BUILDING COMMUNITY

500 DOORS REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE

Kim Hayden's story is an inspiring one that reminds us that we can achieve success in real estate if we are willing to put in the extra hours and build relationships with our community.

Julie: Kim, I am so excited to have you tell me a little bit more about yourself today. Tell me what you're about and give me some insight into you.

Kim: I'm originally from Wichita, Kansas. I met my husband in Vegas. I was the worst waitress ever. Graveyard shift. But I waited on my husband. It must have been something there, because he married me, and we've been married for 29 years.

Moved to Canada, started off my journey in Canada and Toronto, and then ended up coming to Calgary. And in Calgary, I had a couple little ones. And I was sitting there going, I need a job, because I've never not worked. And I'm not. It takes a special kind of woman to be able to be a really high productive, full time domestic engineer.

And I'm not that woman. I mean, I have absolute utmost respect for those moms that pack balanced, healthy lunches and volunteer at schools, and I'm not that gal. So I looked at my husband, I said, I need a job. And I said, I think I want to open a coffee shop. I love talking to people and baking for them.

He goes, you have to be up at, like, 03:00 a.m. And I said, well, maybe I don't want a coffee shop, a lunch counter kind of gal. But he said the infamous words which will go on his grave, tombstone. Why don't you go into real estate? It looks easy.

Infamous last words. I went into real estate. I knew no one. I was in a new city, new country, young mom in a new community. I had no past work experience.

I mean, I literally was the opposite of what everybody tells you you need to have in order to be a successful real estate agent. But I kind of view myself as almost like an accidental real estate agent because my whole thing was about creating community. I've always been about community. And the first thing I did was start a mom's and tots group because I saw a need, a need. I needed to meet other women in my community, this new community that had no infrastructure, no association, nothing to support the residents.

So I went to the local church, and I said, by the way, could we borrow one of your rooms one morning a week to do a non denominational community outreach for moms and tots? And we had a couple of dads in there, too.

I said, by the way, I want to be doing this moms and tots thing. Would you by chance sponsor tea and cookies? And they said, absolutely. And that started my first community initiative. And from there it literally grew into picnics in the park and the parade of garage sales and the pumpkin getaway.

In fact, the community was so new that you could watch your dog run away for days. And actually one of the first years we did a pumpkin chunkin. We decided that we would invite teams to build build a catapult. We took everybody's pumpkins and we chucked them. We had a pumpkin chunkin contest to see how far we could throw these pumpkins. But from these events, not only did I love what I was doing, I wasn't planning events for profit. I was creating community.

And from there I built six and seven figure 22 year business. And it was so organic. It wasn't like I was every month pressure to pick up the phone and dial, you know, ten people a day or to chase after for sale by Owner because for sale by owners just want to be respected in a decision. And it's such a small percentage of populace. I don't know why real estate agents always get a little, like selling the house themselves.

Julie: So what would you say is the most important lesson that you've learned over your career as a realtor?

Kim: The doors matter. The people that live behind the doors. I have had the blessing and honour to be at baptismals and weddings and at funerals. Unfortunately, I have had the honor to be part of other people's stores. And not just as a transaction, but at one of my pumpkin giveaways a few years back, I think it was like year 15 or something like that, this gal shows up and she's got these four kids all the way from like 15 years of the age down to probably like seven.

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And she comes up to me, she goes, I just want you to know that this the pumpkin giveaway that you do every year for the food bank. My kids think that this is part of our Halloween tradition. And they know that we can decorate. As soon as they see the billboards go there, your bold signs go up for the pumpkin giveaway.

She wanted to say thank you. I think this is a really cool thing you do. Those kids are going to grow up with an example of community service.

I can't think of a greater legacy to leave behind, I truly can't. Because at the end of the day, money comes and goes, businesses come and go. Yet community, from the day the cavemen first walked upright, has been the core of human survival.

The reality is for the majority of human beings, connectivity and communication and community are so critical to our growth and our survival and our stability. And I showed that family, I showed those children, I was part of their lives and I helped them create the understanding or a perception of community.

Julie: Awesome. So in your opinion, what would be the most important personality trait that someone would need to work in your industry to be successful?

