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Realtor Jane Hoffman known for her luxurious lakeside listings

Sixteen hours days are still the norm even after 35 years in the real estate business
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- Story by Toby Tannas Photography by Darren Hull

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Jane Hoffman is a giant in the world of Kelowna Real Estate. Her name is synonymous with luxury, lakeshore listings. While Hoffman represents the lionB次元官网网址檚 share of waterfront buyers and sellers in this city, for a good portion of her life, she considered herself more of a lamb.

B次元官网网址淚 was the youngest child, I never said a word; I hardly talked,B次元官网网址 she recalls. B次元官网网址淓ven as an adult, for the first years I was at this job, I just couldnB次元官网网址檛 quite see that it was really me.B次元官网网址

A career in real estate was not even on the radar for the raven-haired, small town girl with kind eyes and a quiet strength. A young bride at the age of 19, Jane and her RCMP officer husband left her home town of Revelstoke for the big city of Vancouver. On weekends they built houses together. Glen HoffmanB次元官网网址檚 construction dreams quickly overshadowed his RCMP career and the couple eventually moved to Kelowna to grow his company, Braniff Construction Ltd.

Jane kept busy with a young son (Michael); she helped Glen with the company and attended classes at nursing school. But the course of her life changed forever on a winter night in 1982 when one of her greatest fears became reality.

B次元官网网址淕len always had a passion for flying. I was always nervous about him flying.B次元官网网址

Glen and his business partner, Jim, who was JaneB次元官网网址檚 sisterB次元官网网址檚 husband, were flying home in their private, company plane and crashed before they could land at Kelowna airport.

B次元官网网址淚 had a bad feeling and I was looking out my front door and down the hill came the RCMP. I knew. It had really happened, just the way I thought it was going to happen. It was like a nightmare,B次元官网网址 she recounts with tears in her eyes.

As Jane and her sister grieved the tragic and sudden loss of their husbands, she came to a decision, one that to this day she believes was the most important of her life.

B次元官网网址淚 remember thinking when the RCMP left, I can go upstairs in my bed and throw the comforter over my head and fall apart B次元官网网址 thatB次元官网网址檚 what I wanted to do,B次元官网网址 she admits. B次元官网网址淥r I can keep going, ask for a few things from up above and be the person that survives.B次元官网网址

Jane chose to survive. She took the reigns of GlenB次元官网网址檚 company, managed 150 employees and wrapped up the remaining projects that Braniff was committed to. It took five years and an incredible amount of strength. Jane admits to feeling like she had a helping hand from above.

B次元官网网址淚 thought, oh Glen, I hope you help me somehow and I think he did. I think when people die you can take what you learned from them and you just kind of do it.B次元官网网址

As BraniffB次元官网网址檚 operations wound down, a casual comment from her cousin David got Jane thinking about the next chapter of her life. He reminded her how much she loved the lake and lakeshore homes and suggested she think about selling them. Jane was quietly intrigued.

B次元官网网址淲hen I took the real estate course, I didnB次元官网网址檛 tell anybody.B次元官网网址

At the age of 34, Jane re-invented herself as an agent.

B次元官网网址淚t was really hard. The first year I sold five homes in the whole year. The next it was 15 and then it started compounding.B次元官网网址

She recalls tons of work, rejection and disappointment in the beginning, but then something clicked. She bought herself a little cottage on the lake and her love for it naturally formed the basis of her selling strategy.

B次元官网网址淪elling houses on the lake brings so much joy to people. I had a passion for it myself, so IB次元官网网址檇 convince people they should do it too. ThatB次元官网网址檚 how I started.B次元官网网址

As she threw herself into work, raising her son and acquiring more properties, Jane never let go of that first lake house and the healing comfort it provided her.

B次元官网网址淚n the summer I would move to the little beach house. I was very lonely at the time and IB次元官网网址檇 say to Michael, B次元官网网址業 love the lake. I feel like someone is always home when the water is there because itB次元官网网址檚 ever changing.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址

Jane lives in a beautiful waterfront home in KelownaB次元官网网址檚 lower mission these days. Michael and his family live just a few blocks away, and Michael has followed in his fatherB次元官网网址檚 footsteps, undertaking various development projects in the city. Thanks to Michael, Braniff Construction Ltd. has been re-born, something that makes his mother very proud.

B次元官网网址淢y son took on all of GlenB次元官网网址檚 qualities, except the desire to fly B次元官网网址 he didnB次元官网网址檛 pick that up at all.B次元官网网址

After 35 years in the real estate business, 16-hour days are still the norm for Jane.

B次元官网网址淚 may have gotten that from my mother,B次元官网网址 she says with a smile, referring to Kay Beruschi B次元官网网址 a Revelstoke pioneer, who opened the renowned Regent Hotel in Revelstoke with her husband Fred during the great depression. They ran it together until JaneB次元官网网址檚 dad died in 1976. Kay remained a constant presence at The Regent until the age of 92.

B次元官网网址淓veryone knew Grandma Kay,B次元官网网址 chuckles Jane. B次元官网网址淪he was a character, a true entrepreneur who was ahead of her time.B次元官网网址

Kay passed away at the age of 100 in 2014. Jane, her brother and sister still own The Regent and two other hotels in Revelstoke. Her nephew Brady operates them.

JaneB次元官网网址檚 primary focus is The Jane Hoffmann Real Estate Team. With 14 people who have become her work family and more than 150 active listings, Jane doesnB次元官网网址檛 take much time off. When she can get away, youB次元官网网址檒l find her on the slopes or travelling to a favourite destination like Hawaii. JaneB次元官网网址檚 other passions include raising money for various charities, including the Central Okanagan Hospice Association, and listening to live music. If you invite her to a concert, she will never say no.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l go to any concert, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter the music, I just love the energy.B次元官网网址

Jane Hoffman brims with energy. At an age when some might consider retirement, she still feels that rush of excitement when a buyer and a house match up.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like destiny. When I see it happen, I find it so fascinating,B次元官网网址 she explains. B次元官网网址淪ometimes when a house isnB次元官网网址檛 selling, I remind myself just to let go, someone is meant for that house and when itB次元官网网址檚 right, it will all come together.B次元官网网址

Selling real estate doesnB次元官网网址檛 come without stress and uncertainty but Jane takes it all in stride.

B次元官网网址淚t seems to be good for me. It keeps me healthy, vibrant and relevant. IB次元官网网址檓 so used to being busy and interacting, IB次元官网网址檓 not sure what would happen to me if I retired.B次元官网网址

Jane has found love over the years but has never re-married. Through all of lifeB次元官网网址檚 ups and downs, sheB次元官网网址檚 taken tremendous comfort in being near the lake. ItB次元官网网址檚 a deep, personal connection to the water that provided solace for a young widow so many years ago. These days itB次元官网网址檚 a peaceful escape during chaotic times and even just a glance out the window is enough to fill her with an immense sense of gratitude.

The course of Jane HoffmanB次元官网网址檚 life may have been altered by tragedy, but somewhere on that journey the once timid lamb found her voice and roared her way to the top.

B次元官网网址淚 live stronger, better because I feel like IB次元官网网址檓 living for two people not just one. I got to stay, so letB次元官网网址檚 make it worthwhile.B次元官网网址

Check out some of JaneB次元官网网址檚 listing on her .



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