ACROSST H E B O A R D

TREB Members Helping to Build

Home Ownership Dreams.

See Inside for Details.

JUNE 2017

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Table of Contents

2017/2018 TREB Membership Dues e-Invoice

Page 3

Ticket Discounts with Members Plus Page 3

In the Loop Page 4

TREB Continues to Receive Sign By-Law Complaints

Page 5

TREB Members Helping to Build Home Ownership Dreams

Page 5

The Educated Professional Page 6

Professionalism in Real Estate Page 7

TREB’s New Mississauga Office Page 7

BDC’s Economic Outlook Presentation from REALTOR® QUEST 2017

Page 7

What’s In Your REALTOR® Toolkit? Page 8

Privacy Reminder to Members Page 8

The Compliance Map Can Help! Page 8

© Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.

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Summer is upon us and your children will soon be out of school. How do you keep them entertained without breaking the

bank? TREB’s Members Plus discounts can help. As a TREB Member you’re eligible for discounts on tickets to Canada’s Wonderland, Mirvish Pro-

ductions, Niagara Falls attractions, the Ontario Science Centre, Ripley’s Aquarium, and the ROM. To find these discounts, click Interactive Member Tools on the Stratus home page, scroll to More Tools and Services, and click Members Plus. Tickets can be found in the left side menu.

Ticket Discounts with Members Plus

A link is provided for you to view and pay your invoice online. Click on the link and you will

be directed to TREB’s safe and secure e-Commerce website. You will need your TREB Membership Number, PIN, and Authenticator Password to sign on.

We recommend that you add trebin-voice@trebnet.com and webmaster@trebnet.com to your safe sender's list or email contact list to prevent it from be-ing blocked as spam.

The payment due date is Friday, June 30, 2017.

Please note the following:1. Payment of annual dues by June 30 will confirm a Member’s intention to renew his/her membership with TREB.

• If payment is not received by June 30, then a Member’s member- ship is deemed not to have been renewed and membership privi- leges will cease immediately, with- out further notice. Accordingly, unless reinstating within 12 months, you will not be responsible for the annual dues charges for the coming year.

2. A $100 reinstatement fee (plus HST) will apply for any Member reinstating his/her membership after June 30.

The following payment methods are available:• e-Commerce: Invoices may be paid online through Stratus.

• Cheque: Payable to the Toronto Real Estate Board

Cheques and cash payments must be received by TREB at close of business day 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2017.

(Please include membership number on cheque.)

• INTERAC Online: In order to make INTERAC Online payments, you must have Internet banking enabled with your financial institution. Currently, four Canadian financial institutions – TD Canada Trust, RBC, Scotiabank, and BMO – accept payments as part of the INTERAC Online program.

Please remember that payment must be received by TREB by Friday, June 30, 2017 to avoid any service interruptions.

2017/2018 TREB Membership Dues e-InvoiceYour 2017/2018 TREB annual membership dues e-Invoice notice was sent

directly to your email on Monday, May 15, 2017.

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L pIn the

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT WORK

This regular feature of Across The Board highlights the work done by TREB’s various committees and task forces chaired by members of the Board of Directors.

Arbitration and Professional Standards Steering Committee

From July 1, 2016 to June 6, 2017, Arbitration processed 97 claims and Professional Stan-dards processed 1032 complaints. Michelle Makos, Chair; Paul Etherington, Vice Chair

Commercial CommitteeIn the past year, the Committee organized the York Region Commercial Development Forum and Exhibition, which involved eco-nomic development presentations from the majority of York Region municipalities. The event was well-attended and involved signifi-cant media attention. In addition, the annual Commercial Scholarship continued to be of-fered to Ryerson University student candi-dates. Peter Burdon, Chair

Condominium CommitteeThis year, the Condominium Commit-tee concentrated on joint meetings with the Government Relations Condominium Sub-committee and representatives from OREA to discuss regulations for the new Condominium Management Services Act and the Protecting Condominium Owners Act. These discussions were valuable in helping form the industry’s submissions to the government. Dick Briscoe, Chair

Consumer Relations CommitteeA number of media campaigns were launched this year including the Toronto Land Trans-fer Tax, the foreign buyer tax, and the value of using a TREB Member REALTOR® and home ownership. In addition, TREB initia-tives such as National Real Estate Day and the Market Year in Review & Outlook Report 2017 were well-received by both the media and the public. Supporting these campaigns was intel-ligence gleaned from ramped up consumer surveys including TREB’s first-ever foreign buyer survey by Ipsos Public Affairs. Michael Collins, Chair