Kim: I think the most important personality trait is somebody with a sense of community. I don't think it's introvert or extrovert because let me tell you, an introvert can learn to speak with intention and engage with intention. And yet a lot of introverts, this is where their superpower comes from. They listen.

And that is not a natural skill to extroverts. An extrovert may be able to walk up into a crowd and get it going and hey, how you doing? Shake hands with everybody. But are they truly listening? Introverts listen.

I always think of the doors. Right behind every door is an opportunity. Also, a sense of community and understanding and a value of community, because that at the end of the day, when we retire, when we're dead and gone, when we're nothing but dust or in the dirt, the legacy we live behind is making the community a little bit better for the people we serve. Julie: So what is one piece of advice you'd give someone starting out in real estate?

Kim: Well, I have two pieces of advice right off the bat. The very first one is have control of your community. The way that people communicate with you, the way people can get a hold of you. The biggest issue I see for a lot of new agents is that they will use the broker's URL. They will use their team's phone number, and they're putting all this effort out there to build business, to grow revenue, to create community. And at the end of the day, if they choose to switch brokerages or leave a team, all that work is gone.

So that would be the number one thing, is have true control over your community or your communications, how people can get a hold of you. So have your own URL and ensure that you have access to the phone number that you're sharing that is yours. If your team says that you have to use theirs, take a look at alternative modes of contact distribution, like through QR code. So these are things that's the number one and the number two get out and walk your community. Know who you're serving, know who's got a new garden gnome and who has a great wreath and who painted their door the most, godawful orange.

Get out there and know your community, because nothing gives confidence. Then when somebody calls and says, we're thinking about selling our house, would you come and do an evaluation? Okay, great. No problem. What's your address?

And they give you one, two, three, Main Street. And you say, oh, you're right. Did you just put up a new picket fence last year across the front? Yes. I love the hedges. I am so excited to meet you.

Nothing says confidence like knowing where the home is. And you can't do that from the Internet. You have to walk the streets. You have to walk you have to go up to the front doors. So these are really the two critical things and just everybody else.

I speak from a listing real estate perspective. Everything I have done, honestly, we quit counting around 1600 transactions. We're estimating between 16 and 1800 transactions, but I know we're at 16 minimum, so 70% of that's listing. I always wanted to be on the

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side of serving the home seller because it gave me more control over my own life, especially back in the day when everything was done by paper or fax, and I had to sit on a curb and wait for a real estate agent to come and get the contract and stuff. So I really wanted to be on the listing side of things because this allowed me to be a mom to my three kids and to be a host to my community.

And everybody always joked that I was the mayor of my community for a while there. By the way, there are no mayors in individual communities. Everybody knows in Canada, each community does not get its own mayor. It was a joke, or they called it my bubble, but most of my listings were within, like, five to eight minutes of my own home, which made it really super easy to serve my community. Right.

Julie: So, again, people starting out, just to clear things up, I know you said that famous last words were, real estate is easy. So what would you say is a common myth about being a real estate agent?

Kim: Flexible hours do not mean negotiable hours. You will still work your butt off. And if you aren't working your butt off, expect less than stellar results. National association of Realtors, which is the largest real estate body, does a study pretty much every year. They update it. The average real estate agent in the United States works 35 hours a week, and they make $57,000 a year. Yet as soon as you get from 40 to 50 hours, you go from $57K to $87K.

I raised three kids, and I probably worked on average in what would be deemed as work. I probably honestly worked 60, 65 hours a week between delivering my door hangers, doing my home evaluations, hosting a moms, and tots group, things like that. But I will tell you, out of that 65 hours a week, only probably 35 of it felt like work. The rest was community leadership.

But that built my brand and my authority within the community. And that's the biggest thing, is most agents do not have a definable. They think they make a logo, and they have a brand. Your logo is not a brand. It's a marker.

And one of the sure signs of you're going to be part of the 87% failure is when you don't have a clear vision and mission in place and your whole goal is money. Money is not a goal. Money is the byproduct of your goals. Money is the byproduct of your work, of your service. So if money is your goal, you'll fail.

