REAL info MARCH ● 2016
News and Resource for MEMBERS
FEATURE Musings from RAHB CEO George O'Neill – page 2
MLS®/TECHNOLOGY Matrix Webinar, replayed – page 2 How much do you know about Matrix? – page 3 Cambridge, KW and Oakville unCONNECTed – page 3
RAHB NEWS RAHB welcomes new members – page 3 RAHB dues deadline March 31, 2016 – page 4
SERVICES SPOTLIGHT REALTOR® CONNECTIONS – page 5
MEMBER SERVICES Professional Development for REALTORS® – page 6 Government Relations: Letter to the Editor – page 6 Realty Shoppe – page 8 REALTOR® CONNECTIONS 2016 – page 9
BULLETIN BOARD Easter Egg Hunt – page 10
OREA/OREA NEWS Commission reduction agreements – page 10 2016 Ontario Budget – page 11
MARK YOUR CALENDAR What's coming up at RAHB – page 12
Empowering REALTORS ® to Succeed
Download Full Edition
News and Resource for Members
Established in 1921, the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) represents more than 2,700 real estate brokers and salespersons from Hamilton, Burlington, and surrounding areas. Members of the association may use the REALTOR® trademark, which identifies them as real estate professionals who subscribe to a strict code of ethics. The Association operates the local Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System and provides ongoing professional education courses for its members. In addition, RAHB is an active participant in the Home Ownership Affordability Partnership (HOAP) and holds an annual auction in support of local charities. Advertisements of local MLS® property listings and information about the services provided by a REALTOR® can be found at www.REALTOR.ca. More information about RAHB is available at www.rahb.ca.
Mission Statement Empowering REALTORS® to Succeed President Kim Alvarez 905.407.7046 President-Elect Lou Piriano 905.628.6625 Vice-President Jack Loft 905.304.3303 Immediate Past President Donna Bacher 905.520.1946 Directors Ann Forbes Arndt Nikola Bucalo Kathy Della-Nebbia Gary Herron Peter Holgate Paul Martindale Andrew Robertson Bob Van de Vrande
905.574.3038 905.388.1110 905.574.4600 905.388.1110 905.336.9001 905.572.9465 905.308.8333 905.332.4111
REALinfo is published monthly by the REALTORS® Association of HamiltonBurlington (RAHB) 505 York Boulevard, Hamilton ON L8R 3K4 T.: 905.529.8101 F.: 905.529.4349 MLS® F.: 905.529.6636 Help Desk T.: 905.667.4650 Realty Shoppe: T.: 905.529.5979 F.: 905.529.7109 Email: info@rahb.ca Web site: www.rahb.ca Intranet site: www.realtorlink.ca Editor: Valerie Webster Editorial Assistant: Sheila Sferrazza Design: Maggie Inglis In-house Products: RAHB Print Services
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MUSINGS FROM RAHB CEO GEORGE O'NEILL It’s March: the beginning of the spring market and the perfect time to re-energize and focus on the busy market ahead. It’s also the time to attend REALTOR® CONNECTIONS on March 23, 2016 at the Hamilton Convention Centre. This event has lots to offer to help you succeed in your business. REALTOR® CONNECTIONS is a great time for you to learn more about your association, meet with sellers of services you can use in your day-to-day business as a REALTOR®, learn something new in a professional development session or Knowledge Pod and meet with your colleagues, your Directors and the RAHB president. And there’s more – Realty Shoppe specials and draws, a lunchtime panel of City Planners talking about their city’s plans for the future, two sessions on Matrix, lots of commercial content … every member should find something of interest and value at REALTOR® CONNECTIONS. Here are my top three reasons you should attend REALTOR® CONNECTIONS: 3.
The RAHB Annual General Meeting. Our AGM is the best way for you to hear about initiatives for the coming year, to receive an update about Matrix and the Regional MLS® System and to learn about RAHB’s financial position. The more you know about your association, the more you will understand how to maximize the value of your membership.
2.
CONNECTIONS Café. This is the place to come with your ideas or questions and discuss them with a RAHB Director, RAHB President Kim Alvarez or with me – we will all be at CONNECTIONS Café after the AGM, until noon. Oh, and there will be an espresso machine in the room – you can come and enjoy a coffee, too.
