this mandate involved significant turnaround efforts and a deep understanding of the diverse business cultures in India, Japan, and Australia. Jeffbeganhiscareerbylaunchingseveral businesses in the retail and distribution sectors, gaining a firsthand understanding of the demands facing CEOs, boards, and senior executives.
Renowned Canadian financial guru and CTV News’ former Chief Financial Commentator, Pattie Lovett-Reid chats to Howard about her start in broadcasting, embracing new opportunities, and the importance of being your genuine self.
Pattie Lovett-Reid is a highly respected Canadian financial guru. As CTV News’ former Chief Financial Commentator, Lovett-Reid is well experienced in coaching her audience on how to save money, stretch their income, and get the biggest bang for their hard-earned bucks. Her unique and skillful ability to translate complicated and detailed personal finance strategies into frank, savvy financial advice has transformed the lives of many Canadians. Lovett-Reid provided weekday financial updates for CTV News Channel, CP24, and regional CTV MORNING LIVE broadcasts across the country and remains a regular guest commentator on BNN Bloomberg, CTV’s YOUR MORNING, THE SOCIAL, NEWSTALK 1010, and other media platforms. Lovett-Reid's career journey is one filled with admiration, inspiration, and a strong sense of determination. Her career began right out of high school as a bank teller, and with no formal post-secondary education and a low glass ceiling for women in finance, her career was unlikely to blossom beyond branch management. However, Lovett-Reid climbed the ranks in the investment world, and after a very successful 30+ year career with TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., where she served as Senior Vice-President, she then took on the role of Chief Financial Commentator with CTV News in early 2012. Lovett-Reid is a Certified Financial Planner, co-author of several national bestselling books, and was awarded with an honorary degree in Applied Studies from Humber College in June 2010. The Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC) recognized Lovett-Reid with the 2009 Donald J. Johnston Award for her outstanding contribution to the profession of financial planning in Canada. In 2011, Lovett-Reid was awarded the Financial Planning Canada Fellow of Distinction, and in 2007 and received Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Award in the Trailblazers and Trendsetters Category. Today, Pattie splits her time between Toronto and Muskoka, Canada, with her husband Jim Reid, their children, and a growing group of grandchildren.
Howard speaks with Ahmer Rafiq Co-Founder and CEO of Souqh, Canada's
one-stop shop for real estate and home services nationwide.
Souqh is Canada’s only all-in-one real estate and home services marketplace providing technology and services to help real estate professionals deliver unparalleled client experiences. With over 10,000+ unique monthly visitors, Souqh brings together clients, realtors, mortgage brokers, law firms, inspectors, and associated industry partners to deliver a complete digital experience for their client’s homeownership journey – all in one place.
Find Souqh on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/souqh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souqhteam/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClH1brV9v85OAt32B5_uLTg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouqhTeam/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/souqhteam
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/souqhteam/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@souqhteam
www.souqh.ca
Howard speaks with Sherry Larjani, Founder and President of Spotlight Development, about her journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur and real estate developer.
Sherry Larjani is an experienced real estate developer and entrepreneur with a focus on creating beautifully designed spaces that bring her visions to life. Sherry began her career working as a designer at a luxury architecture firm in Toronto and quickly progressed into building new single-home builds and renovation jobs. In 2010, Sherry created Spotlight Developments, specializing in the acquisition of properties for redevelopment into high density residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects. An advocate for collaboration, she champions inclusivity and teamwork as a foundation for a successful approach towards real estate development.
In 2019, Sherry partnered with Urban Capital to create Reina, a project with Canada's first all-female development team to raise awareness of gender inequality in the industry and the many roles women can play. In recent years, Sherry has completed numerous projects and partnered with many major developers including Liberty Development, Urban Capital, and others, continuing her life-long legacy in the real estate industry.
Here is the link to the company website:
https://www.spotlightdevelopment.com/
Sherry’s new Charity Foundation:
https://ariafoundation.com/
Sherry's latest not-for-profit project:
https://theinclusivecondo.com/
Realtor and content creator Jas Takhar speaks with Howard about their mutual love of podcasting, helping buyers and sellers, and inspiring real estate agents to try creating their own video and audio content.
Toronto native, Jas Takhar, has been in the sales and service industry for over 26 years. Soon after deciding to try his hand in real estate, he founded REC Canada under Royal LePage, and for over 5 years has successfully kept his team top 3 in the country.
With 54 realtors and 11 support staff, the team advises and assists over 625 buyers, sellers and investors, yearly, across the Greater Toronto Area, resulting in a total of over $2.1B in transactions. Jas’ area of expertise is in helping investors build out their real estate portfolios. Wanting to share his knowledge and experience with the masses, he wrote a book titled, Real Estate Intelligence, which teaches anyone how to buy or sell real estate on their own.
Furthering his pursuit to educate and motivate, he developed a love for content creation, and now not only hosts one of the top business podcasts in North America – The Jas Takhar Podcast – but also founded his own media company, From The Ground Up Media where he helps other real estate agents produce quality content. His hope is to provide inspiring education through his guides, seminars, and content to aid others in removing the friction from their own life in order to help them get from where they are, to where they want to be.
Find Jas on...
https://www.instagram.com/jastakhar13/
https://www.youtube.com/jastakhar
https://www.facebook.com/jastakhar13
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/jas-takhar-podcast/id1383371381?mt=2
https://open.spotify.com/show/4G8zDAoCNX9BP35tbt4N6V
Ted Tsiakopoulos Senior Economist/Specialist (Housing Markets Policy & Research) CMHC shares his interest rate insights with Howard.
The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of organizations or groups they represent.
Howard chats with Jordan March about how his aspirations for a music career brought him to real estate, the winning work ethic needed to succeed at Serhant, and the MarTech tools he can’t live without.
Jordan March is a managing partner of the McPeak Team at SERHANT. and is a distinguished 13-year veteran of the real estate industry. He is regarded as a pioneer and industry disrupter for his use of digital media, and he has closed over $500 million in sales.
Jordan is at the forefront of major strategic shifts in the real estate industry and new development marketing. He implements progressive operational processes, technology, and marketing campaigns, and he leverages his experience in social and digital media by executing targeted sales campaigns to give developers, landlords, and sellers maximum exposure and an unmatched edge in any market. He has a consistent track record of trading listed homes at record prices, and he utilizes the latest technology and media channels to guide, empower, and advocate for his clients during the selling and buying process.
Prior to joining SERHANT., Jordan was a Director of Sales at two of Manhattan’s top firms as well as one of NYC’s leading technology-driven sales brokerages, LG Fairmont. Under his management there, it was recognized by INC 5000 as one of the fastest-growing
organizations in the U.S. for two consecutive years. To date, he has managed and trained over 500 agents, many of which have gone on to great success and closed on some of the city’s top listings.
Jordan was also the Digital Sales Manager of an advertising network that partnered with Viacom, Meredith, Conde Nast, and Scripps Networks. While there, he oversaw multiple departments and successfully executed multi-channel marketing campaigns for Fortune 1500 companies such as UPS, Starburst, Overstock.com, Toyota, Canon, and Bank of America.