Julie: That's great advice. And I love how you talked about building your personal brand. So whether you're an entrepreneur, startup, business, starting with the brand and having that strong, what you're about, who you're about, what your value is, positioning that to attract your dream clients is so important. So I love that you touched on that piece. So I know you like to ask all of your guests this, but what is your favorite quote and why?

Kim: I have so many. I would say that it's my definition of resilience. My past does not define my future.

And this I apply in everything. Meaning, if you're sitting out there and the market dries up and it turns and it's harder to make and make it, your transactions come together, it's harder to make your personal bills and everything. When you get up tomorrow, your yesterday does not define the day that you're in. Last week does not define your week next week. It is what you choose to make of it.

I know a lot of people say that you're only as good as your last deal. I don't believe that. I believe your last deal is in yesterday and tomorrow is what you make of it, and that we all must be resilient.

My goal is to really help real estate agents lean into their true superpower, which is leadership and community creation. So that's what I'd love to do is invite everybody to join me in my new community: Real Estate Success with 500 doors on Facebook.

Connect with Kim Website: resilientseries.com Instagram: instagram.com/resilientseries Facebook: fb.com/groups/realestatesuccess500doors Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/500doors-real-estate-podcast/id1563251565 LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/kim-hayden-74a203181

CALGARY IS THE MOST LIVEABLE CITY IN NORTH AMERICA, ACCORDING TO THE EIU

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has just released its latest Liveability Ranking, and Calgary has come out on top as the most liveable city in North America. The EIU is a world-renowned provider of deep insight and analysis on a global scale, and their reports are essential reading for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of the complex economic and political environment we now find ourselves in.

Canada has topped the list for being home to some of the most liveable cities in North America, dominating four of the top five spots for the region.

Calgary was named the most liveable city in North America and the third most liveable city in the world.

Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal were named the second, third and fourth most desirable places to live in the region.

EIU ranked 173 cities on stability, culture and environment, education and infrastructure, and health care. The Liveability Ranking assesses key factors that make a city a great place to live, including stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Calgary scored highly across all these categories, with particularly strong marks in infrastructure and culture and environment. Calgary secured an impressive overall score of 96 points out of 100 in the survey. This was the most of any North American city.

This is great news for Calgarians, but it's also good news for anyone looking to invest in real estate in the city. With Calgary's population expected to grow by nearly 20% over the next decade, now is the perfect time to get in on the ground floor of what is sure to be one of North America's hottest real estate markets.

Here's how Calgary stacked up in each category:

Stability: 9.4/10 - The low crime rate and lack of terrorist activity helped Calgary score well in this category.

Healthcare: 9.3/10 - With high-quality hospitals and clinics, Calgarians can rest assured they will be welltaken care of if they should fall ill.

Culture and environment: 9.2/10 - From its worldclass museums and art galleries to its beautiful parks and outdoor spaces, Calgary has plenty to offer when it comes to culture and leisure activities.

Education: 8.9/10 - With two world-renowned universities, as well as plenty of public and private schools to choose from, parents can be confident their children will receive a great education in Calgary.

Infrastructure: 9.7/10 - Thanks to its modern roads and public transportation system, getting around Calgary is a breeze – even during rush hour!

So there you have it – the EIU has named Calgary the most liveable city in North America! If you're thinking about investing in real estate here, now is the time to do it. With so much to offer residents of all ages and stages of life, there's no better place to call home than Calgary – especially now that it's been officially recognized as one of the best cities on the continent!

500 DOORS REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE

BY KIM HAYDEN

As the leaves begin to change colour and the weather gets cooler, we start to feel the excitement of the approaching holiday season. For many of us, this time of year is a chance to reconnect with family, friends, and our community. It’s also a time to reflect on the year that has passed and to celebrate the changing seasons.

For many of us, the change of seasons is a time to celebrate. We mark the occasion with special food, traditions, and activities. But why is celebrating the seasons so important? There are many reasons, but here are my favourites.

500 DOORS REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE

My favourite traditions are baking and music! There's something special about the holidays and baking. The warm smells of cinnamon and sugar, gingerbread and chocolate wafting through the house. The laughter of children as they help decorate cookies. The feeling of family and love that comes from sharing home-baked treats. It's no wonder that so many people love holiday baking!

