McLennan News Region welcomes new face on Real Estate Market. Kevin Laliberte: Smoky River Express A man with deep roots in the McLennan area is continuing to enjoy success as a licensed realtor serving the Smoky River region.His name is Garth Rondeau and his game is selling property on the real estate market through Exit Realty Discovery, a well-recognized brokerage firm based out of Grande Prairie. “Choosing a reputable brokerage to work under proved to be a big decision for my wife, Tamara, and me following our successful completion of the provincially-sanctioned real estate course in 2005,” Rondeau explains, adding that, in Alberta, by law, a realtor must work under a brokerage. “We made the decision to go with Exit Realty Discovery based on its fresh and unique approach towards real estate marketing strategies and training.” The company has quickly gained notoriety as one of the real estate leaders on the east coast of North America – a preferred consumer trend which is now beginning to spread like wildfire throughout the West. “Exit Realty operates in a similar manner to the way Wal-Mart is structured where everyone who holds a position within the company works as a key member of a team to ensure the continued success of its members,” Rondeau explains. It’s a philosophy which he says is virtually unheard of in real estate, typically described by many in the industry as a ‘dog-eat-dog’ world. Rondeau is no stranger to the McLennan area. He was born and raised in McLennan and successfully graduated from G.P. Vanier high school in Donnelly in 1985. From there, Rondeau spent most of the next decade travelling abroad and working overseas as part of an endeavour which opened his eyes to the world of real estate and the vast cultural global differences. “I was young and all I wanted to do at the time was get out and experience the wonders of the world. Once I realized how to get work in others countries it all became, pardon the pun, a worldly experience,” he quips. After 43 countries and some 30 jobs later, Rondeau decided to settle down and purchase his first house in Grande Prairie. Over the next six years he went on to acquire two more houses in addition to finding a life partner to share in the joy of their three children. “We would buy a house, fix it up, and then rent it.” All this proved to be a tremendous first-hand learning experience about finances, the ins and outs of property management, and the joys and pitfalls of using real estate as an investment mechanism. “I find the entire spectrum of real estate, including interest rates, down payments, appraisals, mortgages and contractors extremely interesting,” Rondeau says. In 2004, the Rondeau family moved back into the M.D. of Smoky River 130 where they discovered a way of life far different than what they had become accustomed to in the “Swan City.” “Everything moves at a much more comfortable pace here. It’s a great region to raise a family.” It was only after a friend was moving south and had trouble selling his home that Rondeau realized the growing need for another professional real estate agent in the region to complement the existing level of service. “They had a really nice house and it just broke my heart to see the price they had to finally settle for.” It wasn’t long after that when Rondeau made the career choice to take the provincial real estate training course, which he passed with flying colours in the fall of last year. Tamara would successfully complete her real estate course soon afterwards. When asked about the future of the Smoky River region area, a confident Rondeau smiles gingerly while emphasizing that the potential on the region’s real estate market has never looked better. He likens the current upward trend in sales and enquiries in local real estate to the pivotal day in this region’s history when a decision was made to carve a railroad path directly through the region. “Early railroad development opened the flood gates for positive growth opportunities within this area through land title acquisitions, and I think the next 10 years will be just as interesting,” he predicts, attributing the optimistic forecast to key projects including Peace River Oil Inc.’s Bluesky oil upgrader project at Kathleen, the McLennan-to-Peavine connector route, the Donnelly Corner proposal, and the new $7 million dollar seniors’ designated assisted living facility. “It’s no big secret that real estate prices in the M.D. of Smoky River are well below average in comparison to neighbouring markets. All of the increased activity in terms of economic development growth within this area should have a positive influence on the present situation,” he explains. Should and already has. Take a home in Donnelly, for example, which sold in February for a record-breaking price just shy of the $200,000 plateau – a trend which Rondeau says may be a sign of bigger and better things to come on the horizon. So, what exactly is the best way to protect yourself against the rising costs of buying a house in Alberta? That’s simple, says Rondeau, who offers the following timely advice. “Just get yourself a title. Owning a peace of land is your ‘hedge against inflation’. No matter how high assessments rise in the future, your house or land will always go up with it.” He adds that when it comes to real estate, you just want your property to move at a steady pace to ensure nobody gets hurt. If the interest rate shoots up, for example, it could result in people making some hasty decisions – not something you necessarily want to do involving one of the biggest investments you’ll make over the course of your lifetime. So, is real estate a good investment? Absolutely, says Rondeau matter-of-factly. “The one thing that I learned in all of my travels is that, in this life you can get by with very little, but every night you need to have a place to lay your head – you can’t get around that.” “You have to pay for that, one way or another, and it’s far better to put that money into your own pocket than someone else’s,” he says, adding there’s no time like the present to trade up or get your name on a title. For more information or to list a property, contact Garth or Tamara at 324-3003. Email:   twnmcl@serbernet.com