From September 30 to October 2, RAHB was in Ottawa for CREA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) Days. RAHB President Jack Loft, RAHB CEO George O’Neill, Government Relations Chair Nicolas von Bredow, Government Relations Vice-Chair Margaret Reid, and RAHB Manager of Communications & External Relations Wendy Stewart heard several informative speakers discuss housing and the issues affecting affordability. These speakers included:
The Honorable Joe Jordan, former Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Senior Associate at Bluesky Strategy Group
Perrin Beatty, President & CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce who spoke on USMCA
The meetings with three of RAHB’s MPs (Bob Bratina, Scott Duvall and David Sweet) went very well, with each MP being supportive of the recommendations and asks. Mr. Sweet went so far as to recommend that the First Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit be increased to $5,000.
Unfortunately, RAHB reps were unable to meet with the other MPs who represent RAHB’s market area due to scheduling conflicts:
The Hon. Karina Gould (Burlington)
David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre)
The Hon. Filomena Tassi (Hamilton-West – Ancaster – Dundas)
The Hon. Lisa Raitt (Milton)
Diane Finley (Haldimand-Norfolk)
Dean Allison (Niagara-West)
RAHB will continue to reach out to our MPs over the next year as we lead into the next federal election, and we encourage RAHB members to do the same. If you have any questions about CREA’s PAC Days or the resources above, please do not hesitate to contact Wendy Stewart at wendys@rahb.ca.
RAHB’s monthly stats package will soon have a new look! Thanks to the feedback we received from the RAHB Statistics Survey and the work of the Statistics Task Force, we will be offering members an updated, comprehensive package of statistical information that will include the most-used features of our current package plus additional information and new area breakdowns.
One of the additions will be CREA’s Home Price Index, or HPI. This new tool shows long-term trends for different housing types and will provide valuable data down to the neighbourhood level.
Learn more about the HPI by viewing CREA’s video and watch for more information about the new statistics package in the coming weeks.
The name of the winner of the $25 Tim Horton’s gift card has been drawn, and we will soon announce the members name.
CREA WEBForms® Updated – Please note that CREA will be discontinuing the “Classic” version of WEBForms® on Thursday, August 9 – the date has been changed from August 8, as reported earlier.
CREA will be discontinuing their “WEBForms® Classic” version as of Wednesday, August 8, 2018.
To prepare for the change to the new version of WEBForms®, why not begin using the new version now? It’s easy to get to the new site: when you go to WEBForms® Classic, you will see this notice – just click on the red button that says Try the new version of CREA WEBFORM® now! and you will be redirected to the site.
Beginning this week (July 30, 2018), CREA will be adding school catchment areas to the neighbourhood info on REALTOR.ca. You will be able to find the catchment area by selecting a school name from the school list in the neighbourhood section of a listing advertisement on REALTOR.ca. Catchment area is one of the most requested features for REALTOR.ca from both REALTORS® and consumers.
This change will be rolled out over two releases; the Hamilton area is in the first release scheduled for the week of July 30.
CREA’s scheduled rollout is:
The first release will cover the catchment area in these areas:
Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa-Gatineau, Edmondton, Quebec, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, St. Catharines-Niagara, Halifax, Oshawa, Victoria, Windsor, Saskatoon, Regina and Sherbrooke.
On August 30, the second release will cover:
St. John’s, Barrie, Kelowna, Abbotsford-Mission, Sudbury, Kingston, Saguenay, Trois-Rivieres, Guelph, Moncton, Brantford, Saint John, Peterborough, Thunder Bay, Lethbridge, Nanaimo, Kamloops, Belleville, Chatham-Ken, Fredericton, Chilliwack.
CREA will be discontinuing their WEBForms® Classic version as of Wednesday, August 8, 2018.
To prepare for the change to the new version of WEBForms®, why not begin using it now? It’s easy to find the new site: when you go to WEBForms® Classic, you will see the notice shown below – just click on the red button that says Try the new version of CREA WEBFORMS® now! and you will be redirected to the site.
Note: This article was updated on July 18 to reflect the new date of August 8 for the discontinuation of WEBForms® “Classic”.
We have received the following information from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA):
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) continues to enforce compliance with the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules or the National Do Not Call List (DNCL). The DNCL includes consumer telephone numbers who have chosen to no longer receive marketing calls.
The DNCL was established in September 2008 and CREA has communicated requirements to its members on numerous occasions. There have been several messages to Boards and Associations, News2Me articles, multiple blog posts and a full compliance guide is available on REALTOR Link® to help members understand their obligations.