1. Value for the money. Or for no money, if you have registered before the March 7 deadline for free registrations. Even if you have to pay the $35 plus HST fee after that date to attend, there is so much value packed into the day that you will get more than your money’s worth. I am looking forward to meeting you at REALTOR® CONNECTIONS – I hope you are planning to attend. Regards,
MLS®/TECHNOLOGY Matrix Webinar, replayed Were you unable to join the Matrix webinar on Tuesday or Thursday, February 23 and 25? Don’t despair – the webinar was recorded and you can watch the presentation at your own convenience. Check it out at https://youtu.be/KtFAgTU-ipE
News and Resource for Members
How much do you know about Matrix? Have you been reading your copies of The Shift, RAHB’s newsletter about all things Matrix? The Shift is delivered right to your email inbox and it contains helpful information about what you can do to prepare for Matrix. It also has, in every issue, links to useful information, like samples of the Data Input form you will be using once RAHB cuts over to Matrix. All issues of The Shift are posted on REALTOR Link®, so if you have missed one or some, you can still catch up. Just look under the “MLS®” tab, and look for “The Shift”. You can also check out everything RAHB has published about the Regional MLS® system in that same section.
Cambridge, KW and Oakville unCONNECTed If you have been using CONNECT to access listings from Cambridge, Kitchener-Waterlook and Oakville-Milton, you will notice these feeds are no longer being updated in the CONNECT system and have been be removed from the CONNECT interface. These feeds are no longer necessary for RAHB members because that data is now available within Matrix. Matrix provides a much richer and more detailed set of data and also contains additional historical listing data which was not available within CONNECT. If you haven’t yet logged in to the new Matrix system, you should head on over to http://onregional.ca to see what you are missing!
RAHB NEWS RAHB welcomes new members The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington extends a warm welcome to its newest members (January 22 to February 23). Alec Danch
Alan Brown Real Estate, Brokerage
Mabel Huang
Apex Results Realty Inc., Brokerage
Roopa Sharma
Century 21 New Age Realty Inc., Brokerage
Adam Consoli
Anahita Atta Dan Corcoran Katherine Budreau
Keller Williams Complete Realty Inc., Brokerage
Steve Dixon Emily Jones
Keller Williams Edge Realty Inc., Brokerage
Coldwell Banker Community Real Estate Inc., Brokerage
Mohammad Uddin
Cynthia Featherstone
David Medeiros Leanne Giles
Coldwell Banker K. Miller Real Estate Inc., Brokerage
Cindy Zupanovic
Heritage Realty Inc., Brokerage
Jackie Ruth Chong Homelife Professionals Realty Inc., Brokerage
Kingsway Real Estate Brokerage
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage
Sydney Borsi Joanne Miller Jamie Kovacs
Cheryl Buis Zizi Farhan
Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services Inc., Brokerage
Jonathan Sommer Rob Kutlesa
Royal LePage State Realty Inc., Brokerage
Christopher Toste
Royal LePage Supreme Realty Inc., Brokerage
Bram Goldman Shanon Knights
St. Jean Realty Inc., Brokerage
Mark Wessman Irina Clairmont
Your Choice Realty Corp., Brokerage
RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc., Brokerage March
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News and Resource for Members
RAHB dues deadline March 31, 2016 The quarterly RAHB dues have been billed and e-mailed to you as part of your February monthly invoice. Please note that dues are due and payable no later than March 31st, 2016. If payment is not received, suspension will be immediate as per RAHB Bylaw Article 4, Section 3, Sub-Section 3.01.
125.00 28.75 77.50 30.06 $ 261.31 $
FULL MEMBER – RAHB dues (April - June) – OREA dues (April - June) – CREA dues (April - June) – HST Total
75.00 28.75 77.50 23.56 $ 204.81 $
SENIOR MEMBER* – RAHB dues (April - June) – OREA dues (April - June) – CREA dues (April - June) – HST Total
Acceptable methods of payment: In Person: Visa, MasterCard, Interac, Cash or Cheque By Phone: Visa or MasterCard Online through Fusion: Visa, MasterCard or AMEX Online: CIBC/PC Financial, Royal Bank, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust – for assistance in set-up, please call Karin at 905.529.8101 x258. Pre-Authorized payment subscribers will be processed on Monday, March 21, 2016. * To meet the Senior Membership criteria, you must be 65 years of age and a 25-year RAHB member. If you meet the criteria please contact Camryn in the Membership Department with proof of age (e.g. driver’s license) – camrynh@rahb.ca or by fax to 905.529.4349. Membership Terminations: Article 4 – Section 1, 1.02 It shall be the Brokerage’s responsibility to ensure that notice of all Membership resignations and/or other Membership terminations for Members registered with such Brokerage are received at the Association office within seven (7) business days of such termination. Notice of any resignation and/or other Membership termination received after such date, shall be subject to a penalty in the amount of $50.00 per incident, which sum shall be payable by the Brokerage to the Association.
