JACQUELINE PENNINGTON RE/MAX Rouge River Realty Cobourg, ON Age: 34
Not all Realtors complete deals while they’re in labour – thank you, DocuSign – but not all agents are Jacqueline Pennington. A former lobbyist used to fighting for her clients’ interests, Pennington brought that same drive and determination to real estate 11 years ago. “I’ve always have said my job isn’t to sell my clients on anything, but to be an advocate for them and ensure their interests are protected,” she says. As a young agent looking to differentiate herself, Pennington became an encyclopedia of market knowledge. Her bottomless expertise has made her a guru for investors in the Durham Region. “When anyone asks me, ‘How’s the market doing?’, I can answer with specific details and facts and not the old, ‘Depends if you’re buying or selling’ shtick,” she says.
AMIT DHAWAN Century 21 Atria Realty
MARK PEDLAR RE/MAX Bluewater Realty Grand Bend, ON Age: 30
Mark Pedlar has been selling the dream of cottage life since 2010, when he started working alongside his father at RE/MAX Bluewater. “I’ve always enjoyed being able to help people find their dream home or cottage and build relationships with clients who have moved to the area or come up on weekends to enjoy the beach life,” he says. Like many of this year’s Young Guns, Pedlar has gained a great deal of insight from more experienced Realtors, but he believes young agents should resist the urge to rely on their mentors for business. “Surround yourself with a good sphere of influence – mortgage agents, home inspectors and other young professionals in different industries – so you can help each other grow your brands together,” he advises. In addition to his responsibilities as a Realtor, Pedlar has been a volunteer firefighter in Grand Bend for five years, dedicating almost 300 hours to the brigade each year.
Toronto, ON Age: 35
To be the best, an agent must make sacrifices. Amit Dhawan admits his desire to excel in the Toronto market has caused him to miss “countless friends’ barbeques, dinner parties and birthdays” to focus on work. But after twice being named Agent of the Year, a President’s Circle Award winner and a Centurion Club member, Dhawan’s persistence has clearly paid off. “I have no regrets,” he says. Dhawan urges Toronto-based agents both young and old to network with agents from outside the city. “It’s an important part of the business,” he says. “A lot of people move to the GTA from other parts of the country and the world. Knowing top agents in other locations helps to build stronger relationships and ultimately grow your business.”
CODY KRAUS
Century 21 Erie Shores Realty Kingsville, ON Age: 25
Cody Kraus couldn’t wait to be his own boss, which explains why he went into real estate at the ripe old age of 18. “What’s kept me in it this long is the people,” he says. “I’ve met a lot of friends through this business and get an absolute thrill finding the right home for people.” Kraus’ Century 21 team was the company’s number-two team in Canada and number 16 globally for units sold in 2017. He says one advantage of being young is a lack of baggage in the form of “no bad habits and an open mind. Younger agents typically embrace and implement new ideas like e-signatures, Facebook/Instagram advertising and drone videos more quickly than an agent who’s been around for a while.”
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