The Justin Havre Real Estate Team has become one of Canada’s most recognized brokerages, topping national rankings nine times since 2015 while operating out of Calgary and expanding into surrounding markets.
From Satellite Installations to Real‑Estate Leader
Justin Havre entered the real‑estate field in late 2004 after years installing satellite TV and internet on snowy Alberta rooftops. He earned his licence in February 2005 and closed his first transaction within weeks. Early on, he learned that a solo agent needs a steady flow of leads to survive. Leveraging his technical background, Havre launched one of the first hourly‑refreshing property sites in Calgary—well before the MLS’s 24‑hour cycle—under the domain JustListedCalgary.ca.
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Investing roughly a quarter of his earnings into search‑engine optimisation, he turned the site into a lead‑generation engine that soon outpaced his peers. By 2009, the influx of inquiries prompted him to hand leads to other agents and collect referrals, growing a small group of four agents without any administrative support.
In 2010, his brokerage required a formal team structure, and Havre complied, forming the group that would later dominate national leaderboards. The organization has since expanded to 85 agents and 15 staff members, maintaining a staff‑to‑agent ratio of one support person for every six agents.
Team Structure and Operations
Today, Havre describes his role as the team’s visionary, shaping marketing strategy, brand positioning, and the technology systems that power the organization. He also spends considerable time coaching agents and overseeing the lead‑generation process that remains the business’s core.
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Technology underpins the operation. They use Follow Up Boss and HubSpot for CRM, Real Estate Webmasters and Sierra Interactive for website/IDX services, and custom integrations for dialer and text automation. AI tools, such as those from Shilo.ai, have been added to assist inside‑sales agents, though Havre notes the technology is still evolving.
Approximately 34.5 % of revenue is reinvested in marketing and 28.4 % in staff, while the group tracks cost per lead, appointment, and closing, focusing on cost per closing as the most important metric. A healthy return on ad spend sits around a three‑to‑one ratio.
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Rewards are tied to activities that drive results: ongoing skill development, diligent CRM use, rapid response times, and consistent follow‑up. Conversely, agents who neglect follow‑up or fail to engage opportunities are benched, as their performance impacts the entire group.
Looking ahead, the 2024 production recorded 984 closings worth $536.9 million, while 2025 expectations rise to 1,024 closings and $579.6 million. The continued emphasis on technology, disciplined follow‑up, and strong leadership suggests that the group will maintain its position among the country’s top‑producing real‑estate entities.