Jordan has completed degrees at the Institute of Audio Research and St. John’s University and has been featured in high-profile publications like the Wall Street Journal, Channel 1 News, MSNBC, The New York Times, and StreetEasy. One of Jordan’s long-term goals is to further the movement of New Urbanism, helping to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by using a conscious approach to energy conservation, green technology, and sustainable architectural design and development.
In his free time, Jordan loves to play with his kids, enjoy unique dining experiences, and meditate and dance. His interests include art, theatre, film, technology, and fashion, and he plays the violin and piano.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/offmarketnewyork/
https://www.instagram.com/jordanmarchmusic/?hl=en
https://www.serhant.com/people/jordan-march
Ted Tsiakopoulos Senior Economist/Specialist (Housing Markets Policy & Research) · CMHC speaks about inflation expectation and supply chain issues contributing to inflation.
The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk.
Ted Tsiakopoulos on LinkedIn
Tim Hudak CEO of OREA speaks about the latest federal budget as it relates to housing and gives his take on the foreign buyer's tax, banning foreign buyers, and increasing the housing supply.
James Warren is an award-winning Toronto luxury real estate agent with a proven sales and marketing strategy and a well-established reputation amongst Toronto’s luxury homeowners and real estate agents. James believes in offering a superior real estate experience.
With a primary focus on luxury homes in Toronto, including Rosedale, Moore Park, Deer Park, Lawrence Park, Lytton Park, Forest Hill, and Summerhill. James is a true purveyor in Luxury home sales. He believes that luxury is a service not a price point and serves first-time buyers to seasoned homeowners.
https://sw3.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/jamesstrathywarren
https://www.instagram.com/sw3.ca/?hl=en
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/james-warren-b6603097
The extraordinary Mary Fitzgerald from Netflix's Selling Sunset joins Howard on episode 40 of the podcast. Join them as they chat about navigating the complex emotions real estate transactions can provoke and the effect staring on a hit show has had on her career.
Mary Fitzgerald is an experienced realtor associate at The Oppenheim Group in Los Angeles. She is a fan favorite on Netflix’s hit reality series Selling Sunset, which follows the lives of elite real estate brokers at one of the best-known agencies selling the luxe life to affluent buyers in the Hollywood Hills and Sunset Strip. She married Romain Bonnet at the end of season two.
After graduating from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, Mary spent many years gaining valuable real estate experience in the Beach Cities/Southbay area of Los Angeles. New York and London, such as working for the Candy Brothers at their London headquarters, involved in notable projects such as 1 Hyde Park.
Currently residing in Los Angeles, Mary is furthering her decade-long real estate career at The Oppenheim Group, adding considerable value to the firm’s real estate transactions, property management, and business development. She is the longest member to reign on the Oppenheim staff. Representing both buyers and sellers in LA’s luxury real estate market, Mary sets herself apart with integrity, honesty, and a driven work ethic.
As well as real estate Mary herself has a love of travel and art.
Paul Johnston joins Howard in this episode to discuss his 15-year career in real estate, his unique definition of luxury properties, high-end rentals, and learning to say no.
Paul Johnston is at the forefront of progressive and modern urban development across Toronto, with over fifteen years experience representing properties of consequence that have helped transform neighbourhoods. He and his team believe that great design is essential to great living, and that Toronto deserves inspiring architecture that is reflective of the times in which we live.
In just three short years Stephanie Toufexis has become an award-winning and record-breaking real estate agent. Join Howard as he speaks with Stephanie about her road to success and her innovative use of new social channels to drive business.
Stephanie Toufexis is a realtor entering her 3rd year in the industry. As part of the Harvey Kalles Real Estate Brokerage, she has quickly established herself as an integral part of the company by securing an award as a top producer. She previously owned and operated her own business as a freelance makeup artist for various events. Leveraging social media and creating a sustainable referral business, it continued to grow at a rapid rate. Stephanie soon after decided to transition into real estate when she realized that her skill set could form a great foundation for a largely successful career in sales, which she has proven to be true.
From educating first-time homebuyers through purchasing their first home to selling record-breaking, custom-built homes in Toronto, Stephanie has serviced many types of clientele. When she’s not selling multi-million dollar homes, you’ll find her golfing and enjoying her time up north at her cottage in Muskoka, where she one day hopes to expand her business.
Stephanie's social links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanietoufexis/?hl=en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-toufexis-167268131/?originalSubdomain=ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanietoufexis/
Watch or listen to more of the Real Estate with Howard Drukarsh podcast here:
www.rewithhd.com
www.realestatewithhowarddrukarsh.com
Bob Goldberg CEO of NAR the National Association of REALTORS® joins Howard to chat about the organization, technology, advice for REALTORS® and individuals interested in becoming real estate sales professionals.
Bob Goldberg is Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of REALTORS®. During his tenure, Goldberg has focused on transforming the organization and leading efforts to put members first, while driving the technology innovation and collaboration needed to position the real estate industry for the future. Working with the association’s volunteer leadership, Goldberg has specifically emphasized the importance of staying ahead of “proptech” or “real estate- and property-focused technology.” Under his leadership, NAR launched the Strategic Business Innovation and Technology Group (SBIT), designed to drive industry innovation and benefits to NAR members. The group includes an Emerging Technology team, tasked with finding partnerships with organizations, companies, and institutions researching and developing new technologies. The team also launched the successful Innovation and Opportunity Investment Summit (iOi), a unique yearly gathering of real estate practitioners, technology innovators, and investors to identify opportunities to work together.
Goldberg introduced a staff culture focused on putting members first, leading change, communication, collaboration, and giving respect. He has made transparency a watchword of the organization, using video, Facebook Live events, and personal visits to communicate directly with NAR’s 1.4 million members. Under Goldberg’s leadership, in 2019, the association launched a successful advertising campaign, “That’s Who We R,” that racked up more than 2.3 billion impressions in its first year.
Goldberg led the expansion of academic achievement opportunities to members through an agreement with Columbia College in Columbia, Mo. The new NAR Academy at Columbia College provides financial assistance to members who enroll in pursuit of academic degree completion for certificates, associates, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the NAR Academy. NAR now provides the opportunity for interested members to enroll in the NAR Academy at Columbia College as a member benefit. Additionally, the organization initiated the REALTOR® Safety Network, a national alert system that strengthens NAR’s existing REALTOR® Safety Program; and created an innovative, self-directed program for REALTORS® to encourage professional development, the Commitment to Excellence(link is external). Participation of C2EX has surpassed its initial goal by more than 300 percent since its inception in November 2018.
Other initiatives Goldberg has launched include an Executive Outreach Program; and "Day in the Life of a REALTOR®," a program that puts every NAR staff person into the field to better understand the work of REALTORS® and local associations. In addition, NAR remains one of the nation’s most influential advocacy groups, working with legislators and regulators every day on issues — such as flood insurance, housing affordability, and tax — that affect real estate professionals and property owners.
Goldberg has also made corporate responsibility a priority and launched NAR’s Food Recovery Initiative, a program where NAR recovers surplus food to donate to hunger-fighting non-profits. As part of the initiative, the organization encouraged state and local REALTOR® associations to pledge to take part in the initiative. To date, scores of associations across the country have joined the effort, sending hundreds of pounds of recovered food to hunger organizations.