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News and Resource for Members
SERVICES SPOTLIGHT REALTOR® CONNECTIONS RAHB’s annual conference and trade show – known first as REALTORS® without BORDERS and now as REALTOR® CONNECTIONS - has been one of RAHB’s most important member services for the last 15 years, and was rated as RAHB’s Number One event in the Member Satisfaction Survey in 2014. Prior to the first fully-fledged REALTORS® without BORDERS Conference and Trade Show, RAHB offered various forms of education days both alone and in conjunction with other real estate associations. Then came the first REALTORS® Without BORDERS in 2001, which offered professional development (and MCE Credits) and a large trade show. In 2010, the event underwent a name change to REALTOR® CONNECTIONS and in 2012 it was combined with the RAHB AGM to give members a one-day, everything-in-one-place event. The focus of the event has always been bringing members the best in professional development, vendors in the trade show and other features to assist members in their roles as REALTORS®. A more recent addition is a focus on member engagement and developing two-way communication with members. Here’s a quick look at how REALTOR® CONNECTIONS has developed from 10 years ago:
Year#
Exhibitors
Members Registered to Attend
Cost to Attend
2006
55
508
$30
2015
60
528
FREE/$35 late and at door
#
Quick Facts: Most exhibitors: 70 (2014) Highest registration fee: $45 (2007-2010) Highest attendance: 585 (2004) Lowest registration fee: FREE (2011-2016) No matter what you call it – Education Day, REALTORS® without BORDERS or REALTOR® CONNECTIONS – this is the event that focuses on what members need and want to do their business better. To register online go to http://registration.rahb.ca/MainList.aspx. Online registration to the event is open until 8:30 a.m. Monday, March 14. REALTOR® CONNECTIONS 2016 is FREE for members who register by 8:30 a.m. Monday, March 7. For more information about REALTOR® CONNECTIONS 2016, please visit our website at http://www.rahb.ca/eventssponsors/realtor-connections/.
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News and Resource for Members
MEMBER SERVICES Professional Development for REALTORS® Flying Drones and Real Estate Wednesday, March 30, 2016 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Cost: Free http://rahb.ca/education/2016/FlyingDrones.pdf Problems with Older HomesFriday, April 8, 2016 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Cost: Free http://rahb.ca/education/2016/ProblemsOlderHomes.pdf iPad Agent Monday, April 18, 2016 9 a.m. - Noon Cost: $79+HST Early Bird (before April 11, 2016); $ 99+HST Regular Price http://rahb.ca/education/2016/iPad041816.pdf Social Media for Agents - New Monday, April 18, 2016 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Cost: $79+HST Early Bird (before April 11, 2016), $ 99+HST Regular Price
e-PRO® Day 1 – Certification Course (Note: Day 2 is completed online) Wednesday, May 11, 2016 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost: $199 +HST http://rahb.ca/education/2016/eProCertificationCourse.pdf HST for the Real Estate Professional Thursday, May 12, 2016 10 a.m. – Noon Cost: Free http://rahb.ca/education/2016/HSTRealEstateProfessional.pdf SRES® – Seniors Real Estate Specialist® Wednesday and Thursday, May 25 and 26, 2016 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day Cost: $299+HST http://rahb.ca/education/2016/SRES.pdf All courses will be held at the RAHB office, McCullough Room (lower level). Contact Angela (905.529.8101 x233 or angelam@rahb.ca) for more information or to register.
