At 15, John Vander Hoek was studying the real estate paper and dreaming about properties he could fix up. But turning those ideas into a business meant taking an honest look at himself—and realizing he was all talk and no action.

In Episode 8 of No Two Roads, Darren Leffers and Brent Rook sit down with John of Karvin Developments, a builder, developer, investor, realtor, and member of the Leffers & Rook team.

John shares his journey from early mornings on a dairy farm and long days framing in the rain to building his first home and taking on larger developments in Chilliwack. Along the way, we talk about the discipline it took to get started, the lessons learned through changing markets, and why he always considers the worst-case scenario before making an investment.

In this episode:
• Studying the real estate market as a teenager
• The wake-up call that turned ambition into action
• Saving for his first home build
• Growing from framing to building and land development
• Managing debt, navigating downturns, and protecting peace of mind
• Building a team of good people and trusted trades
• The experience behind Shannon Heights on Little Mountain
• Memorable investments—and what he would do differently
• How success shifted from proving his dad wrong to enjoying family, health, and time outdoors

It’s an honest conversation about building a business over decades, learning from mistakes, and figuring out what makes the work worthwhile.

We hope you enjoy watching and listening. Subscribe or follow No Two Roads for more conversations about life, business, and the different paths that get us where we are.

What stood out to you from John’s story? Leave a comment—and let us know who you’d like to hear from next.

No two roads are the same…

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