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.
Montreal and Quebec say good-bye to CREA
The members of the Montreal and Quebec real estate boards have voted to leave the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). The vote in Montreal was particularly close – 50.9 per cent of members who voted chose to leave CREA while 49.1 per cent voted to remain. 61 per cent of members did not vote at all.
As of the end of December, CREA had not offered an official response beyond what was reported in REM magazine – that the situation is evolving and that there are members within the departing boards who may consider other options in order to remain in CREA.
CREA seeking new Directors
CREA is accepting nomination forms for positions on the CREA Board of Directors. There are three Director-at-large positions available (each for a two-year term) and four Regional Director positions – one of which is from Ontario.
Qualifications:
1. Minimum of three years experience as a director of a real estate board or association
2. Have been a REALTOR® for at least five years
3. For Regional Directors, be licensed in that Region.
Responsibilities of Directors are set out in Rule 6 of CREA’s Bylaws.
Candidacy forms must be received by CREA no later than January 28, 2014. For more information, contact Bill Harrington at 613.237.7111 or election@crea.ca
Director-at-large candidacy forms can be found here
Regional Director candidacy forms can be found here
Message from RECO – commission options changed
Recent changes to REBBA 2002 provide additional flexibility in how brokerages charge for real estate services. Bill 55, the Stronger Protection for Ontario Consumers Act, 2013, has amended REBBA 2002. (more…)
Kick start 2014 by registering for a great new course – Strategic Planning Boot Camp for REALTORS®. This course will help you plan strategically for the year ahead and teach you how to develop an action plan to achieve your goals. (more…)
New Releases
– Available by Advance Order only!
Rough/Advanced Guide to Construction Costs 2014
A great reference guide for current residential and commercial construction costs
$25.65* ea.
Introductory GTA Green Guide 2014
Guide provides an overview of current green building trends and green guilding rating systems to both new and existing buildings (sold only as part of the package set)
Package Price – Purchase both guides for $31.00*/pkg
Order deadline is Jan. 29, 2014
Please Note: Final Sale policy in effect on all published books
*+ HST
Call the Shoppe at 905.529.5979 to order your copy before the deadline.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
T.: 905.529.5979 F.: 905.529.7109
E.: realtyshoppe@rahb.ca
The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 743 property sales were processed through the RAHB Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) system in December. This represents a 21.6 per cent increase in sales over December of last year. (more…)
Tim Mattioli, President
Tim has been member of the Association since 1987 and is a Salesperson with RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc, Brokerage. Tim has served on many RAHB committees, including the Regional Commercial Council (RCC), Finance, Governance, MLS® and Government Relations committees, as well as the Charity Auction, Honourary Life, Lease Review and Quality of Life task forces. He chaired the Finance, MLS® and Government Relations committees as well as the RCC and Home Ownership Affordability Partnership (HOAP). As Chair of the RCC, Tim was appointed to the RAHB Board of Directors in 2009, and was then elected to the Board in 2010.
Volunteering is important to Tim; he realizes that it is important to give back and found that helping others becomes addictive. He believes the association will only be as strong as the people who step up to keep it moving forward. Tim enjoys spending time with his three grown sons and grandson. He has tried sky diving and whitewater rafting and is an avid motorcyclist, touring around the province with friends.
Donna Bacher, President Elect
Donna joined RAHB in 1983 and is a Broker with Royal LePage State Realty. Donna has been a member of the Sales Division, Finance, Professional Standards, Discipline, Arbitration and Government Relations committees. She chaired the Communications/Government Relations Committee and the Joint (RAHB/HDAA) Rental Licensing Task Force.
Donna served as a director for the Ontario Goat Breeders Association and as a Founding Members’ Association Rep to the Toronto Livestock Land Development Board from 2001-2003. She is an avid fundraiser for various charities and a volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters annual bowl-a-thon. Donna holds a Canadian Private Pilots license and has completed her Canadian Commercial Pilots written exam.