It is important for brokerages to understand their responsibilities and ensure full compliance. Failure to do so may result in significant financial penalties administered by the CRTC. We encourage you to review the steps below and update your internal policies accordingly.
If a brokerage or their service provider conducts telemarketing, the brokerage must purchase a subscription for the area codes that will be called.
It is the responsibility of the brokerage to ensure its office has access to the most up-to-date version of the National DNCL and that those numbers are removed from the calling list.
The DNCL applies to brokerages as well as service providers. We urge brokerages to exercise caution when hiring a third party service provider to assist in managing their telemarketing operations. Hiring a third party to manage a brokerage’s telemarketing operations does not absolve the brokerage of its DNCL responsibilities. Each brokerage is responsible for calls made on their behalf, therefore, if the service provider does not abide by the law, the brokerage may be at risk, particularly if the CRTC launches an investigation.
For more information about the DNCL and members’ obligations, please consult CREA’s FAQs or contact us at info@crea.ca.
A recently-published Registrar’s Bulletin addressed the proper use of lockboxes on listed properties, the permissions required from sellers, the expectations for protection of the seller’s property when a lockbox is in use and the importance of keeping up to date on technological advances and best practices when using lockboxes.
Be sure you are complying with the rules – read the full Registrar’s Bulletinhere
Note:
RAHB’s also has rules and policies on the use of lockboxes and seller’s keys. They are found in the Rules & Regulations, Section 2 MLS® Listings, Subsection 2.17; Section 12 Trading Procedures, Subsection 12.07, and in MLS® Policies – Miscellaneous #16, as follows:
Section 2 MLS® Listings
2.17 Members shall ensure that lock boxes provided for the purposes of access to the property which is the subject of an MLS® Listing are set with a unique code for the security of their Seller’s property. Further, Members shall change the lock box combinations, as required during the course of the Listing to maintain reasonable security, and not use any preset manufacturers’ codes.
Section 12 Trading Procedures
12.07 With the knowledge and authority of the Listing Brokerage, keys or other entry systems may only be used by Members for the purpose of inspecting properties or showing properties. The making of duplicate keys from the one obtained, the action of failing to return the key to the Listing Brokerage within a reasonable time, or the turning over of the key or information on the entry system to any Person not authorized by the Listing Brokerage, is an unauthorized use. The member conducting the showing or inspection will remain on the premises during the entire period of access unless permission in writing has been obtained from the Listing Brokerage and will ensure that all security precautions are taken.
12.07a) Keys shall be re-deposited in a lockbox immediately upon exiting the property and the lockbox shall be properly secured.
12.07b) The member conducting the showing or inspection is solely responsible to ensure that all security precautions are taken prior to departing the property.
MLS® Policies – Miscellaneous
16. Any member found to be in breach of Rules and Regulations, Section 2 – MLS® Listings sub-section 2.17 (lock box code) will be fined $50 for the first offence, and $200 for the second and any subsequent offence.
CREA WEBForms® has a fresh new look and redesigned interface, which means helping your clients has never been easier.
Beginning in August, when you log into CREA WEBForms® you will automatically be redirected to the new CREA WEBForms® experience. WEBForms®Classic (the version currently available) will no longer be accessible.
But you don’t have to wait till August to switch to the new CREA WEBForms®.
Here are three reasons you should make the switch to the new CREA WEBForms® today:
Save Time With the ability to auto-populate forms using data from your board/association’s MLS® System, you can save time and simplify the buying and sales process.
Do More Deals From Anywhere Whether you’re at home or on the road, CREA WEBForms® works effortlessly with the device of your choice. You can use your cellphone, tablet or computer to complete your real estate transactions.
Enjoy Freedom of Choice CREA WEBForms® links to industry-leading e-signature and transaction management apps. You have the freedom to choose from popular apps like DocuSign®, Authentisign®, TransactionDesk®, NEXONE and eZmax.
Make the switch today by logging into CREA WEBForms® and clicking “Try the new CREA WEBForms®” at the top of the page.
(reprinted from May, 2018 edition of NEWS2Me, CREA’s national newsletter.)
The REALTOR® Action Network (RAN) is CREA’s online advocacy platform built exclusively for REALTORS®. RAN allows you to connect with your Member of Parliament (MP) so you can be the face of the local side of real estate in your area.
To make the most of the power of REALTORS® across the country, every REALTOR® has now been enrolled on RAN!
To be matched up with your MP, all you need to do is go to the REALTOR® Action Network site to update your profile with your home postal code – go to www.realtoractionnetwork.com. Please note: you will need to sign in to REALTOR Link® to reach the REALTOR® Action Network page.
