The brand you build as a REALTOR® is what sets you apart, it’s also helpful to demonstrate your value to both clients and peers. So how do you build a brand that exudes authenticity? On this episode of the REAL TIME podcast, three members of the REALTOR® community, Greg Hamre, Tony Joe, and Angie Vazquez, share how their unique brand lays a solid foundation for their professional reputation. 

Capitalizing on your niche can be the key to moving your business forward—just ask April Brown and Sarah Sklash, founders of The June Motel in Prince Edward County. What started as a side hustle between best friends has now turned into a Netflix sensation and multi-property endeavor. On this episode of the REAL TIME podcast, April and Sarah share how honing in on their unique offering is what really made The June Motel into what it is today. Plus, hear their take on why focusing on a niche audience can actually make things easier when it comes to marketing your business. 

Data tells a story, but context helps bring it to life. Earlier this month, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) released its resale housing market forecast for 2025 and 2026, anticipating a busy market—starting as early as this spring—as buyers move off the sidelines. Shaun Cathcart, CREA’s Director and Senior Economist, Housing Data and Market Analysis, joins this episode of the REAL TIME podcast to unpack the housing market outlook; what’s happening in different regions of the country; and how advances in housing technologies could help address housing supply shortages.

Connections, community, and curiosity. That’s what you can expect from the REAL TIME podcast in 2025. New host, actor and comedian, Shaun Majumder is ready to explore the world of Canadian real estate, cutting through the clutter and bringing a fresh take to some hot topics—all while keeping REALTORS® at the heart of the conversation. Real experts. Real insights. All things Canadian real estate. Right here, on the REAL TIME podcast.

The REALTORS Care® moniker helps highlight the charitable efforts of REALTORS® across Canada. Since 2007, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has celebrated the remarkable contributions REALTORS® all across the country have made to a variety of causes close to their hearts.. On this episode of REAL TIME, we’re joined by Cindi Loforti Lepp and Ken Hammer, two REALTORS® nominated for the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2024 for their own incredible community impact. This is a feel-good conversation - listen in and be prepared to be inspired!

When was the last time you talked in depth about your money? Research shows talking about finances can build financial confidence, and lead to better financial outcomes. But you need to know where to start. On this episode of the REAL TIME podcast we’re joined by Melissa Leong, best-selling author and resident money expert on the daytime talk show, The Social, to dive deeper into the connection between money and happiness, how we use emotion over logic when it comes to financial decision making, some of the most common mistakes made by self-employed individuals, and how being more financially aware can help REALTORS® in their businesses.

From a trailer park in Newfoundland to buying properties and land across Canada, to even buying and selling homes in the United States, Canadian actor and comedian Shaun Majumder has lived all over North America—in many types of homes. His life journey can be mapped through real estates, with emotional memories attached to every move. On this episode of REAL TIME, Shaun joins us from CREA PAC Days 2024 to share his first memory of home, how his different moves helped shape his journey and experiences, and how finding the right REALTOR® was more about than just who was the most knowledgeable—it was about who was the best fit.

There are countless ways to succeed in real estate and no two individuals take the exact same route—so, how then does a real estate professional confidently make their next move? There’s so much to learn from other REALTORS® and those who have been in the industry for a long period of time, or have taken a unique path to success. Mentorship doesn’t just benefit the mentees—mentors also have a lot to gain—like leadership skills, a helping create a more vibrant industry, improved communication skills, insight from different perspectives, a broader network, and boosted confidence. For mentees, the guidance and knowledge transfer is invaluable, networking opportunities can help grow your business, and learning the ins and outs of the industry from someone who’s been through it already can help boost your confidence, too. Nicole Christy, CEO at the Ottawa Real Estate Board, and Rachel Gagnon, REALTOR® and Top 35 Under 35 with Royal Lepage, join the latest episode of the REAL TIME podcast to talk about their experience with mentorship and how it’s helped their careers.

Exploration into turning REALTOR.ca into a for-profit subsidiary of CREA has included the most comprehensive due-diligence process undertaken in CREA history.. It’s about keeping REALTORS® at the forefront, looking at how this invaluable tool could be better leveraged to serve members, and addressing changing consumer needs. The proposed path forward is outlined in REALTOR.ca Forward: the draft business case for REALTOR.ca as a taxable entity. Understandably, the discussion has sparked curiosity from members. On this episode of REAL TIME, Janice Myers, CREA CEO, and James Mabey, CREA Chair, answer common questions regarding the draft business case and what the transformation could mean for REALTORS®.

It’s no secret that Canada is facing a housing crisis. The country is in need of programs and strategies to help build more homes that meet people where they are. It’s a national issue that requires collaboration from all leaders, politically and otherwise. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, is our guest on this episode of REAL TIME, where we discuss Canada’s housing supply goals, where we can draw inspiration from, and how REALTORS® can be part of solutions.

