Our Unique Process
Colliers is the only commercial real estate service provider in Canada to offer specialized expertise in the sale and marketing of unique real estate assets on a local, national and international basis. Collectively, our Unique Properties specialists have transacted over 500,000 acres of land and more than $1 billion in sales since its inception in 1998.
Focus
Focusing solely on assets such as:
- private islands
- waterfront and coastal estates
- marinas
- ranches
- resorts and skil hills
- agricultural portfolios
- forestry and resource assets,
- golf courses
Approach
Colliers offers clients a tailored approach that combines our trusted name and global reach with a personalized approach.
Our specialists apply their comprehensive knowledge, expertise and professional platform to provide a strategic and tactical process-driven approach to marketing unique real estate.
Explore our available properties and sold properties today.
Specialists
Our Unique Properties specialists bring a wealth of knowledge in the valuation of unique real estate assets, marketing via controlled offering processes, real estate consulting services, court ordered and judicial sales processes, portfolio dispositions and development analyses. In many cases, our specialists will have more knowledge of a property and its potential than the owner.
About Colliers
Colliers is an industry-leading global real estate company operating from more than 550 offices across 66 countries. First established in 1898 in Vancouver, Colliers has grown to become Canada’s largest commercial real estate services firm and remains a Canadian-owned company. Find out how Colliers delivers a full range of services to real estate occupiers, owners and investors across Greater Vancouver.
When you choose to work with Colliers, you choose to work with the best.
In addition to being highly skilled experts in their field, our people are passionate about what they do. And they know we are invested in their success just as much as we are in your success.
We share a set of values and ethics that has shaped a collaborative environment throughout our organization – one that is unsurpassed in the industry.
Investors, tenants and developers choose Colliers.
Colliers professionals are here to accelerate your success through our specialized expertise and unparalleled ability to collaborate and deliver. We help owners, occupiers and developers solve complex problems with integrated commercial property services.
Mark Lester
Senior Vice President and Founder
As the founder and Senior Vice President with the Unique Properties Group at Colliers, Mark Lester continues to build on his long track record in the marketing and sale of unique real estate assets. In building the Unique Properties specialization group, Mark brought together a group of professionals that offer the consistent ability to provide a customized, innovative marketing approach to every unique real estate asset.
Mark is widely recognized as one of North America’s foremost experts in the marketing of "unique real estate assets" including:
- Private Islands and Waterfront Estates
- Resorts and Income Producing Properties
- Forestry and Resource Lands
- Land and Development Properties
- Ranches and Agricultural Lands
- Institutional Assets such as Summer Camps and Churches
- Distressed properties and other specialized assets
Mark’s approach has always been to identify and highlight the “unique” attributes of any given property and provide a customized and strategic marketing approach based on the professional consultative process that each property deserves. In-house expertise in land-use planning, financial analysis and process driven marketing results in an approach that utilizes strategic positioning to maximize competition and add value to any sale process.
Mark’s professional background includes over 32 years of real estate brokerage experience, during which he has sold hundreds of properties, including more than 35 private islands. Prior to entering the real estate brokerage business, Mark was a land-use planner and real estate consultant in both the private and public sectors. Mark’s educational background includes a Master’s degree in Land-use Planning and Development from York University and a Bachelor in Arts Geography) from the University of British Columbia.
Mark carefully manages every project with a knowledgeable approach to complex processes, protocols, negotiations and value creation for our clients.
Alan L. Johnson
Vice President
As Vice President of Colliers Unique Properties, Alan Johnson brings 20 years of industry experience and extensive valuation and analysis expertise to his practice. With a background in both the public and private sectors of the real estate industry (in addition to having held an academic role at the University level), Alan has a thorough understanding of the real estate market.
His broad skill set enables him to approach each property from a unique perspective, considering all aspects of the consultation, valuation and marketing phases. Alan has a Bachelor of Commerce from UBC’s Sauder School of Business with a specialization in Urban Land Economics.
Alan's tenure with Colliers International, has been predominantly oriented to the sale and analysis of Unique real estate assets such as:
- Marinas, Hotels, and Golf Courses
- Farms and Ranches
- Urban and Rural Development sites
- Private Islands
- Forestry land
- Investment Grade Assets
Alan’s tenure at Colliers has also included several years with Colliers’ Consulting Division where he provided a range of strategic advisory and valuation services including national portfolio valuations, consultative services for Crown Corporations, and comprehensive housing market studies.
Working within a team environment, Alan spearheads the due diligence team and coordinates the important valuation and analysis components of the sales process.