In addition to his role as NAR CEO, Goldberg is president of NAR’s investment arm, Second Century Ventures(link is external), as well as the highly ranked REACH®(link is external) technology accelerator. Through those entities, NAR holds positions in a range of technology companies, driving innovation for the benefit of the industry and NAR members. In addition, he is president and CEO of the REALTORS® Information Network (RIN), a for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of NAR, where he’s responsible for oversight of the realtor.com® operating agreement with Move Inc.
A 24-year veteran of NAR and a recent inductee into the REALTORS® Political Action Committee Hall of Fame, Goldberg previously served as a NAR senior vice president, overseeing a wide portfolio that included sales, marketing, business development, and strategic investments. Before joining NAR, he was a senior vice president with PRC Realty Systems, the nation’s leading provider of computer-based real estate information.
In January 2020, Goldberg was named No. 7 on the Swanepoel Power 200, a list of the most powerful and influential executives in real estate, produced annually by consulting firm T3 Sixty. In addition, he was named No. 1 on this list for the Association/Multiple Listing Service category.
Saraya Yen Vice President of Sales at Austin Birch chats with Howard about her career, the changes taking place in pre-construction marketing, and the evolution of the pre-construction industry brought on by technology and the pandemic.
Over the last 9 years, Saraya has led sales and administration teams in successfully selling an excess of 9,000 pre-construction condominiums around Toronto translating to over 7 billion dollars in real estate sales as the Vice President of Sales at Austin Birch Development Marketing (previously Kuzuian Real Estate) and formerly the Vice President of New Sales and Development at PSR Brokerage. This year, Saraya and her team at Austin Birch are the proud winners of the coveted 2021 BILD Award for Best Sales Team - Mid/High Rise.
With this extensive background as a licensed real estate sales executive, Saraya is recognized as one of the leading pre-construction development marketing professionals in Toronto. Some of the high profile development projects she has managed include:
2020 OHBA Building of the Year:
123 Portland by Minto Communities.
2018 BILD Best Architectural Design, Canada’s first “supertall” and Tallest Residential Building:
THE ONE Residences by Mizrahi Developments.
2018 BILD Project of the Year Mid/High-rise:
The Plant Condos by Curated Properties and Windmill Developments.
2016 BILD Project of the Year Mid/High-rise:
The Art Shoppe Condos by Capital and Freed Developments.
2016 BILD Project of the Year Low-rise:
35 Wabash by Zinc Developments.
From every project’s inception, Saraya has made it her personal mission to ensure success and has played a major role in every part of the process.
Ted Maulucci President of SmartONE Solutions speaks with Howard about new smart home technology that is
advancing digital living experience for homeowners and his experiences as a disruptor in the residential technology industry.
Ted Maulucci is the President of SmartONE Solutions Inc., a company committed to advancing the digital living experience in communities. Mr. Maulucci assumed the role of President at SmartONE after a 26-year career as the Chief Information Officer of a leading Toronto-based multi-family real estate developer. He is recognized for championing the development and execution of the first smart community in the Greater Toronto Area.
Mr. Maulucci has an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business with a specialization in Real Property Development.
Mr. Maulucci is passionate about contributing and advancing innovation across Canada through partnerships and collaboration.
He has been recognized with several international and local awards for IT leadership, IT application development, smart buildings, and social contribution.
Some notable leadership and innovation awards are the “Top Ten Best in Class CIO’s in North America” by Computerworld, two “CIPA Gold Award of Excellence” for application development in the real estate industry, and the Mid-Career Award from the University of Toronto for impact on an industry in an engineering career.
For his social contributions, Mr. Maulucci has been recognized with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for promoting Canadian innovation, The Citizenship Award from Professional Engineers Ontario, and the 2017 Meritorious Service Award, Community Service from Engineers Canada.
Mr. Maulucci’s efforts in smart and connected communities have garnered multiple Digie Awards from the Realcomm association for innovations in multi-family real estate. He also received a “Lifetime Achievement” award, which is awarded to an individual that has caused a major shift in the industry. In 2016, he was named the Private Sector Canadian CIO of the Year 2016 for his work on advancing smart and connected communities.
Join Howard and the dynamic Kirsten Jordan, Real Estate Broker and star of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing New York as they discuss her start in real estate, building a successful team, and overcoming challenges brought on by the pandemic in one of the world’s largest real estate markets.
As a real estate broker, avid public speaker, and the first female cast member of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing New York, Kirsten Jordan has brokered an astounding half a billion dollars in sales. During her decade in real estate, she’s worked with Fortune 500 executives, Oscar-winning actors, and mega-influencers with millions of followers. A passionate real estate investor and someone who’s sold out three new developments in the city for a total of $100M in new development sales, Kirsten understands firsthand what it means to evaluate a property from all angles – and sell it.
In 2020, she was cast on the Emmy-nominated Million Dollar Listing New York and featured in every episode of Season 9. This opportunity led her to be a contestant on Family Feud, a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, and an expert on countless TV segments. You may have seen her featured on CNBC, Variety, Bloomberg, The New York Post, Yahoo! Entertainment, Thrive Global, and The Real Deal.
Kirsten’s team brings back the sophisticated human experience missing from the sensory overload of modern real estate searches. With expertise gained from more than 45 years of combined experience and over $3B sold, they take care of their customers. A deep understanding of the nuances of the buyer and seller experience makes them the perfect advisors for any transaction.
This mom of three school-aged children shares her love of real estate and family with her 35,000 followers, helping them find their dream home and career. Look out for her forthcoming book that aims to do the same.
IG @kirsten.jordan
Linkedin: Kirsten Jordan
Facebook: Kirsten Jordan
https://kirstenjordan.com
Join Howard and residential real estate visionary Stefan Swanepoel Chairman and CEO of the T3 Sixty Group as they discuss Stefan's start in real estate, what it takes to be considered for the Swanepoel Power 200 which ranks the 200 most influential executives in real estate, and Stefan's 5 points for building a successful business.
With over 50 books and reports analyzing the residential real estate industry, Stefan Swanepoel is widely recognized as its leading visionary. His books have been featured on more than 15 bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Amazon. He literally defines what influence and power is in the industry as he has, for the past decade, been the annual scorekeeper and editor of the SP200, the official ranking the Most Powerful People in Residential Real Estate Brokerage.
Stefan serves as Chairman and CEO of the T3 Sixty Group, trusted advisors and transformation partners to over 65% of the largest brokerages, franchisors, technology companies, Realtor associations, and MLS organizations through one of their companies: T3 Sixty, a full-service management consulting company; T3 Data, a data analytics company; T3 M&A, a company specializing in mergers and acquisitions; T3 Talent, an executive search agency; and T3 Events Group, a full-service event company.
Howard speaks with Debbie Cosic Founder & CEO of In2ition Realty about her experiences building one of the largest and most successful pre-construction marketing firms in North America.
