TREB Members and HGTV
September 30, 2009 -- Last year HGTV sent out an audition call looking for Toronto REALTORS® to be featured in their Realtor vs Realtor reality show. Tonight HGTV airs a new episode for this season. Tune in Wednesday nights at 8pm, you may catch your fellow TREB Members doing what they do best.
Show Description:
"Realtor vs Realtor is the ultimate real estate challenge show, where two top notch real estate agents face-off to find desperate home buyers the house of their dreams. Each episode features two successful realtors. They may have diametrically different styles but both real estate agents share one thing in common – they’re both intensely competitive. Realtor vs Realtor follows them as they go head to head to sell houses and earn the commission that comes with it. Throughout the process we get the inside scoop on the dog eat dog business of real estate. Our agents are the shamelessly confident, warts-and-all types, who are not afraid to say it like it is. And this character-driven series uniquely shows the real estate process from their point-of-view.
At the end of the episode, it all comes down to one thing… Who will be first to close a deal for the client? Which of our realtors will bag them the home of their dreams?"
Upcoming Episodes: Wednesday, September 30 8:00 PM EST EP 1004 (CC) »
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Best time to buy a home
The best time to be in the market to buy a home
This year is one of the best times to be in the market to buy a home. Price trends are as favourable as they have been in a long time, and interest rates are at record lows. As a realtor, you offer homebuyers a professional approach to finding and acquiring the right property. As a mortgage specialist, I offer your clients a professional approach to financing the property, and making it fit within their overall financial picture. Here are just a few of the things I can do to assist you and your client:
Stress the importance of pre-approval
Pre-approval is one of the best steps a homebuyer can take. Not only will it help your clients make offers, but it also gives them a clearer idea / picture of what financial life will be like after the purchase. For example, they will know in advance what price range they can afford, and what their payments will be. Pre-approval costs nothing, and does not obligate your client. It also lets your clients guarantee the current mortgage rate for 90 days while they look for their new home.
Find sources for the down payment
Not all homebuyers have been ready and waiting for opportunity to knock. I can help your clients understand their down payment options: a low down payment mortgage, a gift from parents or other relatives, or borrowing from their own RRSPs through the Federal Homebuyers Plan to help them get into homeownership sooner. For example, the withdrawal limit on this plan increased to $25,000 this year, which enables a young couple to borrow up to $50,000 if they have the RRSP savings.
Help clients use the First Time Homebuyer (FTHB) Tax Credit
The government is clearly trying to help first time homebuyers, and I want to make sure they take full advantage of offer and programs that help them save money when buying their home. First time homebuyers who purchase a qualifying home after January 27, 2009 will be able to claim a new 15% non-refundable tax credit based on an amount of $5000, for a maximum credit of $750.
Provide educational materials and resources
I offer your clients personalized advice, but sometimes a little general education can supply important context. Here are some publications that I can offer to help you and your clients…
· Buying a Home - A Step by Step Guide to Buying a Home
· 8 common mistakes most first-time homebuyers make and how to avoid them
· Are you ready to make your move from renting to owning?
…as well as the following online calculators to help them understand their own financial situation.
· Rent or Buy?
· How Much Can You Afford?
· Mortgage Payment Calculator
· How long will it take to pay off my mortgage?
Source: Lysander, RBC mortgage specialist
This year is one of the best times to be in the market to buy a home. Price trends are as favourable as they have been in a long time, and interest rates are at record lows. As a realtor, you offer homebuyers a professional approach to finding and acquiring the right property. As a mortgage specialist, I offer your clients a professional approach to financing the property, and making it fit within their overall financial picture. Here are just a few of the things I can do to assist you and your client:
Stress the importance of pre-approval
Pre-approval is one of the best steps a homebuyer can take. Not only will it help your clients make offers, but it also gives them a clearer idea / picture of what financial life will be like after the purchase. For example, they will know in advance what price range they can afford, and what their payments will be. Pre-approval costs nothing, and does not obligate your client. It also lets your clients guarantee the current mortgage rate for 90 days while they look for their new home.
Find sources for the down payment
Not all homebuyers have been ready and waiting for opportunity to knock. I can help your clients understand their down payment options: a low down payment mortgage, a gift from parents or other relatives, or borrowing from their own RRSPs through the Federal Homebuyers Plan to help them get into homeownership sooner. For example, the withdrawal limit on this plan increased to $25,000 this year, which enables a young couple to borrow up to $50,000 if they have the RRSP savings.
Help clients use the First Time Homebuyer (FTHB) Tax Credit
The government is clearly trying to help first time homebuyers, and I want to make sure they take full advantage of offer and programs that help them save money when buying their home. First time homebuyers who purchase a qualifying home after January 27, 2009 will be able to claim a new 15% non-refundable tax credit based on an amount of $5000, for a maximum credit of $750.
Provide educational materials and resources
I offer your clients personalized advice, but sometimes a little general education can supply important context. Here are some publications that I can offer to help you and your clients…
· Buying a Home - A Step by Step Guide to Buying a Home
· 8 common mistakes most first-time homebuyers make and how to avoid them
· Are you ready to make your move from renting to owning?