Sean Morrison, Vice-President
Sean has been a member of RAHB since 2006 and is a Salesperson with Royal LePage State Realty. During his time with RAHB, he has served on the Audit, Finance, Professional Standards, Professional Development and Bylaw Committees. Sean has also chaired the MLS® Committee and Joint MLS® Committee.
In addition to his work in real estate, Sean also volunteers with the Rotary Club of Burlington and serves on the board of directors of R.A.S.A.R, a local charity. Giving back to the community and to the real estate industry is important to him. Sean has a sincere desire to help improve two-way communication with the membership, explore and expand on new ideas brought forward and help empower every REALTOR® in RAHB in 2014. Outside the office, Sean loves sports and has been involved with rugby most of his adult life, having played for 18 years on five teams in three countries.
Bruce Moran, Past President
Bruce is the Broker of Record of Chase Realty Inc. and has been a member of RAHB since 1986. He has served as a member on the Governance, Nomination, Finance and Communications committees as well as on the Awards, Karan Barker Scholarship, MLS® Futures, Branding and Revenue vs Expenses task forces. Bruce chaired the Governance and Bylaws, Finance and MLS® committees and the Quality of Life Task Force. Bruce was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award in 2003.
Bruce feels that volunteering in the association has allowed him to fully participate in the real estate industry and has given him a better understanding of how our association works. It also allows him to keep a closer eye on where the profession is going. Bruce enjoys ski trips with his family during the winter and time spent on his sail boat at Fifty Point in the summer.
Kim Alvarez
Kim is a Sales Representative with Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services and has been a member of RAHB since 2009. She served on the Burlington Council and the Communications/Government Relations Committee. Kim is committed to the membership and wants to ensure there are adequate means of communication for members and that their interests are addressed by the Board effectively. Prior to real estate, Kim earned an MBa with a marketing specialization and was a Marketing Manager. She has also worked in the management consulting industry.
Kim believes strongly in building community. She is a member of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and a proud supporter of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Kim is a lifelong learner with a quest for knowledge and loves to travel.
Rochelle Edwards
Rochelle is a Salesperson with S. Todd Real Estate Ltd. and she joined the association in 9007. She has served on the Membership Area Representation Committee (MARC) and Charity Auction Task Force.
After studying sociology, Rochelle realized her true passion was helpingpeople. She worked in a few positions and began to recognize that real estate was a great way to pursue her passion while enjoying the spontaneity of each day. Rochelle developed a knack for leadershiop at a young age through volunteering, refereeing and participating in an array of sports. Being a creative individual, her fresh approach to situations is often “outside the box” and has been a driving force behind her love photography, design and social media.
Gary Herron
Gary has been a RAHB member since 1993 and is a Broker at Coldwell Banker Pinnacle Real Estate. Gary is no stranger to the RAHB Board of Directors; he served on the Board from 2003-2007 and was President in 2006. He has also served as Chair of the Election, Finance, Executive and Professional Standards committees and as a member on the Disclipline, Professional Standards, Finance and Elections committees and the Ombudsman and Director Recognition task forces.
Gary became a director for the second time because he felt it is important “to give back to the association that has been so good” to him. He also sees there will be significant changes to the real estate industry over the next several years and wants to be part of it. Gary has a passion for cooking and fishing, and laments he doesn’t do as much of either as he would like.
Bill Lawson
Bill is a Broker with RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp. He first joined RAHB in 1973. He served as a Director of the RAHB Board in 1997-98 and was elected again in 2012. Bill has served on the Burlington Council and on the Election, Information Technology, Building and MLS® committees; the Purchaser Agency, MLS® Interconnectivity, Christmas Auction, RECO and Quality of Life task forces and on the MLS® Open House and Statistics ad hoc committees. Bill chaired the Bylaw Committee and RECO and Agency task forces.
Paul Martindale
Paul is Broker of Record and Director for Wink Properties and Realty Inc. Since joining RAHB in 2005, Paul has served on the Government Relations Committee, the Joint Rental Housing Task Force and Regional Commercial Council (RCC). Paul is Chair of the RCC for 2014, and has been immersed in commercial real estate – investing, rehabilitating and managing properties – since 1995.