Debbie Cosic is the Founder & CEO of In2ition Realty – Debbie commenced her real estate career in the 1980’s, after graduating from the University of Toronto. Founding her own company, she has become a self-made businesswoman in a highly competitive industry. Foreseeing a need for an innovative and dynamic player in the industry she launched In2ition Realty in 2008. Since inception, she has overseen the sales and marketing of over $20 Billion Dollars of real estate. Recognized not only as an astute professional but as a fearless innovator in the industry. Debbie is a member of the board for the Canadian Women’s Council of Real Estate Professionals (CWCREP) and the Toronto Artscape Foundation. She recently completed a two-year term as a member of the BILD Board of Directors. She has been honoured with multiple business and civic awards for her contribution to both the real estate industry and the community. Debbie is known for her generous spirit and someone who has mentored countless professionals in the industry. She has successfully assembled a devoted team in whom she has instilled the same passion and values that she is known for.
Howard chats with Hans Jain, President of Atria Development about growing up in a family business, the challenges of developing historical properties and using innovative technology to attract today's home buyers.
Few developers are driven by a desire to enhance quality of life for entire communities rather than exclusively for their customers. Hans Jain, Principal of Atria Development, is one such developer, a person who sees his role as extending well beyond the creation of desirable places to live, to one of leadership in improving communities that then attract additional investment, creating a more desirable place for all. Working together with his brother Vipin, he has built a development company that is truly community focused.
Starting in his youth and continuing throughout his adult life, Hans has had a deep interest in economics, a course he pursued through his undergraduate years culminating in an Honours B.Sc. in Quantitative Methods in Economics. For a period, he pursued post-graduate work in the same field at the University of Toronto, but was eventually drawn to the idea of putting his learning to work by going into the family business.
His father, Gyan Jain, had built a portfolio of old manufacturing and warehouse facilities in a formerly busy industrial area of Toronto that changing economic forces had driven into disuse and disrepair.
While his father invested in improving and subdividing these spaces to accommodate smaller and newer businesses, Hans saw an opportunity to do more. He believed that by creating proper live/work lofts, he could bring people back into the neighbourhood as full-time residents and allow them to form the foundation of a more significant economic revitalization. I-Zone live/work lofts was a new idea in the market at the time, offering Torontonians an alternative to the many standard condominium units being built, with 104 authentic industrial loft spaces that were each unique and distinctly chic.
The success of I-Zone validated Hans’ belief in the value of revitalizing older buildings to bring new life to neglected neighbourhoods. A second such project soon followed just across the street. Garment Factory Lofts offered 150 condominium live/work units with retail at grade in a converted industrial plant featuring new floors clad in glass in the heart of Leslieville that brought not only more residents to the community, it brought in substantial new development and economic activity. The project garnered significant media attention and awards.
Throughout this period, Hans built bridges to the community through participation in neighbourhood organizations and support for local charities. Creating these connections, he believes, is essential as it engenders goodwill, ensures that the development benefits the community and helps him understand how the development can best fit into the neighbourhood.
He brought that philosophy to Oshawa in 2007 where he had been asked by the city to give new life to an abandoned office tower in the core. He did so by converting the building into a 120 unit condominium, the first new residential development in the city’s downtown in more than 20 years. Since that success, Atria has invested further in Oshawa, building new rental projects including 100 Bond featuring 239 units and nominated for a BILD award for Best New Community Built.
As Atria has grown, Hans has built the company to become a vertically integrated organization that incorporates all aspects of development from land acquisition and planning, through design and construction, and onto marketing and property management. As a result, the company is able to more efficiently roll out projects.
It’s our 30th episode and we have another great guest joining us for a chat. Phil Soper President & CEO of Royal LePage and Bridgemarq Real Estate Services speaks with Howard about successfully predicting the flow of the real estate market in 2020, reengineering the largest Brokerage firm in Canada to work virtually during the covid pandemic, and his market outlook for the remainder of 2021.
Phil Soper is President & CEO of Royal LePage and Bridgemarq Real Estate Services, a Brookfield company. With over 20,000 agents in its Royal LePage, Royal LePage Commercial, Johnston & Daniel, Via Capitale, and Proprio Direct businesses it is the largest real estate brokerage firm in Canada, with property sales of $100 billion dollars in 2020.
In the 2021 comprehensive ranking of industry leadership in North America, the Swanepoel 200, Soper was again named the most influential leader in Canadian real estate and 12th worldwide. In 2016, he became the first Canadian to receive the Real Estate Leadership Award at the U.S. National Realtor Expo as “an industry visionary who embraces innovation and blazes new paths.” Real Estate Marketing magazine declared him one of the 25 most important leaders of the past 25 years, and he has been honoured as “CEO of the Year” by the Canadian Public Relations Society, a first for a real estate industry executive in the long history of the award.
Soper’s community involvement includes the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, Canada’s largest charity focused on eliminating domestic violence and supporting the women and children who fall victim to it; United Way and Toronto SickKids Hospital campaign leadership; and Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management. Ryerson awarded Phil the inaugural G.Raymond Outstanding Volunteer Award. He is a former governor of the University of Alberta.
Prior to his real estate career, Phil Soper was an executive with technology giant IBM where he held national and global leadership roles in professional services and technology sales and marketing. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta School of Business, and the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey Executive Program.
Phil is married to Toronto lawyer Melanie Yach. They have four daughters.
Episode 29 of our podcast features Kristen Duern founder of KDW International Real Estate Advisors speaking with Howard about her experience selling some of Canada’s most exclusive condominiums (Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver House, and Bjarke Ingles’ KING Toronto) her move to a new market in the US and changes in residential design brought on by the pandemic.
Kristen is an exceptionally accomplished sales representative, sales manager, and real estate consultant from Toronto, Canada. She is a top-producing agent with Toronto firm Chestnut Park Real Estate Brokerage, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, having achieved over $651 million in new development sales to date.
A well-respected specialist in the luxury real estate marketplace, Kristen was instrumental in selling and managing sales for the entirety of the exclusive condominiums above the Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto on behalf of Westbank, one of the world’s most recognized developers. In addition to the Shangri-La she also assisted in the sales and marketing of Vancouver House designed by Starchitect Bjarke Ingles (named one of CNN’s most anticipated buildings in 2020) and her most recent endeavor was a successful launch of Toronto’s most iconic residential offering, Bjarke Ingles’ KING Toronto, achieving one of the highest average PPSF for a project in the industry.
Kristen has worked with sales and marketing companies large and small as well as in-house for a multitude of Canadian developers and has brought success regardless of the scope. Additionally, Kristen built a thriving re-sale business, representing high-profile clients including those in finance, professional sports, and the entertainment industry in some of the most prestigious Canadian addresses.
Kristen’s extensive experience in sales, strategic marketing, executive customer service, leasing, management, and consulting brings her local and international clients a wealth of knowledge coupled with a sincerity that is unsurpassed. She is adept at overseeing day-to-day operations, working with marketing companies on initiatives, strategic partnerships, one-of-a-kind events, pricing, incentives, floorplan design, interior finish selection, legal review, and sales training.
