VANCOUVER, CANADA - Not Tom Sawyer, though he has adventures of his own. Tom Choy is a top real estate negotiator and advisor in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. And being one has taken him to places he could never have imagined.
Tom was a former Financial Consultant at the prestigious Merrill Lynch in New York City. He was also the Vice President of the Ateneo Alumni Association of New York and former President of the Philippine NY Jaycee’s in Manhattan.
He also writes. He was a correspondent of the Philippine News based in San Francisco and wrote a column for the Philippine Asian Chronicle for over 10 years.
But that was more than 20 years ago. Tom and his family moved from the USA to Vancouver for more opportunities and quality lifestyle.
“I used to be in financial planning. One of my clients was a highly successful realtor. He was making double what I was earning then. I asked him how to become a realtor. He invited me to be his partner. That’s how I ended up being a realtor. It was definitely my career choice,” says Tom, an Associate Broker who is knowledgeable about real estate laws and negotiation.
Tom admits there are also difficult times when he feels like in a drought. In good times though, money pours like rain.
“A perk is that you are your own boss. I shop during weekdays when there are no lineups. I get tax deductions for my work expenses. My work becomes leisure as I enjoy networking. My leisure helps me in my career to generate leads,” adds Tom who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree Major in Economics from the Ateneo De Manila University.
Asked what the differences and similarities of the Philippines and Canada are, Tom says that in both countries, a hardworking person can achieve whatever goals he sets in life.
“Of course, there are more conveniences in Canada and a strong pension program and healthcare. But, in both countries you can pretty much have a success story if you persevere and if you have a vision of being a disrupter,” shares Tom, who adds that he will always love the Philippines, where his roots and foundation are.
Tom sees the real estate industry in the Philippines to boom in the future.
“Real estate in the Philippines is bound to still go up because home and land prices are still much lower compared to North America and Europe. The boomers from North America buy RP homes. The over 100 million Pinoys need housing. Demand will guarantee the RP real estate market to be robust,” he explains.
If Tom were not a realtor, his adventure will be like Zuckerberg’s being an entrepreneur and a disrupter in the world of business.
But where he is now, life is smiling at Tom as he serves his clients at the highest level. His reward naturally follows a great service delivered. Tom also applies the philosophy of “paying it forward,” for one supporting the Children’s Miracle Fund and the AAABC Scholarship Program.
More adventures await Tom Choy. In real estate and elsewhere. In the Philippines, USA, Canada, and the world.
