Thomas Lee
Biography & Credentials
1978 - Graduated from the University Western Ontario with Bachelor Degree in Biology.
1979 - October - started with A.E. LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
1980 - September - Married my wife, Wendy, and purchased our first home. Organized a Real Estate Investment Group to buy, develop and rent property.
1980 - Achieved sales in the top 10% of the company to obtain President's Round Table Award with sales volume over 1.2 million dollar.
1981 - As the recession became apparent the Investment Group sold out of the market to protect our profits with a return of over 500% in 1 year!
1982 - Achieved President's Round Table with over 1.4 million Dollars in sales volume.
1983 - October - My dancing daughter, Meisha was born. Started dancing at the age of 3 and now resides in West Hollywood where she is a dance choreographer/instructor and a student of life preparing for her "big break".
1983 - Achieved President's Round Table with over 1.7 million Dollars in sales volume.
1983 - Chosen out of six competing realtors as marketing agent by Clarkson Company, Receivers for Ashleigh Heights, 1.7 million dollar townhouse project in Champlain Heights under foreclosure.
1984 - Achieved President's Round Table for being in the Top 10% in the company.
1985 - Achieved President's Gold Award, (formerly called President's Round Table) with over 2.3 million dollars in sales volume.
1985 - Achieved the "Award of Excellence" for obtaining President's Gold Award 5 out of my first 6 years.
1986 - February - My son Elliot was born. Started gaming at the age of 4 and in 2005 was hired to test video games at Electronic Arts as a software quality assurance tester/developer and also a student of life waiting for his "big game".
1986 - Achieved President's Round Table for being in the Top 10% in the company.
1986 - Became a Director on the Vancouver Real Estate Board Eastside Division.
1987 - Achieved President's Gold Award with over 3 million dollars in sales volume.
1987 - Chosen as marketing agent to sell Copeland Avenue, a 3 million dollar townhome project in Champlain Heights.
1988 - Achieved President's Gold Award with over 3 million dollars in sales volume.
1989 - Achieved President's Gold Award with over 3 million dollars in sales volume.
1990 - Achieved President's Gold Award with over 3 million dollars in sales volume.
1990 - Awarded "The Lifetime Award of Excellence" for obtaining the President's Gold Award status 10 out of my first 11 years with the company.
1990 - Chosen by Ernst & Young, Receivers for Beckham Place, a 3 million dollar townhouse project in Richmond.
1991 - Achieved President's Gold Award with over 3 million dollars in sales volume.
1992 - Obtained "The Gold Master Membership" from the Vancouver Real Estate Board for being in the Top 10% of all realtors in MLS sales for the 10th year.
1992 - September - Moved to NRS Block Bros Realty or National Real Estate Service.
1992 - Designed and with much help from my retired German builder/friend, demolished the old house on the hill and constructed a new family home on Capitol Hill in Burnaby.
1993 - October - Became partners in purchasing the first NRS Block Bros. franchised office at 3107 Kingsway and which became NRS Kingsway Realty Co. Started up another Real Estate Investment Group.
1994 - Achieved NRS President's Club level with 3.5 million dollars in sales volume.
1995 - May - Became partner of NRS Westburn Realty Ltd. & NRS Kingsway Realty Co. merging two offices to have 90 sales representatives and called NRS Westburn Realty.
1995 - Achieved MLS Medallion Club status for the 12th year, awarded to the top 8% in the industry. Liquidated the Real Estate Investment Group with a 76% return over the 2 years.
1996 - July - Westburn Realty & Kingsway Realty became Windermere Westburn Realty & ranked #1 in our trading area.
1996 - Achieved MLS Medallion Club status for the 13th year, awarded to the top 8% in the industry.
1997 - March - Purchased Windemere Cascadia, adding 30 more salespeople to our team now with 110 sales representatives and again ranked #1 in our trading area.
1997 - Achieved MLS Medallion Club status for the 14th year, awarded to the top 7% in the industry.
1997 - December - Purchased the professional office building where we have been located at 5489 Kingsway in Burnaby where we have our real estate office along with 10 other commercial tenants. I became the commercial leasing agent and building manager.
1998 - Relocated our North Road office (Windermere Cascadia) to Austin Road in Coquitlam with now 45 realtors.
1998 - Purchased Rennie & Associates and added 30 more agents to our sales team. Our total sales force is 150 and one of the largest companies on the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board.
1998 - November - Purchased the Coldwell Banker franchise covering Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody.
1998 - Purchased Coldwell Banker Argosy Group (Metrotown) adding 25 agents with a sales force of 165.
1999 - Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty was #1 Company for units sold on the MLS in the Greater Vancouver District and for dollar volume on the MLS in the Greater Vancouver District.
