Nov 28, 2018 | Uncategorized |
Earlier this week, RAHB President Jack Loft, CEO George O’Neill, Government Relations (GR) Chair Nic von Bredow, GR Vice-Chair Margaret Reid, and GR Staff Liaison Wendy Stewart attended the Ontario REALTOR® Party Conference in Toronto.
The delegates enjoyed talks/presentations from:
- Nik Nanos, who spoke on a snapshot of the numbers for Ontario and Canadian Politics
- David McNaughton, Ambassador of Canada to the United States
- Three Doug Ford insiders: Melissa Lantsman (Hill & Knowlton), Michael Coates (Rubicon Strategies) and Mike Diamond (Upstream Strategies).
- Queen’s Park Media Panel: Marieke Walsh (iPolitics), Robert Benzie (Toronto Star) and Alan Carter (Global News)
- A political pundits panel: Warren Kinsella (Daisy Consulting Group), Kathleen Monk (Earnscliffe Strategy Group) and Char Rogers (Chestview Strategy)
- The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier and Leader of the PC Party
- Andrea Horwath, Leader of the NDP
- John Fraser, Interim Leader of the Liberal Party
- Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario
- A panel of new MPPs: Stan Cho (Willowdale), Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale- High Park) and Stephen Lecce (King-Vaughan)
- The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister
The conference also included meetings with MPPs to talk about the issues:
Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002 (REBBA) Reform for:
- Enforcement
- Better consumer protection
- Cutting real estate red tape
Tax Fairness for real estate professionals because:
- The current system is unfair to REALTORS®
- There is a need to cut additional red tape
- There will be minimal revenue implications
- It strengthens consumer protection
Delegates from RAHB met with:
– Paul Miller, MPP for Hamilton East – Stoney Creek
– Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP for Oakville North – Burlington
– Monique Taylor, MPP for Hamilton Mountain
– Jane McKenna, MPP for Burlington
Nov 28, 2018 | Uncategorized |
Hamilton’s Bayfront Park and Pier 8 were awash with Santa suits and beards during the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington Santa 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, November 25! Over 500 Santas participated in the annual event sponsored by RAHB.
Thanks to RAHB members and staff who ran, walked, rolled the course or contributed to the food drive benefiting Mission Services!
Nov 28, 2018 | Uncategorized |
Just a reminder that the parking lot at the RAHB office will be unavailable for use on Friday, November 30 and Monday, December 3. If you are planning to visit the office on either of those days please allow extra time to find parking.
Nov 20, 2018 | Uncategorized |
It’s election season at RAHB and there are seven (7) candidates vying for your vote for a spot on the 2019 Board of Directors!
In accordance with RAHB Bylaw Article 5, Section 7.03, the final slate of candidates for the 2019 Board of Directors is being sent to all members. Please click on the below button for the report from the Nomination Committee, including the list of candidates (which are listed alphabetically, and not by rank):
2019 RAHB Election Candidates
Hank Balfoort, Broker, Right at Home Realty Inc.
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video / Q&A |
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Jim Duschl, Salesperson, RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc.
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video / Q&A |
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Jacqueline Norton, Salesperson, Realty Network: 100 Inc.
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video / Q&A |
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Andrew Robertson, Broker of Record, Keller Williams Complete Realty
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video / Q&A |
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Julie Sergi, Salesperson, Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services
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video / Q&A |
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Brian Shaw, Salesperson, Royal LePage State Realty
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video / Q&A |
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Nicolas von Bredow, Broker, Royal LePage Macro Realty
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video / Q&A |
RAHB Election Meeting
Mark your calendar for the Annual Election Meeting to be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 5 at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Registration and continental breakfast begins at 8:45 a.m.
CREA’s President, Barb Sukkau will provide members with an update from CREA and we will also feature a presentation: The Business of Ethics – What’s in it for Me by Bill Harrington, CREA’s General Counsel and Privacy Officer.
How to Vote Online
Advance electronic voting is available November 27, 28 and 29, 2018 commencing a 12:01 a.m. and ending 11:59 p.m. To vote, please visit http://evoting.rahb.ca/ElectionList.aspx. Video presentations from the candidates and candidates’ profiles (listed alphabetically, and not by rank) are also available on this site.
Hope to see you at any or all of the above events!
Jack Loft
2018 Nomination Committee Chair
Nov 20, 2018 | Uncategorized |
Join the OREA Forms Team on Wednesday, December 12 for an interactive overview of Broker of Record/Brokerage responsibilities and OREA Forms and Clauses that often affect trading activities.
Knowledge and awareness are paramount for reducing Brokerage and member liabilities.
Webinar Registration
This webinar, Broker of Record Responsibilities and OREA Forms, will provide Brokers of Record and Managers a detailed review of ongoing regulatory obligations. We will identify the many vital Forms resources to utilize in offices to keep members up to date.
