Now that Eugen Klein has completed his term as the youngest-ever president in the 93-year history of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), he has time to refocus on sales at his 15-broker Klein Group, Royal LePage City Centre brokerage.
That group, which he founded in 1999, completed almost $100 million worth of real estate transactions in 2012.
Klein is keen to build on that total now that he no longer splits his time between running the brokerage and being president of the REBGV.
“I would also like to get more involved in the arts in Vancouver and be on boards of directors,” he said.
His volunteer role at the REBGV involved countless hours of work and more than 100 interviews with media, but it also helped him become a prominent face in B.C.’s real-estate sector.
The B.C. native started his career after he graduated in 1997 with a B.Comm. from the University of British Columbia.He worked briefly at Angell Hasman & Associates and formed the Klein Group within that company. He shifted over to brokerage Goddard & Smith in 2000.
During its first 10 years, the Klein Group focused on commercial real estate. It then branched out to do residential and project marketing work as well.
“A TED talk inspired me to ask a different question,” Klein said. “In trying to become a better business owner or professional, you realize through reading, listening and seeking advice that you must break old habits and reinvent yourself from time to time.
“If we are the sum of our past decisions, we must somehow look at the world differently and realize that we could be the weak link needing improvement to substantially alter the future.”
Klein simultaneously grew his reputation as a writer and researcher by writing a regular real-estate investment newsletter as well as contributing columns to publications such as BIV sister newspaper the Western Investor.
That work helped him win the 2011 Bentall Kennedy Literary Award, which recognizes excellence in Canadian real-estate journalism and research.
Philanthropic work includes the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation drive by reaching out to clients and “going door to door” to solicit donations for that charity and for Dress for Success.
Outside work, Klein enjoys exploring B.C. by going on fishing and hunting trips.