…as well as the following online calculators to help them understand their own financial situation.
· Rent or Buy?
· How Much Can You Afford?
· Mortgage Payment Calculator
· How long will it take to pay off my mortgage?
Source: Lysander, RBC mortgage specialist
Harmonized sales tax
September 25, 2009 -- Starting July 1, 2010 Ontarians can expect to pay a harmonized sales tax (HST) rate of 13% on a long list goods and services that were previously exempt from the 8% Provincial Sales Tax (PST). While the impact of the tax will be felt by all Ontarians, the province’s 3 million homeowners and the thousands who buy and sell a home every year will be hit particularly hard by this latest tax grab.
As real estate professionals, REALTORS® know how important the dream of homeownership is to Ontario families. Unfortunately, thanks to the forthcoming HST, that dream is going to become much more expensive. After July 1, 2010, every residential real estate transaction in Ontario will face a significant tax increase. Specifically, home buyers and sellers can expect to pay 8% more on legal fees, appraisals, real estate commissions, home inspection fees, moving costs and the provincial government’s forthcoming system of mandatory home energy audits. According to the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) Ontarians will pay, on average, an additional $1,449 in new taxes on their next residential real estate transaction.
If it’s not bad enough that the new tax will increase the cost of buying a home, then consider the impact on the costs of owning and living in that home after it’s been purchased. Specifically, a HST will add hundreds, potentially thousands of dollars in additional tax on utility bills, such as gas, electricity and home heating fuel, on home renovation labour, the cost of lawn upkeep or landscaping and the cost of snow removal. Moreover, a HST will increase the cost of living with 8% more tax on gasoline, personal and professional services, meals under $4, dry cleaning, cab fares, magazine subscriptions, plane tickets, vitamins and cell phone charges.
When added together, the impact of a HST on Ontario family’s disposable income will be considerable. In short, a HST will reduce the people of Ontario’s quality of life by taking more of their hard earned money.
While the Government of Ontario plans to compensate homeowners by offering sales tax transition cheques and modest income tax reductions, these measures will in no way offset this new tax. A onetime payment of $1000 (for a family of four) and a modest $368 reduction in income taxes will do very little to offset the burden of an 8% tax increase on a litany of items in perpetuity.
Certain basic needs, like groceries, prescription drugs, and children’s clothing, would be exempt from the new tax. Unfortunately, the provincial government is not proposing to provide a similar exemption for home purchasing costs. Having a roof over one’s head is about as basic as needs get, and the government should recognize this by ensuring that the costs associated with purchasing a home are exempt from the new tax.
Help oppose this latest tax grab. Visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com where you will be able to access a link that will make it easy for you to write to your MPP and tell them that Ontarians do not need higher taxes on homeownership.
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
President's Toronto Sun Column Archive.
As real estate professionals, REALTORS® know how important the dream of homeownership is to Ontario families. Unfortunately, thanks to the forthcoming HST, that dream is going to become much more expensive. After July 1, 2010, every residential real estate transaction in Ontario will face a significant tax increase. Specifically, home buyers and sellers can expect to pay 8% more on legal fees, appraisals, real estate commissions, home inspection fees, moving costs and the provincial government’s forthcoming system of mandatory home energy audits. According to the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) Ontarians will pay, on average, an additional $1,449 in new taxes on their next residential real estate transaction.
If it’s not bad enough that the new tax will increase the cost of buying a home, then consider the impact on the costs of owning and living in that home after it’s been purchased. Specifically, a HST will add hundreds, potentially thousands of dollars in additional tax on utility bills, such as gas, electricity and home heating fuel, on home renovation labour, the cost of lawn upkeep or landscaping and the cost of snow removal. Moreover, a HST will increase the cost of living with 8% more tax on gasoline, personal and professional services, meals under $4, dry cleaning, cab fares, magazine subscriptions, plane tickets, vitamins and cell phone charges.
When added together, the impact of a HST on Ontario family’s disposable income will be considerable. In short, a HST will reduce the people of Ontario’s quality of life by taking more of their hard earned money.
While the Government of Ontario plans to compensate homeowners by offering sales tax transition cheques and modest income tax reductions, these measures will in no way offset this new tax. A onetime payment of $1000 (for a family of four) and a modest $368 reduction in income taxes will do very little to offset the burden of an 8% tax increase on a litany of items in perpetuity.
Certain basic needs, like groceries, prescription drugs, and children’s clothing, would be exempt from the new tax. Unfortunately, the provincial government is not proposing to provide a similar exemption for home purchasing costs. Having a roof over one’s head is about as basic as needs get, and the government should recognize this by ensuring that the costs associated with purchasing a home are exempt from the new tax.
Help oppose this latest tax grab. Visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com where you will be able to access a link that will make it easy for you to write to your MPP and tell them that Ontarians do not need higher taxes on homeownership.
