by Macrealty Marketing Team | Nov 2, 2021 | Company, In The News
Across the province, REALTORS® and brokerages are engaged in innovative work to support the real estate profession and the public. And we want to share those stories. On this episode of Open House by BCREA, explore an innovative way to build trusting, successful relationships with your clients through our conversation with Mark Winter. Mark is a seasoned real estate professional with 30 years of experience and is also a certified coach. He is Director of Agent Development at a BC real estate brokerage and has written a book entitled A Different Conversation: Realizing Your Potential as a Real Estate Agent.
This episode was recorded on October 22, 2021.
Listen to the podcast here.
Links:
Background
If you had to pick the most important thing you could provide your clients with, what would it be?
In a survey recently published by the Canadian Real Estate Association and Nanos Research, the most important attributes a Realtor should display in their interactions with clients are honesty and integrity. In other words, your clients want to be able to trust you.
But building that trust can be easier said than done and the survey results also highlight that there is some room to grow in that area.
Joining us to talk about an innovative way to build trust in your relationships with your clients is Mark Winter. Mark has been a part of the same BC brokerage since 1992 and now has over 30 years of experience in the real estate business. He started off as a Realtor and now works in a senior leadership role as Director of Agent Development.
He’s also a certified coach and putting his two passions together has written a book entitled A Different Conversation: Realizing Your Potential as a Real Estate Agent. Mark joins us to talk about the coaching approach and how this approach can lead to more success and fulfillment as a Realtor, which in turn means more satisfied clients.
The article was originally posted on British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), November 1, 2021. Written by Shaheed Devji.
by Macrealty Marketing Team | Apr 27, 2020 | Community, In The News
VANCOUVER, B.C. – (April 24, 2020) – Macdonald Realty Victoria has committed to donating a portion of their agent’s monthly office fees to the Victoria Rapid Relief Fund which is raising money for coronavirus emergency relief in the capital region. The first monthly contribution of $1200 was delivered to The Victoria Foundation who chairs the fund, with a commitment to continue the monthly donations while Macdonald Realty agents work from home during physical distancing.
“We saw an opportunity to shift the focus and support our community during this critical time, ” says Ara Balabanian, Managing Broker of Macdonald Realty’s Victoria and Sidney offices. “Real Estate has been deemed an essential service by the BC Government so while the doors to our office are closed, we are fortunate to be able to continue offering essential services to clients from our homes. Our agents are happy to see a portion of their office fees redirected to support this worthwhile cause.”
The Victoria Rapid Relief Fund was established to provide funds to local Registered Charities and Qualified Donees providing front-line services to vulnerable populations whose staff, volunteers, programs, and operations have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Since March 21st they have raised over $5 million dollars.
Picture from The Victoria Foundation Facebook Page
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About Macdonald Real Estate Group: Founded in Vancouver in 1944, Macdonald Realty (macrealty.com) has grown to become BC’s largest full-service corporately owned real estate company, with over 20 offices, 1,000 agents and staff in the province, and nearly $6 billion in annual sales.
In addition to residential sales, Macdonald Commercial has over 40 dedicated commercial agents with a head office in Vancouver and a new Fraser Valley office in South Surrey; Macdonald Property Management currently manages over $5 billion in BC properties; and Macdonald Platinum Marketing has sold over $2 billion in luxury new construction.
by Macrealty Marketing Team | Oct 4, 2019 | In The News
After weeks of endless sunshine, the rain has finally started in Vancouver, BC. While other blogs have posted mostly on Fall décor inspiration, we’re bringing you this piece of paradise in Hawaii, where summer lasts forever.
Kohola Point is 2019 HGTV’s Ultimate House Hunt – indeed it’s one of the most amazing homes we’ve ever seen. This family home exudes the perfect combination of ocean view, infinity pool, enormous space and island comfort to the lucky buyer.
Listed by Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers – featured in Luxury Portfolio International.
Wake up to water haven as the ocean views and blue skies as you sip your coffee from the comfort of your home. The vibrant natural colours of nature combined with the minimalist décor make you not want to leave paradise – listen to the soothing sound of waves as it invites you to take in this masterpiece.
Entertain your guests while you prepare fresh catch of the day from the open-concept kitchen – you don’t have to miss out on all the fun! Its rustic design adds warmth, charm and refinement in every detail.
