From Early Ambition to Real Estate
Toronto’s real estate market rewards people who pay attention. It moves fast. It changes often. Michelle Kam built her career by doing both. From her first days in the industry to her role today, her path shows how steady growth comes from learning, adjusting, and staying close to the work.
Michelle graduated with honours from York University and entered real estate at a young age. She joined Re/Max and went straight into the high-end resale market. It was a demanding start. “Luxury clients notice everything,” she says. “I learned early that details aren’t optional. They’re expected.”
One of her first listings involved a seller who asked her to review lighting at different times of day so artwork would look right during showings. “That experience set the tone,” she recalls. “If you don’t take care of the small things, you lose trust.”
Those early years taught her how to work under pressure and how to earn credibility fast.
Navigating the Shift to Urban Living
As Toronto began to change, Michelle changed with it. Condos, lofts, and townhomes started to reshape the city. Buyers wanted shorter commutes and shared amenities. Suburban space mattered less than location and lifestyle.
“I could see priorities shifting,” she says. “People cared more about walkability than yard size. That was a big signal.”
Michelle moved her focus toward urban properties. Selling condos required a different skill set. Conversations shifted from garages and basements to floor plans and building rules. “One buyer told me they didn’t care about a large kitchen. They wanted a pet-friendly building and a strong sense of community,” she says. “That stuck with me.”
Her ability to understand buyer behaviour helped her build a strong presence in the urban market.
Learning the Pre-Construction Business
Michelle’s next step was pre-construction sales. She worked with developers such as Concord Alex and Baker Real Estate. This phase added another layer of complexity to her work.
“Selling something that doesn’t exist yet is about clarity,” she explains. “You have to help people picture their life years in advance.”
She remembers a buyer who struggled to commit because they couldn’t visualise the unit. Michelle walked them through the floor plan and described how morning light would reach the balcony. “Once they could picture that routine, the decision became easy,” she says.
Pre-construction sales also taught her patience. Timelines were long. Questions were constant. “You learn that consistency matters more than speed,” she says.
Opening and Running Her Own Brokerage
After building experience across resale and pre-construction, Michelle was asked to open her own brokerage. She founded City Accord Realty Inc. and ran it for over ten years.
Leading a brokerage changed how she viewed success. “It stopped being about my own deals,” she says. “It became about building systems and helping others grow.”
She focused on training and structure. New agents learned contracts, negotiations, and client communication in a clear way. One agent once told her that contracts felt manageable for the first time after working with her. “That kind of feedback mattered to me,” she says.
Running a brokerage also required discipline. Hiring, compliance, and daily operations added pressure. “It forces you to think long term,” she explains. “You can’t rely on momentum alone.”
Returning to Re/Max Condos Plus
In 2016, Michelle met Jamie Johnston, owner of Re/Max Condos Plus. After their discussion, she decided to rejoin the Re/Max brand.
“It felt like the right environment for the next phase,” she says. “There was scale, but also focus.”
Toronto’s condo market was expanding quickly at the time. Her experience across multiple niches gave her perspective. She could guide buyers through fast-moving conditions while keeping expectations realistic. “My role was to slow things down for clients,” she says. “Clear thinking matters when the market feels loud.”
Leadership Through Consistency
Michelle’s career is defined less by sudden moves and more by steady decisions. She adapted without chasing trends. She focused on fundamentals.
“Markets change,” she says. “How you treat people shouldn’t.”
Her clients often return years later. Some bring family members. “That tells me consistency works,” she says.
She also believes leadership is quiet. “You don’t need to be the loudest voice,” she adds. “You need to be reliable.”
Lessons from a Long-Term Career
Looking back, Michelle points to a few principles that guided her path:
- Learn each part of the business deeply.
- Pay attention to how people live, not just what they buy.
- Build systems that support growth.
- Stay adaptable without losing focus.
“Every stage taught me something different,” she says. “You carry those lessons forward.”
A Career That Mirrors the City
Toronto continues to evolve. So has Michelle Kam’s career. From luxury homes to urban living, from pre-construction sales to brokerage leadership, her work reflects the city’s growth.
“I’ve grown alongside the market,” she says. “That’s not an accident. It comes from paying attention and staying open.”
Her story shows that leadership in real estate is not about constant reinvention. It’s about steady progress, informed choices, and respect for the people behind every transaction.
Pallavi Singal is the Vice President of Content at ztudium, where she leads innovative content strategies and oversees the development of high-impact editorial initiatives. With a strong background in digital media and a passion for storytelling, Pallavi plays a pivotal role in scaling the content operations for ztudium’s platforms, including Businessabc, Citiesabc, and IntelligentHQ, Wisdomia.ai, MStores, and many others. Her expertise spans content creation, SEO, and digital marketing, driving engagement and growth across multiple channels. Pallavi’s work is characterised by a keen insight into emerging trends in business, technologies like AI, blockchain, metaverse and others, and society, making her a trusted voice in the industry.
