REALinfo January 2017

REAL info JANUARY ● 2017

News and Resources for MEMBERS

FEATURE

Musings from RAHB CEO George O'Neill – page 2 Update – ORTIS – page 3

MLS®/TECHNOLOGY

Are you ready for the Shift? – page 4

RAHB NEWS

Meet the President, Lou Piriano – page 5 Meet your 2017 RAHB Directors – pages 6 to 9 RAHB welcomes new members! – page 9 REALTORS®4Kids Charity Auction presents cheque – page 10

MEMBER SERVICES

Professional development for REALTORS® – page 10 Realty Shoppe – page 11 Networking and updates at RCN luncheon – page 12 Join our Facebook community! – page 12 Update! Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage – page 12 REALTOR® CONNECTIONS – page 13 Are you guaranteeing a sale? Be careful how you advertise! – page 14

RAHB REALTORS® CARE

REALTORS® support shelter-related organizations – page 15

SERVICES SPOTLIGHT

MLS® Services – page 16

CREA/RECO NEWS

Revisions to OREA Standard Forms – page 16 CREA News – CREA Directors wanted! – page 17

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

What's coming up at RAHB – page 17

Empowering REALTORS® to Succeed

News and Resource for Members

MUSINGS from RAHB CEO George O'Neill Established in 1921, the REALTORS Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) represents more than 3,000 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

Lou Piriano 905.628.6625 President-Elect

Jack Loft Immediate Past

Donna Bacher

905.304.3303 905.520.1946

Let’s talk about what is coming up in the year ahead!

The most obvious place to start is with RAHB’s Matrix system. Our staff and CoreLogic have been working diligently to develop a made-for-RAHB MLS® System that will be compatible with the regional Matrix system, so that listing information can be easily shared between RAHB and the regional group.

If you have been using the regional Matrix system for all your searches, you should be comfortable using RAHB’s Matrix. If you haven’t been using the regional Matrix system, you can get a good idea of what RAHB’s system will be like by checking out the regional system now. Call our MLS® services help desk at 905.667.4650 to learn how to access the system.

We are still working to launch RAHB’s Matrix system before the spring market of this year, so be sure to watch for updates in our email publication The Shift. Past issues of The Shift are located on REALTOR Link® - look under “Regional Info” on the right hand side of RAHB’s page.

Beginning this year, RAHB will be participating in the CREA MLS® Home Price Index, or HPI. The HPI will show house price trends in neighbourhoods for various housing types, providing valuable information you can use to better serve your clients and customers.

Directors

Ann Forbes Arndt 905.574.3038 Nikola Bucalo 905.388.1110 Kathy Della-Nebbia 905.574.4600 Ralph Frisina 905.628.6625 Paul Hammond 905.335.8808 Diane Price 905.308.8333 Andrew Robertson 905.308.8333 Bob Van de Vrande 905.332.4111 Richard Weima 905.637.1700

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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The last thing I want to touch on is the highlight of every spring for members – REALTOR® CONNECTIONS AGM, Conference and Trade Show. We have made some changes this year – the date of the event is March 9, and we have moved the event to the Grand Olympia in Stoney Creek. The planning committee is putting together a program that will help you “Choose Success” for your business, and it promises to be an excellent day. Registration is already open – look for more information in this issue of REALINFO. I am personally looking forward to a year of continuing to provide you, our valued members, the products and services you need and want, and to fulfilling RAHB’s mission of “empowering REALTORS® to succeed”.

Best regards,

News and Resource for Members

UPDATE – my note to you dated December 22 regarding ORTIS from RAHB CEO George O'Neill On December 22, 2016, I sent an email to each RAHB member about an ORTIS communication just before the year end holidays that may have caused some confusion to anyone who read it.

I would like summarize what has transpired:

We unexpectedly received a letter from ORTIS – the managing company of the regional Matrix system - that they unilaterally declined to continue negotiating a data sharing agreement that RAHB and ORTIS had been working on for several weeks.

ORTIS also advised that as of Wednesday, February 1, 2017, Access Members of RAHB (that is, users with computer access only) will no longer have login access to the regional Matrix system, and listings interboarded to RAHB’s MLS® System will no longer be forwarded to the regional system.