Finance CommitteeThis year, contracts were negotiated for sever-al services including the REALTOR® QUEST venue. The Committee also reviewed and rec-ommended on several services including Data Scraping Protection, Stratus mapping plat-form, New Home and Commercial Data for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, and Electronic Forms and Signatures platform. Addition-ally, cheque outsourcing and new corporate credit cards were introduced this year. Garry Bhaura, Chair; John Lusink, Vice Chair

Government Relations CommitteeA key victory this year came in TREB’s work to protect first-time home buyers, saving up to $4,475 in additional LTT payments. TREB was invited to sit on several government ad-visory committees and sent submissions both individually and in conjunction with OREA on industry issues ranging from REBBA 2002 reform, the foreign buyer tax, housing sup-ply, and housing affordability. Tim Syrianos, Chair; Don Kottick, Vice Chair

Member Communications CommitteeThis year, TREB solicited Member feedback through several surveys and focus groups on issues ranging from TREB services to REAL-TOR® QUEST. Several new campaigns were launched to highlight the Board of Directors election, committee volunteering, and several key TREB events. Several topics of interest including REALTOR® safety and REALTOR® professionalism were also promoted to the membership. Michael Collins, Chair

Member Services CommitteeThe Committee added new Member dis-counts for Ripley’s Aquarium, Ontario Science Centre, Royal Ontario Museum, and Mirvish Productions this year. They reviewed and recommended grants to over 60 shelter-based charities from the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation program. They also selected

Community Service Award winners Wasim Jarrah and Anne Hilliard, along with David Rossi Committee Service Award winners Eliza Cheung and Marco Da Silva. Howard Drukarsh, Chair

MLS®, Technology & Related Services Committee

This year, the Committee recommended sev-eral changes to the MLS® System including the transition from Bing Maps to Google Maps on Stratus and related applications, as well as changes to MLS® Data Information Forms including the introduction of a new Cottage/Rural/Waterfront form and related fields. In addition, they were involved in the enhance-ment of third-party data products provided by Altus and RealTrack. Mark McLean, Chair

Professional Development CommitteeThe Committee discussed the expansion of the TREB Orientation Program, considered in-centive programs to encourage more Member engagement, and did some valuable brain-storming on what new REALTORS® need to know to kick-start their real estate career. In addition, the Committee deliberated on vari-ous course offerings and considered areas of expansion. Ron Abraham, Chair

Young Professionals Network Committee

The YPN created a handbook/guide for Mem-bers, outlining the role and expectations of a TREB YPN Ambassador. In an effort to increase awareness and participation with TREB’s Young Professionals Network, TREB developed relationships with other business organizations such as the Toronto Region Board of Trade and the Business Development Bank of Canada to provide TREB Members with the opportunity to further their network-ing opportunities with ventures such as Learn-to-Earn sessions, joint events, co-branded events, and more. Lisa Patel, Chair

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Did you know that TREB, as part of its contribution to the Ontario REALTORS Care®

Foundation’s Every REALTOR® Cam-paign, has donated $150,000 to Habitat for Humanity GTA’s latest home build project at 140 Pinery Trail. TREB’s sup-port will help a deserving GTA family, the Kabir-Akters, achieve their dream of home ownership. This spring, TREB Members have participated and will par-ticipate in Build Days at the 140 Pinery Trail site. Please take a minute to watch a short clip of President Larry Cerqua at one of our Spring Build Days in May.

About the 140 Pinery Trail Site and the Kabir-Akter Family

The Kabir-Akter family, headed by

Humayunn and Bilkis, currently live in a one-bedroom apartment with their two children Humayura (12) and Farhan (6). Despite working two jobs to provide for his family, Humayunn never thought owning a home in Canada would be a re-ality. With the safety and stability their new home will bring, many of them plan

to pursue further education, with Bilkis aspiring to go to school as the kids grow older and both children planning to attend university in the future. The Kabir-Akter

family also plan to introduce themselves to the other Habitat partner families once they've settled in.

