RECO is performing a review of its Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) program, and part of the review is a survey that has now been sent to all registrants. The survey is asking for your opinions about the MCE program.
Check your inbox (or spam folder) for a message from CamProf Inc., the consultant engaged by RECO to lead the MCE program review. Be sure to take this opportunity to have your say, and help maintain high professional and educational standards in your profession. The survey period is from May 14-28, 2018, so don’t delay!
The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) is urging all Ontario REALTORS® to help protect the Canadian dream of home ownership for future generations.
OREA’s research shows that to keep the dream alive, governments need to:
Ensure the right type of housing is available to meet future needs
Make home ownership more affordable for first time buyers
Increase supply to fill the demand as it grows
How can you help?
Learn more about future buyers’ prospects for home ownership at keepthedreamalive.ca
Contact your local candidates in the upcoming provincial election to make them aware of the issues, then encourage them to commit to supporting policies that will make home ownership in Ontario more affordable.
Visit keepthedreamalive.ca for all the details, including how to contact your local candidates; OREA can help you make a difference in the June 7 provincial election.
RAHB President Jack Loft was at the Royal LePage Marco Realty, Brokerage on Wednesday, April 18 to provide an update from the RAHB Board of Directors, discuss the CREA AGM that took place in Ottawa this past month, as well as answer questions and facilitate a discussion regarding professionalism, communication and several other important topics relating to real estate today.
RAHB President Jack Loft and CEO George O’Neill provide an update on the Board meeting today (April 19, 2018). They cover the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Three-Way Agreement that was voted on at the AGM, and the Affinity Program for RAHB Members — stay tuned for more updates on benefits you could receive!
If the plant is marijuana and it is being grown indoors, as will likely be allowed by pending federal legislation, the answer may be “plenty”. Growing marijuana indoors can lead to the growth of mold and fungus, which can pose serious health risks for anyone living in the property. These effects are not limited to massive grow ops; with the suggested maximum of four plants, the light and heat from the lamps needed by the plants can cause dangerous levels of mold and fungus.
This is a serious issue for REALTORS® who will be called on to list or sell properties which may be damaged by marijuana grown either legally (once legislation is approved) or illegally.
The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) developed a five-point Action Plan for Cannabis Legalization for the Province to consider as it decides how to manage legalized marijuana. The recommendations in the plan focus on the effects of indoor marijuana plants on homes, home owners and home buyers, and includes proposals for dealing with illegal grow operations as well as legal plants. OREA unveiled their plan at a press conference at Queen’s Park on Monday, April 9, 2018.
Please visit www.ProtectOntarioHomes.ca to learn all about OREA’s Action Plan for Cannabis Legalization, the issues with growing marijuana indoors, and how you can support OREA’s plan by writing to your MPP.
Click here to watch OREA’s announcement at Queen’s Park on Monday, April 9, 2018.
CREA recently released its 2017 REALTOR.ca Insights Report, which provides valuable market trends, consumer statistics, and information you can share with your clients about the value of using a REALTOR® and REALTOR.ca.
Here are some highlights from the report about Canada’s Number One real estate website!
6 million leads were sent to REALTORS® (through Email REALTOR®, Email Office and Phone a REALTOR® buttons)
There was an average of 300,000 listings on REALTOR.ca at any given time
There were 264 million visits to REALTOR.ca – 15 per cent more visits than last year!
REALTOR® profiles were viewed over 6.1 million times
There were 965 million views of property listings – up 64 per cent from last year!
Read the entire 2017 REALTOR.ca Insights Report here! (Note: This information was sent to all members in the March issue of CREA’s NEWS2Me newsletter.)
Have you heard about the Ontario REALTOR® Party? No, it is not a political party, but rather, a group that strives to unify REALTORS® to speak with one voice to promote the dream of home ownership and protect the real estate profession.
There is always something to do to help promote the issues important to home owners and REALTORS®. No matter how big or small the task, your efforts will make a difference! Click here to get involved today.
All residential leases signed on or after April 30, 2018 must be on the new Ontario standard lease form.
Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act makes it mandatory to use the standard lease template that is currently available only through the Government Forms Repository. According to information provided by the Ontario Real Estate Association (and sent by OREA to all members on March 21, 2018), OREA Form #400 – Agreement to Lease Residential can be used only to set up the terms of the lease and the standard lease template must be used to formalize the actual lease.
OREA is in the process of reviewing their Form #400 – Agreement to Lease Residential – and its associated clause for any revisions they may need.
Be sure you know the terms of the standard lease form for Monday, April 30, 2018!
Did you know that GeoWarehouse rich reporting offers access to recent searches, deeper report insights and accurate visuals? You can also use the GeoWarehouse live measurement tool, see full sales history for any property, and gain real-time statistics on ownership, area demographics, and site/structure. To learn more, watch the video below!
The Ontario Real Estate Association and the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington are pleased to be offering two FREE groundbreaking courses to our members – ORP 101: An Introductory Course on Grassroots Advocacy and ORP 201: An Introductory Course on Campaigns and Elections.
Both courses will be offered on Monday, March 26, 2018 at The Waterfront Banquet & Conference Centre (555 Bay St N, Hamilton, ON L8L 1H1), with ORP 101 starting at 9:30 a.m., followed by ORP 201 starting at 1 p.m. Lunch will be made available to all attendees at 12:30 p.m.
ORP 101 provides basic foundational knowledge of government relations, including: an understanding of the behind the scenes workings of Queen’s Park, how to set up a meeting with an MPP, and how to stay in touch with your MPP to build a relationship. ORP 101 is designed to empower our members to engage with provincial leaders on matters of interest to home owners and Ontario REALTORS®.
ORP 201 provides basic foundational knowledge on how provincial elections and campaigns work, including: the difference between a general election and a by-election, and the different roles on a campaign. ORP 201 is designed to get our members more involved in the election process.
To register for this FREE session, pleaseclick here.
Congratulations to Susanne Lemaich L (RE/MAX Escarpment Real Estate Inc.) on her nomination for a YWCA Women of Distinction award!
Suzanne was nominated in the category of Community Leadership, and deservedly so! She is a six-time Canadian and two-time World Women’s Snooker Champion, 2007-12 Canadian Billiards and Snooker Association president, founder of the Women’s Snooker Association and she served as an international discipline committee member. Suzanne founded Breakfast with Santa (jointly operated with Good Shepherd), volunteered with elderly care and heads up a local snooker league.
Suzanne has been a RAHB member since 2008 and is an Accredited Senior Agent (SRA). Suzanne has volunteered her time at RAHB as well as in the community – she has served on the Government Relations, Arbitration, Professional Standards and Member Area Representation committees.