We understand from ORTIS’s communication they may have made their decision in order to generate revenue from creating their own subscriber category and may charge additional fees to interboard listings to the regional system. RAHB respects that ORTIS is a separate company, is not governed by OREA or CREA and is therefore entitled to make its own independent business decisions. However, RAHB is simply trying to protect our members from paying additional fees and desires to secure an ongoing commitment from ORTIS to share listings.

What does this mean for you?

If you are a full RAHB member, your listing data and access to the regional Matrix system will continue as it is for now. For you, it will be business as usual.

Access members will continue to have login access to RAHB’s MLS® System and accompanying listing data, but may no longer be able to log in to the regional Matrix system after February 1, 2017.

Non-RAHB members who interboard listings to RAHB’s MLS® System may no longer have those listings uploaded to the regional Matrix system after February 1, 2017.

I assure you that RAHB continues to have confidence that the boards and associations participating in sharing listings via the regional MLS® System have the same goal we do: that our collective members benefit from access to complete listing data across the region. We continue working with our neighbouring boards and associations to achieve this common goal, and are also working with them to urge ORTIS to amend its decision. Currently, ORTIS has not committed to share listings for RAHB full members past our cutover to RAHB’s Matrix system.

I will update you as soon as more information is available. regards,

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News and Resource for Members

MLS®/TECHNOLOGY

Are you ready for the Shift?

Shift

The

Have you been reading about the changes coming to RAHB’s MLS® System before the spring market of this year? RAHB’s own Matrix system will be making an appearance in the next few months, and RAHB has been providing information to you about how you can prepare for the change.

Be sure to watch your email inbox for issues of The Shift, our specialty publication about all things Matrix. If you’ve missed some issues, you can find them in REALTOR Link® – just look for the link to The Shift on the right hand side of our home page.

Five fields in Fusion will become mandatory!

The latest issue of The Shift (December 19, 2016) had important news about five fields in Fusion that will become mandatory on January 24, 2017: 1. Total Area will be mandatory for all commercial property types, excluding business-only listings. The information will be required in the “Total Area” line on the current RAHB Property Information Form.

2. Heat Source will be mandatory for all residential property types. Use the field for “Fuel” on the current Residential Property Information Form.

3. Square Footage & Square Footage Source will be mandatory for all residential property types. Place the information in the “Square Footage +/-” line on the current Residential Property Information Form.

You can write the source of square footage underneath.

4. Assessment Roll Number will be mandatory for all residential and commercial property types. Enter the information in the “Roll #” section of the current Property Information Form.

5. Zoning for listings located in Brantford, Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, Niagara, Oakville/Milton and Simcoe. This will apply to all residential and commercial property types in these areas. Zoning will not be mandatory for listings located in the RAHB area.

For full information about about the five mandatory fields and where to find the information, plus new information about changes to “For Lease or Sale” listings, view the full version of the December 19, 2016 issue of The Shift at http://rahb.ca/memberinfo/2016/The%20Shift%20December%2019.pdf or view the December 19 issue of The Shift in REALTOR Link® .

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News and Resource for Members

RAHB NEWS

Meet the President, Lou Piriano We sat down to talk with 2017 RAHB President Lou Piriano.

Q. First of all, congratulations on becoming President for 2017! Being on the board of directors and now being President is a big commitment of time, and you do this as a volunteer. What makes you want to spend that time on behalf of members and the association?

A. The real time commitment here is the one our members have made to being a REALTOR® belonging to Ontario’s finest association. Members have put their faith in the board of directors so we owe it to them to do whatever is necessary to empower them to succeed.

Q. The big thing coming up in 2017 is RAHB’s new Matrix MLS® System. What else do you intend to focus on this year?

A.

Once again, I only represent the hard working board of directors and so the entire board will determine priorities along with our CEO. Those priorities are based in part on member surveys. MLS® services, a core competency, is consistently rated as members’ prime concern. Therefore, along with Matrix, we will be adding complementary services to give members an edge in their daily work which they can use to up their professional services and image to their clients. Increasing professionalism and conveying REALTOR® value to the public are also high on members’ priorities. It’s now our job to demonstrate the delivery of these services.

Q. Are there any particular challenges you see for members or the association in 2017?

A.

