OREA EDGE – new digital format
The OREA EDGE is going green!
Starting in February, 2015, OREA’s REALTOR® EDGE newsletter will be delivered in an electronic format only. Update your email address with OREA to be sure you receive your issue!
CREA/OREA/RECO NEWS – Elections for the CREA Board of Directors
The annual election for the CREA Board of Directors will be held on March 28, 2015 at the 2015 CREA Annual General Meeting. Any qualified REALTOR® member who has
an interest in serving as a Director of CREA is strongly encouraged to run for a position on the Board of Directors.
The following positions are open:
• Three Director-at-Large positions, each for a two-year term.
• Four Regional Director positions, each for a two-year term, from each of the following regions:
·British Columbia/Yukon
· Manitoba
·Quebec
·The Atlantic Region
Candidacy forms must be received by CREA no later than January 27, 2015. Questions should be directed to Bill Harrington at 613.237.7111.
For complete information about the qualifications for Directors, the CREA elections and candidacy forms, go to http://www.rahb.ca/CREA/CREA_ElectionNotice2015.pdf
OREA News
Call for OREA Candidates
The Ontario Real Estate Association has six openings on its Board of Directors: two Directors-at-Large and four Provincial Directors (one each from Centre, Western, Northern and Eastern Ontario). The election will take place March 11, 2015 at the Ontario Real Estate Association Annual General Meeting. (more…)
OREA News – Beware creative marketing
OREA has become aware that some members have received promotional literature from organizations offering “OREA members” special programs, which suggests the organization has a relationship with OREA and the service is part of the OREA Affinity Program. This happens most often in the health benefits sector.
OREA has only a limited number of partners in its Affinity Program: Corporate Benefit Analysts (CBA) (health benefits provider), Rogers, AERO Insurance, TD Home and Auto Insurance, Rent Check Corp and MBNA. No other organizations are part of the program.
If you have any questions about the OREA Affinity Program or the partners in the program, contact OREA.
OREA News
Have you registered for OREA’s EMERGE event yet?
~~ St. Catharines – Thursday, October 9, 2014 ~~
Early bird pricing (3 weeks before the event)
Members: $59 +Tax Non-members: $89 +Tax
Regular pricing
Members: $79 +Tax Non-members: $109 +Tax
For more information on EMERGE, go to www.orea.com/emerge or contact OREA at emerge@orea.com.
OREA News – “Emerge” into the future!
OREA’s Emerge “Moving you Forward with the Tools for Tomorrow” is a dynamic conference series aimed at REALTORS® engaged in improving their business. Bolstered by its success in 2013, OREA is offering EMERGE in six locations across the province in 2014: (more…)
OREA News – “Emerge” into your future!
OREA’s Emerge “Moving you Forward with the Tools for Tomorrow” is a dynamic conference series aimed at REALTORS® engaged in improving their business. Bolstered by its success in 2013, OREA is offering EMERGE in six locations across the province in 2014:
Friday, June 20 Northern: Thunder Bay
Monday, September 8 Northeastern: Muskoka
Thursday, September 25 Central: Markham
Thursday, October 9 Southern: St. Catharines
Wednesday, October 29 Western: London
Thursday, November 13 Eastern: Kanata
Registration is now open and the fees are as follows:
- Early bird pricing (3 weeks before the event)
o Members: $59 +tax
o Non-members: $89 +tax.
- Regular pricing
o Members: $79 +tax
o Non-members: $109 +tax.
For more information on EMERGE, go to https://www.orea.com/emerge or contact OREA at emerge@orea.com.
REALTORS® Care – REALTORS® RIDE from RAHB!
Come to the RAHB office on Wednesday, July 9 to give a big send-off to the Ontario REALTORS® who will be participating in this year’s REALTORS® RIDE for Charity. (more…)
OREA News
OREA ads see impressive results (more…)
OREA News
OREA is looking for volunteers for committees and task forces. Apply online for positions by visiting www.orea.com – click on “Members”, log in and select Volunteer Application Form from the blue menu on the left. Application deadline is March 13, 2014.
OREA News
OREA Standard Forms – New and Revised Forms/Clauses for 2014 (more…)
OREA Political Affairs
OREA Political Action (PAC) members met in Toronto in October to take four messages to provincial MPPS:
Do not grant municipalities the ability to impose municipal land transfer taxes.
Some municipalities in Ontario have been asking the province to grant them the authority to charge a municipal land transfer tax (MLTT) over and above the provincial land transfer tax (LTT), similar to the tax imposed by the city of Toronto.
For many people, this additional, non-financeable tax creates a barrier to home ownership. The spread of municipal LTTs to other regions of Ontario threatens to increase the cost of home ownership province-wide. The tax is fundamentally unfair and bad for the economy.
(Note: members of RAHB’s Communications/Government Relations Committee will be meeting with Hamilton and Burlington councillors to discuss MLTTs and the effects they have on home buyers and the local economy.)
Create a Marijuana Grow Operation Registry
Properties that were formerly used to manufacture illegal substances can pose a number of health and safety risks to home buyers. At present, it is extremely difficult for REALTORS®, lawyers and other professionals to find out if a property has been designated by a law enforcement authority as a marijuana grow operation (MGO) or clandestine laboratory.
OREA supports the creation of an MGO/clandestine lab registry using the Land Titles System. A registry will mitigate risks to consumers by ensuring that properties used as former MGOs are disclosed prior to completion of a real estate transaction.
Remove the provisions in REBBA 2002 that prevent registered salespeople from incorporating.
REBBA 2002 does not provide for the licensing of salespersons as personal corporations under Section 1.1 of the Act. In addition, REBBA 2002 does not permit a broker to pay a commission to an “unregistered entity” (Section 30c). Together these sections prevent an individual salesperson from conducting business through a corporation and taking advantage of lower tax rates.
Allowing registrants to incorporate will align the rights of real estate salespeople with other regulated professionals in Ontario and lowering taxes on Ontario businesses. Permitting personal real estate corporations will not affect consumer protection, will have limited implications for provincial revenue and will not require significant legislative resources.
Do not impose mandatory home energy audits
In October, 2013, the legislature passed a Private Member’s Motion that called for the energy efficiency labeling of new and existing houses at the time of sale. In essence, the motion recommends proclaiming section 3 of the Green Energy Act, 2009. This would create a system of mandatory home energy audits (MHEA) for every residential real estate transaction in Ontario.
Mandatory home energy audits would make home ownership less affordable by imposing additional costs on real estate transactions. It could delay transactions and could be used as a “bargaining chip” by buyers to pressure home owners to either spend thousands of dollars to improve the energy rating of their home or lower their sale price.
Watch for more information as OREA monitors these issues.