On June 5, The Bank of Canada announced its first rate cut in four years. This could be the sign many were waiting for to come off the sidelines and step into Canada’s housing markets. But, what does that look like across the country and how do other economic factors play into the decision making process? On the latest episode of REAL TIME, we hear from Shaun Cathcart, Director and Senior Economist, Housing Data and Market Analysis with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist with the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB), and Jason Mercer, Chief Market Analyst with the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), as they share insights on the current state of Canada’s housing market from a national, provincial, and local level, exploring everything from the need for more supply to interprovincial migration to pricing.

From websites and ads to social media, newsletters, and podcasts, content is everywhere and has the potential to be a powerful business driver. But how do you consistently create good, creative content?That’s where Melanie Deziel comes in, a creativity coach and leading voice in content marketing. With clients including Google, Netflix, The New York Times, and others, Melanie joins REAL TIME to share her framework for systemizing creativity, making it easier and faster to generate content that stands out and connects with your audience.Learn more about Melanie and her book The Content Fuel Framework at MelanieDeziel.com.

Everyone’s been put to the test in their career. On this episode of REAL TIME, we invite two members of the REALTOR® community, Anu Joshi-Mehendale and Dusko Sremac, to reflect on their top lessons learned in real estate as they approach a decade of experience in their respective practices.Get advice to help you minimize mistakes, set yourself up for success, and stay motivated in your own practice – new or established.

A survivor of two civil wars, Zahra Al-Harazi immigrated to Canada in 1996 with her three children and no higher education. Today, she’s one of Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs.On this episode of REAL TIME, Zahra unpacks the turning point in her story, when she defined her sense of purpose, and how it continues to guide her and her businesses. She also shares strategies for defining your own purpose, and how to harmonize your personal and professional values, so you can stay focused, motivated, and fulfilled.Discover Ikigai, the Japanese concept Zahra swears by for inspiring your sense of purpose: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IkigaiLearn more about the Enneagram personality types: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enneagram_of_Personality

Anthony Morgan is an award-winning science communicator. He’s also a PhD researcher and startup founder who’s hosted dozens of TV shows, including the Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet and CBC’s The Nature of Things with Sarika Cullis-Suzuki. He’s the mastermind behind Freestyle Socials, a live, hilarious game designed to “undivide” people by blurring the lines we draw between one another.On this episode of REAL TIME, Anthony shares science-based insight to help REALTORS® become better problem solvers in the face of a disagreement.Watch the experiment Anthony describes as a “magic trick”– Daniel Simons’ selective attention test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo

Colour affects us physically and mentally. In business, it’s a silent salesperson, a powerful way to send a message.To start the year, we invited one of the world’s leading colour consultants to help us explore colour trends and the malleable nature of colour itself – how we perceive it, what we can do with it, and how REALTORS® can wield it to instill confidence in their clients. Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman is Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute™ and Director of the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Technology. For more than 20 years, she’s been responsible for choosing the Pantone® Color of the Year, which has vastly influenced the worlds of fashion, interior design, product development, and beyond.Visit LeatriceEiseman.com to explore Lee’s books on colour and online training courses.

For all its opportunities, a career in real estate can be demanding. Continuing our Working REALTOR® series, this episode highlights the importance of finding balance, not just for your health but to reconcile your hard work with a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Hear from three members of the REALTOR® community who’ve made it their mission to find balance: Crystal Hung, a 2023 Canadian REALTORS Care® Award nominee and the owner of Icon&co.; Peggy Hill, broker and CEO at the Peggy Hill Team; and Darin Germyn, a REALTOR® and leader of the Germyn Group and Director-at-Large with the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Every REALTOR® needs to negotiate, whether it’s with a client, another agent, a brokerage, or otherwise. But it doesn’t need to be as stressful as it seems.On this episode of REAL TIME, we speak with Fotini Iconomopoulos, a Fortune 500 negotiator, author, and educator whose advice you won’t soon forget. From engaging your mental pause button to psyching yourself up, get inspired to boost your competitive edge using Fotini’s unconventional principles of negotiation.

For more than five decades, Canadians have trusted Peter Mansbridge to guide them through countless political, economic, and cultural events that have shaped our nation. He’s one of Canada’s most respected and recognizable figures, having spent 30 years as CBC News’ chief correspondent and anchor of The National. On this episode of REAL TIME, Peter helps us understand why, how, and where we’ve deviated from trust and truth – all through his unique journalistic lens – and how Canadians can respond.

On this episode of REAL TIME, we’re joined by George Mumford, AKA the “Performance Whisperer.” George is a pioneer in sports psychology and performance coaching, and is globally renowned for his liberating perspectives on mindfulness and flow. Throughout his career, he’s worked with an all-star roster of clients including Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, and now, he’s bringing his expertise to REAL TIME to help REALTORS® elevate their game in business and life.