It is clear that government, particularly at the federal level, is trying to “cool” the market. Tighter mortgage rules will feed into that effort. I am confident our location near the GTA represents the optimum value for buyers and we will continue to have a strong market in spite of those changes. Technology is also a huge challenge. As everyone knows, it changes at the speed of light and affects how REALTOR® services are delivered in some cases. Therefore, we need to be ready to adapt quickly when necessary.

Q. If you had to name one thing you wanted to accomplish this year, what would it be?

A. I don’t want to restrict our goals in any way. We can certainly walk and chew gum at the same time and I see no reason why we can’t complete multiple goals that members need and want. A huge goal is to share as much data with as many associations as possible so that members are not caught without information when their clients ask. Other associations have told us they aspire to the same goals.

Q. Any last thoughts to pass on to members?

A. Just know that we on the board of directors are members just like you and make the best decisions we can based on facts we have. As a member not on the board I often wondered why certain decisions were made. Now I know. As transparent as we are, there are still facts that can’t be “public” immediately.

My door is open to any member if I can help, 905.308.2988 is my cell

number. Most questions are operational in nature and we have an

incredible staff who are more than willing to help. Just try’em at 905.529.8101… tell ‘em Lou sent you.

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News and Resource for Members

Meet your 2017 RAHB Directors Lou Piriano, President

Lou is Broker of Record of L. Piriano Real Estate. He has been an independent REALTOR® in Hamilton since 1973 when he first joined RAHB. He was elected to the RAHB Board of Directors for the 2014 term and served as President-Elect in 2016. Lou has chaired the MLS® Committee, Regional Rules Task Force and the Audit Committee and has also served on the Finance, Arbitration and Professional Standards committees and previously chaired the Technology Task Force. He holds a mortgage broker’s license to further assist his real estate clients.

Originally a native of Brooklyn, New York, Lou was brought up and educated in Hamilton followed by additional education at the University of Guelph. Real estate brokerage was Lou’s first career choice out of university. After raising a family and successfully operating his brokerage, he is now able to commit even more time to the Association’s goals for members.

Lou feels very humbled and privileged to represent, as President, the over 3,000 members of the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington for 2017 and looks forward to actively engaging with all members as much as possible. He extends an open invitation to anyone at any time to contact him at president@rahb.ca.

Jack Loft, President-Elect

Jack is a retired police officer and has been a member of our Board since 2004. He is a Broker with RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc. and has served as a member or Chair of various committees, including CEO Selection, Finance, Professional Standards and various task forces.

He loves wilderness and long distance hiking, fishing, golfing and cycling. He and his wife are avid travellers and readers.

Donna Bacher, Immediate Past President

Donna joined RAHB in 1983 and is a Broker with Royal LePage State Realty. Donna has served as RAHB President (2015) and Past President (2016), and as Chair of the Finance and Communications/Government Relations committees and the Joint (RAHB/HDAA) Rental Licensing Task Force. She has also served on various other RAHB committees.

Donna served as a director for the Ontario Goat Breeders Association and as a Founding Members’ Association Rep to the Toronto Livestock Land Development Board from 20012003. She is an avid fundraiser for various charities and a volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters annual bowl-a-thon. Donna holds a Canadian Private Pilot license and has completed her Canadian Commercial Pilot written exam.

Ann Forbes Arndt

Ann is a Past President of RAHB and has returned to the Board. She has been a member of the Association since 1990 and is a Broker with Royal LePage Macro Realty Inc. She has served as Chair of the Finance and Member Area Representation committees, as a member of numerous RAHB committees and task forces and on OREA and RECO committees. Ann was named RAHB Volunteer of the Year in 2005.

Ann is involved in the Dragon Boat community as a coach and steers person. She enjoys coaching all ages. Ann will be attending the World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand in the spring of 2017.

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continued on page 7

News and Resource for Members

continued from page 6

Nikola Bucalo

Nikola is a Salesperson with Coldwell Banker Community Professionals. He joined RAHB in 2010 and is finishing his first year as a Director and as Chair of the Government Relations Committee.

Having grown up in a real estate household, this Millennial has been in and around our profession for over 20 years. These deep roots in the industry are a real motivation to contribute to the long-term success of organized real estate.

