Pemberton Holmes

What Pemberton Holmes does

Pemberton Holmes Ltd. is a private, family-owned real estate brokerage founded in 1887 in Victoria, British Columbia, and is the oldest real estate company on Vancouver Island. It operates through a network of offices spanning Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island — including Victoria (headquarters), Nanaimo, Duncan, Courtenay, Parksville, and Port Alberni — collectively covering 25+ communities across South Island, Mid Island, North Island & West, and the Gulf Islands. The firm is not a franchise; it has remained under Holmes family stewardship for six generations.

The company's core offering is full-service residential and commercial real estate brokerage, supported by 290+ locally-based realtors who receive monthly ethics training. Service lines include buying, selling, leasing, property valuation, and commercial transactions, supplemented by a dedicated property management subsidiary, The Property Managers (thepropertymanagers.ca), which generates recurring fee income from managed rental properties. The technology stack is conventional: a curated Featured Properties showcase on pembertonholmes.com, an MLS search interface accessed via the Victoria Real Estate Board, and standard listing-side search filters — no proprietary platform, AI capability, or data product is disclosed. In November 2025 the firm announced a strategic partnership with PekoPay to introduce payment and automation tooling into the agent workflow, signaling a digital-first modernization effort.

The business model is primarily transaction-fee based (commission on closed residential and commercial deals), with a growing subscription / recurring component from property management. Go-to-market is sales-led through the agent network, augmented by content marketing (blog, community pages), organic social, email newsletters, MLS distribution, and a referral network of mortgage brokers, insurance agents, and lawyers. Customer segments are dominated by individual residential buyers and sellers, with secondary exposure to commercial clients, rental property investors, and newcomers relocating to Vancouver Island.

Name

Pemberton Holmes

Legal name

Pemberton Holmes Ltd.

Website

https://pembertonholmes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pemberton Holmes is a family-owned, full-service real estate brokerage founded in 1887, serving residential and commercial clients across Vancouver Island through 290+ realtors and six offices, with an affiliated property management subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Brokerage

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (531210)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Investment Property Brokerage (SFR/Small Multifamily) (BPAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multifamily Brokerage (BPAJABAD)

Keywords

• Residential real estate brokerage
• Commercial real estate services
• Property management
• MLS property search
• Property valuation

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Sales Commissions: Traditional real estate commission-based model for residential and commercial property transactions. Agents facilitate buying, selling, and leasing of properties across Vancouver Island.
2. Property Management: Property management services for owners and investors through their affiliated brand thepropertymanagers.ca, managing residential and investment properties.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pemberton Holmes is a full-service real estate brokerage serving Vancouver Island, British Columbia since 1887. The company facilitates residential property buying and selling, commercial real estate transactions (businesses for sale and commercial leasing), and property management services for owners and investors. With 290+ realtors operating from six offices across Vancouver Island, the firm provides end-to-end real estate support from first-time purchases to retirement moves.

Product overview

Pemberton Holmes is a full-service real estate brokerage serving Vancouver Island since 1887. The company offers three core service lines: residential real estate (Buy a Home, Sell with Confidence), commercial real estate (businesses for sale, commercial spaces for lease), and property management (via The Property Managers brand). The Featured Properties platform serves as the curated property listing showcase, supplemented by MLS search functionality. The company is homegrown and not a franchise, serving Victoria, Nanaimo, Duncan, Courtenay, and 25+ communities across Vancouver Island.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Buy a Home Residential real estate buying service guiding clients from first-time purchase to forever home, with support from 290+ local expert agents across Vancouver Island. Designed for individuals and families seeking to purchase single-family residences, condos, townhouses, and luxury properties.
• Sell with Confidence Full-service residential real estate selling service including pricing, marketing, and closing support handled by local expert agents. Designed for homeowners seeking to sell single-family residences, condos, townhouses, and luxury properties on Vancouver Island.
• Property Management Property management services for owners and investors, managed through the subsidiary brand The Property Managers (thepropertymanagers.ca). Provides tenant management, property maintenance, and rental income optimization for residential and investment properties across Vancouver Island.
• Commercial Real Estate Commercial property services including businesses for sale and commercial spaces for lease across Vancouver Island. Designed for investors and business owners seeking retail spaces, businesses, and commercial leasing opportunities.
• Property Valuation Professional property valuation service to help sellers determine accurate market pricing for their residential or commercial properties on Vancouver Island.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PekoPaycoreTechnology or Integration · 19 November 2025Pemberton Holmes announced a strategic partnership with PekoPay, a BC-based technology company delivering innovative payment and automation solutions for real estate professionals. This collaboration reflects Pemberton Holmes's commitment to modern technology and digital-first strategies in serving their clients.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Century 21 Canada: National real estate franchise with offices across BC including Vancouver Island. Competes on residential brokerage, agent network size, and full-service transaction support.
• eXp Realty: Cloud-based real estate brokerage rapidly expanding across Canada. Competes for agents with low-overhead, tech-enabled model and threatens traditional commission structures Pemberton Holmes relies on.
• RE/MAX of Western Canada: Franchise real estate brokerage with strong agent network across Vancouver Island and BC, directly competing for residential and commercial listings in the same communities Pemberton Holmes serves.
• Engel & Völkers Vancouver Island: Global luxury-leaning brokerage with growing Vancouver Island presence. Competes for higher-end residential listings in the same communities Pemberton Holmes serves.
• Royal LePage: Canada's largest real estate brokerage by agent count, with significant Vancouver Island presence. Competes head-to-head with Pemberton Holmes in residential transactions, brand recognition, and agent recruitment.
• Sotheby's International Realty Canada: Luxury residential real estate brand active across BC. Competes with Pemberton Holmes' luxury property segment on Vancouver Island for premium listings and high-net-worth buyers.
• Sutton Group: Canadian real estate franchise with multiple BC offices, including Vancouver Island. Competes in residential brokerage and commercial services with similar agent-led GTM motion.

Emerging players

• The Agency: Modern, design-forward real estate brokerage expanding into Western Canada. Targets same mid-to-upper residential segment as Pemberton Holmes with a more tech-forward brand positioning.

Regional players

• Dexter Realty: Independent BC-focused real estate firm with Vancouver Island presence. Comparable independent (non-franchise) positioning and shares overlap in residential brokerage service areas.
• Macdonald Realty: BC-focused independent brokerage with offices across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Comparable regional independent positioning, directly competes in shared Vancouver Island markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pembertonholmes
• Facebookfacebook.com/PembertonHolmes
• Instagraminstagram.com/pembertonholmesrealestate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pemberton-holmes-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pemberton Holmes