Hamilton, ON (March 1, 2022) – The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 1,228 sales of residential properties located within the RAHB market area through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in February 2022. Sales were up by 71 per cent month over month, and down by 4.4 per cent compared to February 2021. There were 1,675 new listings in February, which was up 84.2 per cent month over month, but compared to February 2021, there was only a 1.2 per cent increase. The average price for residential properties was $1,104,163, which was an increase of 4.2 per cent over last month, and an increase of 30.3 per cent compared to February 2021. The inventory of listings remains low at 0.6 months.
Hamilton, ON (February 1, 2022) – The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 718 sales of residential properties located within the RAHB market area through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in January 2022. Sales decreased by 11 per cent in January, down 13.5 per cent compared to January 2021. New listings increased by 40.9 per cent in January, down 11 per cent compared to January 2021. The average price for residential properties was $1,058,756, which was an increase of 13.6 per cent from December, and an increase of 34.7 per cent compared to January 2021. The inventory of active listings remains low at 0.6 months.
Hamilton, ON (January 18, 2022) – The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 16,502 sales of residential properties processed through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in 2021. This is an 10.5 per cent increase from 2020. The average price of a residential property in 2021 was $867,560 across the RAHB market area. This is up 25.74 per cent from 2020. The average price in 2011 was $321,449 which represents a 169.89 per cent increase over ten years. New residential listings increased by 7.7 per cent compared to 2020.
Hamilton, ON (January 4, 2022) – The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 811 sales of residential properties located within the RAHB market area through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in December 2021. Sales decreased by 32 per cent since last month, and they were down 11 per cent since December 2020. New listings fell by nearly 50 per cent since last month and they were also down six per cent since last December. The average price for residential properties was $931,787 which was an increase of two per cent from last month compared to an increase of 27 per cent from December 2020. The inventory available dropped even further to 0.4 months of inventory.
Hamilton, ON (December 1, 2021) – The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 1,199 sales of residential properties located within the RAHB market area through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in November 2021. Sales decreased by nearly ten per cent since last month, and they were down three per cent since November 2020. New listings also decreased by ten per cent since last month and they were also down three per cent since last November. The average price for residential properties was $911,673 which was a decrease of one per cent from last month compared to an increase of nearly 27 per cent from November 2020. The inventory available dropped even further to 0.5 months of inventory.
Hamilton, ON (November 2, 2021) – The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 1,329 sales of residential properties located within the RAHB market area through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in October 2021. Sales increased eight per cent since last month, and they were down nearly 18 per cent since October 2020. New listings decreased by nine per cent since last month and they were down 23 per cent since last October. The average price for residential properties was $922,297 which was an increase of nearly five per cent from last month compared to an increase of 27 per cent from October 2020. The inventory available dropped even further to 0.6 months of inventory.
We are encouraging members to submit names of fellow RAHB REALTORS® who you feel would be an effective leader for the Board of Directors. The Nominations Committee will do the follow-up to ensure this ideal candidate applies.
If you know of a RAHB member who ticks off all the boxes to be a great leader, please send the name to nominations@rahb.ca.
If you have any questions about the meeting, the election process or the information included in the Notice of Meeting, please contact Carolyn Infurnari at carolyni@rahb.ca.
Thank you in advance for your consideration, as well as your candidate suggestions, and we look forward to another excellent election!
Hamilton, ON (October 1, 2021) – The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 1,226 sales of residential properties located within the RAHB market area through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in September 2021. Sales increased two per cent since last month, and they were down nearly 30 per cent since September 2020. New listings increased by 14 per cent since last month and down 26 per cent since last September. The average price for residential properties was $881,656 which was an increase of nearly five per cent from last month compared to an increase of 22 per cent from September 2020. The inventory available remained unchanged from August 2021 at 0.8 months of inventory.
As of today, September 22nd, Ontario will require people to provide proof of vaccination status to access certain businesses and settings.
How does the new vaccination policy impact real estate?