About the Every REALTOR® Campaign

At our May 2016 Spring Annual Meeting, GTA REALTORS® voted to participate in the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation's Every REALTOR® Campaign for the ninth consecutive year by donating $1 per Member per month. The Every REALTOR® Campaign helps to build a better Greater Toronto Area and has had amazing results for our communities.

Click here to read about TREB's 2015/2016 contributions.

To read more about TREB's contribution to Habitat for Humanity GTA's Pinery Trail Build Site, click here.

TREB Members Helping to Build Home Ownership Dreams

TREB continues to receive com-plaints from various municipal-ities regarding TREB Members

not complying with local sign by-law requirements, especially pertaining to open house signs. TREB strongly en-courages all Members to comply with all municipal sign by-law requirements.

In recent months, TREB has received numerous complaints from officials of various municipalities, including the City of Toronto, Markham, and Mississauga about sign by-law infringe-ments by TREB Members. Please click here to view the Mississauga letter,

earlier TREB notice regarding the City of Toronto, and the Markham letter for additional details.

Each municipality might have a differ-ent set of guidelines that needs to be strictly followed. Please remember that most municipal sign by-laws provide a convenient level of leniency for real es-tate signs, and, in many cases, TREB has worked hard to maintain these condi-tions to allow Members to conduct their business. However, municipalities have the authority to significantly strengthen their sign by-laws as they apply to real estate signs, and repeated infringements

could lead to such tightening of the rules, including potential requirements to pay sign permit fees (not currently required), an outright ban of open-house signs, in-creased fines, etc.

Your compliance with municipal sign by-laws is requested and appreciated. TREB encourages Members to review sign by-laws in their community by clicking the following links.

Durham Region York Region Halton

Peel Region Toronto

TREB Continues to Receive Sign By-Law Complaints

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Participate in a seminar or workshop to learn directly from the subject matter expert and through class discussions. Network with your fellow REALTORS® to learn from each other. These seminars/workshops range between two and six hours.

Participate in technology training for step-by-step instructions that will help you serve your clients better. Hands-on training is provided in a computer lab and is led by one of our staff Technology Learning Specialists. These labs range between three and four hours.

Although TREB endeavours to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of information, it is not guaranteed.

Upcoming Seminars and Workshops

Hands-On Technology Training

The Educated Professional

Click e-Commerce to register for courses and to access further details, including course descriptions and instructor biographies.

July 6 & 7 Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) Designed to elevate professional standards and enhance personal performance, this program focuses on providing REALTORS® with the tools necessary to represent Seller Clients in a variety of formats. Particular attention is given to differing listing models, office policies, field issues, and legal ramifications to representing Sellers in today’s changing environment. Whether you are new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, the SRS course will redefine your 'normal' and reinvent the way you represent Sellers. You will learn tips and tools that will equip you to list in today's marketplace.

July 12 to 14 REIC 2600 – Ethics and Business Practices A Fellowship of the Real Estate Institute (FRI) Designation Building a high ethical standard is essential to gaining trust in any industry, but it is most important in real estate in order to establish referral and repeat clients. Having a reputation for high ethical business principles will result in long lasting, solid relationships with your clients, employer and peers.

July 18 e-PRO® – Day 1 Certification Course Take your real estate business to the next level with digital marketing. Expand your digital skills with the e-PRO® certi-fication program and learn how to use the latest social media technologies to create an online presence vital in reaching to-day's hyper-connected consumers. NAR's e-PRO® certification program also teaches you how to take advantage of rich media and e-office strategies to run your business more efficiently.

Upcoming Professional Designations/Certifications

Webinar WednesdaysJune 21 - Taking Great Listing Photos on a Budget

June 28 - Creating a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) in Stratus

July 5 - CollaborateJuly 12 - Intro to MPAC Public Records ResidentialJuly 19 - Working with WEBForms®

Working with WEBForms® June 29 July 6 July 10 July 13 July 18 July 19 (Mississauga)

Creating a CMA in Stratus July 21

Residential Statistics in Stratus June 29 (York) July 11

Searching in Stratus – Residential July 6 (York) July 7 July 11 July 17 (Mississauga) July 17

Working with Public Records July 14 July 20 July 20 (York)

June 21 Tax Implications for Residential REALTORS®

June 26 Latest FINTRAC & CASL (Anti-Spam) Legislation

June 28 Mortgage Nightmares for REALTORS® and Their Clients

June 29 Work Less & Earn More: Show Your Clients Opportunities Others are Missing

July 5 Multiple Offers: The Seller, the Buyer, and You!

