Throughout his 20 years as a videographer, covering historic events and meeting world leaders, Raul “RJ” Hernandez always had a passion for real estate.

“At first, it was a fun hobby, but it quickly became another way to engage my creative spirit and meet fascinating people while providing them with quality service,” says Hernandez, a broker associate with Canvas Real Estate. “When I decided to leave my news and entertainment camera behind for good, it was an easy decision to jump full-time into the sale of luxury homes and commercial real estate.”

Hernandez made the switch in 1993, working part-time at his aunt’s office, before quickly making it a full-time career. “I realized how much I loved the industry, especially working as a listing agent,” he explains. “I enjoyed the process of helping people sell their homes, from staging and preparing the property to negotiating offers and closing deals.”

He assists buyers, sellers and investors with luxury and waterfront residential properties, as well as commercial properties in the Florida Keys and from West Palm Beach to Miami. The work enables him to make a difference in people’s lives, set his own schedule and determine his own success based on how hard he works and effectively markets himself.

A South Florida native, he understands the type of buyers and sellers attracted to the area and the features they value in a home. In addition, his passion for the area and exploring all it has to offer enhances his ability to provide exceptional service to clients.

A top-producing agent, Hernandez achieved a record-breaking sales volume of $25 million, including off-market sales, in the past two years.

“I have been in the business for many years now and I still love it just as much as when I first started,” he says.