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
President's Toronto Sun Column Archive.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Telus users overcharged
Phone bill rebates coming after Supreme Court ruling
18/09/2009 4:21:37 PM
CBC News
Canadian phone customers will get partial rebates worth hundreds of millions of dollars after the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed high-profile appeals Friday, one from Bell and Telus and the other from consumer groups.
The unanimous court ruling affects the fate of money collected by federally regulated phone companies such as Telus and Bell after they charged urban residential customers more over a four-year period than Canadian regulations normally would have allowed.
Friday's dismissal by the Supreme Court of Canada supports the earlier ruling by Canada's telecommunications regulator that some of the extra money should be used to improve broadband and some should be returned to customers as rebates.
The Consumers Association of Canada and the National Anti-Poverty Organization wanted all the extra money collected between 2002 and 2006 to be returned to consumers, estimating the rebate could be up to $50 per customer. It will now be less than half that.
Ted Woodhead, vice-president of telecom policy and regulatory affairs at Telus Corp., said before the ruling that the average urban Telus customer would receive a rebate of only $10 if the consumer groups won. The rebate will now be much smaller, but Woodhead said Friday that the final amount will not be known until the broadband expansion money has been spent. He added that the cost estimates for the projects were made in 2006, and the actual costs would have increased since then.
Bell, Telus fought all rebates
Bell and Telus had argued that they should not have to rebate any of the extra money to customers.
Bell had argued the rebates amounted to retrospective rate setting to change rates approved in the past by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. Telus said the CRTC decision constituted a confiscation of its property.
However, the Supreme Court disagreed, saying the CRTC made clear from the beginning that the extra money would have to be set aside. It added that the regulator had the authority to say how that money should be used.
"It did so... in a reasonable way, both in ordering subscriber credits and in approving the use of the funds for broadband expansion," the ruling concluded.
The consumer groups had argued that the CRTC's decision had been unfair, as it forced urban residential telephone customers to subsidize rural broadband.
However, the Supreme Court said the Telecommunications Act does not require the CRTC to "atomize individual services" and can decide the extent to which it will allow that kind of subsidization. For example, it noted, long distance telephone users have long subsidized local telephone users.
Critics see problem
The Ottawa-based Public Interest Advocacy Centre, which had supported the consumer groups, maintained Friday that this is not the right way to fund broadband.
"The decision today leaves the unelected commission with broad social and economic powers to raise money and pursue telecommunications projects they deem desirable," said Michael Janigan, the group's executive director and general counsel. "Whether this is the result that most Canadians think is desirable is quite another question."
Bell Canada said the Supreme Court ruling means it can now move forward with its CRTC-approved plans to deploy broadband in communities without it using its deferral account funds, which are currently worth $488 million. Many of the projects are in the areas served by its Bell Aliant subsidiary.
"Bell will also work with the CRTC to determine how the remaining balance of the deferral account can be most effectively returned to customers with minimal disruption to the company," the company said in a statement Friday. Most of that money will be returned to urban Bell Canada customers.
Woodhead said Telus's account contained $170 million in 2006, but now has less, as some money has already been spent on projects such as expanding services for people with disabilities.
"We're glad that we have the opportunity to spend a good portion of the funds on expanding broadband to various areas of Alberta, British Columbia and eastern Quebec," he said. He added that the company believes that is a better use of the money than the full rebates that consumer groups wanted. He estimated the broadband projects could begin construction in the spring of 2010.
MTS Allstream and SaskTel were also affected by the CRTC's 2006 ruling. However, Sasktel said it is not affected by the Supreme Court Ruling, as all of its deferral account money, less than $5 million, will be used to improve communications for the disabled. MTS Allstream said it is studying the decision.
CRTC spokesman Denis Carmel said the commission is "delighted that the Supreme Court upheld our decision."
18/09/2009 4:21:37 PM
CBC News
Canadian phone customers will get partial rebates worth hundreds of millions of dollars after the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed high-profile appeals Friday, one from Bell and Telus and the other from consumer groups.
The unanimous court ruling affects the fate of money collected by federally regulated phone companies such as Telus and Bell after they charged urban residential customers more over a four-year period than Canadian regulations normally would have allowed.
Friday's dismissal by the Supreme Court of Canada supports the earlier ruling by Canada's telecommunications regulator that some of the extra money should be used to improve broadband and some should be returned to customers as rebates.
The Consumers Association of Canada and the National Anti-Poverty Organization wanted all the extra money collected between 2002 and 2006 to be returned to consumers, estimating the rebate could be up to $50 per customer. It will now be less than half that.
Ted Woodhead, vice-president of telecom policy and regulatory affairs at Telus Corp., said before the ruling that the average urban Telus customer would receive a rebate of only $10 if the consumer groups won. The rebate will now be much smaller, but Woodhead said Friday that the final amount will not be known until the broadband expansion money has been spent. He added that the cost estimates for the projects were made in 2006, and the actual costs would have increased since then.
Bell, Telus fought all rebates
Bell and Telus had argued that they should not have to rebate any of the extra money to customers.