In his spare time Nik loves to run, play volleyball, compete in triathlons, read about fringe science and play a few musical instruments.

Kathy Della-Nebbia

Kathy is a Salesperson with Royal LePage State Realty. She first joined RAHB in 1986 and has served on the Government Relations Committee and Charity Auction task force. She will Chair the Government Relations Committee in 2017.

Kathy first joined organized real estate as Kathy Fournier with Montreal Trust. She left real estate for about 12 years, started a family and returned in 2004 when her youngest was in grade one. She considers herself blessed in so many ways with family, friends, colleagues, business, health and her journey of learning and growth through this life. She is passionate about learning, involvement, people and family. Her favourite quote is "life is not about learning how to weather the storm but about learning how to dance in the rain".

Ralph Frisina

Ralph joined RAHB in 1977 and is now a Broker member with L. Piriano Real Estate. He is a long-time member of the Arbitration and Discipline committees.

Ralph has spent most of his life in the family business, doing everything from working the gas bar, car wash and parking lot at 100 Main St. East to being a labourer on the C21 building project. He opened his own brokerage in 1981 and 30 years later wound down the business.

In the early 90’s, the Frisina Group moved into more new home construction, custom home building and residential infill sites. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since the early 1990s, and has served as district deputy grand master. He is proud of the organization’s involvement with Camp Trillium and “OuR Island”, a camp for children with cancer and their families.

Ralph is married and is, as he says, blessed with a large extended family. He looks forward to working on the Board to continue building on the work started by past and present directors.

Paul Hammond

Paul is a Salesperson with Keller Williams Edge Realty. He has been a member since 2007 and, since joining RAHB, has served on the Burlington Council, Golf Tournament Task Force and MLS® and Discipline committees.

Paul decided to run for the RAHB Board of Directors for two reasons: he wanted to give back to an Association that had provided him with so many tools to carve out a very successful and satisfying career and he felt his past career had provided him with skills he could utilize to make RAHB even better for all members.

Paul is a life-long resident of Burlington and surrounding area who is both a 12-year shareholding member at Burlington Golf and Country Club and a contributing member of their board of directors. As a previous owner of Servicemaster of Burlington for 15 years, Paul developed many skills, contacts and knowledge that he believes has prepared him to help elevate RAHB to new exciting levels! continued on page 8

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News and Resource for Members

continued from page 7

Diane Price

Diane is a Salesperson with Keller Williams Complete Realty. She joined RAHB in 2004 and has served as both member and Chair of the Charity Auction Task Force, and as member of the Discipline and Arbitration committees. Diane received RAHB’s Outstanding Community Service Award in 2006.

Diane has been a member of The Rotary Club of Ancaster for 10 years, for which she has been involved in raising $2.5M for water wells and sanitation in Haiti and has travelled to Haiti six times. She has also served on the Police Services Board, Interval House board and school councils. Diane started a criminal harassment support group and raised money for women who have been stalked. Her past experience includes being an aesthetician, working for her father’s Customs business, public speaking and owning a fishing/hunting store.

Diane has two sons and one grandchild, and there’s another on the way!

Andrew Robertson

Andrew is the Broker of Record of Keller Williams Complete Realty. Since joining RAHB in 2005, Andrew has earned a number of sales achievement awards and has served on the Government Relations and Communications committees, as well as the Joint Rental Housing and Buyer Registry task forces. Andrew also serves on the Hamilton District Apartment Association`s Public Relations Committee.

A passionate real estate investor, Andrew owns and manages his own portfolio of 27 residential units. Andrew is married with two daughters aged 11 and 12 (going on 20!) and lives on the West Mountain.

Bob Van de Vrande

Bob is the Broker of Record of Apex Results Realty Inc., and has been a RAHB member since 1988. Bob has served on the MLS® Committee and the DDF, Charity Give Back, Report Solds and Lonnie Bushey task forces.