Government Relations The following information has come to RAHB and may be of interest to members. Please note that the opinions of the author are not necessarily those held by RAHB, its Board of Directors or staff. Dear Editor: There seems to be a theme with provincial legislation lately and it has to do with trails. Recently we found out about Bill 118 and now there is Bill 100, which has been voted on once and is moving forward through government procedure. Both of these Bills remove and/or undermine private property rights. Bill 100 leads the private property owner into thinking they can allow things like snowmobile trails, atv trails, hiking trails, etc., across their property and yet retain the right to shut those trails down, if they want or need to. They will not be able to, if Bill 100 is passed. What are the main points of Bill 100? Bill 100 short titled Supporting Ontario’s Trails Act, 2015, includes 3 sections and 6 Schedules. Schedule 1 is the Ontario Trails Act, 2015, and has 16 sections. This Act is by the Minister of Tourism and the Bill states the purposes of this Act are: to encourage the use of trails, to enhance trail experience, to protect trails, and to recognize trails. continued on page 7 March
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News and Resource for Members
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Nothing in this Act is for the protection of the private property owner, and would seem to mislead the private property owner into entering into agreements where an easement would be registered against the title of the private property. This easement cannot be removed by the private property owner; it can only be removed by an “eligible body”, which under this Act is a “nominee.” A “nominee” seems a very unusual term, and the reasoning for this term could seem quite the trick. When an “eligible body” approaches a private property owner about allowing a trail to cross their land, if the owner of the land agrees, then the owner is the one actually asking this “eligible body” to put an easement against the owner’s title. Unknowingly the private property owner has just turned over his rights to the eligible body, and because of this Act that eligible body can now go and register an easement against the title of the property. “Eligible bodies” include, exerpt right from the Act: The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, including an agency, board or commission of the Crown that can hold an interest in land: an aboriginal band (within the meaning of the Indian Act of Canada), community or organization prescribed under this Act: a municipality: a conservation authority: a board under the Education Act: an incorporated registered charity under the Canada Corporations Act: a trustee of a charitable foundation and/or a donnee registered under the Income Tax Act: a qualified organization, under section 170 (h) Internal Revenue Code (United States)[(3)Future interests in tangible personal property… For purposes of the preceding sentence, a fixture which is intended to be severed from the real property shall be treated as tangible personal property.], etc.,: any other person or body prescribed under this Act. Also, if a private property owner did allow an easement, that easement can be transferred from the eligible body, you have entered into an agreement with, to any of the other “eligible bodies” on that list, and you wouldn’t even know. So, in good faith, you enter into an agreement with the local snowmobile club and the next thing you know a municipality or conservation authority has an easement against your property. Is that what a private property owner wanted? No, but that’s what this Bill can do. This Bill could also be a detriment to those who have had a really good working relationship with private property owners, because if a private property owner feels they are going to have an easement registered against their property that they haven’t any control over, or can’t remove, why would anyone allow any association, federation, or organization the privilege of putting a trail across their property. I know I wouldn’t, so this Bill does just the complete opposite of what its purpose is, to promote trails. Bill 100 needs to die on the floor of Queen’s Park for the protection of everyone’s private property rights.
Elizabeth Marshall, Director of Research Ontario Landowners Association, President All Rights Research Ltd., Director Canadian Justice Review Board NOTE: Don Johnson (Right at Home Realty Inc.) will be presenting this topic in a Knowledge Pod at REALTOR® CONNECTIONS on March 23, 2016.
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News and Resource for Members
Realty Shoppe Laser Dimension Master II
Customer Appreciation Day Winner
• Fast, accurate indoor measurements up to 50 feet with 99.0% accuracy • Instant digital readout displayed in feet-inches or metres • Uses a narrow ultrasonic beam to measure at the speed of sound, even in areas with furniture or fixtures • Laser pointer may also be used alone for presentations • Sleek, easy-to-use design. Carry it in your pocket, purse or briefcase.
NOTE: Warranty voided if the device is left in your vehicle, exposed to temperature extremes. Final sale item. Limited quantity.
$
Congratulations to Valerie Dalgetty-Righton (Coldwell Banker Community Real Estate), winner of the Realty Shoppe’s Customer Appreciation Day draw for a gift basket valued at $40. Light refreshments and free give aways were enjoyed by all who dropped by on February 10.
42.50 ea.*
SQ. FT. Sticker
Red printing on white background, 3 ½” x 20”
$
41¢ ea.* IMPORTANT NOTICE
The Realty Shoppe will be CLOSED for all business on Wednesday, March 23 Visit our booth at REALTOR® CONNECTIONS at the Hamilton Convention Centre New products! Show specials! Great prizes! Remember to bring your business cards to enter the draws
* All applicable taxes are extra. Prices subject to change.
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Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. T.: 905.529.5979 F.: 905.529.7109 E.: realtyshoppe@rahb.ca
News and Resource for Members
2016
REALT R CONNECTI NS ®
AGM, Conference and Trade Show
DATE: Wednesday, March 23, 2016 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Badge pick up begins at 7:30 a.m.) WHERE: Hamilton Convention Centre 1 Summer’s Lane, Hamilton COST: FREE for members who register by 8:30 a.m., Monday, March 7.* $35+HST for RAHB members registering after the cut off or at the door.
This one-day conference is filled with opportunities and events designed for REALTORS®, and you are invited to attend!