Bell had argued the rebates amounted to retrospective rate setting to change rates approved in the past by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. Telus said the CRTC decision constituted a confiscation of its property.
However, the Supreme Court disagreed, saying the CRTC made clear from the beginning that the extra money would have to be set aside. It added that the regulator had the authority to say how that money should be used.
"It did so... in a reasonable way, both in ordering subscriber credits and in approving the use of the funds for broadband expansion," the ruling concluded.
The consumer groups had argued that the CRTC's decision had been unfair, as it forced urban residential telephone customers to subsidize rural broadband.
However, the Supreme Court said the Telecommunications Act does not require the CRTC to "atomize individual services" and can decide the extent to which it will allow that kind of subsidization. For example, it noted, long distance telephone users have long subsidized local telephone users.
Critics see problem
The Ottawa-based Public Interest Advocacy Centre, which had supported the consumer groups, maintained Friday that this is not the right way to fund broadband.
"The decision today leaves the unelected commission with broad social and economic powers to raise money and pursue telecommunications projects they deem desirable," said Michael Janigan, the group's executive director and general counsel. "Whether this is the result that most Canadians think is desirable is quite another question."
Bell Canada said the Supreme Court ruling means it can now move forward with its CRTC-approved plans to deploy broadband in communities without it using its deferral account funds, which are currently worth $488 million. Many of the projects are in the areas served by its Bell Aliant subsidiary.
"Bell will also work with the CRTC to determine how the remaining balance of the deferral account can be most effectively returned to customers with minimal disruption to the company," the company said in a statement Friday. Most of that money will be returned to urban Bell Canada customers.
Woodhead said Telus's account contained $170 million in 2006, but now has less, as some money has already been spent on projects such as expanding services for people with disabilities.
"We're glad that we have the opportunity to spend a good portion of the funds on expanding broadband to various areas of Alberta, British Columbia and eastern Quebec," he said. He added that the company believes that is a better use of the money than the full rebates that consumer groups wanted. He estimated the broadband projects could begin construction in the spring of 2010.
MTS Allstream and SaskTel were also affected by the CRTC's 2006 ruling. However, Sasktel said it is not affected by the Supreme Court Ruling, as all of its deferral account money, less than $5 million, will be used to improve communications for the disabled. MTS Allstream said it is studying the decision.
CRTC spokesman Denis Carmel said the commission is "delighted that the Supreme Court upheld our decision."
Monday, September 14, 2009
August Sales from the excited President
August auspicious for home sales
September 12, 2009 -- I am excited to be writing about the Toronto Real Estate Board’s recently released results for August. With August sales at 8,035, last month marked the third straight month with annual sales increases in excess of 27 per cent. The average home price, at $387,921, continued on the upward trend as well, growing by six per cent in comparison to August 2008. What’s more, after a tough start in 2009 the resale home market in the GTA has improved to the point where both sales and average price through the first eight months of the year are above levels experienced during the same period in 2008.
I asked Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis if he could point to some factors responsible for the quick turn-around in market conditions this spring and summer. He said “home buyers have been benefitting from historic or near historic lows in borrowing costs this year which resulted from monetary stimulus from the Bank of Canada. Low borrowing costs improved affordability for first-time buyers and existing home owners who wanted to trade up in the market.”
Home sales were indeed diverse last month. Sales rose for all housing types and for the great majority of price ranges as well, including high-end properties listed for over one million dollars. This suggests to me the improvement we have experienced over the past few months is well grounded. Those people who have been confident in their employment outlook have continued to view home ownership as a quality long-term investment.
All of these home sales have been followed by a return to healthy increases in the average GTA home price. As sales have recovered, listings have remained lower than last year’s levels. In my experience, when the supply of listings has been tight in a period of sales growth, upward pressure on prices has been the result. It is likely that listings will increase as we move into the fall. Existing home owners who have been thinking about making a move will react positively to the strong sales and price growth seen in the summer.
As we have seen home sales and prices pick up over the past few months, some people continue to look at this resurgence with caution. These people point to the fact that the Canadian and US economies are still facing challenges, with the unemployment rate continuing to creep up in both countries. So, does it make sense that home sales started to turn around in advance of a general economic recovery? Jason Mercer provided me his opinion:
“A healthy housing market is a driver of economic recovery. As people move into the homes they agreed to purchase this spring and summer, they will purchase housing-related goods and services. These purchases will benefit other sectors of the economy, including finance, insurance, renovation construction and retail sales. The Canadian Real Estate Association estimates that each resale transaction in Ontario results in an additional $47,500 of spending.”
While we are not officially out of a recession, I am happy to say that the housing sector has played an important role in spurring economic recovery. This wouldn’t have happened without consumers continuing to view housing in a positive light.
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
President's National
September 12, 2009 -- I am excited to be writing about the Toronto Real Estate Board’s recently released results for August. With August sales at 8,035, last month marked the third straight month with annual sales increases in excess of 27 per cent. The average home price, at $387,921, continued on the upward trend as well, growing by six per cent in comparison to August 2008. What’s more, after a tough start in 2009 the resale home market in the GTA has improved to the point where both sales and average price through the first eight months of the year are above levels experienced during the same period in 2008.
