When opportunity knocks, expect Nadia Habib to run to the door and fling it open.
The passionate, knowledgeable Realtor’s skill set, which includes recognizing opportunities for ways to improve business for her agents, has been rewarded—Habib has been appointed managing director of eXp Realty Canada.
When making the announcement, Leo Pareja, CEO of the cloud-based agent-centric brokerage, said, “Nadia has been a force in the Canadian market. She leads with heart, delivers results and has earned the trust of agents across the country. This new chapter is a big one, and with Nadia at the helm, I’m confident eXp Realty Canada will continue to raise the bar for what’s possible when agents come first.”
Those words come just a little more than three years after Habib joined eXp, first as managing broker for Southwestern Ontario, then as VP of Growth, followed by Senior VP of Growth Canada, before being named director for all of Canada.
Habib to oversee growth of eXp Canada
The firm’s announcement news release says, “Habib will oversee the growth of eXp’s Canadian business, focusing on enhanced agent experience and strong regional alignment with the company’s global priorities. Since joining eXp Realty, Habib has played a key role in strengthening the brokerage’s national presence, supporting top producers and leading expansion efforts in key provinces, including Quebec.”
Habib says, “eXp recognizes talent and elevates you, something I’ve never experienced before. They want you to lead and grow. As a female, I’m fortunate. I have talent, work hard, am knowledgeable and have great work ethic, and they recognize my skill set. I don’t feel suppressed. I am passionate and aspire to do more.
Early years
Habib got her real estate licence in 2007, but with a family in real estate development and building she says she already had a lot of knowledge in areas such as land acquisition.
She spent a short time with Re/Max Advantage, then moved to Century 21 First Canadian in London, Ont., where she worked for 19 years. Then it was time to expand her horizons.
“I wanted to grow my career professionally and personally and step outside of my comfort zone,” Habib says.
When she joined eXp she says she was in transition, trying to figure out where she wanted to take her career. She was drawn to the company by its technology tools and systems, and she says seeing how to maneuver a process at the hit of a button intrigued her.
Watching how the company ties technology into what an agent does every day in order to save them time, to complete tasks more efficiently and to have the ability to work from anywhere was mesmerizing, she says.
“We pride ourselves on operational excellence,” she says, helping agents with access to top-quality educational platforms that allow them to build strong foundations for their businesses.
Evolving technology
With ever-developing technology, Habib wondered about keeping up, but she says she has worked out a system. She learns the technology first, then trains staff, rolling out information in phases and offering hands-on workshops so agents know what’s going on and never fall behind.
“The goal is to help agents reach the next level, whether it’s going from two transactions to five or 100 to 200,” she says.
Habib, who travels extensively, shares her knowledge of what’s happening across Canada and globally with eXp agents across the country.
She says 98 per cent of payments are done through an express system that pays agents their commissions as soon as the transaction is closed. Agents receive payments in 24-48 business hours, Habib explains.
What’s next
Her appointment comes at a pivotal time, according to the company’s Canadian division, which has over 7,000 agents in 10 provinces and territories, and focuses on growth while keeping its agent-first model.
Habib, a proud mother of three (a 27-year-old son in finance, a 24-year-old daughter who is a neuro trauma nurse and a 21-year-old son in software development) says, “My fortunes are my kids. They’re in demanding jobs, and they contribute to society. It warms my heart.”
She has taught them the importance of lifting others up and carries that philosophy to her career.
Connie Adair is a contributing writer for REM.