Real estate broker Danny Dawson ‘building’ a legacy – on both sides of the river

As Ottawa’s housing market continues to break records, local broker Danny Dawson has hit a number of his own real estate milestones that are worth celebrating.

After having discovered his love of real estate and real estate investing at a fairly young age – purchasing his first home at the age of 20 – Dawson’s career has been on a steady growth trajectory.

Earlier this year, Dawson was named one of Royal LePage’s Top 35 Under 35, a national award recognizing the firm’s highest-performing young professionals in the industry. In a similar vein, Dawson also received a Red Diamond Award, which recognizes the top two per cent of Royal LePage realtors for the sales year.

While honoured by the recognition, Dawson says it’s not the accolades that drive him, but his passion for the industry that pushes him to think bigger.

“When I first started out, I went to the office every day at 7 a.m., committed to making calls and growing my business,” he says. “Slowly, it all fell into place, but there’s always room to grow.”

Today, Dawson works with an expanding team, committed to helping clients navigate the buying and selling process of residential and commercial properties – on both sides of the Ottawa River.

In 2021, Dawson acquired his Quebec real estate license, a move he says “was one the biggest jumps” in his career.

As a dual-licensed broker in Ontario and Quebec – a rarity in the real estate world – Dawson says he has a fresh perspective on the market that allows him to offer an unbiased opinion to clients.

“At the Dawson Team, we see no provincial border. The National Capital Region is just that, a region that people want to call home,” says Dawson. “Being an interprovincial Realtor licensed in both Quebec and Ontario, my team and I are able to service any client that comes our way and guide them through the challenges or fears they may have while relocating or deciding between provinces.”

An eye to the future

Working in both provinces has also given Dawson a leg-up in the luxury sales market – an area he is eager to pursue.

Currently, he has several million-dollar-plus listings on the market, including Gatineau’s most exclusive penthouse featuring views of the Ottawa River, Parliament Buildings and the Gatineau Hills, as well as a rare residential/commercial zoned property in the heart of Old Chelsea village.

To further broaden his real estate portfolio, Dawson is partnering with a high-end custom home builder to develop multi-million-dollar estates on undeveloped lots, with construction slated to begin in 2022.

“It’s an interesting business proposition that we don’t see often and it’s really a win-win-win scenario for everyone involved,” says Dawson. “The landowner gets more by selling a lot with a home on it, the homebuilder gains an exclusive contract and my team offers that market expertise to help make the sales. It’s just about finding the right partners and connecting people together.”

Over the last seven years, Dawson has also become an expert on real estate investing and has proven results converting his own properties into multi-unit investments, using the BRRR (buy-renovate-rent-refinance) strategy to help him grow his personal portfolio – skills he also uses to help clients make informed BRRR decisions.

As Dawson continues to reach new levels of success in his career – whether through selling homes or his own real estate investment properties – he looks at every experience as an opportunity to hone his craft and learn lessons that help him provide top-tier service to his clients.

“Whether you’re buying, selling or investing, you need someone to represent your best interests, give you good advice and guide you through the process,” says Dawson. “I do my best to create that honest relationship with my clients and I would say that has been the biggest contributor to my overall success.”