Webinar learning objectives:
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- What’s new and revised for 2019 OREA Forms and Clauses
- OREA Form #400 Agreement to Lease revisions
- OREA Forms post-cannabis legalization, including four NEW clauses
- Challenging Question/Answer discussion points re FINTRAC, e-signatures, advertising consent and suggestions for varied areas for Brokerage policies
- Recent member market issues connecting to helpful OREA Forms for accountable discovery, disclosure, acknowledgements and consents
- Refresher on finding the many excellent OREA resources for Brokerages
The webinar will be facilitated by Cassandra Agnew Walker, who will be joined by Lou Radomsky, OREA Forms Legal Counsel and Hugh Foy, a huge fan of REALTORS®. It takes place at 1 p.m. EST on December 12, 2018. Registration can be completed online now. If you are unavailable on the date of the webinar, you can still receive a link to the recording by registering.
All OREA Standard Forms webinars and related resources are for OREA members only. To access the webinar recordings and forms resources you must be registered with a brokerage that is a member of Organized Real Estate, which includes OREA membership.
Nov 14, 2018 | Uncategorized |
Meet the candidates for the upcoming RAHB Board of Directors election as RAHB members battle it out in a chili cookoff to see who will reign Chili Supreme! Taste and vote on your favourite chili as you learn about the election process. This is also a great opportunity for you to meet the candidates and ask the candidates questions prior to the opening of electronic voting.
Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Time: Noon – 1 p.m.
Where: RAHB Office (Lower Level Rooms)
505 York Blvd, Hamilton, L8R 3K4
Cost: FREE
Nov 6, 2018 | Uncategorized |
RAHB and CMHC are teaming up to present Real Estate Outlook 2019, where you will learn about economic, geographic and demographic variables that will influence the housing market in the Hamilton-Burlington area in 2019.
On the agenda for this half-day event are:
- Anthony Passerelli, CMHC’s Senior Market Analyst, will discuss the state of Hamilton’s and Burlington’s housing markets, and present CMHC’s forecast for the 2019 housing market
- Additional speakers to be determined, so stay tuned to learn who will be in attendance to engage and inform!
Tickets are now on sale!
RAHB member = $42 +HST
non-RAHB member = $52 +HST
Broker table (10) = $420 +HST
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Oct 31, 2018 | RAHB News, Uncategorized |
On October 15, Habitat for Humanity Hamilton experienced a massive theft when over $10,000 worth of supplies and equipment was stolen from its warehouse. Items taken include compressors, saws, nail guns, cordless drills and copper pipe. Habitat for Humanity was in the midst of building a home in downtown Hamilton on Wilson Street and the theft will affect that, as well as other projects.
Habitat for Humanity Hamilton is appealing to the community for donations of new or slightly used tools, as well as monetary contributions. The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington will be donating financially to the organization, and if you would personally like to donate please call 905-560-6707, or e-mail their CEO Sean Ferris directly at [email protected].
More Information
Oct 31, 2018 | Uncategorized |
We extend a warm welcome to RAHB’s newest members who joined our Association between
September 29 and October 30, 2018!
Mary Dzambas
Century 21 New Age Realty Inc.
Nasr Bistawrous
Homelife Professionals Realty Inc.
Gordon Burns
Elaine Tolley
iPro Realty Ltd.
Sara Caterini
Adam Cooke
Alyssa Drummond
Julie Hilw
Keller Williams Complete Realty
Susan Blazey
Fathalla Denno
Troy Challe
Glenda DiStefano
Elsa Sewell
Michelle Whitelaw
Keller Williams Edge Realty
Ana Carter
Kingsway Real Estate
Sabi Dhawan
LEADEX Realty Inc.
Stacey Keric
Lenore Lennox
Rob McKichan
Danny Mistry
Demis Rasho
Tyler Robins
Lex Thavarajah
RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc.
Krista Toussaint
RE/MAX Escarpment Golfi Realty Inc.
Marcelo Ferreira
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc.
Cristian Enache
Right At Home Realty Inc.
Laura D’Alimonte
Brandon Iaboni
Rachel Taylor
Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services
Suzanne McKinnon
Royal LePage Macro Realty
Yossi Klein
Lisa Templeman
Zolo Realty
Oct 16, 2018 | RAHB News, Uncategorized |
The Ontario Municipal Election is this Monday, October 22, 2018 and we encourage all RAHB REALTORS® to vote for those who represent you, your family, your community and your clients.
Please see below for links to where you can find candidate information for each of the areas within our RAHB market, as well as general voter information for those areas:
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City of Hamilton
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City of Burlington
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Haldimand County
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Niagara Region
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And when considering your available candidates, we ask that you keep the below questions in mind:
- Do the candidates support or oppose the Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT)?
- Do Hamilton candidates support or oppose the LRT?
- Do Burlington candidates support or oppose increased development?