Bob enjoys attending his sons' school and extra-curricular activities as well as travelling, particularly to tropical destinations, with his sons Nicholas and Tyler. Bob has a passion for education, having earned an MBA as well as Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Education degrees. He has previously served as a trustee, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Halton Catholic District School Board. Bob’s special interest is gifted education and he has worked to promote educational options in this area. Bob has been an active member of St. Patrick parish in Burlington for more than 45 years and is president of Project Maranatha for Youth, a charity promoting youth leadership, education freedom and pro-life issues within the Catholic and broader community. Politically Bob has been active at both the provincial and federal levels with the Conservative party. Bob’s hobbies include reading, swimming, travelling and stamp collecting. Prior to founding his brokerage in 2012, Bob was with a national franchise for 20 years. continued on page 9

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News and Resource for Members

continued from page 8

Richard Weima

Richard is a Broker member with Right at Home Realty Inc. He was a member of RAHB in the 1980s, then rejoined RAHB in 2015. He served as Chair of the Burlington Division and as a member of the Member Engagement Committee.

Richard's passion for the real estate business began early, when he accompanied his father, a home builder and developer in Sarnia, to his many new home sites during the 60's and 70's. At 21, Richard obtained his real estate license, gravitating to new home sales and then resale. He was one of the first in the industry to develop his own website and personal online marketing. A member of the Oakville-Milton & District Real Estate Board, Richard served as OMDREB director, Vice President and President, and appreciated the opportunity to learn trends and bring changes to the real estate industry.

With a 40-year tenure in the real estate profession, Richard has been a part of tremendous transformation.

Information sharing, public access and technology have all contributed to improve the speed and efficiency of service provided to the real estate consumer. Richard understands the challenges a real estate salesperson faces daily in an ever-changing environment and invites communication with opportunity to learn and succeed together.

RAHB welcomes new members!

The REALTORSÂŽ Association of Hamilton-Burlington extends a warm welcome to its newest members from November 24 to December 14, 2016!

Sarah Moody Ruth Pierce

Coldwell Banker Community Professionals Inc.

Adrian Pannozzo Dave Hicks Keller Williams Complete Realty Inc.

Michelle Carty

Alisa Mancini Stephanie Smyth

RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc.

Roisin Dunsby RE/MAX Escarpment Woolcott Realty Inc.

Amanda Edridge

Royal LePage Macro Realty Inc.

Tom Snelling RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc.

Ron Boyko

Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services Inc.

Steve Misener

The Listing House Real Estate Brokerage Inc.

Keller Williams Edge Realty Inc.

Brandon Nelson Realty Network: 100 Inc.

Antony Moulder Ferdows Sadeghyar Right At Home Realty Inc.

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News and Resource for Members

REALTORS®

4K ds

RAHB Charity Auction Task Force Chair Marlene Vieira Leslie (right), Vice Chair Deborah Coles (second from left) and 2017 RAHB President Lou Piriano (left) present a cheque representing the proceeds from the 2016 REALTORS®4Kids Charity Auction to The Children’s Fund President Jeff Storey (second from right) and Vice-President Olivia Mackay (centre). The 2016 Auction raised $74,116.68 for The Children’s Fund.

MEMBER SERVICES

Professional development for REALTORS® Master LinkedIn Bootcamp – Amyn Chagan Monday, January 16, 2017 9 a.m. – Noon $ 79+HST Early Bird (prior to January 9, 2017) or $99+HST Regular Master Facebook Bootcamp – Amyn Chagan Monday, January 16, 2017 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. $ 79 +HST Early Bird (prior to January 9, 2017) or $99+HST Regular Investing for Success – Alex Gabrini Monday, January 23, 2017 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Free

Understanding Newer Homes – Andrew McCarthy Wednesday, February 1, 2017 10 a.m. – Noon Free

Designation Courses SRS – Seller Representative Specialist – Gareth Jones Tuesday and Wednesday, February 7 & 8, 2017 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. $ 325+HST PSA – Price Strategy Advisor Certification – Gareth Jones Thursday, February 9, 2017 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. $ 199+HST

 NEW

Assignments, Condos and Others – Lou Radomosky Wednesday, January 25, 2017 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. $ 45+HST January

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All courses will be held in McCullough Room at the RAHB office (lower level). To register, or for more information, contact Angela at 905.529.8101 x 233 or angelam@rahb.ca.