A recent move to Chicago, Illinois presented Kristen with the opportunity to expand her real estate business into the United States. As the founder of KDW International Real Estate Advisors and a licensed broker in Illinois, she is broadening her expertise from the Canadian marketplace, growing her international client base, and providing advisory services for developers.
Join Howard and John Lusink president and broker of record of Right at Home Realty as they discuss choosing the right technology for your business, providing better customer experiences using that technology, and the importance of maintaining personal contact with your clients.
Mr. Lusink is President and Broker of Record at Right at Home Realty Inc. He has more than 34 years of experience in the real estate industry. John's background includes an award-winning commercial real estate sales career, management of corporate offices for one of Canada’s iconic real estate brands as well as ownership of a major residential real estate franchise. He is an active participant in organized real estate both as a past Director on The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) for six years and, most recently, as the Commercial Director on the 2018 OREA Board of Directors. While at TREB, he served as the chairman of the Government Relations Committee for two years and was most recently Chair of the Finance Committee.
Howard speaks with founder, President & CEO of Knightsbridge Development Corporation Will Smith about new trends in the development industry and designing projects that appeal to renters versus buyers.
Will Smith is the founder, President & CEO of Knightsbridge Development Corporation, a third-party Development Management firm, that also provides Construction Management and Advisory Services to many of the leading real estate investment trusts, as well as both publicly traded and privately held real estate development companies in Canada.
Under Will’s leadership, Knightsbridge Development Corporation has grown into a firm specializing in large and complex mixed-use projects ranging from 1 million to 3 million square feet with individual project values in excess of $1 billion, with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax as well as a presence in London n the UK.
In addition to his responsibilities as President and CEO of Knightsbridge Development Corporation, Will also acts as President for the firm’s subsidiary business in Central America, Desarrollos Knightsbridge Limitada, which services clients in Central and South America with offices in San Jose Costa Rica.
Most recently, Will was instrumental in establishing Knightsbridge Equities Corporation the investment arm of the Knightsbridge Group of Companies.
Prior to Knightsbridge, Will worked on projects in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia while employed by the Selfridges Group, CDN Global Real Estate, and CBRE Global Corporate Services, with a focus on Retail, Hospitality, High Rise Office, and Commercial projects
Will is a graduate of the University of Waterloo, and Cornell University.
Howard and Hersh Litvack founder of the Hersh Realty Group speak about the robust condo market in the GTA and its future, chocolate bars, and the importance of patience.
The Hersh Realty Group specializes in the sale of pre-construction high-rise, mid-rise, and low-rise condos, as well as townhomes and detached properties. Renowned for its premium services, The Hersh Realty Group. has set the new benchmark for Pre-Construction Condominium Sales in Canada. Their outstanding relationships with many of Canada’s Premier builders combined with their cutting-edge marketing programs have produced results above and beyond expectation time and time again.
With over 26 years of selling and marketing properties by Hersh Litvack, The Hersh Realty Group. continues to provide unparalleled service to builders and clients alike.
Howard and Sam Mizrahi Founder and President of Mizrahi Developments speak about what it took to develop Canada’s tallest residential high-rise project, The One in the heart of downtown Toronto and Sam’s thought on the future of Real Estate in the GTA and beyond.
Sam Mizrahi is the founder and President of Mizrahi Developments, a leading developer in the Canadian luxury residential marketplace. Sam initially founded Mizrahi Developments, specializing in the design and build of custom homes in some of Toronto’s most prestigious neighbourhoods. Over the last 13 years, Sam expanded the company’s impact by working with leading global architectural firms to construct condominium towers with the same detailed craftsmanship as a standalone luxury residence.
Today Mizrahi Developments’ signature condominium project The One, uses architectural, design, and engineering innovation to erect Canada’s tallest building, rising 85 stories above Yonge and Bloor. Making a mark in Canada’s Capital, in 2017 Mizrahi’s launched 1451 Wellington, Ottawa’s first full-service luxury condominium, that is already earning a reputation for pushing the envelope with craftsmanship and design, including receiving official landmark status from the City.
Sam is on the board of BILD and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre. He also regularly lends his time and energy to the National Arts Council, and actively supports several committees and causes for the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
Join Howard and his long-time friend, former sensei and VP of Market Development at the Canadian Wood council Andrew Bowerbank as they chat about new trends driving the wood building industry and why the pandemic has affected lumber prices.
Andrew Bowerbank is the Vice President of Market Development at the Canadian Wood Council where he is helping to drive the latest trends in wood products and technologies. Prior to his current efforts at CWC, he held a number of notable executive roles in Canada's building, energy, and infrastructure sectors through WSP, EllisDon, and Magna International. He is also the former CEO of the World Green Building Council, Member representative at the United Nations Environmental Programme, a published author, and recipient of the prestigious "Ontario Premier’s Award" for his career accomplishments.
Suzanne Wilkinson, Principal at Figure3 design chats to Howard about the future of workplace and residential interior design, the effects of the pandemic on workspaces, and inclusive design.
Climbing the ranks from Senior Team Leader to Principal at one of Canada's leading independent interior design firms, Suzanne Wilkinson understands the power of design.
Working with some of the most prominent companies across North America over the past 20 years to design beautiful and engaging award-winning spaces in workplace, residential, hospitality, and retail, Suzanne is passionate about leading clients and the Figure3 team through a strategic design process starting with what is most important: a client’s core values.
Suzanne has fearlessly pushed the boundaries of design across numerous sectors, setting a higher standard among her industry peers, and inspiring those she mentors.
At Figure3, workplace design is where Suzanne set her foundation and became recognized in the industry for her talents. She took interest in the deeper understanding of what clients needed, not just in the present, but looking 5-10 years into their future. This was a very progressive approach and one that continued to impress clients and industry peers with every new, higher-profile project. This led Suzanne to begin embracing evidence-based design, which has brought a level of insight to the firm’s design process, making it that much more purposeful and setting Figure3 apart from its competition.
With her incredible vision, she has created new paths for Figure3 many times. When Figure3 won its first residential development project in 2010, Suzanne was chosen as the design lead. With no experience in the residential sector, it was a pivotal point for Suzanne, kickstarting her entrepreneurial spirit. With the success of this project and her fresh and disruptive approach to residential design, she led the firm to quickly gain work and the respect of some of the most prominent residential developers in North America. Her success in the multi-family sector is well known, and Figure3’s residential portfolio is now a significant and growing part of the firm’s business, including projects in San Francisco and Houston. With her sought-after designs in the booming multi-family sector, the company has now recently entered into the hospitality market.
Suzanne’s ability to design in any sector is truly impressive (even managing Figure3’s boutique retail design studio). Constantly raising the bar of spatial design, the young staff of 60+ designers at Figure3 all want to observe, work with and learn from Suzanne. Her caliber of design, her fearless ambition, her warm personality, and her ability to mentor are what continue to inspire and empower those around her, including her family and her three partners at the firm. Her influence touches every one of the dozens of design projects Figure3 completes each year and will continue as her intense commitment to how design can improve people’s lives remains unwavering.
When Maryjane isn’t busy performing for Queen Elizabeth she’s busy selling real estate.
