Joel Gray

Joel Gray, Broker®

Speaks: English

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family in the Frontenacs, real estate and land were part of my life long before I ever held a license. My grandfather built three local businesses from the ground up—road building, lot clearing and septic installs, a logging and lumber mill, and a waterfront development company. My father followed the same path of hard work, first running our construction business before shifting into real estate sales.

From a young age, I was right there beside them. I worked in development with my grandfather, on construction projects with my father, and later spent time at the mill—an experience that gave me a genuine appreciation for what goes into a single piece of wood. After a few years taking Business at Carleton University, I eventually came back home and moved into the trades myself, working in carpentry and residential electrical. Those early years taught me how properties are built, how they fail, and how to solve the problems and complete repairs.

In 1999, at just 21 years old, I began my real estate career. Having a hands-on background in building and development became one of my greatest advantages, especially as I focused on what I know best: rural, lakefront, and country properties throughout South, Central, and North Frontenac. These properties are unique—beautiful, rewarding, and sometimes challenging—and with decades of experience, I’ve learned how to navigate just about every situation they can present. Along the way, I was fortunate to learn from respected rural and waterfront mentors like Bob Bertrim, John Johnston, Dave Gray, and Alison Robinson.

Real estate has never been just a job for me—it’s part of how I live. I’ve been a landlord since 2004, a licensed mortgage broker since 2010, and I’ve personally bought and renovated multiple homes using the BRRR method. I’ve also purchased vacant land and acted as project manager, and hands on to build both a cottage and a home. Understanding property from the ground up—structurally, financially, and practically—is what allows me to give clients clear advice and real confidence.

From 2014 to 2024, I served as Broker of Record for Lake District Realty, a boutique brokerage in Sharbot Lake known as “The Waterfront Company”. It was an important chapter, but in 2025 I returned to what I enjoy most: running the roads of Frontenac County, working one-on-one with sellers and with buyers who want knowledgeable, grounded guidance as they navigate rural and waterfront real estate.

I’ve lived most of my life in the Frontenacs, and it’s where I’ve raised my four boys. When I’m not working with clients, you’ll usually find me on a snowmobile, ATV, or SXS exploring the local trails, or out fishing and boating on the lakes I grew up on. Time in the woods is where I reset and feel grounded. Much of my “downtime” is also spent driving the boys to baseball and hockey games and cheering them on in competitive sports. This community, these landscapes, and this lifestyle are home–it’s what I know, and it’s what I love helping others discover.

Whether you're selling a long-held family property or searching for your rural home, lakefront retreat, or recreational acreage, I bring decades of experience, deep local knowledge, and a practical, hands-on approach that comes from living this life every day. My goal is simple: to make your real estate experience clearer, smoother, and more successful—backed by the kind of insight you only gain from growing up in the industry and living in the Frontenacs your entire life.