Canada's first Realty World franchise opens in Burlington

Realty World International, which operates more than 500 offices around the globe, has opened their first Canadian office in  Burlington – and a familiar face is at the helm. 

Realty World Legacy launched on June 30, with Brenda McKinley as the local franchise’s broker of record.

"Brenda McKinley brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to Southern Ontario, having grown up and raised her family in close proximity to the office location," the company stated in a press release. "With a diverse professional background, Brenda's journey naturally led her to a career in real estate. Her previous roles involved working with lawyers specializing in real estate, accountants who were real estate investors, and serving as a human resources manager, administering and negotiating collective agreements."

Since entering the real estate field in 2001, McKinley has earned accolades as an award-winning agent, and her personal journey and challenges she faced as a newcomer in the industry inspire her to provide mentorship and guidance to fellow agents.

"Brenda ensures her colleagues have the resources and advice they need to thrive in their careers," the company noted in the press release. "Her dedication to fairness, ethics and cultivating a supportive environment sets her apart as a leader in the real estate community."

For McKinley, serving the part of the city where she grew up and then later raised her own family is an emotional experience. 

“When I look out the window of the office, I can see the high school I went to and my kids went to,” she said of the Upper Middle Road and Guelph Line plaza location. “I like being a storefront rather than an office in a high rise. I know we pay a premium for that. We're kind of your neighbourhood realtor.”

McKinley, who previously worked in a variety of capacities with area real estate agencies, says joining  the Realty World family means giving clients the best of both worlds: the small, personal connections of a neighbourhood franchise backed by a global company that provides support and resources.

“It gives us an opportunity to expand our local knowledge and give our clients better service,” she said.”Realty World is a worldwide corporation.  And I'm pretty excited to have been given the first opportunity to open a Realty World office in Canada.”

McKinley works alongside 19 agents on the Realty World Legacy roster and is joined on the leadership team by Victoria Leahy, who looks after agent and client services, and Anthony Mason, who is director of growth and business development.

She said the corporate culture is the right fit for her.

“We're a very tight-knit group,” says McKinley. “We know when someone's struggling and we know when someone's doing really well. And whatever's going on with them, we have tools to help them.

“I feel our office is quite different from a lot of other offices,” she continued. “We don't compete with each other; we collaborate and support each other. Most of our agents are available for calls, evenings and weekends.”

The company says McKinley's appointment as the leader of the inaugural Canadian office demonstrates their commitment to building a strong team focused on driving success in each local market.

That means it’s not unusual to find her at the other end of the phone on the weekends, helping someone with a special condition or a transaction – and she knows that work ethic carries over to others. “All of our leadership team is like that. We're all accessible all the time.”

Realty World says its decision to expand into Canada reflects the company's global growth strategy and its recognition of the flourishing Canadian real estate market.

Lisa Gerdes, the COO of Realty World International, expressed enthusiasm for the company's expansion into Canada. She believes that opening the first Realty World office in Burlington will open up new opportunities for the company to serve the Canadian market and provide unparalleled real estate expertise.

Realty World, founded in 1973, says its entry into the Canadian market marks an exciting chapter for both the company and Canadian clients, as they gain access to a global network of industry professionals and innovative real estate solutions.

To learn more about the new Burlington Realty World office visit www.realtyworldlegacy.ca.