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About this episode of the I Love Edmonton Real Estate Podcast
This episode’s guest is John Braconnier from Professional Real Estate Group. He is relatively new to real estate, beginning his career about two and a half years ago. In that time, he has developed a database of around fourteen hundred people and is now beginning to get referrals. Tune in to this episode from 2019 for some timely advice on how to find the right realtor for you.
[0:57] What industry did you come from originally?
- Like most Albertans, I worked in the oil and gas business.
- It let me see the explosive real estate growth in Fort McMurray, which really piqued my interest.
- When I helped my first client, the feeling let me know that real estate was for me.
[4:03] Are there any areas of Edmonton or the surrounding area that you specialize in?
- I specialize in Sherwood Park and have been building up most of my client base there.
- Every month, I publish a report about the area called Sherwood Park Homes & Lifestyles.
[5:09] What’s going on in Sherwood Park these days?
- We technically have been in a seller’s market. We started with six to seven months of inventory at the beginning of this year, but it quickly turned.
- Starting in April, we dropped down to 2.4 months of inventory.
- The market is not doing well on acreages. It’s because of the aging market and the young people who see that it’s too much work.
[8:26] What are seniors looking for in their new properties?
- They’re going from bigger houses to bungalows around twelve hundred square feet. They want features like granite countertops in these houses.
- They’re also looking for condo-like apartments.
- Some clients are looking for secondary suites to supplement their pension.
[13:38] What do you see going on in the condo market right now?
- The developers have been building a lot of new condo-style apartments, but they haven’t been selling. The prices are down and they’re turning them into rentals.
- Professional Real Estate Group has seen vacancy rates decreasing.
- The rental market tends to strengthen in economic downturns.
- It’s a great opportunity for millennials and seniors to get some secondary income.
- Alberta has a cyclical economy, and when it comes back, it comes back strong.
[17:00] If you look back at your last ten transactions, what other trends have you seen?
- A lot of people that immigrated to Canada in the last five years or so are ready to buy.
- I’ve worked with a number of first-time homeowners. They know what they want, and they generally move in within a month.
- I take my time to lead them through the process because they are usually unfamiliar with it.
[20:10] If you had a family member moving to another part of the country, what qualities should they look for in a realtor?
- You want to find someone that takes the time to develop a relationship with you and listens to what your needs are.
- We’re problem solvers. We need to find out the obstacle in front of the client and then remove it for them.
- The realtor shouldn’t apply pressure. Just be empathetic and enjoy the experience. It’s our job to educate them about the market.
- I ask my clients to rate houses we’ve looked at, and then focus on homes in the same category as ones they rated above eight.
[22:38] Are there any other comments that you have?
- It’s a tough go for a lot of realtors out there now. My suggestion is to get involved with new tools and technologies.
- Treat customers like gold and develop a relationship.
Connect with John Braconnier:
John Braconnier
Realtor®, Professional Realty Group
780-966-2360
john@professionalgroup.ca
www.johnleebraconnier.com
Sherwood Park Homes & Lifestyles: https://www.facebook.com/SherwoodParkHomesandLifestyles/
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More About the I Love Edmonton Real Estate Podcast
Host Jason Scott of The Mortgage Group talks to everyone and anyone who knows real estate in Edmonton.
Learn from local experts and get the inside scoop on anything that impacts Edmonton’s real estate market. Whether you are thinking of buying, selling or investing in the Edmonton market, Jason and his guests are here to help.
We interview top real estate professionals, decision-makers, influencers, and people who can help you learn more about what’s happening in Edmonton.