Baking has been a part of the holiday season for centuries. In medieval England, fruitcakes were popular Christmas treats, often given as gifts. Baked goods were also used as decorations; gingerbread houses became popular in Germany in the 1800s. In North America, Dutch settlers brought recipes for cookies and pies to the country, which soon became holiday staples. Over time, baking has become an important part of many holiday traditions around the world.

THE SCIENCE OF HOLIDAY BAKING So what is it about baked goods that make them so special? Part of it may be psychological; the holidays are a stressful time for many people, and the act of baking can be therapeutic. The smells of cinnamon and other spices have also been shown to boost mood and increase feelings of happiness and well-being. And let's not forget the taste! Chocolate, gingerbread, pumpkin spice... there's something for everyone to enjoy during the holidays.

So whether you're a seasoned baker or just getting started in the kitchen, holiday baking is a great way to show your loved ones how much you care. So get out your mixing bowls and rolling pins, and let's get started!

THE POWER OF HOLIDAY MUSIC Ask anyone what their favourite part of the holidays is and you're bound to get a range of different answers. For some, it's the food, for others it's spending time with family, and for others still, it might be giving or receiving gifts. But there's one thing that just about everyone can agree on—and that's the music. Holiday music has a way of making the season feel more special, no matter what you celebrate.

Here's a look at why holiday music is so important.

For many people, holiday music is intimately tied to tradition. Christmas carols have been sung for centuries and passed down from generation to generation. When we sing these songs, we feel connected to our ancestors and the history of our families. We feel a sense of nostalgia for holidays past and a sense of anticipation for holidays yet to come.

No matter what your religious beliefs or cultural background may be, holiday music has the power to make the holidays special. So turn on your favourite holiday song today and enjoy the spirit of the season!

There's no doubt about it—holiday music is an essential part of the season. So whatever holiday you celebrate this year, be sure to take some time to enjoy all your favourite tunes. From classics like Jingle Bells to modern hits like All I Want for Christmas Is You there's something for everyone to enjoy. And who knows? You might even find yourself singing along without even realizing it!

TRADITIONS HELP US CREATE LASTING MEMORIES Holiday traditions are essential for creating lasting memories. Every year, we look forward to our favourite traditions like opening gifts on Christmas morning or eating latkes on Chanukah.

These memories give us something to look back on fondly and help us to appreciate all that we have been blessed with in our lives.

TIMES OF TRANSITION Another reason why celebrating the seasons is important is because they mark times of transition in our lives. The change of season can be a time to

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reflect on the past year and set new goals for the coming one. It can also be a time to celebrate new beginnings, such as a baby's birth or a move to a new home.

Whatever transitions you may be experiencing in your life, celebrating the change of season can help you to embrace them and feel ready for what's to come.

Celebrating the seasons is important because it helps to create a sense of community. When we come together to celebrate, we create memories and traditions that bind us together. We also get to enjoy the company of others and share in their joys and sorrows. Celebrating the seasons is a great way to build relationships and feel like you belong to something larger than yourself.

TRADITIONS HELP TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY BONDS One of the most important aspects of the holidays is spending time with family. In today's busy world, it can be difficult to find time to just sit and talk with our loved ones. The holidays provide a much-needed opportunity to reconnect with one another and catch up on what's been going on in each other's lives.

Spending time together also helps to strengthen family bonds and creates a sense of unity.

TRADITIONS HELP US TEACH IMPORTANT VALUES TO OUR CHILDREN Holiday traditions are so important is that they provide a way for us to teach our children important values. For example, many families have a tradition of giving back to those less fortunate during the holidays. This could involve volunteering at a local soup kitchen or donating toys to a children's hospital.

By teaching our children the importance of giving back, we instill in them empathy and compassion for others – values that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

In today's world, it's easy to feel disconnected from the natural world. We spend most of our time indoors, in front of screens, and we often don't even know where our food comes from. By celebrating the changing seasons, we can create opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate all that it has to offer us.

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to feel like we're constantly on the go and that we don't have time for anything else. But when we take the time to celebrate the seasons, it reminds us that there's more to life than just work or school. We belong to something bigger than ourselves—the cycle of life itself!