2000 - Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty awarded #1 Office for Coldwell Banker Canada.
2001 - Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty awarded #1 Office for Coldwell Banker Canada.
2002 - Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty awarded #1 Office for Coldwell Banker Canada.
2002 - Achieved MLS Medallion Club for the 15th year, awarded to the top 8% in the industry.
2003 - Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty awarded #1 Office for Coldwell Banker Canada. I achieved MLS Medallion Club for the 16th year with a record 7 Million Dollars in sales.
2004 - Celebrating my 25th Business Anniversary. How time flies! Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty awarded #2 Office for Coldwell Banker Canada. I purchased a real estate investment property(REIP) in the Trout Lake area and totally renovated it including a new basement 2 bedroom suite.
2005 - Celebrating my 25th Wedding Anniversary with my wife, Wendy. Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty awarded #2 Office for Coldwell Banker Canada. My son, Elliot is now 19 years old and my youngerst client who has purchased his 1st 1 bedroom condo in the Brentwood Mall area.
2006 - Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty awarded #2 Office for Coldwell Banker Canada. I purchased 2 more real estate investment properties(REIPs) in the Brentwood Mall area and a pre-sale Live/Work townhouse in the Legacy Towers in Brentwood area.
2007 - In January I purchased another REIP, an old duplex with my son in Sapperton, New Westminster and started renovating. May 1st. renovations to the Sapperton duplex are finally finished and rented out. Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty awarded #2 Office for Coldwell Banker Canada.
2008 - Acheived MLS Medallion for th 17th time with record sales of over 7 million dollars in sales and a Gold Master Member. Legacy Live/Work townhouse completed and rented out. Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty awarded #2 Office for Coldwell Banker Canada.
2008- In September in the midst of the global economic crisis I walked my talk and reacted to the opportunity of the dropping market. I purchased another REIP bachelor suite condo in Highgate Village that dropped from a value of $240,000 to my purchase price of $180,000.
2008 - My son, Elliot now 22, moved from Electronic Arts to Rockstar Entertainment who grossed over 500 million dollars on one game. I always told him to, love what you do 'cause you might be doing it for a long time. He is still going to work to play plus getting paid well so I kicked him out of the family nest and had him move into his 1 BR condo in Brentwood. He's doing well flying solo.
2008 - My daughter, Meisha now 25 and still in L.A. got a role and is assistant choreographer in a Nickelodeon production(producer's of Sponge Bob) for a 24 episode show for kids 3 to 7 years called Fresh Beat Band currently playing on TV in 2010. She's the little Chinese girl with the big smile.
2009- In January even though the market had not recovered I felt the timing was right to purchase another REIP which was a Live/Work townhouse right beside the other one I own at the Legacy Towers in Burnaby. This will be my final REIP because my wife, Wendy, says I can't go shopping anymore. 10 is enough!
2009 - Acheived MLS Medallion for the 18th time with sales of 4.8 million dollars in sales and a Gold Master Member. Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty awarded #2 Office for Coldwell Banker Canada.
2010 - Rubber ball recovery well underway and passing their last peak reached in late 2007/2008. My REIP portfolio has withstood the downturn which I never doubted and that's what it's all about!
2010 - In November I couldn't help myself and bought a REIP pre-sale at Wall Centre False Creek which will complete 2014. Also my son, Elliot, bought his own 1 BR at Wall Centre False Creek because his office is next door. This will be his third property at the age of 24. He's well ahead of where I was at his age. Sometimes it's not how much you make but how you invest your savings that determines your future.
My Latest Testimonial:
Hi Tom,
It's been a month since we got possession of our new home and now that we can take a break, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work.
It was a long process of waiting for the perfect place to present itself and finding a neighbourhood that fit our needs. After a year of looking, and when prospects dwindled, you kept reassuring us that we would find our place. We are both grateful for your optimism and perseverance!
Working with you was a great pleasure and your insight in the real estate market was invaluable and kept us focused on our criteria.
After our successful purchase, you ensured a smooth transition into our new home.
We really appreciate everything you have done for us.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Lavinia & Richard
Over the last 32 years I have gained a wealth of experience in all aspects of real estate sales, business management, property management for both commercial and residential, building/renovating, project marketing, court ordered sales , estate sales, property investment coaching and real estate sales mentoring.
Remember, to become wealthy "Don't wait to buy real estate.... buy real estate and then wait!" or as Wayne Gretsky would say, "Skate to where the puck is going; not to where it is."
Thomas Lee
(Est. Since 1979)
"Experience to Serve You Better"
Coldwell Banker Westburn Realty