Rebecca Mountain: Online Lead Generation: The Simple Solution Rick Shelley: Multi-Residential: The Ins and Outs Don Patterson: CREA Update and Information for the Commercial Practitioner Knowledge Pods in the Exhibit Hall – stop for a few minutes and learn from the pros Lunch time Panel – Mary Lou Tanner, Director of Planning & Building for the City of Burlington
and Jason Thorne, General Manager Planning and Economic Development Department for the City of Hamilton will take part in a lunch time panel discussion moderated by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Keanin Loomis
CONNECTIONS Café – a place to meet and chat with colleagues about issues of the day Trade show with 55+ exhibitors RAHB Annual General Meeting (AGM) Light breakfast and buffet lunch
More COMMERCIAL content this year! For more information, visit www.rahb.ca/eventssponsors/realtor-connections/ Register online at http://registration.rahb.ca/MainList.aspx or contact Sheila at the RAHB office – 905.529.8101 x234 or email sheilas@rahb.ca
* Members who register before 8:30 a.m. Monday, March 7 but do not attend REALTOR® CONNECTIONS (and do not cancel their registration in advance of the event - see cancellation policy below) will have a $35+HST administration fee charged to their RAHB account.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations will be accepted until 8:30 a.m., Monday, March 14. Cancellations received after that date will not be eligible for any applicable refund.
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News and Resource for Members
BULLETIN BOARD
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OREA/RECO NEWS From the Registrar’s Bulletin, December 1, 2015 – reprinted with permission
Commission reduction agreements (For information on commission rebates, see the Registrar’s Bulletin "Commission rebates to clients and customers".) When you use commission reductions, it is essential to create an appropriate agreement in order to comply with the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002 (REBBA 2002). In a commission reduction agreement, the listing brokerage agrees with the seller to reduce commission that was previously agreed to. The following are the two most common ways this can happen: The seller and buyer are represented by the same brokerage. A cooperating (buyer’s) brokerage offers to reduce its commission and the listing brokerage and seller agree to reduce the total commission payable under a seller representation agreement, i.e. offers to accept less commission. All commission reduction agreements negotiated by brokers and salespersons are binding on the brokerage. If commission reduction agreements are being offered, the details must be put in writing, and provided by the broker or salesperson to their brokerage. Any commission reductions should be in keeping with the brokerage’s policies. But in any case, the brokerage is bound by commission reduction agreements made by its employees in its name. Most commonly, commission is paid to the brokerage representing the seller under a written seller representation agreement, which may include an agreement to pay a portion of the total commission to a cooperating brokerage that represents the buyer. However, it’s important to note that specific commission models are not mandated under REBBA 2002. Various commission models are acceptable as long as they comply with the law. Section 25 of the Code of Ethics contains provisions that apply to commission agreements between a brokerage and a seller and offers or proposals to amend them. If the brokerage representing the seller and the seller agree to commission terms that may affect whether one offer would be accepted over another, then the brokerage representing the seller must disclose the details of such terms to anyone who makes a written offer to buy. This typically occurs in one of two ways: Buyer and seller represented by the same brokerage: The brokerage representing the seller offers to reduce commission if the buyer is also represented by the same brokerage (multiple March
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continued on page 11
News and Resource for Members
continued from page 10
representation). A detailed disclosure must be made to everyone who has made a written offer at the earliest practicable opportunity, and before any offer is accepted. The listing brokerage must put this commission amending agreement in writing. Buyer represented by a separate cooperating brokerage: The following are typical steps when a cooperating brokerage offers (proposes) to reduce its commission. A cooperating brokerage representing a potential buyer proposes to reduce its commission to make that buyer’s offer more attractive. This would cause a reduction in the total commission payable to the brokerage representing the seller. By accepting that buyer’s offer the seller will receive a higher “net” value for the property than they would receive if they paid the commission that they originally agreed to. Detailed disclosure must then be made to everyone who has made a written offer. The disclosure must be made at the earliest practicable opportunity, but before any offer is accepted. The brokerage representing the seller also needs to provide a written copy of the amendment to the written seller representation agreement to the seller in the event this offer is accepted. “Detailed” disclosure, as set out in Section 25, means disclosing the terms of the agreement relating to commission and that may affect whether an offer to buy is accepted. The complexity of the disclosure depends on the terms. For example, if the commission reduction agreement is a simple percentage reduction without any limitations or conditions, that is what must be disclosed. More complex reductions would require more detail. The best practice is to disclose in writing to ensure clarity and to create a record of the disclosure. Commission reduction agreements can be a way to facilitate a transaction. However, registrants have a duty to ensure that the promotion, documentation and delivery of a commission reduction are done in a manner that complies with REBBA 2002. Failure to do so could result in disciplinary or other legal action.
