Ottawa real estate broker Marnie Bennett has been named the top broker worldwide for Keller Williams Realty International (KWRI) for 2010.
Bennett and her team of 31 agents and support staff surpassed all other KWRI agencies, selling more than 600 homes in a year that was hampered by the introduction of the HST, changes to mortgage regulations and an unstable economy.
Bennett, 57, is the first Canadian woman to achieve this honour. She credits much her success to embracing social media and building relationships with customers.
She said one of the biggest changes in real estate over her 30-year career is how women have progressed from working real estate on a part-time basis to making it their career.
“It’s an industry now. People now realize the scope of it and how it can be the greatest asset of their life.”
She said condos and townhomes are hot commodities in Ottawa these days, far outselling single-family homes.
“I would say the single market represents about 20% (of sales) and the rest are condos and townhomes.”
The Conservative government’s decision to make it tougher for first-time home buyers to get a mortgage is unnecessary, Bennett argued.
“I don’t think they should be doing that. We have the best banking system in the world. They are very careful how they qualify people.”
That said, there are bigger fish to fry in this province.
“The biggest problem we have in Ontario is the HST.”
scott.taylor@sunmedia.ca
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