News and Resource for Members

Realty Shoppe Popular open house items Door hangers: Open House

Let prospective buyers know they can come right in: Side 1: “Open House Please Come In” Side 2: “Open House Please Come In and Remove Your Shoes”

Pets Inside

85¢ ea.*

75

¢ ea.*

Can be put on front door or any interior door to let REALTORS® know where pets are: “Pets Inside Please Contact Listing Agent with Any Questions”

Courtesy signs:

Please Remove Your Shoes and Next Showing in 5 Minutes (reverse) Next Showing in 15 Minutes Corrugated plastic, upright teepee. Perfect in wet/snowy weather to protect your homeowner’s flooring.

2.70 ea.*

$ Register

Please Leave Your Card

Tent card, reversible

4”w x 5”h, plastic, desk top courtesy sign

Guest Register – Pad of 25 sheets ter

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Member Appreciation Day

Just to say THANK YOU for your continued support!

Wednesday, February 1, 2017, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Visit the Shoppe to enjoy light refreshments and enter your business card to WIN a prize!

No purchase necessary.

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. T.: 905.529.5979 F.: 905.529.7109 E.: realtyshoppe@rahb.ca * All applicable taxes are extra. Prices subject to change.

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News and Resource for Members

Networking and updates at RCN luncheon “A great opportunity to network and hear the latest commercial updates” were the sentiments expressed by RAHB members who attended the RCN Networking Luncheon on December 2, 2016 at the historic Scottish Rite Club.

Following the buffet lunch, RAHB Regional Commercial Network Chair Paul Martindale welcomed the more than 50 attendees and provided the RCN year in review, highlighting the achievements of the committee and outlining what to look forward to for 2017.

RAHB CEO George O’Neill introduced featured speaker Jason Thorne, General Manager of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Hamilton, who delivered an informative presentation that covered downtown development, a West Harbour update, the LRT and BLAST network, grant programs, Open for Business and more. A copy of Jason’s presentation is available at http://rahb.ca/rcn/2016/120516RCNPresentation.pdf, or on the RCN page in REALTOR Link®.

Join our Facebook community!

Want to stay up-to-date with the latest RAHB news, chat about real estate issues with fellow RAHB members, and get referrals for the best tradespeople in your community? Then be sure to join RAHB’s membersonly Facebook group to stay in the loop! To join, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RAHBmembers/

Update! Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage Upon review of the current Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) policy, RAHB’s Board of Directors determined the policy did not provide value to the membership. Therefore, effective February 1, 2017, RAHB will no longer be providing AD&D coverage for its members. Alternate benefits will be investigated.

If you have any outstanding claims, please contact Camryn in the Membership department at camrynh@rahb.ca or 905.529.8101 x251.

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News and Resource for Members

Why Attend REALTOR® CONNECTIONS?

About our Keynote Speaker, Stuart Knight Stuart Knight is a critically-acclaimed author, award-winning entrepreneur and expert communicator who helps some of the world’s biggest companies reach new levels of success. When he is not on the road speaking, you may have seen or heard him on some of Canada’s biggest TV and radio stations where he is often asked for his expert opinion on high-level communication. He is the author of two books, You Should Have Asked – The Art of Powerful Conversation and The Madness of My Mind. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, Stuart is here to help you harness the conversation skills you need to choose success!

Choose success at our revamped event catering specifically to REALTORS® New venue with plenty of free parking A packed agenda filled with knowledge pod sessions on topics that matter to you Real estate tradeshow featuring a diverse group of vendors for all of your REALTOR® needs CONNECT and share ideas with other REALTORS® in your community Learn the art of powerful conversation with our keynote speaker, Stuart Knight

CHOOSE SUCCESS AT OUR PREMIER EVENT!

THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2017 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m.

GRAND OLYMPIA CONVENTION CENTRE 660 BARTON STREET, STONEY CREEK

And much more!

Register now for REALTOR® Connections 2017!

Register online at http://registration.rahb.ca/MainList.aspx or contact Sheila at 905.529.8101 x234 or sheilas@rahb.ca.

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News and Resource for Members

Ethics Corner Are you guaranteeing a sale? Be careful how you advertise!

This article has been reproduced with permission from the Ontario Real Estate Association. The full decision can be viewed on the website of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) at www.reco.on.ca.

The following decision from RECO Discipline and Appeal Hearings has been condensed. All individual and corporate names have been changed.