By slowing down and enjoying the seasonal changes, we can connect with something primal and ancient that will make us feel right at home.

Seasonal celebrations are an important part of many cultures around the world. They give us a chance to connect with nature, reflect on times of transition, and build community bonds. So next time you find yourself dreading the approach of winter or summer, remember that there's always something to celebrate!

When we celebrate the seasons, we not only connect with nature but also with our fellow human beings—both those who have come before us and those who will come after us. We remember our ancestors who depended on the changing seasons for their very survival. And we think about our children and grandchildren who will one day do the same. In this way, celebrating the seasons helps us feel like a part of something larger than ourselves—something that extends far into both the past and future.

The holidays are a special time of year when families come together to celebrate their traditions. These traditions play an important role in strengthening family bonds, teaching children important values, and creating lasting memories. So this holiday season, take some time to reflect on the importance of your family's traditions and cherish the time you have together. So get out there and enjoy all that nature has to offer! And while you're at it, take a moment to reflect on how lucky we are to be part of such a rich cycle of life—one that connects us with both our past and our future.

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In the real estate business, conventional wisdom says that rising interest rates make buying or selling a home more difficult, and decreasing interest rates make buying and selling easier.

Yes, when interest rates fell to near zero, or in some cases actually went negative, that was literally free money for anyone who had the capacity to borrow, and a lot of folks had the capacity.

The recent rise in interest rates has been attributed to a number of factors, including the end of quantitative easing and the rise of inflation. This has led to a significant increase in the cost of borrowing for consumers and businesses alike and has put an end to the era of free money.

Add on top of record low interest rates a flood of Government Capital injected into the banking system to support Covid programs, well you have the recipe for very high home prices in Commonwealth counties, like Canada, Australia, and the UK. Not to mention the US where Residential Real Estate has become a blood sport of sorts to see just how ridiculous house prices can get in some markets.

With mortgage rates on the rise, some have predicted that home prices will start to fall. However, this is unlikely to happen by more than 5 or 10 percent. The reason is that there are still more buyers than there are homes for sale, so demand remains high. This means that prices are likely to stay stable, or even increase slightly in high demand markets, despite the rise in mortgage rates.

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Of course, the situation could change if more homes come onto the market and buyers start to feel squeezed by higher mortgage rates.

Here’s the thing, there is still, and will remain for the foreseeable future, a housing shortage. Yes the market is slowing in terms of sales, but this has far more to do with capacity to purchase as so many potential first time buyers have been locked out due to the extremely high costs of residential housing.

Rising interest rates will have a bigger impact on consumers, especially those who are carrying debt. The reason is that when interest rates go up, so do the minimum payments on credit cards and other loans. This means that people will have to pay more each month just to keep their debt from getting bigger.

To amplify an already bad situation for buyers (which drive any market and in turn home prices), rental rates have skyrocketed in tune with higher home prices. If Renters are having to pay more in higher rents and other costs of living, the likelihood of saving for a down payment for a first home diminishes rapidly.

As the days of free money come to an end, we are already seeing a dramatic slowdown in the purchase of new homes. While some analysts believe that home prices will recede, we believe that this is unlikely given the current shortage of affordable housing. In fact, we predict that home prices are likely to remain flat over the next 5-6 years. This presents a unique opportunity for those looking to enter the market or upgrade their current home. If you have been thinking about buying a new home, now may be the time to act.

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked higher demand for housing, even as the market was arguably already overpriced and undersupplied. In our view, the elevated housing market has been an ongoing tail risk for the economy. Now, increased consumer leverage and rapidly rising interest rates could be the catalyst that pushes the housing market, and possibly the economy, into a slower growth or even recessionary phase.

So, where does this leave us. Basically, as far as I can tell we are in for a Real Estate market that has seen its highs for a long time to come. Prices will settle back some but are not going back to where they were pre-pandemic. Much lower sales volumes will be the most noticeable effect on the housing market for the next 12 – 24 months, and we can already see that taking place in many markets. We can expect much lower sales numbers with most home prices stabilizing until interest rates also stabilize or even ach down which is what is expected to happen in 2024.