OREA has consulted with the provincial government, real estate and legal experts and assembled the information you need to assist in your ongoing efforts to keep your clients, your brokerage, and communities safe. The FAQ below provides information to Members on issues like medical exemptions, real estate listings and working with unvaccinated clients.
As Ontario continues to navigate this fourth wave of the pandemic, it’s essential that we do our part as Ontario REALTORS® to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus. If you are not already vaccinated, unless you have a medical exemption, we strongly encourage you to do so. In addition to the guidance below, we encourage Members to continue to use technology and virtual tools first and to the greatest extent possible to reduce the need for in-person contact.
Together, we can help end this pandemic and get our province back to normal.
If you have follow-up questions, please reach out to info@orea.com and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
David Oikle
OREA President
Disclaimer:The guidance contained in this post is for information purposes only and is not meant to be relied upon as legal advice by REALTORS®, or others. Members wishing further clarity or advice should seek independent legal advice specific to their circumstances.
HOW THE VACCINATION CERTIFICATION SYSTEM WORKS
As of September 22, 2021, Ontarians will need to be fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days) and provide their proof of vaccination along with photo ID to access certain public settings and facilities. The government approach focuses on high-risk indoor public settings where face coverings cannot always be worn and includes:
Restaurants and bars (excluding outdoor patios, as well as delivery and takeout).
Nightclubs (including outdoor areas).
Meeting and event spaces, such as banquet halls and conference/convention centres.
Facilities used for sports and fitness activities and personal fitness training, such as gyms, fitness and recreational facilities with the exception of youth recreational sport.
Sporting events.
Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments.
Concerts, music festivals, theatres and cinemas.
Strip clubs, bathhouses and sex clubs.
Racing venues (e.g. horse racing).
Vaccination verification certificates will not be required when accessing necessary medical care, grocery stores or other essential services and establishments.
Unvaccinated people with medical exemptions (including those who may be allergic or had a reaction to their first vaccine) will not be required to provide proof of vaccination, provided they can produce an appropriate doctor’s note, at least until recognized medical exemptions can be integrated as part of a digital vaccine certificate.
All Ontarians can print or download their vaccination receipt from the provincial booking portal. The Ministry is working on additional supports and services to assist Ontario residents who need help obtaining proof of vaccination, including requesting a copy be sent by mail. Those who need support obtaining a copy of their vaccination receipt including those who do not have access to a computer or printer can call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.
Ontario is developing an enhanced vaccine certificate with a unique QR code to make it safer, more secure and convenient to show that you have been vaccinated, when required to do so. The enhanced vaccine certificate and verification app will be available by October 22, 2021. Ontario’s proof of vaccination guidance will be updated to reflect the new processes.
To see more of OREA’s Vaccination FAQ – Click here.
CREA has received several questions asking for clarification on CREA’s position regarding COVID-19 vaccines and in-person showings. In response to these questions CREA has prepared some FAQs below. If there are any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to CREA’s Senior Competition Counsel, Paul Feuer, pfeuer@crea.ca or CREA Legal Counsel, Simon Parham at sparham@crea.ca.
COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs
Please note that these FAQs should be understood in the extraordinary context of the COVID-19 pandemic. REALTORS®, Boards and Associations should also ensure that they abide by any local or provincial requirements and consult their legal counsel to ensure compliance with provincial or local law.
What is CREA’s position with respect to COVID-19 Vaccines?
CREA encourages all REALTORS® to get vaccinated against COVID-19, unless there are medical or religious reasons that prevent them from doing so.
It is incumbent on REALTORS®, as professionals, to follow all public health recommendations, including getting vaccinated, in order to help bring an end to the pandemic and ensure the lives and safety of our fellow Canadians.
Recently some listings have stated that anyone visiting the property for an in-person showing must be fully vaccinated. Should a Board permit such listings to be placed on their MLS® System?
Yes.
