Steven de Ruiter
Owner / Licensee
About Steven de Ruiter
Steven’s innate entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to excellence have seen him become a key figure in Kerikeri’s real estate scene since starting the Real Property Kerikeri over 20 years ago.
Backed by an impressive professional path, he has founded a commercial cleaning business, dabbled in the culinary arts as a chef and propelled Kerikeri Pies into a thriving local business, before turning his hand to property investment and life coaching.
One of life’s most likeable over-achievers, Steven has infused the agency with his dynamic leadership style, focusing on ethical practices, client-focused service, and community involvement, while always keeping it ‘real’.
His approach to real estate is underpinned by an ethos of ‘work hard, tell the truth, and have fun’, a mantra that shines through in every transaction. Even with years of experience under his belt, he still gets excited each time a first-home buyer walks through the door and he’s able to help them realise their dreams.
A real family man and self-professed ice-bath enthusiast, downtime is reserved for spending time with his partner, kids and grandkids, out on the boat or just enjoying the beautiful local environment.
Steven de Ruiter's Properties
$1,595,000
4 Bed
3 Bath
6 Car
Client Testimonials
An absolutely brilliant all-round service
We highly recommend Steve and the Team at Real. Our Beach House in Russell was marketed via Tender process and was sold prior after four weeks on the Market. The whole sales process for us was made easy by the effort and advice that Steve put into developing an effective well thought out marketing plan and property staging. This resulted in an excellent flow of well qualified potential buyers. Once sold Steve and Team continued to support us in getting the property ready for the new owners. An absolutely brilliant all-round service. Highly recommended! Thankyou Steve & Team!
Communicated regularly, keeping us informed of visits and showings and guided us along the way.
Steve sold our lifestyle property for us in October of 2024. This during a period throughout NZ, when property sales were off their historic highs and interest rates rising from their correspondingly low rates. Properties moving in the Bay of Islands area had also dropped away somewhat. Steve however, was enthusiastic and positive that he'd find a buyer for us. My wife and I sold a property back in the early 2000's through REAL and we also knew him personally, so we took a lot of faith in his expectations. During the sales process he remained convinced we were on the right track, and had helped us set a realistic price for our land and home. He held open homes, and toured prospective buyers on personalised viewings. His confidence rubbed off on us, and we stuck by him despite setbacks with purchasers cancelling contracts on unmet conditions. He communicated regularly, keeping us informed of visits and showings and guided us along the way. This was really helpful as we live out of the district. When Steve himself was otherwise engaged another member of his team stepped up to the mark, and were just as effective with their actions and communications. Eventually the REAL team found the right person for our property and the deal was done. Steve's announcement of an agreed conditional contract to us, and then his joyful call to say the purchaser had approved the conditions to their satisfaction was the icing on the cake. His excitement came through the phone at us loud and clear, it was as if he'd sold his own property. Thanks Steve and to your Team, we're extremely pleased and satisfied.
Friendly, Empathetic
We have recently sold our home on Pickmere Lane, Kerikeri through the “Real” Estate Agency with Steven DeRuiter as the agent acting on our behalf. The market has been particularly difficult in the last few months, but Steve has tried many many different options to find us our buyer without once revising his initial valuation of our home or putting any pressure on us to reduce our price. He has been very friendly, empathetic with our desire to move on, kept us informed as to progress and kept our spirits up when progress was slow in this tricky market. The actual process following the sale agreement was very professionally dealt with and Steve has gone out of his way to make sure it has gone along without a hitch. We would not hesitate in recommending Steve and the “Real” Estate Agency to use when selling your home. Hope things go well for you.