Selling someone their future: a conversation with Steven Shepherd

Steven Shepherd spent ten years behind the camera before becoming a realtor, and he now works mostly with first-time buyers. At PacificWest 2026, he talked about getting to know a neighbourhood on foot, what nervous buyers need, and why the work is about more than the sale.

VTCo Fireside Chats · Interview recorded at PacificWest 2026

Steven Shepherd came to real estate from behind the camera. His parents are realtors, but before getting into the business himself he spent ten years as a photographer and videographer, photographing realtors’ properties.

The move came down to one goal: “I wanted to buy my own house one day and photography wasn’t cutting it.” He is now coming up on three years as a realtor.

Knowing a neighbourhood on foot

Steven does not farm one area, but his favourites to work in are Port Coquitlam and Langley, especially the Jericho and Willoughby neighbourhoods, where he sees a lot of new development. He has lived in both parts of the region, with five years in Langley and five in Port Moody and the Tri-Cities.

Much of what he knows about a neighbourhood comes from walking his dog, Mina, past the same places every day and asking the people he meets what is going on. “I love talking to people,” he said, and he sees that as what makes him successful.

First-time buyers

“First-time buyers are my bread and butter,” Steven said. He is still looking to buy his first property himself, which he believes helps him understand their hesitation. What they want most is reassurance. “Reassurance is number one. They want to know that they’re not about to invest in something that falls apart.”

Buyers watched prices rise in 2021 and fall in 2022 and 2023, and many are nervous as a result. Steven’s answer is to put the market in context. He sees that drop as part of a longer cycle rather than a sign that something is broken, and knowing that lets him bring clients some comfort. “Land value almost never depreciates,” he said. “The building will depreciate, but the land itself, land is finite.”

For buyers with young children, schools come into the decision early. His neighbours across the street have a daughter who is almost five or six, and they want to make sure she is in a good school neighbourhood. To find that kind of information, Steven uses the mapping apps each city provides rather than one dedicated tool.

The more you know

Before real estate, Steven also taught first aid, and he carries one lesson from it into his work. “Whether you’re new or old, the more you know, the more you can help,” he said. It was true in first aid, and he says it is true in real estate. “If you know what the school catchments are, now you’ve got options. If you know where the local parks are, now you know about activity.”

Do it because you care

Steven’s advice to new realtors is to be prepared and to come into the industry for the right reasons. “Don’t just go into this industry thinking this is easy money,” he said. “If you’re going to get into this, don’t do it just for the money. Do it because you want to help people, because you care.”

“You’re not just selling a house. You are selling someone their future.”

Watch the full interview to hear Steven’s story, from photographing listings to helping first-time buyers find their footing. If you are buying or selling in his area, you can find him on Instagram at Steven.TheRealtor.