JERSEY LI, THE APARTMENT GUY, REAL ESTATE, helen siwak, portfolioyvr, vancouver, bc, yvr, business, entrepreneurs, industry magazine

Jersey Li: Elevating Real Estate Experiences as The Apartment Guy®

Jersey Li is a dedicated real estate agent whose optimism and expertise make every client experience feel like “it is always sunny.” Recognized as a Top 10% REALTOR® in Greater Vancouver, Jersey has built a reputation for professionalism, trust, and results in a dynamic and competitive market.

Known to many as The Apartment Guy®, Jersey specializes in detached homes, duplexes, townhomes, and condominiums, guiding clients with confidence through today’s shifting real estate landscape. His approach combines sharp market insight with a client-first philosophy, ensuring buyers and sellers alike feel supported at every stage of their journey.

Jersey’s path to real estate began when he arrived in Canada as an international student at the age of 18. After graduating from Simon Fraser University with a degree in entrepreneurship, he navigated the challenges of immigration while gaining valuable experience in administration, sales, digital marketing, luxury publishing, and commercial services. These diverse roles sharpened his business acumen and deepened his commitment to service.

In 2019, Jersey launched his career in real estate, quickly transitioning from part-time to full-time as his success grew. Today, he is celebrated for overcoming challenges with resilience and is proud to help clients achieve their real estate goals with professionalism and positivity.

JERSEY LI, THE APARTMENT GUY, REAL ESTATE, helen siwak, portfolioyvr, vancouver, bc, yvr, business, entrepreneurs, industry magazine

THE BUSINESS.

Jersey Li Personal Real Estate Corporation was founded on the philosophy of caring for people’s most valuable asset – real estate. With a strong commitment to service, the corporation places the needs of clients at the forefront of every decision, ensuring that both buyers and sellers receive the support, guidance, and knowledge required to make confident and informed choices.

The mission of Jersey Li Personal Real Estate Corporation is to provide professional advice that empowers individuals and families to achieve their property goals. Whether purchasing a first home, upgrading to a larger residence, or selling an investment property, clients benefit from expertise that is rooted in integrity and results.

The vision of the corporation is to set the standard in real estate by leading with ethics and professionalism. Every client relationship is built on trust, transparency, and a genuine desire to deliver value beyond the transaction.

Affiliated with Jersey Li Personal Real Estate Corporation is The Apartment Guy®, a trademarked brand that specializes in the purchase and sale of condominiums. Through this platform, Jersey Li has guided many first-time home buyers through the exciting and important process of securing their first condo, turning aspirations into reality.

JERSEY LI, THE APARTMENT GUY, REAL ESTATE, helen siwak, portfolioyvr, vancouver, bc, yvr, business, entrepreneurs, industry magazine

IN HIS WORDS.

“I first recognized my entrepreneurial spirit while growing up in China. My parents were typical middle-class workers, while my uncle was a businessman. I felt torn between two very different paths—one of stability, family, and routine, and the other of ambition, risk, and long hours. For a long time, I wondered who I really was deep down. It was not until I was about twenty-one, studying at university, that I realized I did not have to choose. I could build a successful business and still have the time and presence to enjoy life with a wife and kids.

My first big step toward real estate was actually kind of funny. A friend of mine signed up for a Real Estate Licensing tutoring course, and if he referred someone, he would get half off. I became that “half off.” In the end, he did not pass, but I did. At first, I was not serious about becoming a full-time REALTOR®. It was only after I married my wife that I truly started thinking about the future, the high cost of living in Vancouver, and how valuable time really is. Around that same period at SFU, I could not find a student club that suited me, so I created my own. That was my first real taste of leadership and entrepreneurship.

Of course, the journey came with plenty of lessons. After my first year in business, my accountant emailed me to say I owed $20,000 in taxes. I had invested everything into ads and marketing without setting aside funds for tax. It was a huge wake-up call about the importance of financial planning. In the early days, cash flow was also a constant challenge. Sometimes I would know a large cheque was coming in a few months, but I still needed to pay contractors right away. There were times I had to rely on credit cards just to keep everything on track. For me, there was never one big defining moment—it was always one deal at a time, one client at a time, treating every person with professionalism and care until referrals started coming in.

