- Words by David Wylie Photography by Lia Crowe
Bob Mangat has a vision to balance density and space in his 琉璃神社 developments.
鈥淚 want to create great communities where people live, love, laugh and continue to build memories,鈥� Bob explains. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing more satisfying than to help someone buy a home or to create somewhere they鈥檙e going to live and make memories. That鈥檚 what I envision when I鈥檓 building something.鈥�
But Bob also wants to create a platform for local residents to participate in developments. And as part of this vision, Bob founded the 1440 Group, a real estate investment entity that 鈥渄reams big, sets achievable goals and provides investors with possible positive returns on investments.鈥�
When Bob landed in 琉璃神社, looking to purchase an apartment building, it was a property that caught his interest and one of 1440 Group鈥檚 current projects is Dolce on Bernard. It鈥檚 made up of 32 modern townhomes located on the edge of downtown 琉璃神社 in an established area along a tree-lined corridor. It will amalgamate several properties into a cohesive townhouse development. Bob envisions densification, but balanced with space to breathe. The two- and three-bedroom homes have rooftop patios and double garages. They start in the mid-$700,000 price range.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful project,鈥� he notes.
Another project, a 10-unit townhome development called The Rise South Glenmore, is under construction with the first residents expected in November.
The 1440 Group was founded with the idea that there are 1,440 minutes in a day, and the choice is ours how we choose to spend it.
鈥淲here you live, where you work is a huge part of our philosophy in creating communities that are going to allow people to live, to work and to create families in that same space,鈥� Bob says, adding that he鈥檚 committed to doing community-focused projects in 琉璃神社.
鈥溋鹆裆� has always had a special place in my heart,鈥� he says.
Bob鈥檚 journey to developer grew from humble roots. He was born and raised in Surrey. His parents, from India, worked long hours and eventually opened up an ethnic grocery store. Business was challenging, however, and included a spate of robberies.
鈥淓ventually it got the best of them and then we had to close up shop,鈥� Bob recalls. 鈥淚t was heartbreaking as a little kid to see my parents go through that.鈥�
Bob studied at Langara College and worked three jobs to help pay for school, while also balancing his passion for soccer.
He started to flip real estate, venturing into a years-long entrepreneurial journey.
鈥淭hat scenario has been my life鈥檚 story. I鈥檝e always looked for opportunity when there is adversity,鈥� he says.
Bob got his real estate licence and created his own real estate brokerage, which focused exclusively on dealing with real estate investors. Bob describes it as one of the largest companies of its kind, and it鈥檚 where he learned how to manage tenants and handle real estate properties鈥斺�渆verything from A to Z,鈥� he says. He also taught thousands of investors鈥攆rom those just starting out to those with with experience鈥攈ow to invest.
However, working 80 hours a week trying to keep up with the business at 27 years old made for a stressful family life.
Bob shifted into digital media and focused on building systems, processes and effective digital marketing. He worked to grow his businesses, building a software and media company鈥攁nd became a two-time bestselling author along the way. Bob is the author of two books on marketing, including The Automated Entrepreneur: How To Boost Sales, Maximize Profits, and CRUSH the Competition.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an interesting 20-some-odd years in entrepreneurship, that鈥檚 for sure,鈥� Bob, now 45, says. 鈥淎s I was going through this I began to think about my journey as a young man, then a young family man and now a man in middle age. And I started to think about where I came from. When my wife and I married, we lived in a basement suite. Then we rented a condo, then we bought a condo, then we moved from a condo to a townhouse, then we sold that and moved to another townhouse.鈥�
Now his life has come full circle, back to real estate.
The 1440 model allows accredited investors to invest as a limited partner. The company buys groups of properties and over time creates larger areas that can be built out. The 1440 Group takes care of the plans, vision and marketing.
Bob says it鈥檚 important to him that he remains hands-on with the marketing campaign for his project in downtown 琉璃神社.
鈥淢y mission in life is to impact [positively] as many people as I can,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檒l look at a piece of dirt or a company and I鈥檒l see where I can take that piece of property or that company and where I can get it to.鈥�
The 1440 vision, he adds, is to create a platform for local residents to participate in developments.
鈥淚n my 20s and 30s, I would see developments go up around me and I wondered how I could be a part of that,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he 1440 Group is working on a few things to turn that into a reality. You can drive by a street in your community and potentially own a piece of the development and share in the upside. We鈥檙e going to make it easier for someone just starting out to invest in bigger projects.鈥�
It鈥檚 just all part of the vision.
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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