is a relative newcomer to the real estate business, but his success in just five years is impressive. As a Top 1% realtor in Greater Vancouver, plus Top 30 Under 30 with Remax Canada Wide, Hakimi is paving his way just fine.
“I always felt like I had a lot of potential, but it was wasted being an employee,” he says, referring to his prior career in banking and customer service after graduating from BCIT’s business administration and analytics program. “I never felt appreciated in any way, so I thought I would start my own business, to meet and exceed my own expectations, and my clients.”
The Navid Hakimi Group’s office is located in West Vancouver, but the team casts a wide net by serving clients in Greater Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and on the North Shore. With a focus on single-family houses, including townhouses and condos, Hakimi’s growing team consists of a mix of realtors.
“I am proud and selective of the individuals I have on my team,” he says. “I am big on diversity and respecting all cultures. Let’s say we have a listing in Surrey; I’ll work alongside my colleague who is fluent in Hindi and Punjabi. We are trying to serve a variety of clients from different ethnicities and locations, and make sure we understand what they need.”
Hakimi goes on to explain, “It’s not just about the language differences, it’s about the cultural differences of our buyers and sellers. I believe that’s what sets us apart from other teams.”
Some say the key to success in business is to put yourself in the passenger seat, rather than the driver’s seat. “I negotiate more for my clients,” says Hakimi. “I always try to think of every transaction as if it was my own, my family’s, or other people I care about. My Google reviews are never short of five stars. My background and education are paying off and I feel good about what I am doing and am in the right place.”
Confidence seems to be a strong attribute of Hakimi’s. “I secured a property for a client the other day, and he left a Google review in Farsi about everything I helped him with,” he says. “The client had real estate experiences back in Iran and here in Canada, but he thought what I offered him was very different, and he was very comfortable. He felt like I was unbiased and shared the good and bad about every option so he could make an informed decision.”
Hakimi’s first language is Farsi, and he is fluent in English as well, which comes very much in handy when working with newly located Persians, and selling homes through the generations, where both languages are often spoken. “Not everyone thinks about diversity, and we bring a lot to the table. That is very important to me.”
The Hakimi team follows current market trends and new areas that are being developed for their clients which may provide investment opportunities.
Married and living in North Vancouver, Hakimi is involved in his community and “does a lot of sponsorship, supporting what is important in cultural events and to give back,” he says. “Annual events in our community struggle without financial support, so I am selective with supporting causes where it is aligned with my values.”
is featured in the 2023 Excellence in Real Estate magazine.