- What are the plans of Burlington candidates to reduce traffic congestion?
- Do Hamilton candidates support or oppose rental licensing?
- Do Hamilton candidates support or oppose easing the process to establish a secondary suite?
- Do Haldimand candidates support or oppose development?
- Do Niagara candidates support or oppose growth?
- Will your candidates support or oppose initiatives to improve housing affordability?
Oct 16, 2018 | RAHB News, Uncategorized |
On September 27, 2018, the City of Hamilton Rental Licensing Sub-Committee voted in favour to establish a rental licensing pilot project in Wards 1 and 8. This recommendation will go before the next City of Hamilton Council, with anticipated implementation within the first quarter of 2019.
RAHB voted against rental licensing in the City of Hamilton for several reasons, including: a lack of clarification on the process, uneven zoning by-laws throughout the City of Hamilton since amalgamation, a lack of incorporating the Maple Leaf Strategies Report containing 25 recommendations to address the issues (above and beyond), a lack of plan moving forward, etc.
Please see below for information from the City of Hamilton’s for the rental licensing pilot project, as presented to the Rental Housing Sub-Committee:
LICENSING BY-LAW
This option is intended to assist and support in bringing low density rental properties into conformity and compliance with standards and lessen enforcement challenges presently in existence. An owner occupied low density dwelling unit with three or fewer bedrooms rented within the same dwelling will not require a licence to rent individual rooms (three or fewer) as this is allowed under current zoning regulations.
Considerations in developing a Low Density Rental Housing Licensing By-law and Program include:
Potential Requirements under a Licensing By-law:
(a) Owner to provide proof of ownership and contact information (principal residence), company information
(b) Property management plan
(c) Proof of insurance
(d) Local management contact info (for out of town owners)
(e) Self/City inspections for compliance with the City’s Property Standards and Yard Maintenance By-laws
(f) Electrical safety inspection
(h) Floor plan for the building
(i) Property/yard maintenance plan
(j) Parking plan
(k) Licence fee
(l) Consent to Inspection
Pilot Project Summary
|
FTEs |
Associated Costs – FTEs |
By-Law Amendments Required |
Inspections |
Exemptions |
Fee |
| Rental Licensing |
3 |
$347,463 |
Yes |
Yes, consent for inspection provided by building owner. |
An owner occupied unit with 3 or fewer bedrooms rented within the same dwelling unit. |
$200 annually |
ADVANTAGES OF LICENSING
- Apply specifically to low density rental housing (5 units or less)
- Apply equally to existing and new low density rental housing (5 units or less)
- Require regular inspections
- Require proof of insurance
- Be funded by rental housing provider
- Safer legal properties to rent
- Potential reduction of enforcement costs to tax base
- Possible elimination of unsafe, non-compliant properties from market
- Early awareness of requirements allows for collaborative compliance
- Competition from unsafe, non-compliant properties reduced
- Housing stock is maintained
- Inspection enforcement encourages preventative maintenance, which is more cost effective than deferred maintenance, and thereby helps owners maintain their properties
- Housing inhabited by the most vulnerable populations, which is frequently the worst housing, is inspected annually
- Poorly maintained, substandard housing can have a negative effect on neighboring property values
DISADVANTAGES OF LICENSING
- Financial costs associated with a licence, passed on to tenants, higher rents
- Financial costs associated with insurance, passed on to tenants, higher rents
- Financial costs associated with bringing a property into compliance passed on to tenants, higher rents
- Potential loss of rental income due to enforcement
- Potential loss of affordable housing stock
- May have an impact on affordable housing
- Licensing rental housing may not be effective in addressing behavioural issues
- Residential rental licensing should not be considered as an alternative to enforcement of existing by-laws
UNKNOWNS OF LICENSING
- Although consent of entry written into regulation, unknown if tenants/owners will allow inspection
- Compliance rates – follow-ups could be time consuming
- Actual rental homes in Pilot Project area – 1,500 to 2,000 units estimated
RAHB is in contact with City of Hamilton staff to obtain more specifics on the plan moving forward and will provide those to RAHB members as they are obtained.
If you have any questions, please contact Wendy Stewart in the RAHB office at [email protected] or 905.529.8101 x295 for more information.
More information can also be found on the City of Hamilton website at https://www.hamilton.ca/council-committee/council-committee-meetings/rental-housing-sub-committee.
Oct 9, 2018 | Uncategorized |
On October 3, RAHB received an e-mail from CREA, as did their other members, informing us that CREA’s Board of Directors recently decided to allow the future posting of sold data on REALTOR.ca. This announcement came as a surprise to us since we were not consulted in this matter.
We are seeking clarification from CREA about their plans, and will share those with you as soon as they become available. We will also be seeking input from you, our members, before RAHB’s Board of Directors makes any decision on how to proceed.
To view the CREA announcement, please click on the below button:
