I have been in real estate for 12 years. I am currently broker/owner of two real estate offices. I have witnessed a great deal of change in real estate and have concluded that no one is representing the Realtors in the field properly. The Ontario Real Estate Association seems bent on making money on courses [...]

Like so many other people, I have found myself in awe of the new technology that is being introduced today. Many of the products and the software that runs them are truly remarkable.
The tools we have that allow us to communicate and provide us with the ability to deliver information are extraordinary.
The key [...]

Here is a quiz to test your knowledge of if and when you are entitled to a real estate commission. The answers are at the end of the column.
1. Are the following statements correct?
a) The governing contract between a seller and real estate broker for the payment of commission is the Listing Contract.
b) The rights [...]

The March 2003 issue of REM revealed that my column was about the Banff Western Connection. Since the best real estate conference in Canada is held only every two years – is that bi annually? I’m never sure — I wandered deeper in the dusty archives of cyberspace to see what other springtime subjects had [...]

I was very lucky when I started selling real estate. George MacLean was a retired mutual fund salesman who had grown tired of doing nothing, so he got his real estate license and decided to sell new homes. I was a fresh and eager 21-year-old kid and was teamed with George, who was then in [...]

By Kathy Bevan
 
Re/Max Ontario-Atlantic Canada is putting corporate support behind two new initiatives to prevent breast cancer.  The franchisor has become one of the lead donors for the Primary Prevention Research Program of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation-Ontario, to help individuals better understand the role lifestyle and environment play in the incidence of breast cancer. [...]

By Kathy Bevan
 
The federal government is expanding its efforts to deter and detect money laundering and terrorist activity funding by initiating on-site visits to specific business sectors, including real estate offices, beginning this spring.  
While the on-site visits are a new initiative, the legislation and regulations requiring industries such as real estate to file Suspicious [...]

By Kathy Bevan
 
Obtaining consent when collecting personal information, as well as being very clear about how that information will be used, is no longer an option for Realtors in Canada – it’s the law.
As of January 1, 2004 PIPEDA – the federal government’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act – now governs the collection, [...]

A celebration for one of Sarnia, Ont.’s long-time Realtors was recently held at the Sarnia  Golf & Curling Club.  Bill Guilfoyle celebrated 50 years belonging to the local real estate board at a luncheon held in his honour.  A number of his colleagues from many different offices remembered his influence on their lives and careers. [...]

Kelowna Realtor Dan St. Yves’s book, Nonsense and Stuff, has been nominated for the 2004 Stephen Leacock Medal For Humour. The award has been given out every year since 1947 to the best book of humour written by a Canadian.
Nonsense and Stuff is a collection of new and previously published humour articles, including many that [...]