Costa Poulopoulos embodies CREA’s latest national ad campaign about being born to be a REALTOR®.
The 2020 Chair of the Board (a position formerly known as President, held by Jason Stephen) has been in real estate his whole life.
“This is my career,” he says of being a REALTOR®, “this is where I started 33 years ago, and this is where I’m at still.”
Poulopoulos followed his father’s footsteps into real estate. He got licensed in 1987 and within five years, was sitting on committees, task forces and advisory groups to get more involved with the London real estate board at the time.
Since then, he’s held many positions, including Western Area Director for the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) in 2007, President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) and President of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) in 2014, not to mention earning two outstanding achievement awards for his contributions to real estate in southwestern Ontario in 2000 and 2008.
And now, as Chair of the CREA Board of Directors, Poulopoulos says he wants to bring the same values, work ethic and team-first approach that’s helped him excel locally and provincially, to a national level.
“We need to embrace change and work together, because if we can do that, we can overcome anything,” Poulopoulos says, referencing the COVID-19 outbreak that’s hampered our lives and the industry. “One thing that’s endured every change, every crisis and every challenge in real estate is how consumers want a trusted advisor in their corner.”
He says he’s looking forward to working collectively at all levels—REALTORS®, broker/owners, brands, local associations, provincial associations—and sharing best practices to better strengthen the REALTOR® Code and brand.
“I have a very open door and I keep coming back to that policy. I just think it’s amazing how you’re already seeing evidence of REALTORS® adapting and helping each other,” he says, referring to many colleagues he knows who had never done a video call before, but were shown the ropes and are now comfortable with organizing virtual meetings.
In his much-valued down time, Poulopoulos enjoys spending time with his wife and business partner, Mary Johnson, their adult children—Shannon, Trina Tim and Ben—and their grandchildren. Costa and Mary started their own brokerage, going from a team of two to 122 agents within 18 months. Their brokerage, now known as StreetCity Realty Inc., has since grown to 220 agents working out of 10 branch offices in communities across Ontario.
10 Things to Know About Costa Poulopoulos
1) What is your favourite food?
Rack of lamb, medium rare, and a “true” Greek salad (no lettuce).
2) What is your greatest indulgence?
Fine red wine.
3) What other jobs have you had?
I have been selling real estate since I was 22. Prior to that, I was a student, worked in a bakery, was a restaurant server, and an usher in a movie theatre, but being in real estate is my first and only career.
4) What musician or group would you choose for a private concert?
Dean Martin performing “That’s Amore” or The Police performing “Don’t Stand So Close To Me”… kind of appropriate in today’s world.
5) What person would you want to have dinner with the most?
Too many to name…Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Mandela would be top of the list.
6) What kind of car do you drive?
A Nissan pick-up truck.
7) How do you relax?
Cooking. There’s nothing better than cooking for friends or family—great music in the background, nice glass of wine on the table and good company to break bread with.
8) What is your favourite sports team?
Les Habitants (Montreal Canadiens). Go Habs Go!
9) What is your favourite vacation spot?
Santorini, Greece. It’s magical!
10) What would you like your epitaph to say?
He tried his best, and hopefully made a difference.