Imagine yourself enjoying this breathtaking paradise – That’s what we call a dream home!
Interested in luxury homes around the globe? We have connections!
Macdonald Realty’s associates have an unprecedented advantage to promote luxury properties on an international stage. Luxury Portfolio International® is a unified collection of the worlds’ most experienced, visible and highly-regarded experts in luxury real estate. Founded in 2005, Luxury Portfolio exclusively markets extraordinary homes, utilizing a sophisticated mix of online and offline media to position properties for maximum exposure in an elite market.
The program markets over 35,000 properties annually on the award-winning LuxuryPortfolio.com and in prestigious publications circulated around the globe. Encompassing more market-leading independent real estate brands than any network, members are recognized for their agility, expertise and superior competence in both local and global markets. Macdonald Realty is honoured to be the trusted local luxury expert in British Columbia.
Find more about Macdonald Realty by visiting our website macrealty.com.
by Macrealty Marketing Team | Aug 10, 2019 | Company, In The News
Macdonald Realty #2 in 2019 list of “Biggest BC businesses owned by women” | BIV
In the July 30, 2019 edition of Business in Vancouver, Macdonald Realty was ranked #2 on their annual list of the biggest BC businesses owned by women. With 1,100 employees in BC, Macdonald Realty’s Owner and CEO Lynn Hsu was second to only Leslie Meingast of TPD which provides HR managed services.
Business in Vancouver newspaper is the flagship publication of Business in Vancouver Media Group. Since its creation in 1989, the weekly newspaper has been an essential source of news, features, analysis and data for Vancouver business leaders and influencers. It remains a must-read source of unique, unduplicated business insight.
Congratulations to all of the women on the list!
See the full list at Business in Vancouver.
by Macrealty Marketing Team | Feb 5, 2019 | In The News
Think back for a moment to 1959, a Year of the Pig in the Chinese Zodiac calendar.
Canada was basking in the glow of post-Second World War prosperity. The average annual salary of $5,000 could buy you a new house for $12,500 and a new Chevy for $2,200, while just $1 would get you a night at the movies to watch Marilyn Monroe.
Now, 60 years later, with the return of the Year of the Pig, you could hunt for a long time in Vancouver to find a new house for under $1 million, a Chevy for less than $20,000 or a movie viewing for $10 a head. But if that depresses you a bit, Andrew Leong, a Richmond realtor and occasional adherent to the world of Chinese astrology, has some encouraging words for the coming year.
“The pig has always been blessed with good fortune,” the 35-year veteran realtor says.
He said that even though the real estate market has experienced somewhat of a downturn in recent months, “it really can’t get any worse.”
“Those born under the pig sign are very realistic people. They don’t go with the trends. They go with the basics. They tend to approach challenges in a cooperative way with other people. “
They are also born optimists, he said, a good trait to possess in the context of the past year. He himself predicts real estate will show signs of recovery. “That’s how I see this market, even without the horoscopes.”
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by Macrealty Marketing Team | Jul 30, 2018 | In The News
First, you’ll want to understand the taxes you’re going to pay
It is impossible to think about buying in Vancouver as a foreigner without considering the now- infamous tax on foreign buyers and speculators introduced in 2016 to make housing in the region more affordable and cool down an extremely hot market.
In Vancouver, foreigners pay a 20% tax on top of the purchase price. The tax was introduced because of the perception that Vancouver, the most expensive market in Canada, was becoming a parking ground for global capital.
Now approaching the end of the second year, many say the tax has not had its intended effect. Jerry Wang, of MacDonald Realty, a luxury brokerage in Vancouver, said that although the tax slowed the market at the beginning, foreign buyers are back in the game.
The largest island offers proximity to a 180-mile long For the luxury “Buyers can get a mortgage fairly easily, and relatively speaking, the price point for the Vancouver area is still very reasonable,” Mr. Wang said, compared to other large cities around the world.
He said his clients have just shifted to a slightly lower price bracket to account for the tax, and are still “buying at a discount.” They also still buy at the high end. “This year we have seen so many properties over C$10 million (US$7.7 million) sold in Vancouver,” he said. “Most of them are to Chinese families still wanting to be here.”
Because of the tax, he added, it is “properties in the middle that are suffering,” referring to those in the “affordable luxury” range.
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