Paul is a Board member of the Hamilton & District Apartment Association and a member of the McMaster University President’s Advisory Committee on Community Relations. His extensive construction experience (certified master electrician, carpenter, HVAC and mechanical) has proven invaluable to assist, along with his staff, in the managing of over 100 rental suites. In addition, Paul is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and Royal Conservatory-trained pianist, enjoying an extensive musical career playing R&B and Soul music with The Soul Revue. A highlight for Paul was performing at actor Keifer Sutherland’s 1996 wedding in Toronto.
Gloria Payton
Gloria, a Broker with Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd, is another of our Directors who previously served on the Board (1995-2000). In her 28 years of membership, Gloria has been part of the Bylaw, Finance, MARC, Discipline, Professional Standards, Professional Development, Public Relations, Computer, Law Liaison, MLS® and Member Services committees and chaired the Arbitration Committee and Sales Division. She has served on numerous task forces and ad hoc committees and chaired the RECO and Agency task forces.
Gloria has especially enjoyed teaching the RAHB New Members’ Orientation course for over 16 years. She fees that we are “arguably one of the finest boards in all of Canada” and is proud to call our association home.
Dave Nichols
Dave is a Salesperson with Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services and has been a RAHB member since 2007. He has served on the MLS® Committee and Statistics Subcommittee.
Dave volunteers with RAHB to help make our association the best it can be. He feels his time volunteering with RAHB gives him a better understanding of how RAHB serves its members. Dave thinks that our community is a great place to live but enjoys traveling to other parts of Canada and the world. Dave also enjoys canoeing and camping and has had the privilege of canoeing the South Nahanni River on two different occasions.
Lou Piriano
Lou is Broker of Record of L. Piriano Real Estate. He first joined RAHB in 1973 and has served on the Advertising, Member Services, Public Relations, Arbitration, MLS® and Discipline committees. Lou also chaired the DDF Task Force.
Lou is entering his fifth decade in the real estate profession and believes it is important to prepare our organization for the next generation of practitioners. Lou sees serving the membership as a great opportunity to ensure all members are heard equally; he hopes that by offering his knowledge and experience, both members and he can achieve personal and professional growth.
Although Lou has a keen interest in and keeps updated on new technological tools, he notes that some aspects of brokerage really haven’t changed that much over time. Lou’s main interests lie in his family (which includes his dogs), playing hockey and squash and donating time and money to animal rescue organizations.
The RAHB office will close for the holidays at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 20 and reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, December 30 with regular hours. Hours for December 31 are 8:30 a.m. -12 noon. The office will be closed on Wednesday January 1, 2014 and will reopen Thursday, January 2 at 8:30 a.m. (more…)
RAHB members and supporters celebrated the 25th anniversary of the RAHB Charity Auction in fine fashion, with great food, live entertainment, draws, over 200 silent auction items, a special anniversary silent auction table and a 25-item live auction. The biggest winner, as always, was the CHML/Y108/Fresh 953 Children’s Fund, which will receive a cheque for $53,000 raised at the Auction. (more…)
As of November 21, the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington/Niagara Association of REALTORS® database of listings also includes listings by members of the Brantford Regional Real Estate Association (BRREA). (more…)
Five new directors were elected to the 2014 Board of Directors at the Annual Election Meeting held November 26 at the Royal Botanical Gardens. (more…)
Nestled between beautiful Lake Ontario and the majestic Niagara Escarpment, the picturesque town of Grimsby is known as “the gateway between Hamilton and Niagara” and serves as the starting point for touring the Niagara wine region. Grimsby, where the slogan is “Friendly by Nature”, is a town rich in history and heritage, vibrant in arts and culture, and a place where country wineries and seasonal fruit stands feature locally grown products. The downtown core is the heart and soul of Grimsby and offers a variety of specialty shops, bistros and stores for everyone. (more…)