Howard speaks with Maryjane Viejo RE/MAX hall of fame and Chairman’s club award-winning Realtor® about quality vs volume when generating leads and the importance of being honest with clients even if it kills a deal.
Born in Toronto and raised in a real estate family, Maryjane is Broker of Record and President of RE/Max Realtron Property Group Realty Inc. and is a second-generation realtor who first obtained her real estate license in 1989.
Her industry awards include:
RE/Max International Chairman’s Club Individual Award (only 1240 in the world for RE/Max among 150,000 agents), represents the top 1% worldwide individual agent production
The RE/Max Hall of Fame earned in her first 3.5 years with RE/MAX in 2006 representing her first 1 million in gross commissions earned, and prestigious RE/Max Lifetime Achievement Award.
Maryjane decided to reactivate her license and embark on a real estate career at the end of 2002 - she is thankful she made that decision and had instant successful results: Maryjane achieved her Hall of Fame status in just over 3 years in real estate and completed 82 transactions in her first full year of real estate! Some of her other accolades include being ranked in the top 1% among all realtors in the GTA for the number of transactions and Top Individual Agent for RE/Max Realtron Scarborough branch from 2004 to 2009 and top1% in the world for individual agent production among all realtors. Maryjane has a team of professionals that include specializations in other residential areas: land/development, condos, new construction, and commercial real estate. Her professional team also includes specialty services including her own staging inventory and services, including an enclosed cargo trailer/vans - some of the added benefits Maryjane offers her clients!
She was also voted (by the general public) as the top realtor in Toronto by METRO readers. She provides innovative marketing and advertising techniques as well as enhanced negotiating skills to get maximum results for her clients' homes!
Maryjane has an educational background in Global Political Economy (Specialized Honours in Political Science - York University Academic Scholarship) and post-graduate training in Financial Analysis Management, Economics, and Finance. In addition to being raised in the business, she held executive marketing management and consulting positions in the financial services industry.
She is a classically trained pianist/ teacher (ARCT studies at the Royal Conservatory) and an accomplished songwriter who has been published by MCA Universal, won a national songwriting contest at 17, and performed for Queen Elizabeth and Brian Mulroney for the official Canada Day Celebrations in 1990. Her multi-faceted background differentiates her outlook and ability to find the best solutions for her clients.
Other designations include Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and Senior Real Estate Specialist - born and raised in Toronto and the GTA, Maryjane knows various geographic neighbourhoods!
Professionalism, proven experience, knowledge, dedication to clients, and a commitment to success are the foundation of Maryjane's real estate practice.
Howard is joined by the one and only Maya Vander from the popular Netflix show Selling Sunset to discuss the complexities of real estate, finding clients, and her move from Los Angeles to Miami.
Maya prides herself in successfully bringing the right property and client together through strategic marketing plans. She has the innate ability to understand and meet her clients’ needs and prides herself in being viewed as a trusted advisor throughout the process. Being a natural negotiator, she stays calm and focused through what can potentially be a complex and stressful time.
She values the importance of listening to buyers and sellers intently and her outgoing personality immediately puts her clients at ease. Maya’s decision to enter real estate was an easy one, having grown up in a family with a history of investing in properties and flipping homes. Maya grew up in Israel and moved to Los Angeles in 2002, and mentions that “the moment she arrived, it felt like home.”
Howard chats with Ashley Smith about starting her real estate career at 23, her innovative social media marketing, and becoming the youngest person to serve as President of the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board in the organization's 100-year history.
A self-proclaimed governance nerd, Ashley Smith has 10 years of leadership experience in Organized Real Estate - recently serving the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver as its youngest President in the organization's 100-year history in 2019/20 representing over 14,000 Realtors. In 2021, Ashley was appointed a director's seat with the B.C. Real Estate Association. A licenced REALTOR® since 2008, Ashley is keen to participate in the real estate profession and to help shape its future in an exciting and fast-evolving landscape. As a young leader in the BC business community, she was recognized by Business in Vancouver with a "Top Forty Under 40" award. For her business, Ashley leans heavily into social media to build community, authority, and brand awareness. Today, she is spending most of her time getting comfortable with video - especially in short form.
Howard speaks with Mark Cohen Managing Partner of TCS Marketing Systems about how his team successfully used technology to adapt and market pre-construction projects during the pandemic and which new marketing tools are here to stay moving forward.
With more than 37 years in the business, Mark demonstrates a long-standing passion and dedication to residential development sales and marketing. He spent the first 25 years of his career in executive marketing positions with four of the largest and most reputable firms in Toronto, marketing many of Toronto’s most significant communities at Bramalea Limited, Menkes Developments, Concord Adex Developments, and Tribute Communities. In late 2007, Mark co-founded TCS Marketing Systems and today assumes the role of Managing Partner with a sole focus on new project marketing. At the helm of TCS Marketing Systems, Mark’s unique strength springs not only from his extensive knowledge and experience but also from his leadership style and value-oriented approach to business. Mark grounds the firm in hard work and respect for detail while using his team to leverage current technology and to initiate new ideas. He advocates a responsible, research-based marketing approach that pays attention to yesterday in order to accurately see and sell the future.
TCS Marketing Systems Bio: TCS Marketing Systems is a sales advisory group that works with developers to build exceptional value for their pre-construction projects and the communities they are shaping. The company has 35+ years of experience selling hi-rise, mid-rise, low-rise, and master-planned communities in 22 markets across Canada.
Howard speaks with Real Estate Broker and Author Bettianne Hedges about her new book, the importance of resilience during challenging times and luck being the result of hard work.
Bettianne Hedges is a Real Estate Broker, Accredited Buyer Representative, Accredited Elite Advocate, Accredited Senior Agent, and former Managing Director of a multi-office real estate brokerage. Bettianne Hedges has sixteen years of experience listing and selling property types in different real estate markets throughout Ontario. She began her career in the Woodstock/Stratford market and has practiced the last eight years in Hamilton/ Burlington selling residential, rural, heritage- designated, and multi-residential properties. This provides her clients with a unique advantage. As an Accredited Buyer’s Representative, Bettianne is specifically trained to thoroughly research and provide advice necessary to assist her clients in making good buying decisions. This same skill set is of great advantage to a seller preparing their property for market and resolving issues before they become problems. She has advanced training and highly developed skills in negotiation, sensitivity to and experience with special situations (such as stigmatized properties, family legal situations, and seniors). As an Accredited Elite Advocate, Bettianne is trained to use her experience to serve as an expert witness in real estate related legal cases. Bettianne has a strong appreciation of architectural styles and an understanding of her client's unique preferences as to home, neighbourhood, or lifestyle. Bettianne has served as a Director with the Real Estate Council of Ontario, the provincial real estate regulator. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Waterloo with an emphasis in Business Administration. She has a background in retail art gallery ownership and non-profit management. She is an active community volunteer and has served on a variety of boards and committees including six years as a regional Chair with the Ontario Trillium Foundation and is currently a Director of the Art Gallery of Burlington.
Howard chats with the star of Top Million Dollar Agent and the #1 Realtor® in York Region for 20 consecutive years Daryl King about his career, his court battle to establish the commission trust agreement, and the challenges of networking during covid.
