Joan Lee would be the first to tell you that she had no burning ambition to be a realtor. But, she would just as quickly advise that choosing the right company to work with is critical to the fulfillment, and success she now enjoys.

Joan is a foundation employee of RE/MAX Elite. In fact, she was the only agent for almost a year when the real estate company opened in Montego Bay in 2009 and has joyfully ridden the waves of RE/MAX successes since then, including her achievements among the coveted RE/MAX Top Producers group ‘Club 100% Club’.

A native of Westmoreland and graduate of Manning’s High School and the University of Technology, Joan’s entire professional life has been in customer service, including stints at the front desk at American Airlines, at Kingston’s Norman Manley Airport, marriage and relocation to Montego Bay where she realised her entrepreneurial spirit with several ventures including a hair salon, a fashion store and an event planning business.

With a diploma in interior decorating from Montreal ICS School of Learning, she has indulged her passion in this area by assisting friends and family members in decorating their homes.

The opportunity to join RE/MAX Elite came by happenstance. But, today having helped hundreds of persons to purchase property, Joan says: “I love it! I work hard and play hard. We have an amazing support team and I love working with our clients. We get a high level of referrals and that confirms for me that what we are doing is well appreciated.”

Noting that the company’s client base is varied, Joan says there is higher demand currently for mid-range priced homes as many young professionals are investing in their “first homes”. 

She welcomes being part of that journey and celebrating with her clients the feeling of accomplishment in closing on the purchase of their ‘dream’ property. Their happiness, she says, gives her “the greatest satisfaction”.

Joan says that knowledge of the market is key to properly serving clients and spends a great deal of time staying up to date. Her specialty area, however, is the luxury market and she is hoping for a resurgence there this year.

“We have lots of luxurious places sitting on the market for years as we have had a downturn in clients in that segment, especially in the pandemic. Many of us have had to shift gears and work in other areas. But I feel encouraged, high network clients are looking at Jamaica again and RE/MAX is ready with the properties for them.”

RE/MAX Elite also turned a new page recently with its acquisition by the  UCC Group of companies and Joan is equipped and ready to continue riding the waves of success with her chosen real estate company.