My 10 Years as a Real Estate Agent

12 year ago, after working as the editor-in-chief of a luxury magazine, I returned to Canada to be with my daughter as she started school. It was then that I decided to change careers. With the rise of social media, I sensed the decline of traditional media and began looking for new opportunities.

After the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis, I started investing in American real estate. Opportunities were everywhere, and I gained valuable insights along the way. Naturally, this led me to consider a career in real estate.

Now, ten years have passed, and I’ve successfully helped hundreds of clients buy and sell homes—ranging from 7,000 sq. ft. luxury estates to 300 sq. ft. condos.

People often ask why I chose this profession. I think it comes from a “nesting instinct”—I love helping clients at different stages of life find a home that truly suits them. The sense of fulfillment is immeasurable. At the same time, I have a deep passion for real estate investment, as it aligns with my long-term vision.

But the journey of an agent is far from easy.

At first, I believed that my own buying and selling experience, along with hard work, would put me on equal footing with seasoned agents. However, real-world challenges quickly showed me how crucial experience is—banks refusing to release funds on closing day, post-closing property issues, developers going bankrupt mid-project, and buyers walking away in a declining market.

Each time, I found solutions, though not without immense pressure. Over time, I learned to anticipate and navigate these challenges, allowing me to handle complex situations with a calm, strategic approach.

Of course, there have also been moments of encouragement and recognition.

One experience stands out—while assisting a client with a pre-construction assignment sale at a developer’s law firm, I caught the attention of a real estate lawyer handling the paperwork. A few days later, he emailed me, asking if I could sell his investment property.

Curious, I asked him why he chose me when he must have known many realtors. He replied, “I saw how honest and reliable you were with your clients—I knew you would do a great job selling my property.”

Another memorable experience involved selling an investment property that was in poor condition and had been turned down by several agents. After carefully putting together a transformation plan, I worked closely with the seller to make improvements.

Two weeks later, we listed the property and sold it for the highest price on the street that year.

Later, the seller invited me over and shared a homemade dish as a token of appreciation. As we sat in the backyard watching the sunset, they told me, “Your patience and sincerity helped me make tens of thousands more, allowing me to enjoy my retirement in peace.”

Seeing the warm glow of the sunset on their peaceful face, I felt both joy and deep fulfillment. Moments like these remind me why I love being a real estate agent.