Along the way, I tried different ventures. During COVID, I launched an international trading business that supplied masks, gloves, and wipes to big retailers like T&T, Save-On, and Petro-Canada. At one point, I almost broke into Costco. But as the pandemic eased, the demand disappeared, and it became clear that pivoting the business would take more capital and energy than it was worth. Closing it down allowed me to refocus on real estate, where my long-term vision truly lies.

Scaling my business has been about learning to duplicate myself by hiring assistants and building the right partnerships in marketing and sales. Time is finite, but the work is not. I believe a leader’s job is to find balance and make sure the team is equipped to grow. That balance did not come easily. In the beginning, when cash flow was tight, the biggest sacrifice I made was refusing to pay myself. Even when my family really needed the income, I put everything back into the business. It caused sleepless nights and difficult conversations with my wife. But I knew that if I chose short-term comfort, the business might never survive. I went all in, and once the business stabilized, I was able to create systems that allowed me to buy back time and restore balance in my life.

Even now, I do not take success for granted. I often think about how, in 1997, Apple was only 90 days away from bankruptcy despite being a global brand. Being recognized among the Top 10% of REALTORS® in Greater Vancouver is an achievement I am proud of, but it is not a reason to become complacent. I continue to refine my systems and strengthen my client pipeline so that my business can adapt and remain resilient through any market shifts.”

JERSEY LI, THE APARTMENT GUY, REAL ESTATE, helen siwak, portfolioyvr, vancouver, bc, yvr, business, entrepreneurs, industry magazine

“I have been fortunate to have mentors who taught me people skills and work ethic early on, and I will always be grateful for their guidance. But I also learned that at critical turning points, you are often alone, and it is your own determination that carries you through. I especially appreciate Michael Lam, who kept reminding me that I was destined for big things in real estate.

My leadership style has always been inclusive and encouraging, but I have also learned that being too lenient can cost you deals. Over time, I have become better at balancing patience with accountability, and today I can give my team a little more “tough love” when it is needed. It makes us all stronger.

If I could give advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, it would be to start early, stay true to your values, and never compromise for money. My definition of success has shifted over time. At first, it was about survival, then it became about financial growth. Now it is about serving more clients, building alongside my team, and helping others grow.

At the heart of my business is honesty. I refuse to distort the truth just to close a deal. I tell clients what I genuinely believe, even if it means losing a sale in the short term. I would rather sleep well at night knowing I did the right thing. In a market where many agents have quit, my goal is simple: survive the downturn, come out stronger, and be one of the few still standing when things recover.

Looking ahead, I will remain in the Top 10% of REALTORS® in British Columbia for 2025. It may be too early to talk about legacy, but I do hope my journey shows that you can succeed in this industry by being honest, ethical, and true to your clients. If more people embraced that standard, I believe we could raise the bar for real estate as a whole.

Moving into 2026, I plan to expand my business by building a stronger team, refining my systems, and creating even deeper connections with my clients. My goal is to bring on more support staff and partner with the right professionals in marketing and sales so that I can duplicate myself and continue to provide the same level of care and professionalism to every client. I am also focused on strengthening my digital presence and growing my client pipeline to ensure long-term stability in a shifting market. By staying true to my core values of honesty, ethics, and transparency, I believe I can not only grow my business but also help raise the standard of real estate in British Columbia.”

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Collaborator: This story is created in collaboration between Helen Siwak and the featured subject. As the founder and publisher of Portfolio.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine, Helen works closely with entrepreneurs to share their paths of innovation, resilience, and growth. Each story in this series is co-developed through interviews and first-person insights, blending authentic voices with Helen’s editorial expertise to highlight the remarkable individuals shaping British Columbia’s business landscape.