Some may call it fate, while others call it luck. For Simon Hudson, the decision to get into real estate was just a matter of timing - and capitalizing on a great opportunity.
As a result of jumping at the chance to get into the real estate game in Squamish at the perfect time and working hard to see it through, Hudson, 36, has been named the real estate industry's 2003 Rookie of the Year for Greater Vancouver.
"It feels great and it was a wonderful surprise," said Hudson. "It's a great honour to have the immediate respect from my peers and very satisfying personally."
To gain top honours in an ultra-competitive market, Hudson sold 42 and a half units in the Squamish area worth a total of $5.38 million, the best performance by a new realtor in the entire Lower Mainland. He edged out fellow rookie Julian Kang of MacDonald Realty in Vancouver by half a unit, although Kang's total dollar volume was higher at $5.88 million.
Before making the move to Squamish two and a half years ago, Hudson lived and worked in Whistler for 12 years living the typical resort lifestyle. He worked in retail management and as a Zamboni driver before channeling his energies into youth programming at Whistler Secondary School.
But it was his interest and involvement in hockey that brought Hudson to where he is today.
"I was coaching Ann Chiasson's [owner of Windermere Sea to Sky Real Estate] son and she had been urging me to get into real estate for a while, but I was having too much fun as a kid in Whistler. Then my wife Andrea and I decided to have a family and we felt that Squamish would be a great place to raise our child. The opportunity to sell real estate was there, so I thought I'd give it a go."
But with no previous experience in real estate, Hudson had some work to do. In the summer of 2002, he hit the books to compete the required six-month real estate pre-licensing course at UBC, followed by the intensive seven-day post licensing course.
"The timing was incredible," he said. "I am very fortunate to have such a good team of Realtors who are so supportive of one another. This helped me in every way because I had guidance from all these other professionals. They were always offering help and advice - it was incredible."
Several factors have contributed to Hudson's success - some personal, some professional and many related to the Olympic movement and Squamish's bulging-at-the-seams potential. "Squamish has awesome outdoor recreation, great schools and excellent communities. It's the perfect location between Whistler and Vancouver, and with the Olympics coming and the potential of the Nexen lands - why would you want to live anywhere else?"
Hudson shows all of his potential buyers the Nexen site, and emphasizes to clients the many other positive aspects of Squamish's future; such as the Sea to Sky University, the new golf course, the highway improvements and of course the stunning scenery that is one of the principle selling features of the area.
"We're surrounded by such beautiful scenery and now we've got the waterfront - everything is here. I just hope that whatever they do with the [Nexen] property is going to be what's best for Squamish. It's one more opportunity for Squamish to reach its potential."