In extraordinary circumstances, such as a global pandemic, it is reasonable for the seller to request proof of vaccination, as it is to require the use of masks, social distancing and other measures as per advice from local and provincial health authorities.
Background
Ultimately, subject to any health directive or legal requirement, CREA believes that it is important for REALTORS® to respect the wishes of sellers who are in the best position to judge their own circumstances when it comes to the health of themselves and their families. For example, a seller who is immunocompromised may decide that they do not want to risk contracting COVID-19 from unvaccinated persons who might attend an in-person showing of their home. Precluding their listings from being placed on a Board MLS® System could deprive these sellers of a valuable REALTOR® service.
Are such COVID-19 vaccination requirements a barrier to REALTOR® cooperation?
No.
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, CREA does not believe that COVID-19 vaccine requirements for in-person showings are a barrier to REALTOR® cooperation given that proven alternatives to in-person showings exist; in particular, virtual showings.
Background
CREA believes Boards and Associations can and should be flexible when interpreting their MLS® System Rules regarding showings and recognize that, in these extraordinary circumstances, virtual showings can be a substitute for showings conducted in person.
Conversely, should a Board require that REALTORS® only conduct in-person showings with fully vaccinated persons?
No.
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, CREA is of the view that, subject to any health directive or legal requirement, sellers are in the best position to judge their own circumstances when it comes to vaccines.
Further, as is explained below, vaccine requirements may expose REALTORS® and a Board/Association to the risk of a lawsuit or complaint. A strict vaccination requirement issued by the Board could therefore inadvertently expose REALTORS® and Boards and Associations to such risks.
Could REALTORS® or a Board/Association be at risk of a lawsuit or complaint if they institute a business practice that prohibits in-person showings to those who are not fully vaccinated?
Yes.
There may be privacy, human rights and competition law issues if a REALTOR® or Board/Association institutes a business practice that prohibits in-person showings from those who are not fully vaccinated unless directed to do so by provincial or federal authorities. For this reason, there is a risk of a lawsuit or complaint being made.
What can REALTORS® or a Board/Association do to mitigate the risk of a lawsuit or complaint being successful if they institute a business practice that prohibits in-person showings to individuals that are not fully vaccinated?
To mitigate such risks, Boards, Associations and REALTORS® should consider using reasonable alternatives to in-person showings, such as virtual showings, for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
Canada’s Privacy Commissioners have cautioned against the use of vaccine passports as a condition of receiving a service absent a public health order or law requiring the presentation of a vaccine passport to enter a premise or receive a service. Further, requiring all persons attending in-person showings to be fully vaccinated could also raise issues under provincial human rights legislation.
However, in the context of vaccines, provincial human rights commissions have stressed the importance of being flexible and encourage organizations to explore whether accommodation is possible. For example, a reasonable alternative to an in-person showing would be a virtual showing.
Accordingly, REALTORS®, Boards and Associations that institute a business practice that prohibits in-person showings to individuals that are not fully vaccinated should consider using such reasonable alternatives to in-person showings in order to reduce the risk of a privacy or human rights complaint being successful.
While offering reasonable alternatives may mitigate the risk of a lawsuit or complaint being successful, it does not stop a complaint or suit from being made in the first place. Defending such suits/complaints can take time and energy. For this reason, REALTORS® or Boards/Associations who are interested in implementing a business practice that mandates that in-person showings only be conducted with those who are fully vaccinated (or who are considering any other business practice where service is dependent on another persons’ vaccine status) should speak to legal counsel so they understand the risks involved with any proposed practice and how to properly implement it.
Hamilton, ON (September 1, 2021) – The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 1,201 sales of residential properties located within the RAHB market area through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in August 2021. Sales were down five per cent since last month, and they were also down five per cent since August 2020. New listings were down nine per cent since last month and down 15 per cent since last August. The average price for residential properties was $839,881 which was a decrease of nearly one per cent from last month and up nearly 21 per cent from August 2020. The inventory available at the end of the month remained unchanged at 0.8.
