Realtor named Young Gun
A local realtor has been named one of Canada’s top young sellers by a real estate magazine.
Jessica Yates, 29, a realtor with Century 21 United Realty, made Real Estate Professional magazine’s 2017 Young Guns list. The list names 100 agents across Canada who’re 35 or younger and making waves in the real estate industry.
Real Estate Professional is a new online publication for real estate agents, brokers, realtors and sales representatives.
Yates started her career in real estate in April 2015.
Before that, she was running her cleaning company, Top to Bottom Cleaning. She still owns the business and employs several staff, leaving it in the hands of her manager.
In her first year in real estate, Yates sold upwards of 40 houses. Yet when her manager gave her a pat on the back, it didn’t faze her.
“I’m just never satisfied,” she said.
The Kenner Collegiate graduate said being a realtor was always in the back of her mind as she was cleaning houses.
She liked the idea of being her own boss, doing things her own way.
“With real estate, I can go at it the way I want to.”
The Peterborough native also likes helping people.
“I like the idea of helping people with the transition of moving, buying their house, or downsizing or upgrading.”
When Yates found out she’d made the Young Guns list, she said she thought it was pretty cool.
“Considering it’s all of Canada and not just Peterborough.”
But being a top realtor comes with sacrifices. The OtonabeeSouth Monaghan Township resident is always on the clock.
Her days are jammed packed dealing with lawyers, home inspectors and other realtors and her evenings involve a lot of latenight calls from clients.
“People are messaging me the second I wake up until 2:30 in the morning, every single day.”
Although she’s constantly busy, it doesn’t always mean she’s always making money. Realtors don’t get a salary, relying solely on commission.
“(People) don’t see how many times you have to fail to succeed.”
That can be scary at times, Yates said, but that’s also what she loves about the job.
“I like that you can chose your own destiny with it, you can do as good as you want as long as you’re willing to put in the work.”
So what makes this young realtor so successful?
Yates attributes her success to personality and honesty.
She thinks she’s easy to talk to, with many of her clients opening up to tell her their story.
“They don’t just see me as the realtor that’s doing the paperwork; they see me as someone they can confide in.”
And she’s honest, no matter the cost.
“I’m always 100 per cent honest, whether it’s good or bad.”
Peterborough realtor makes national list of Top 100 up-andcoming real estate agents under 35 JESSICA NYZNIK EXAMINER STAFF WRITER