The first time Danny Lowe and Mario Carey met, Lowe tried to sell Carey on an idea. Instead, Carey sold Lowe on taking up real estate as a profession. Lowe listened and this week, his decision was rewarded. He was honoured as 2016 top producer in the rookie category at the firm Carey heads, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate MCR Bahamas Group headquartered on West Bay Street.
“I had always heard of Mario as the real estate guru,” said Lowe. “I had a trading company in Hong Kong and wanted to approach him to see if he wanted to partner with me to bring in solar panels.”
Lowe, who lived and studied in Beijing for five years, had no trouble getting the appointment with Carey who shared his interest in creating linkages with the Chinese market and the local community. That meeting sparked a years-long friendship.
“Mario has been key to my success with his constant mentoring, availability to assist and to answer any questions I had,” said Lowe. “He has only been super encouraging and has never put a limit on what he thought I was equipped to handle.”
The respect was – and remains – mutual.
“It was Danny who encouraged me to visit China,” said Carey. “That trip gave me great insight and led to good working relationships with the local businesspersons and diplomats, including ambassadors to The Bahamas.”
“Mario is a master salesman,” said Lowe, who is highly proficient in Mandarin. “I went into the office with my pitch and he sold me about why I should get into real estate.”
Lowe earned his license in 2016 and by year-end proved every instinct Carey had about him was right.
He had leased impressive amounts of commercial space in the Carmichael area and on Robinson Road as well as a respected amount of residential property, including a home that had been vacant and available for some time off Eastern Road.
He succeeded in getting high rates and long-term leases for owners of commercial property. In six short months, he had completed sales transactions. This week, he added a $3.5 million listing for a property off Joe Farrington Road.
“Danny is one of that energetic, well-educated, full-of-life and dreams breed with wisdom beyond their years but he also has something extra special – an incredible work ethic,” said Carey. “Everyone in the office respects and enjoys him.
There is never a time he is not smiling and working and seeking information. Also, Danny does what more real estate agents need to force themselves to do – making cold calls.”
The work ethic comes naturally, Lowe said. He inherited it from his late father who had a highly specialized construction firm.
“Dad taught me not to make excuses, just do the work. He would be in the hospital bed with drips in his arms, plans in his hands and a phone in his ear giving instructions to the men on the job,” said Lowe. With three partners, Lowe opened a truck rental company in 2016, EZ Haul. Like his dad, the younger Lowe has a construction company, but his DNA takes it a step further.
“I believe in proper pairing of real estate and construction,” said Lowe, who holds a degree in International Trade from the University of International Business and Economics. “For a business to exist there must be some sort of structure. The important thing is to get the pairing between land and building needs right. Even Uber and Airbnb have a headquarters building.”
And like others in the real estate profession, he believes the uptick in the economy combined with continuing relatively low interest rates portends well for the immediate future though he does decry a gap in available inventory.
“I’ve been seeing a huge demand Class B office space,” he said, referring to space that rents for $21-$24 per square foot for office space and $18 - $22 for retail (plus common area maintenance charges). He believes the completion and opening of The Pointe garage and street level businesses in the building adjacent to the British Colonial Hilton will help spark downtown Nassau development and increase investor confidence.
With a goal of $10 million in transactions in 2017, Lowe is the second member of Carey’s rookie team to earn a title for achievement. Last week, Samia Donaldson, racking up impressive successes of 13 leases in 15 days, was named 2016 rookie of the year for rentals.
MCR Bahamas Group is the first firm outside the U.S. granted a franchise for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, the fast-growing real estate brand links property purchases with how-to helpful hints through its strong online and social media presence, a brand that reaffirms the reliability of its popular magazine.
MCR Bahamas Group is a full-service real estate firm handling sales and rentals, commercial and residential property management, luxury property marketing, vacation rentals, expedited financing assistance and relocation services. Agents speaks several languages and the company recently opened an office in Harbour Island has announced plans to open at least two more on other islands of The Bahamas before year-end.
Danny Lowe, 2016 Top Producer in Rookie Category, Better Homes and Gardens MCR Bahamas Group
Diane Philip & Associates