THE FACTS Chris and Pat wanted to sell their property. They were working with Sam, a real estate salesperson with Green Grass Realty, who listed their property for sale at a list price of $409,980. The listing agreement featured two handwritten notations.

The first notation stated that if Green Grass Realty purchases the property, the deposit will be a certified cheque of $ 20,000. As well, it stated that if Green Grass purchases the property or if Sam finds a buyer, the total commission will be two per cent. The other handwritten note indicated that if the property is not sold in 30 days, Green Grass Realty would buy the property at the highest price offered by the market.

Each of these notes was initialed by Sam and the sellers. No other terms or conditions regarding the promise to buy the property were documented in the listing agreement, which was for a period of three months.

Just over a month later, Chris and Pat complained to RECO. They alleged that they listed with Sam because of the promise that if their house did not sell in 30 days, Sam or Green Grass Realty would purchase it. The sellers said that after the 30 days had passed, they asked Sam when they’d receive a deposit from him. After several inquiries, Sam offered to purchase the house for $350,000. Chris and Pat did not think this was a fair price, believing the market price to be between $405,000 and $429,000. Chris and Pat provided RECO with copies of Sam’s printed ads, which stated, “if your property is not sold in 30 days, we will buy it!” This text was accompanied by an asterisk which indicated that certain conditions may apply, but no conditions were listed.

In Sam’s response to RECO, he said that he had explained to Chris and Pat that the market price would be agreed upon between himself and the sellers and set by offers received within the first 30 days of listing the property. Sam said that the house would continue to be listed on MLS® until the closing date, which was a total of three months.

Sam said that if a more attractive offer came along, Chris and Pat would have the option of accepting it. In the event that a lower offer was accepted, Sam would compensate the difference between that offer and the amount he guaranteed, ensuring no loss for the sellers.

Sam said two offers were received on the house. Just over a month-and-a-half after listing the house, the first offer was signed back but rejected by the buyers. About a week later a second offer was received and was also signed back. However, before the second offer was finalized, the first buyers returned with a new offer of $409,000 which was accepted by Chris and Pat. Sam acknowledged that he had failed to document the details of the guarantee in writing and failed to get Chris and Pat’s acknowledgement. Green Grass Realty adjusted its portion on the commission to a $1,000 flat fee.

THE FINDINGS The RECO panel determined that Sam acted unprofessionally by failing to offer to purchase Chris and Pat’s house as indicated on the listing agreement and in Sam’s advertising. Sam also failed to put in writing, the terms, conditions and limitations of the guaranteed sale arrangements and failed to get the sellers’ acknowledgement in writing.

The panel ruled that Sam breached the following sections of the REBBA 2002 Code of Ethics: (3) Fairness, honesty, etc.; (4) Best interests; (5) Conscientious and competent service, etc.; (27 (1) (b) Written and legible agreements; (38) Error, misrepresentation, fraud etc.; and (39) Unprofessional conduct, etc.

THE PENALTY Sam was fined $10,000 payable to RECO. The full decision can be viewed on the RECO web site at www.reco.on.ca. Look under “Complaints and Enforcement” and then under “Regulatory activities January

and decisions” and scroll down to “Discipline and appeals decisions.” Scroll down and click on info 2017

“Search by year.” Select 2014 then “Search.” The case is dated 2014/11/27.

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News and Resource for Members

RAHB REALTORS® CARE

REALTORS® support shelter-related organizations Representatives from nine local charitable organizations were on hand to receive grant cheques from the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation on Friday, December 9.

2016 RAHB President Kim Alvarez presented the cheques totaling $38,440 on behalf of the Foundation, which is supported by RAHB members. Each year, funds donated by RAHB members come back to the community, to be distributed to local shelter-related organizations.

RAHB President Kim Alvarez (front row, second from right) with REALTORS Care® Foundation grant recipients. (Mission Services is missing from the photo.)

Cheques were presented to Carpenter Hospice, Halton Women’s Place, March of Dimes, Mark Preece Family House, Mission Services, St. Peters at Chedoke, The Bridge, The Salvation Army and Wesley Urban Ministries.

For more information about the Ontario REALTORS Care Foundation, go to https://realtorscareontario.ca/.