*Daryl has been living his passion, providing his clients with the best possible resource to succeed in today’s real estate market. As an expert in the Toronto and the GTA markets (being born and raised in Toronto and a long-time resident of York Region), he has set himself up as a one-stop realty company, helping buyers and sellers in all price ranges and property type, as well as, land development and retirement.
A top-notch real estate agent being #1 in York Region for 20 consecutive years and consistently within the Top 10 in all of Canada, Daryl stars in the popular reality TV show, Top Million Dollar Agent, and a guest speaker in various large scale & prestigious events with world-class speakers like The Power of Success Tour with Tony Robbins in front of 6,000 people; Toronto Real Estate Wealth Expo with Tony Robbins, Pitbull and Jim Treliving in front of 15,000; Keller Williams event in Houston in front of 12,000. He is also a frequent guest speaker in major real estate coaching events.
He always finds time to give back to the community and a generous sponsor for many charity events like Million Dollar Smiles, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Yellow Brick House, Under The Big Top For Autism and many others. He is also a director in AREAA (Asian Real Estate Association of America).
In his 30+ years of real estate career and has helped over 7,500 families with an estimated total of $ 3B sales, he has achieved numerous awards for outstanding sales performance: Master Sales (1998-2016), Award of Excellence Lifetime Member (2009-2016), Chairman’s Club (1998-2016), President’s Award (1998- 2016), Directors Platinum (1998-2016), Diamond (2006-2016), Top 10 Team in Canada (2001-2016), and highlighted by achieving the #2 rank in Canada for Royal LePage in 2016. He is also 1 of 2 Canadians to receive the prestigious Pinnacle Award in Entrepreneurship of North America in 2014.*
Join Howard and his guest Odeen Eccleston co-host of HGTV's Hot Market and co-founder and Broker of Record of Wiltshire Eccleston Realty as they speak about her career and the advantages of not taking things personally.
Odeen Eccleston is the co-founder & Broker of Record of Wiltshire Eccleston Realty & the President and co-founder of Wiltshire Homes & WE Developments, award-winning custom home building and development companies that build homes all across the GTA. Odeen is also the co-host of HGTV's Hot Market, has written and published a self-empowerment book for young girls, and is the proud mom to her two-year-old son Cashton.
Howard and his guest Pauline Aunger past President of CREA and OREA discuss optimism, dealing with change, and remembering the importance of empathizing with your clients especially when they're buying their first home.
Pauline Aunger has been involved in the real estate profession as a REALTOR for over 40 years.
She served as the 2015 President of the Canadian Real Estate Association, was the 2009 President of the Ontario Real Estate Association, and in 2017 served on the Board of Directors of the NAR in the United States. Pauline presently serves on the Advisory Council for Royal LePage Real Estate nationally and as a director of the Ontario Realtors Care Foundation.
In 1993 she purchased the first Royal LePage franchise in Canada. She is the Broker of Record for Royal LePage Advantage Real Estate with offices in Perth – one of the prettiest towns in Ontario and Smiths Falls – the home of Tweed the largest Marijuana manufacturer in the world.
Pauline obtained her CIPS designation in 2014. She also has her ABR and her FRI from the Real Estate Institute of Canada.
Howard speaks with Sean McPeak of the McPeak team at Serhant Real Estate in New York City about using influencers both human and K-9 to sell properties and the importance of not giving up.
With over 11 years of experience working on globally recognized teams in the high-end luxury sector, Sean McPeak now serves as the founder of the McPeak Team at SERHANT. He has sold more than a half-billion dollars in resale and new development property, and he has a successful track record of negotiating some of NY’s priciest listings.
His keen perspective, professionalism, and commitment make him a trusted authority when guiding his clients during turbulent deals and markets. He is adaptable to specific client needs and goals, and he is attuned to the many personal, financial, and logistical challenges that go into any sale.
His previous teams at Halstead and Brown Harris Stevens have been ranked in the top 10 and have received awards for their contributions to innovation within their company and the industry at large. Most recently, they received RISMedia 2020 Trendsetter award for their work in social media and influencer marketing after enlisting the dog influencer, RudeBoy, to star in a viral campaign that led to the sale of a luxury apartment.
Sean continues to innovate at SERHANT. through his work on new development projects, helping developers adapt to the evolving marketing landscape and reach their ideal customers around the world. Developers—especially those seeking to take their properties in a new direction—rely on Sean for his novel use of experiential marketing, social media, and digital channels to increase visibility and traffic.
Howard and Tim Hudak Former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and CEO of OREA chat about important influences in Tim’s life and career, building lasting relationships, and taking risks.
Tim Hudak is the CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association, Canada’s largest provincial real estate industry association representing 78,000 REALTORS®.
Tim joined OREA after a distinguished 21 years of public service in the Ontario Legislature – including five years as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
Since becoming CEO in December 2016, he and his OREA team have focused on transforming OREA into Ontario’s most effective professional association that delivers high-impact advocacy on behalf of REALTORS® and consumers, and provides quality services to members.
During his first year as OREA CEO, he was named one of the most powerful people in residential real estate by Swanepoel Power 200 2017/18.
He is married to Deb Hutton and together they have two daughters, Miller and Maitland.
CEO of Habitat for Humanity Ene Underwood joins Howard to discuss the incredible homeownership opportunities Habitat for Humanity provides to families and how her career was shaped by volunteering.
Ene (pronounced, “Een”) joined Habitat GTA in spring 2013 after a career that spanned the private and public sectors. Ene’s early career was as a consultant with McKinsey & Company working with national and global businesses on strategy and organizational transformation. Her private sector career was followed by close to two decades in senior leadership positions in some of Canada’s leading hospitals and then a three-year role as the Chair of an Ontario Government Commission examining child welfare. Ene holds an Honours B.A. (Waterloo) and an MBA (Ivey). Ene lives in Toronto but retains close connections to her farming roots in southwestern Ontario.
Howard and guest Ted Tsiakopoulos Senior Economist/Specialist Housing Markets Policy at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) about life-changing moments, fundamental differences in the Canadian and US housing markets, and the remarkable events that took place in those markets in 2004, 2008 and 2015.
Ted Tsiakopoulos is a professional economist and sought-after speaker with over 30 years of experience analyzing housing and financial markets. Over his professional career, his commentary and research have been widely quoted across major media outlets such as Money Magazine, BNN, CTV, and CBC. Under his guidance, a team of CMHC economists ranked first in forecast accuracy in 2015 against a consensus group of external forecasters.
Ted also worked as an investment advisor on Bay Street. He devotes significant personal time to financial literacy research and education having served as chair for a number of financial literacy committees and as a consultant to Junior Achievement of Canada. Ted is currently on the Board of Directors for the Toronto Association for Business and Economics, a member of the Canadian Association for Business and Economics, and a member of the LAI Land Economics Association. In June 2020, he co-authored a book titled Property Trendsetters - highlighting how GenZ needs to prepare for the economic and real estate disruptions that are coming. The book became a best seller in a number of categories in the US and Canada
Besides investing significant personal time in financial literacy research, Ted was involved in organized competitive sports as a player/coach for over 35 years with an aspiration to play professional soccer in his younger years.
