Since I was very young, I realized the incredible power of investing in real estate. I genuinely want others to enjoy the same benefits that my husband and I have enjoyed. James and I bought our first house when I was 19 and he was 21 (I said young, right!). Shortly after, we both got jobs in downtown Toronto and decided to rent out our home. It was during this time that we began realizing the incredible potential of investing in Real Estate. We later sold our brand-new motorcycle and leveraged the equity in our first home to purchase a second-income property. Ultimately, we were able to buy a third property that would become our primary residence.
By 2017, when I was 29 years old, and due to the intense market upswing, James and I were able to refinance our first home (which we had been renting for several years), sell our second-income property, and pay off the mortgage on our primary residence. Imagine, 29 and mortgage free! It was at this time that James and I left the rat race to start Evoke Realty Group in Barrie, Ontario Canada.
Our early investments in Real Estate are what have allowed us to build a home in Costa Rica and move our family to paradise! The incredible wealth opportunity and ability to share it with others is what originally drove me into Real Estate sales. The best part, is you don’t have to start when you're 19. My parents didn’t kick start their real estate investing until well into their 50s and now enjoy 4 rental properties in Canada and a vacation home in Florida.
My background in accounting and real estate experience helps me ensure my clients are protected. I did not just wake up one day and decide to sell Real Estate. My goal was to be a Chartered Professional Accountant, what a snoozefest that would have been for me! That goal, however, provided me with over 5 years of valuable finance, economic, business, and contract law education. In addition, I gained personal investment experiences that not all real estate professionals have had.
After University I spent 5+ years in Cyber Security Consulting, where I specialized in identifying weaknesses in the cyber security programs of Fortune 500 companies and educating their leadership teams on how to prepare for disaster recovery and business continuity. No, I have never hacked anyone. Yes, we had teams that did hack (ethically of course), and overall Cyber Security is way cooler in the movies!
Basically, all that knowledge combined with the real estate experience I have acquired, means I know what I am talking about. I didn’t learn all I know in a weekend real estate course and that is reflected in the success of Evoke Realty Group. I use that experience to protect my clients and to negotiate and secure investment opportunities that can change lives.
FUN FACTS ABOUT ME
- I cannot say no to animals, which is probably why we have so many. I definitely see a farm in my future.
- I have 5 tattoos. One says, “P.S. I love you”. The “P” stands for my daughter Priya, and the “S” for my son Sterling. Clever eh?
- I am an excellent markswoman. Just call me Annie Oakley.
- I have a sweet tooth and have mastered the art of sugary treats. Just don’t ask me to cook you a meal...yuck.
- Prior to Real Estate, I studied to become a Chartered Professional Accountant, but ended up pursuing a career in Cyber Security with a Top 4 Global Firm.