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News and Resource for Members

SERVICES SPOTLIGHT

MLS® Services Every member knows the value of the RAHB MLS® System - it is our primary service to you and it is an integral part of your business.

RAHB has always been on the leading edge where MLS® Systems are concerned – in 1949, RAHB produced Ontario’s first Multiple Listing Service, and in 1951 instituted the first Photo Co-Op System in Canada. Ever since those first forays into a cooperative listing service, your Association has provided up-to-date systems, and has continuously upgraded those systems so that you have a reliable tool that gives you the information you need to assist your clients and customers.

Your MLS® System is not all bits and bytes and servers and data, however; there are also people who are part of RAHB’s MLS® System.

RAHB’s MLS® Department provides telephone support on all parts of the system –Fusion, the regional Matrix, GeoWarehouse access, WEBForms® and the Statistical Information Management (SIM) program. RAHB MLS® support staff also answer questions about MLS® rules and regulations and policies, and the remediation process that begins when it appears that someone else may be using your login credentials.

In addition to telephone support, RAHB’s MLS® Supervisor provides new member training in Matrix, and produces webinars and tutorials for the new RAHB Matrix MLS® System.

When you need assistance with the MLS® System, be sure to contact the RAHB support staff at 905.667.4650, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily on weekdays.

CREA/OREA NEWS

Revisions to OREA Standard Forms OREA recently released the updates for the 2017 OREA Standard Forms and Clauses. All information is available on the members section of OREA.com or go to http://www.realtorlink.ca/content/dam/realtorlink/on/hamilton/Forms/ OREA-Summary-of-Revisions-2017.pdf for the 2017 Forms Summary of Revisions.

Many of the OREA Standard forms are affected by the revisions, including OREA Form 200 Listing Agreement - Authority to Offer for Sale, which now includes a new Electronic Signature clause.

OREA has also updated ‘OREA Forms Explained’, a member’s resource where 44 forms files are annotated to help members understand and use the forms. RAHB will be hosting an OREA Outreach 2017 Forms & Clause Revisions Update education session. The date of the session will be announced on Message of the Day (MOD) as soon as arrangements have been confirmed.

The new 2017 OREA Standard Forms are now available on the OREA website and WEBForms®. Printed forms will be available through the Realty Shoppe in mid-January.

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2017

News and Resource for Members

CREA News – CREA Directors wanted!

CREA is looking for candidates for the 2017-2018 Board of Directors. There are four Director-at-Large positions available (three for a two-year term and one for a one-year term) and four Regional Director positions available (for British Columbia/Yukon, Manitoba, Quebec and the Atlantic Region).

Qualifications for Directors: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Be a REALTOR® member Have been a REALTOR® member for at least five years Have a minimum of three years’ experience within the last 10 years as a director of a Canadian not-for-profit corporation or a public body Otherwise not be disqualified by the Canada Not-for-Profit legislation In the case of a Regional Director, be licensed in that region If elected, must have completed leadership courses set out in CREA policy within one year of being elected.

The deadline for submissions is January 26, 2017. The election for Directors-at-Large will take place at CREA’s Annual General Meeting in Ottawa on Monday, March 27, 2017. Regional Director elections will take place prior to the CREA AGM.

Want more information?

Check out the video at: http://www.realtorlink.ca/content/realtorlink/crea/en_CA/about/governance/elections.html More information about CREA and CREA Directors: http://rahb.ca/CREA/2017/CREARecruitmentLetter2017.pdf Apply to be part of the future of real estate in Canada!: http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/crea-communications/crea-director-elections-2017/?l=en

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Held at RAHB – 505 York Blvd.

Lower Level room: C – Chambers M – McCullough First floor room: T – Thompson P – Purnell

Computer 

New Member Computer Training Level 1

Thursday, January 5 – C, 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, January 19 – C, 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 2 – C, 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, February 16 – C, 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Professional Development See page 10 for a list of courses.

Upcoming Events 

REALTOR® CONNECTIONS 2017

AGM, Conference and Trade Show Thursday, March 9, 2017 Grand Olympia, Stoney Creek See further details on page 13.

Register with angelam@rahb.ca.

Board of Directors, Committee and Task Force Meetings 

Board of Directors

Wednesday, January 18 – T, 9 a.m.

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