Join Howard and his guest Dominic Tompa Vice-President of Sales, at The Daniels Corporation as they discuss the proper mindset for a successful and rewarding career in real estate.
Dominic Tompa is the Vice President of Sales at The Daniels Corporation. Dominic has been in the real estate industry for over 37 years, starting in resale in 1984 and joining Daniels and new home sales in 2001. Since then some of his notable accomplishments include leading the sales for Toronto’s first Rent-to-Own residence called the Chelsea located at Bayview and Sheppard in 2003 and more recently leading the sales for Daniels highly sought-after, master-planned communities like Toronto’s Regent Park, Mississauga’s City Centre, Daniels Waterfront – City of the Arts, and more.
Howard speaks with Lawyer Jonathan Griffiths about his humble beginnings, the power of perseverance and important lessons in humility learned from a construction tycoon.
Jonathan Griffiths was born in London, England, lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Johannesburg South Africa before his family immigrated to Canada when he was thirteen. He attended high school in Toronto and received his post-secondary education at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School. Having received his real estate licence at the age of 19 Jonathan was actively selling real estate while attending university and law school and as soon as he was called to the bar OREA (Ontario Real Estate Association) asked him to teach the real property law course. He taught that course for over ten years and during that time he wrote a course on the agreement of purchase and sale which was subsequently taught around the province.
In 1981 Jonathan founded his law firm Griffiths Law. The firm focuses mainly on residential real estate and now operates three offices in Ontario with a staff of four lawyers, one licensed paralegal, and fifteen other supporting staff.
Howard speaks with Realtor, Investor, and Actor Rhys Trenhaile about the revitalization of the Windsor real estate market, investing in real estate at an early age, and his acting career.
Rhys Trenhaile is a co-founder of Walkerville Capital. Owing to his extensive business and legal background, Mr. Trenhaile has taken a natural role in the Private Equity Industry, focused on organizational and investment activities associated with real estate development. Mr. Trenhaile is a licensed lawyer in Ontario with over 17 years of experience working within commercial real estate sales and development. Current projects underway in Windsor's core top $25 million, and include 374 Ouellette (Canada Building), 703-17 Ouellette (Knights of Columbus Building), and 493 University Road West. In a previous life, Mr. Trenhaile was an All-Canadian member of the storied University of Windsor Track and Field team and continues to live and invest in the Windsor area. He believes a city is only as good as its core and remains hell-bent on seeing it thrive during his lifetime. In his spare time, Rhys acts in some television shows and films, probably the most prominent being a recurring role on Designated Survivor starring Kiefer Sutherland.
Join Howard as he chats with Joe Digiambattista about persistence, hard work, and doing the things no one else wants to do to achieve success.
Joseph (Joe) Digiambattista EVP, Lending Solutions with pololoans inc. is an accomplished Financial Services Executive with more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in Canada's lending sector.
Joe has served as a Senior Vice President at Abode Mortgage Corporation whereby in his role he was responsible for launching Abode's Ontario operation. Prior to that, he was the Vice President, GTA for HLC Home Loans Canada, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CIBC Mortgages and Lending, where he had the responsibility for mortgage originations and a non-conforming mortgage delivery channel. For the last 6 years, Joe has been serving exclusive Realtor partners as the principal broker at pololoans inc.
Howard chats with the Founder and President of RAD Marketing Riz Dhanji about marketing pre-construction developments in the GTA, the importance of loyalty, and dealing with regret.
Riz Dhanji, Founder and President of RAD Marketing, is one of the leading specialists of sales and marketing for pre-construction developments in the Greater Toronto Area and Canada.
Riz and his team have sold over $3 billion in pre-construction condo developments in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and abroad, totalling more than 10,000 condominium suites. The unique sales and marketing approach employed by his team has led to these developments being high profile sellout successes. A few notable Toronto based RAD Marketing projects include - Aura, Canada's tallest condo at 80 stories; King Toronto, the iconic project by Westbank and Allied in collaboration with Starchitect, Bjarke Ingels; the Shangri-La Hotel and Residences in Toronto; and the rebranded St Regis Hotel and Residences.
Howard speaks with commercial Real Estate Broker Nichole Taylor about starting her commercial Brokerage, the importance of cultivating your database, and her opinion on “luck”.
Nichole Taylor is a Passionate Businesswoman, Investor, and Real Estate Broker. Her enthusiasm for creating and cultivating business opportunities is the key to her success.
Nichole started off as a preteen, with a paper route, and soon after started various small Business ventures throughout the years. After a string of successes and failures, Nichole decided to get into Real Estate after being promised a commercial listing from a property management client. Almost immediately her network and sales skills set her apart from the rest and in the first year of becoming a Realtor, she sold over 5 Million in commercial & residential properties. Having a passion for business Nichole decided to get her Broker license and start her own boutique brokerage Tailored Realty Inc.
Howard chats with long-time friend and TV personality Rav Toor about podcasts, investing, loyalty and hard work.
Rav Toor broke into the real estate investment world at the age of 16, interning at a brokerage in Kingston, Ontario where he was born and raised. It wasn’t long before he became an extremely active investor, putting together a deal, on average, every 12 days for 7 years straight: buying, selling and investing over $75M for both himself and his friends.
With over 30 years of experience in all areas of Real Estate, Rav’s ability to take complex concepts and break them down for simple understanding continues to be one of his greatest strengths making him a well-recognized television personality. He strives to live by his motto: ”Live simply, give generously and always invest.”
You can find more about Rav on his website www.EverydayInvestor.com or catch his TV show Everyday Investor Sunday mornings on CHCH TV
Howard speaks with Realtor and Author Christine Denty about how she built her career in Real Estate, the importance of working to stay top of mind, and moving past disappointment.
After a successful career in finance with one of Canada’s largest banks, Christine Denty decided to make the leap into Real Estate. She felt that her investment expertise would offer her clients a unique advantage when selling or purchasing a home and she was right. After several successful years, Christine took on a new challenge authoring a book dedicated to helping women purchase and invest in Real Estate while enjoying the experience.
Julia’s journey to success began with an opportune pivot from a career in the legal industry to real estate. In just a few short years Julia has built an award-winning career which she attributes to her focus on client service and her savvy marketing techniques. Julia joins Howard to discuss her career, the importance of family, and maintaining a positive work-life balance.
Join Howard and his guest Toronto Star Contributing Columnist Tony Wong as they discuss their experiences with Real Estate, Donald Trump, and their mutual passion for smoked meat sandwiches.
Tony Wong is a Contributing Columnist with Canada’s largest-circulation newspaper the Toronto Star. With a career spanning over three decades in journalism, Tony has witnessed the highs and lows of the Canadian real estate market first hand. As a Contributing Columnist at the Toronto Star, he has covered beats ranging from Queen’s Park to City Hall, Business, Economics, Technology, Housing and Development. But he mostly just wishes he bought more condos.
It's official! Howard Drukarsh has a podcast. In this inaugural episode, Howard discusses his journey to success from his start in real estate to co-founding Canada’s largest independent brokerage, dealing with failure and keeping a positive outlook when dealing with setbacks.