2016 Ontario Budget The Ontario Real Estate Association circulated the following information about the 2016 Ontario Budget, and what it means for REALTORS®.
The highlights from Ontario Budget 2016:
2016 outlines the government’s plan to create jobs and grow the economy, invest in major infrastructure projects, low-carbon initiatives and programs to improve skills in Ontario’s workforce. Budget
2016 reaffirms and updates the government’s commitments to reform beer and alcohol sales, maximize the value of government assets and improve Ontarians retirement through the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan. Budget
2016 commits $100 million to a new home energy audit and retrofit rebate program. Home energy efficiency retrofit rebates for home owners was one of OREA’s recommendations to the 2016 Pre-Budget consultation. Budget
there is no commitment to move forward on personal real estate corporations (PRECs), the 2016 Budget does not signal any intention to move forward with giving additional revenue tools (MLTT) to municipalities. While
What does the 2016 Budget mean for Ontario REALTORS®?
Land Transfer Tax (MLTT): We are happy to report that Budget 2016 does not reverse the province’s commitment not to give municipalities MLTT powers. OREA continues to monitor for legislation that would give any new revenue tools to municipalities. Municipal
Real Estate Corporations (PRECs): Unfortunately, the government did not include OREA’s pre-budget recommendation to permit the use of PRECs by real estate salespeople or brokers. OREA will continue to advocate for this proposal. Personal
Initiative: Ontario will move forward with a cap-and-trade system as its carbon pricing mechanism. The government estimates that the cap-and-trade plan will add about 4.3 cents a litre to the price of gasoline and about $5 a month to natural gas bills. Cap-and-Trade
Home Energy Audits and Retrofits: The budget reconfirms the home energy audit and retrofit program introduced earlier this month. The program would invest $100 million from the Ontario Green Investment Fund to provide rebates for home owners with Enbridge or Union Gas to conduct an energy audit and retrofits recommended by the auditor. While OREA is supportive of the new program, we will March continue to oppose any efforts to introduce mandatory home energy audits.
Ontario
continued on page 12
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Retirement Pension Plan/Pooled Registered Pension Plan: The budget announces the government’s commitment to move forward with the ORPP. The government also reaffirmed that their long term objective is to enhance the CPP. Ontario
Workplaces Review: OREA is currently involved in the Employment Standards Act, 2000 review, advocating to maintain the current exemption for real estate professionals. Budget 2016 announces that the Special Advisors leading the consultation will release their interim report by early 2016 and the full report in summer 2016. Changing
Homes Renovation Tax Credit (HHRTC): Budget 2016 announced that the HHRTC will end on January 1, 2017. The HHRTC was created to help seniors live independently in their homes by making renovations more affordable. Healthy
Housing: The government announced that legislative and regulatory changes will be introduced to increase the supply and sustainability of affordable housing. In addition, Budget 2016 commits $178 million over three years to provide housing subsidies and support the construction of up to 1,500 new housing units. Affordable
MARK YOUR CALENDAR Computer
Designation Course
Held at RAHB – 505 York Blvd. – Lower Level C – Chambers Room M – McCullough Room
SRES® - Seniors Real Estate Specialist®
Member Computer Training Level 1
New
Wednesday and Thursday, May 25 and 26, 2016 – M, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 17 – C, 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31 – C, 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
** Note: Elective course could be used towards the ABR® or SRS® Designation**
Professional Development
Board of Directors, Committee and Task Force Meetings
Flying
Drones and Real Estate
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 – M, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Problems
with Older Homes Friday, April 8, 2016 – M, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. iPad
Agent
Monday, April 18, 2016 – M, 9 a.m. - Noon Social
Media for Agents *New
Monday, April 18, 2016 – M, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. e-PRO®
Day 1 – Certification Course Wednesday, May 11, 2016 – M, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Note: Day 2 is completed online) HST
for the Real Estate Professional
Thursday, May 12, 2016 – M, 10 a.m. – Noon
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2016
Held at RAHB – 505 York Blvd. – First Floor T – Thompson Room P – Purnell Room Finance
Thursday, March 24 – T, 9 a.m.
Upcoming Events REALTOR®
CONNECTIONS 2016
Wednesday, March 23, 2016 Hamilton Convention Centre 1 Summers Lane, Hamilton
Office Closure
The RAHB office will be closed Friday, March 25 – Good Friday