The recent rise in interest rates is a mixed bag for

IF YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT BUYING A NEW HOME, NOW MAY BE THE TIME TO ACT.

mortgage home buyers and sellers. On the one hand, higher mortgage rates will mean higher monthly payments. On the other hand, prices are unlikely to rise, so buyers will still be able to find affordable homes. And while consumers will feel the pinch of higher interest rates on their debt, the impact is likely to be manageable. So while the era of free money is over, mortgage home buyers and sellers can still find good deals in today's market.

While we may continue to see volatility in the months ahead, for long-term investors this may provide an opportunity to diversify, rebalance, and ultimately add quality investments, in both the U.S. and Canada, at better prices.

If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on this topic head to our facebook page were we share our ideas and thoughts.

Connect with Doug Website: resilientseries.com Instagram: instagram.com/resilientseries Facebook: fb.com/groups/realestatesuccess500doors Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/500doors-real-estate-podcast/id1563251565 LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/kim-hayden-74a203181

DIY HARVEST BOTANICAL WREATH

BY ELLI JESPERSON

500 DOORS REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE

As Fall fills the air, so does the nostalgic feeling of leaves changing and sweater weather. Encourage your creativity and learn techniques on how to make a Harvest Wreath with selection of dried botanicals with this DIY from Small Flower {floral studio}. Your everlasting wreath will give you that warm cozy feeling year after year.

SUPPLIES • Wire wreath form or willow frame • Mixed foliage (fresh product with different textures) • Mixed dried flowers and foliage, if you are making a winter wreath you may have pinecones, berries and other festive items • Wire paddle or wax covered string • Glue for finishing touches (use with care)

Additional items you may want to add: • Ribbon, twine, or special accents from your own craft closet.

1. GETTING STARTED • Be sure to cover your workspace with plastic or paper to protect it from being damaged. • You will be working with fresh products as well as dry products. The fresh product will shrink, so be sure to wrap the wire completely around each bundle until it is secure. • Take some time to prepare by cutting your greens into manageable sizes so they are ready to be added to the wreath form.

2. ADD GREENS

• Securely tie the end of your floral wire to the wire ring and bind the first bundle of stems on, wrapping tightly. • Use one hand to hold the stems flush with the wire ring. Using your other hand, wrap the stems with your floral wire paddle. • Moving in one direction around the ring, gradually build up the number of stems you attach to the wreath. • Lay a small bundle of greenery on the form, and wrap floral wire on a paddle tightly around the stems three times. • Remember, you will keep the wire attached until you have added your last bundle of greenery. Do not cut it until the end. • Add another bundle, overlapping the previous one by half; wrap the wire around the stems. Continue adding bundles until you reach the starting point. • Add your layers slightly to the left of center and then with your next addition adding your bundle slightly to the right of center. This gives a kind of weaving effect that create a nice fullness to your wreath (like fish scales).

3. ADD FLORALS

• Have fun with this step—this is where you make the wreath look fuller and add colour! Once you have some greenery attached, you can add other textural fill and flowers to your wreath. • You can use floral glue to hold the delicate flowers in place. Note: The floral glue can take some additional time to dry. • Once you’re near the end, you may want to change the direction of your placements to soften the look of the wreath.

4. FINISHING TOUCHES • Once you’ve used all the foliage you’d like to, and when the entire form is covered, tie off the wire, leaving a few extra inches before cutting the end.

Cut the wire and tie it off securely. Be sure to add a loop for hanging! • Resist the urge to add or go back to an area of the wreath that you have already completed. When you are finished designing, hang the wreath on a blank wall, then step back and evaluate. Is there anything that needs to be added or taken away? If so, go back and add or remove elements as needed. • After placing the wreath in your desired location, you’ll want to know how to care for your wreath so it lasts as long as possible. Indoor wreaths that are protected from direct sunlight should last you two to three years, while outdoor wreaths will have a shorter lifespan.

Elli Jesperson is an acclaimed florist based out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She has been in the floral industry for over 30 years and owns Small Flower {floral studio}. Get your botanical wreath kit or check out her upcoming floral workshops by visiting smallflower.ca