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Greg Steele

Greg Steele was born and raised in Edmonton and received formal training in electronics and fiber optics. His first job was with the Canadian National Railway on a 10-year project to install a central traffic control system. The project was completed in seven years and the CNR began to lay off team members for three months in the winter. Mr. Steele decided he needed to pursue another career and a girlfriend's father suggested real estate. He began his studies in late 1987 and got his license in January, 1988.

Mr. Steele was unaware of how the industry worked at this point but a classmate was going to Spencer Realty for an interview and he did the same thing. He was hired immediately after the interview and Manager Les Phillips became a mentor. He was shocked to discover that any commissions were split with the company (e.g., 50/50, 60/40). Highly motivated, he was in the top 5% in the first year and 2% in the second year. In 1989, he moved to ReMax and was with them for fourteen years specializing in commercial realty. Founded in 1982, ReMax was a new concept offering 100% commission with a flat fee per month. Other companies soon went to this model. In 2002, the company was shut down and he went into a commercial real estate venture including shopping centre leasing and development. Three years later, the company was bought up by an international conglomerate and many staff were let go. He returned to ReMax to continue to work in his area of specialization.

Mr. Steele tracks economic trends and demographic shifts and their impact on the industry believing that real estate transactions reflect the health of the economy. He entered the industry in a period of recession when there was a loss of confidence in the industry and major developments (e.g., condos) were vacant. He experienced first-hand Ontario investors buying cheap in Alberta and then liquidating their assets when demand increased. He is currently tracking the impact of the subprime mortgage crisis in the U.S. and throughout the world. As a part of the younger generation of real estate professionals, he has embraced technology (the second agent in his office to have a computer) and, because so much information is available on the World Wide Web, he believes that real estate professionals must provide a high-level of service to clients. He has been the top agent in Alberta and in the top 100 in Canada.

Mr. Steele is extremely involved in organized real estate and is particularly interested in regulation, ethics and increasing professionalism through life-long learning. When he began in the profession, specialization was unheard of. Now individuals come into the industry targeting different aspects of the industry and specialization is the norm. He is an active volunteer including the REALTORS® Charitable Foundation and is involved in fundraising for Santa's Auction, Youth Emergency Shelter, Women's Shelters and the Inner City Lunch Program.

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