I asked Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis if he could point to some factors responsible for the quick turn-around in market conditions this spring and summer. He said “home buyers have been benefitting from historic or near historic lows in borrowing costs this year which resulted from monetary stimulus from the Bank of Canada. Low borrowing costs improved affordability for first-time buyers and existing home owners who wanted to trade up in the market.”
Home sales were indeed diverse last month. Sales rose for all housing types and for the great majority of price ranges as well, including high-end properties listed for over one million dollars. This suggests to me the improvement we have experienced over the past few months is well grounded. Those people who have been confident in their employment outlook have continued to view home ownership as a quality long-term investment.
All of these home sales have been followed by a return to healthy increases in the average GTA home price. As sales have recovered, listings have remained lower than last year’s levels. In my experience, when the supply of listings has been tight in a period of sales growth, upward pressure on prices has been the result. It is likely that listings will increase as we move into the fall. Existing home owners who have been thinking about making a move will react positively to the strong sales and price growth seen in the summer.
As we have seen home sales and prices pick up over the past few months, some people continue to look at this resurgence with caution. These people point to the fact that the Canadian and US economies are still facing challenges, with the unemployment rate continuing to creep up in both countries. So, does it make sense that home sales started to turn around in advance of a general economic recovery? Jason Mercer provided me his opinion:
“A healthy housing market is a driver of economic recovery. As people move into the homes they agreed to purchase this spring and summer, they will purchase housing-related goods and services. These purchases will benefit other sectors of the economy, including finance, insurance, renovation construction and retail sales. The Canadian Real Estate Association estimates that each resale transaction in Ontario results in an additional $47,500 of spending.”
While we are not officially out of a recession, I am happy to say that the housing sector has played an important role in spurring economic recovery. This wouldn’t have happened without consumers continuing to view housing in a positive light.
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
President's National
Friday, September 11, 2009
Touchbase communication
Touchbase Launches Today!
September 10, 2009 -- The Touchbase enhancement is an easy-to-use communication solution developed specifically for the real estate industry. Through the use of several integrated communication interfaces designed for REALTORS® and Brokers, Touchbase will allow Members to communicate easily and effectively with their Brokerage, or directly with other Members (through Touchbase), via cell phone, SMS, pager or email.
This new tool is provided through a button on the TorontoMLS Info Centre. There are no additional costs to either Brokerages or Members to utilize this communication service. See benefits brochure
Opting In or Out of the Touchbase enhancement
To opt-out; do nothing.You can always change your mind later.
Brokerages that opt-out may still have salespersons using Touchbase as a Member to Member communication tool. In other words, if you opt-out as a Brokerage, the appointment button will not appear on your Brokerage listings on TorontoMLS. However, your salespeople can still set-up an individual profile and book appointments through Touchbase to show properties from other Brokerages that have opted-in.
Because of the ability for Touchbase to facilitate communication with all types of devices including email, text, BlackBerry and pagers, one powerful benefit of the system is its ability to record ALL incoming and outgoing communication.
Many Brokerages in other regions using Touchbase have initially run their existing front office software and Touchbase in parallel, giving them the opportunity to smoothly transition.
Note: While Touchbase incorporates the ability to send lockbox codes when confirming a showing, this field can also be used to instruct the requesting salesperson to “call office.” This allows Brokerages that do not want to include a lockbox code in electronic transmissions to have full control.
To Opt-In
1) Send in the TREB application form. See Form
2) The Broker of Record or Manager must activate profiles for their Administration team. See instructions
If you have already sent in the TREB application to opt-in as a Brokerage, all of your Brokerage listings will appear on TMLS with the “Touchbase Appointment” button. This means that when a Member does a TorontoMLS search and is interested in one of your Brokerage listings, they may click the “Touchbase Appointment” button and be expecting a response/confirmation to a showing request. So it is imperative that you activate the administrative profile(s) for your Brokerage in order to receive these requests.
3) Set-up your office preferences, i.e. office hours/holidays, last name/first name preferences. See instructions
4) Direct your Administration team or individual salespeople to activate the personal profiles of the salespersons within your Brokerage.
Additional Administrator training dates
In the TREB Auditorium - One CE Credit, $5.25 GST incl
Sept. 16 from 10:00 – 11:30 am
Sept. 22 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Sept. 30 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Call Education to register at (416) 443-8108/8128/8149/8153
Touchbase Salesperson training
Sales representative training dates. See dates/locations/times
Touchbase manual for salespersons. See Manual
Additional Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
The following link will take you to the Touchbase website, where information and tutorials can be found: http://www2.touchbaserealestate.com/index.asp
September 10, 2009 -- The Touchbase enhancement is an easy-to-use communication solution developed specifically for the real estate industry. Through the use of several integrated communication interfaces designed for REALTORS® and Brokers, Touchbase will allow Members to communicate easily and effectively with their Brokerage, or directly with other Members (through Touchbase), via cell phone, SMS, pager or email.