July 12 Best Practices – Everyday Use of Forms

July 19 Pricing a Luxury Property to Sell

July 20 Residential Investment Properties

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At REALTOR® QUEST 2017, in a joint partnership with TREB’s YPN Committee, Pierre

Cléroux, Vice-President and Chief Econ-omist of the Business Development of

Canada (BDC), spoke to Members inter-ested in the state of the global economy and the future of interest rates in Canada. After his presentation, many REALTORS® asked if he would share a copy of his pre-

sentation and he gladly agreed to do so. To download Pierre’s presenta-tion’s slide deck in PDF format, click here.

BDC’s Economic Outlook Presentation from REALTOR® QUEST 2017

In this regular column for Across The Board, we feature tips focusing on REALTOR® professionalism. This month’s edition continues the series of the Three Cs – Common Sense, Courtesy and Communication.

Communication (Part One) • Provide the Seller with a well-researched and documented competitive market analysis.

• Advise the Seller of any need for repairs or improvements to make their home more saleable.

• At the time of listing, provide a copy of the listing agreement forms and any other relevant forms. Be sure the agree- ment contains complete and accurate information. The listing Brokerage is responsible for the accuracy of all pub- lished MLS® data. This is also an excel- lent opportunity to refer to the Forms Explained section in Stratus.

• Establish security precautions for list- ings with a lock box. As the Listing Sales- person, you are responsible for security.

• Keep your client up to date on current market conditions.

• Make sure your advertising honestly reflects the property and is in good taste.

• Make sure the Buyer and Seller are aware of the closing costs as well as the payments (including principal, interest, HST, insurance, Land Transfer Tax, and any required mortgage insurance).

• Direct all enquiries regarding terms, conditions or price of a home to the Listing Salesperson unless otherwise instructed in the Brokerage Remarks of the listing.

• Before they show your listing, be certain all Co-operating Brokerages are aware of the compensation they will receive upon successful conclusion of the trans- action, before they show your listing. Avoid commission disputes in the presence of Buyers or Sellers.

• Help the Seller evaluate any fair and reasonable offer, but do not act against the best interest of your client, his or her own best judgement, or good conscience.

Professionalism in Real Estate TREB’s New Mississauga

Office

Did you know that TREB’s new Mississauga office opened in January 2017, and that sev-

eral great services are offered at this location? The office at 5670 McAdam Road (map) offers services that include a REALTOR® STORE, authenticator/MobilePASS administration, bill pay-ments, the TREB Orientation Pro-gram, and general training sessions.

If you’re a Member working in Peel Region, save yourself the drive to 1400 Don Mills and visit us here.

If you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication, feel free to email us at acrosstheboard@trebnet.com

Get Social With TREB Suggestions & Feedback

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Does your client want to live near a top-rated school? Rather than calling the school board,

start your search within Stratus. TREB has a list of school board websites to help you find the information you’re after.

From the Stratus home page, click Interactive Member Tools, scroll to the bottom and click Schools in the Inform section. Each board site works different-ly, but each one will allow you to search school catchment areas or by school

name. EQAO results for schools can also be found on the sites. With this informa-tion in hand, you can then use Stratus’ Map Search to draw the boundaries of the school’s catchment area to find suit-able listings.

There’s one more thing to remember, you may want to remind your client to check if their desired school is accepting new en-rollments. Just because they buy a proper-ty in a certain area doesn’t mean that their children will go to the nearest school.

As real estate professionals, you have to keep on top of a great deal of government

legislation, and Association rules and policies. It’s no easy task! Where to go for help is also confusing. TREB has cre-ated a Compli-ance Map that

will direct you to the right place to find the information you need, including the RECO Code of Ethics, PIPEDA, FINTRAC, CASL, the Do Not Call List, Municipal sign by-laws, and Association rules and policies.

The Compliance Map can be found under the Membership link on the home page, in the Tools & Services Map, or by clicking here.

Members should continue to han-dle consumer personal infor-mation with

great care, adhere to all privacy laws, and always be mindful of pro-tecting consumer privacy rights.

The Compliance Map Can Help!

Privacy Reminder

to Members

What’s In Your REALTOR® Toolkit?Finding Properties Near the Perfect School