This new tool is provided through a button on the TorontoMLS Info Centre. There are no additional costs to either Brokerages or Members to utilize this communication service. See benefits brochure
Opting In or Out of the Touchbase enhancement
To opt-out; do nothing.You can always change your mind later.
Brokerages that opt-out may still have salespersons using Touchbase as a Member to Member communication tool. In other words, if you opt-out as a Brokerage, the appointment button will not appear on your Brokerage listings on TorontoMLS. However, your salespeople can still set-up an individual profile and book appointments through Touchbase to show properties from other Brokerages that have opted-in.
Because of the ability for Touchbase to facilitate communication with all types of devices including email, text, BlackBerry and pagers, one powerful benefit of the system is its ability to record ALL incoming and outgoing communication.
Many Brokerages in other regions using Touchbase have initially run their existing front office software and Touchbase in parallel, giving them the opportunity to smoothly transition.
Note: While Touchbase incorporates the ability to send lockbox codes when confirming a showing, this field can also be used to instruct the requesting salesperson to “call office.” This allows Brokerages that do not want to include a lockbox code in electronic transmissions to have full control.
To Opt-In
1) Send in the TREB application form. See Form
2) The Broker of Record or Manager must activate profiles for their Administration team. See instructions
If you have already sent in the TREB application to opt-in as a Brokerage, all of your Brokerage listings will appear on TMLS with the “Touchbase Appointment” button. This means that when a Member does a TorontoMLS search and is interested in one of your Brokerage listings, they may click the “Touchbase Appointment” button and be expecting a response/confirmation to a showing request. So it is imperative that you activate the administrative profile(s) for your Brokerage in order to receive these requests.
3) Set-up your office preferences, i.e. office hours/holidays, last name/first name preferences. See instructions
4) Direct your Administration team or individual salespeople to activate the personal profiles of the salespersons within your Brokerage.
Additional Administrator training dates
In the TREB Auditorium - One CE Credit, $5.25 GST incl
Sept. 16 from 10:00 – 11:30 am
Sept. 22 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Sept. 30 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Call Education to register at (416) 443-8108/8128/8149/8153
Touchbase Salesperson training
Sales representative training dates. See dates/locations/times
Touchbase manual for salespersons. See Manual
Additional Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
The following link will take you to the Touchbase website, where information and tutorials can be found: http://www2.touchbaserealestate.com/index.asp
Lose your job, keep home, ask for help
RISMEDIA, Sept 11, 2009—(MCT)-Few words sting like the ones that inform you that you’re being laid off — especially today, with jobs so hard to come by. If you’re a homeowner, the blow of a job loss can be even worse. In households with more than one wage earner, halving the monthly income can severely stretch a budget. And in households where there’s one breadwinner, having zero income can be devastating. A rainy day fund helps, but it’s important to craft a plan early about how you’re going to get through the rough patch. More people are facing this nightmare today: While the volume of subprime mortgages headed to foreclosure is falling, the volume of prime, fixed-rate mortgages defaulting is on the rise, according to statistics from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The MBA’s chief economist said that’s a result of rising unemployment.
“If you don’t have the prescribed three to six months income in the bank (now eight to 12 months due to how long it takes to replace that job), you’re really in deep trouble with some troubling decisions to make,” said Gail Cunningham, vice president of public relations for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, in an e-mail. The NFCC is a national, nonprofit credit-counseling network. “We always advise people to pay their living expenses in full (this includes the house payment), followed by any secured debt (usually the car payment), and then the creditors. This will keep a roof over your head, food on the table, utilities paid, medicine in the cabinet, the kids at day care, etc. Once the money runs out, no one beneath that line gets paid. However, this assumes that there’s either some savings to fall back on or another income source,” she said.
Between programs offered by the government and loan servicers, there are additional options available for today’s homeowners before they slip into foreclosure — if they speak up and ask for help. Or maybe the best answer is to start over again by cutting your losses and selling your home or pursuing a short sale if you owe more on your mortgage than your home is worth, those in the industry say.
Whichever road you choose, it’s important to make contact with the lender or servicer as early as you know you could have a problem on your hands — and before you get behind on your payments. The MBA has a listing of contact information for lenders and servicers, including links to Web sites that give consumers a glimpse of some of the help that is offered.
“A lot of customers call us very late in the process, and it becomes extremely difficult for us to explain everything in one shot and to resolve everything to their satisfaction,” said Sanjiv Das, CEO of CitiMortgage.
Early communication is also stressed at Chase, said Christine Holevas, a bank spokeswoman. Remember also to be open and honest about your financial situation. You may think you’re bettering your chances for help by fudging on income information, for example, but it will in fact slow the process down; when income is verified and is found to be false, you’ll have to start over again, she said.
The solution that has gotten some of the most press this year has been the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program, which lowers monthly payments for borrowers based on debt-to-income ratios. Borrowers have to successfully complete a three-month trial period before the modification is finalized.
Some homeowners are still confused about who is eligible, said Greg Hebner, president of MOS Group, a loss-mitigation service provider that works with lenders and servicers. For one, the program “requires a hardship, but does not require you to be delinquent,” Hebner said. “That is an important consumer misconception—if I’m still making my payments there is no help for me.”
. In a dual-income household, for example, if one person loses his or her job, a modification is a possibility. With one breadwinner, it probably isn’t. “There has to be some viable source of income,” Kessler said. “If they lost wages, or found a new job, the banks will work with them.” Kessler’s advice: It might be best to accept a job that pays less instead of holding out for one that is best suited to your salary history in order to qualify for the adjustment.
A borrower also has to be in danger of imminent default to be eligible, Holevas said. “They’re going to take a look at what your liquid assets are,” she said. If a borrower has more than seven months worth of payments in savings, he or she is not yet in imminent danger of falling behind and likely won’t be able to modify, she said. If you do qualify, it’s important to submit complete and accurate information in order for the application to move through the process without hiccups, Holevas added. If you don’t, “the back and forth tends to really slow things down,” she said.
Remember, if you don’t qualify for the government’s program, many mortgage servicers have their own modification plans, Holevas said. All options can be examined if you start early enough. “Contact your lender when you think you’re going to have a problem,” she said, even if you’re a couple of months out from not being able to make your payment.
For some homeowners, however, it might make more sense to sell their home and start fresh. Home sales are up recently in many markets, and if you’re living in a home that would be attractive to a first-time buyer eligible for the government’s first-time buyer tax credit, you might be able to take advantage and make a sale before the credit expires at the end of November, Kessler said.
“Maybe sell now and get yourself in a smaller property, a less costly property,” he said.
For homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are currently worth, short sales can be a viable option. In a short sale, the home is sold for less than the mortgage amount — with approval from the lender — and the difference is forgiven. Short sales usually take longer than a traditional sale, so borrowers might want to seek out a real-estate agent who is a certified default property expert in order to expedite the process, said Rich Rollins, president of National Quick Sale, a firm that works with the mortgage industry to get short-sale offers processed. His firm also helps match up investors with distressed properties, working out deals that allow the homeowners to give up ownership but rent their home, with the potential for them to “rent to re-own,” he said.
He warns, however, to be careful of unsolicited offers of help from people claiming they can save your home, he said.
“Be very wary of people who approach you for a profit or fee upfront,” Rollins said. “You’ve got to be diligent because there are people out there trying to steal your money,” he said. “You’re already in a precarious position. Don’t let people take advantage and take the money that you do have.”
“If you don’t have the prescribed three to six months income in the bank (now eight to 12 months due to how long it takes to replace that job), you’re really in deep trouble with some troubling decisions to make,” said Gail Cunningham, vice president of public relations for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, in an e-mail. The NFCC is a national, nonprofit credit-counseling network. “We always advise people to pay their living expenses in full (this includes the house payment), followed by any secured debt (usually the car payment), and then the creditors. This will keep a roof over your head, food on the table, utilities paid, medicine in the cabinet, the kids at day care, etc. Once the money runs out, no one beneath that line gets paid. However, this assumes that there’s either some savings to fall back on or another income source,” she said.
Between programs offered by the government and loan servicers, there are additional options available for today’s homeowners before they slip into foreclosure — if they speak up and ask for help. Or maybe the best answer is to start over again by cutting your losses and selling your home or pursuing a short sale if you owe more on your mortgage than your home is worth, those in the industry say.
Whichever road you choose, it’s important to make contact with the lender or servicer as early as you know you could have a problem on your hands — and before you get behind on your payments. The MBA has a listing of contact information for lenders and servicers, including links to Web sites that give consumers a glimpse of some of the help that is offered.
“A lot of customers call us very late in the process, and it becomes extremely difficult for us to explain everything in one shot and to resolve everything to their satisfaction,” said Sanjiv Das, CEO of CitiMortgage.
Early communication is also stressed at Chase, said Christine Holevas, a bank spokeswoman. Remember also to be open and honest about your financial situation. You may think you’re bettering your chances for help by fudging on income information, for example, but it will in fact slow the process down; when income is verified and is found to be false, you’ll have to start over again, she said.
The solution that has gotten some of the most press this year has been the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program, which lowers monthly payments for borrowers based on debt-to-income ratios. Borrowers have to successfully complete a three-month trial period before the modification is finalized.
Some homeowners are still confused about who is eligible, said Greg Hebner, president of MOS Group, a loss-mitigation service provider that works with lenders and servicers. For one, the program “requires a hardship, but does not require you to be delinquent,” Hebner said. “That is an important consumer misconception—if I’m still making my payments there is no help for me.”
. In a dual-income household, for example, if one person loses his or her job, a modification is a possibility. With one breadwinner, it probably isn’t. “There has to be some viable source of income,” Kessler said. “If they lost wages, or found a new job, the banks will work with them.” Kessler’s advice: It might be best to accept a job that pays less instead of holding out for one that is best suited to your salary history in order to qualify for the adjustment.
A borrower also has to be in danger of imminent default to be eligible, Holevas said. “They’re going to take a look at what your liquid assets are,” she said. If a borrower has more than seven months worth of payments in savings, he or she is not yet in imminent danger of falling behind and likely won’t be able to modify, she said. If you do qualify, it’s important to submit complete and accurate information in order for the application to move through the process without hiccups, Holevas added. If you don’t, “the back and forth tends to really slow things down,” she said.
Remember, if you don’t qualify for the government’s program, many mortgage servicers have their own modification plans, Holevas said. All options can be examined if you start early enough. “Contact your lender when you think you’re going to have a problem,” she said, even if you’re a couple of months out from not being able to make your payment.
For some homeowners, however, it might make more sense to sell their home and start fresh. Home sales are up recently in many markets, and if you’re living in a home that would be attractive to a first-time buyer eligible for the government’s first-time buyer tax credit, you might be able to take advantage and make a sale before the credit expires at the end of November, Kessler said.
“Maybe sell now and get yourself in a smaller property, a less costly property,” he said.
For homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are currently worth, short sales can be a viable option. In a short sale, the home is sold for less than the mortgage amount — with approval from the lender — and the difference is forgiven. Short sales usually take longer than a traditional sale, so borrowers might want to seek out a real-estate agent who is a certified default property expert in order to expedite the process, said Rich Rollins, president of National Quick Sale, a firm that works with the mortgage industry to get short-sale offers processed. His firm also helps match up investors with distressed properties, working out deals that allow the homeowners to give up ownership but rent their home, with the potential for them to “rent to re-own,” he said.
He warns, however, to be careful of unsolicited offers of help from people claiming they can save your home, he said.
“Be very wary of people who approach you for a profit or fee upfront,” Rollins said. “You’ve got to be diligent because there are people out there trying to steal your money,” he said. “You’re already in a precarious position. Don’t let people take advantage and take the money that you do have.”
How to host a yard sale
If your annual spring cleaning ritual has produced a mountain of unused and unwanted items, you may want to think twice before you simply toss them out. How about a yard sale to turn some of that “junk” into someone else’s “treasure?”
First, settle on a date and time for your sale. Weekends are virtually universal for yard sales, and most run from 8 or 9 a.m. until 4 or 5 p.m. You'll also need to set a rain date, usually the next day if your sale is on a Saturday, or the following weekend if your date is Sunday. Most sellers advertise by posting signs on lamp posts and hydro poles.
Running out of change is also a problem that plagues many sales.
Think like a yard sale buyer
The ability to deliver the kind of goods and service that buyers want is perhaps the most important factor in the success of your sale.
There are a number of items that are always in high demand: art, antiques (even distressed pieces), furniture, appliances, electronic equipment, tools, and lately, computer games and accessories. If you have goods in any of these categories, mention them in your flyer or ad.
Surprisingly, many veteran yard salers are not interested in old clothing. Unless you've got something special to offer, you can expect to turn much of your old wardrobe over to charity.
As to pricing your goods, nothing turns away a potential buyer more than a price that is too high. You can always expect haggling, but most won't even bother if you price an old lamp at $20, when similar items can be had for $5.
Don't clutter up your yard, and make sure your items are separated by category.
A friendly face and a free cup of java can do wonders.
Finally, the success of a yard sale is measured by the amount of additional space you have in your house after the yard sale is over, and the amount of money you make. Now you may be tempted to run out and purchase more items that will likely end up in your next yard sale. But, why not celebrate your success by spending the money on dinner at a nice restaurant for the family and whoever helped at the sale. Source: OREA
First, settle on a date and time for your sale. Weekends are virtually universal for yard sales, and most run from 8 or 9 a.m. until 4 or 5 p.m. You'll also need to set a rain date, usually the next day if your sale is on a Saturday, or the following weekend if your date is Sunday. Most sellers advertise by posting signs on lamp posts and hydro poles.
Running out of change is also a problem that plagues many sales.
Think like a yard sale buyer
The ability to deliver the kind of goods and service that buyers want is perhaps the most important factor in the success of your sale.
There are a number of items that are always in high demand: art, antiques (even distressed pieces), furniture, appliances, electronic equipment, tools, and lately, computer games and accessories. If you have goods in any of these categories, mention them in your flyer or ad.
Surprisingly, many veteran yard salers are not interested in old clothing. Unless you've got something special to offer, you can expect to turn much of your old wardrobe over to charity.
As to pricing your goods, nothing turns away a potential buyer more than a price that is too high. You can always expect haggling, but most won't even bother if you price an old lamp at $20, when similar items can be had for $5.
Don't clutter up your yard, and make sure your items are separated by category.
A friendly face and a free cup of java can do wonders.
Finally, the success of a yard sale is measured by the amount of additional space you have in your house after the yard sale is over, and the amount of money you make. Now you may be tempted to run out and purchase more items that will likely end up in your next yard sale. But, why not celebrate your success by spending the money on dinner at a nice restaurant for the family and whoever helped at the sale. Source: OREA
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