The following advice, given by Dr. Oz, makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know:
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global
epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact
with H1N1 in spite of all precautions.
Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in
order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official
communications).
2."Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all
temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe)
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine or Hydrogen
Peroxide if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't
underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with
warm salt water, or hydrogen peroxide. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose softly once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla
and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking
warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the
reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from
the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive,
proliferate or do any harm.
Pass this on. You never know who might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE
because of it.
Source: Dr. Osmar Radam, Baltimore, Md.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Stop the HST Rally
Attend “STOP THE HST” Rally
October 26, 2009 -- YOUR HELP IS NEEDED to send a message to the provincial government. Join Ontario Real Estate Association President Pauline Aunger at Queen’s Park on Wednesday, October 28th to help stop the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax. Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leader, Tim Hudak, and the Ontario New Democratic Party leader, Andrea Horwath, will be participating in this rally.
Details:
STOP THE HST RALLY
Date: Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Where: Front lawn of Ontario Legislature, Queen’s Park (University Avenue, North of College St.)
This rally is being organized in conjunction with organizations whose membership have concerns about the impacts of the proposed HST, including REALTORS®. OREA President Pauline Aunger, P.C. Party Leader Tim Hudak, and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will be speaking, as will representatives from other groups that oppose this new sales tax.
TREB and OREA have expressed concerns about how this tax will affect the real estate market and industry. The proposed HST would add an additional eight percent sales tax to numerous consumer real estate costs such as home inspection fees, legal fees, and REALTOR® commissions. Also, the HST would had thousands of dollars in additional tax to the purchase price of newly constructed homes.
October 26, 2009 -- YOUR HELP IS NEEDED to send a message to the provincial government. Join Ontario Real Estate Association President Pauline Aunger at Queen’s Park on Wednesday, October 28th to help stop the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax. Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leader, Tim Hudak, and the Ontario New Democratic Party leader, Andrea Horwath, will be participating in this rally.
Details:
STOP THE HST RALLY
Date: Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Where: Front lawn of Ontario Legislature, Queen’s Park (University Avenue, North of College St.)
This rally is being organized in conjunction with organizations whose membership have concerns about the impacts of the proposed HST, including REALTORS®. OREA President Pauline Aunger, P.C. Party Leader Tim Hudak, and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will be speaking, as will representatives from other groups that oppose this new sales tax.
TREB and OREA have expressed concerns about how this tax will affect the real estate market and industry. The proposed HST would add an additional eight percent sales tax to numerous consumer real estate costs such as home inspection fees, legal fees, and REALTOR® commissions. Also, the HST would had thousands of dollars in additional tax to the purchase price of newly constructed homes.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Reasonable priced neighborhoods
Where to buy: Many untapped areas of Toronto that are both desirable and affordable
October 23, 2009 -- With Greater Toronto Area resale housing activity continuing at a strong pace, some homebuyers may view a condominium purchase as their only launching point into the market. While condo living is an excellent choice, there are also many untapped desirable neighbourhoods where great prices on single detached homes can still be found.
One such example is the area around Wilmington Park in North York. Located south of Finch Avenue and West of Bathurst Street, ‘50s era bungalows and side-splits on wide lots are prevalent in this area, which has an abundance of greenspace. Here you can find a home that is still close to central Toronto and you’ll save several thousands of dollars by not paying the premium associated with the Yonge Street corridor. In recent months detached homes in this neighbourhood have sold for $549,635 on average, that’s compared to $865,467 in central Toronto.
Along the eastern border of North York, but also still centrally located you’ll find Parkwoods - an area dominated by 60s and 70s era detached homes that are currently selling for $503,040 on average. Parkwoods runs east of the Don Valley Parkway between Highway 401 and Lawrence Avenue, offering residents the natural beauty of the Don River Valley at a lesser price than you would pay in Don Mills. Although it has a suburban feel, its proximity to the Don Valley Parkway means that you’re only minutes away from city life as well.
Offering even easier access to downtown Toronto is East York, which runs long O’Connor Drive between Pape and Woodbine Avenues. Established in 1924, East York’s growth occurred primarily between 1946 and 1961 when its housing stock nearly doubled in size. Known as Canada's only Borough (until 1998), this area features well-loved brick bungalows, increasingly being left behind by seniors and snapped up by young professionals. In recent months, a detached home in East York could be found for approximately $493,870.
The southwest section of downtown Toronto is also a popular option. Beaconsfield Village, named after former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, who was given the title of Lord Beaconsfield by Queen Victoria, has undergone extensive gentrification in recent years. This area, along with neighbouring Little Portugal, is popular with Toronto's arts community, which has gradually migrated west along Queen Street. Immediately north of this area is Dufferin Grove, a community that has been completely revitalized by improvements to its focal point, the 14-acre Dufferin Grove Park. You’ll find even greater affordability just west of this area in Brockton Village where detached homes have recently sold for $496,911. Throughout these neighbourhoods you’ll find a variety of single and semi-detached homes, which offer a fair price in exchange for some elbow grease.
Further west, in Etobicoke, you can find another gem of a neighbourhood in New Toronto. Originally planned in the 1890s as a working town near the rail lines, this area has begun to attract young professionals thanks to its proximity to both downtown and most significantly, the waterfront. Petite detached homes and cottages, currently selling for $382,750 give this neighbourhood a cozy feel.
These are just a few examples of neighbourhoods that offer affordability all within reach of downtown Toronto. By working with a REALTOR®, you’re certain to find many more that are tucked away. For more information please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
October 23, 2009 -- With Greater Toronto Area resale housing activity continuing at a strong pace, some homebuyers may view a condominium purchase as their only launching point into the market. While condo living is an excellent choice, there are also many untapped desirable neighbourhoods where great prices on single detached homes can still be found.
One such example is the area around Wilmington Park in North York. Located south of Finch Avenue and West of Bathurst Street, ‘50s era bungalows and side-splits on wide lots are prevalent in this area, which has an abundance of greenspace. Here you can find a home that is still close to central Toronto and you’ll save several thousands of dollars by not paying the premium associated with the Yonge Street corridor. In recent months detached homes in this neighbourhood have sold for $549,635 on average, that’s compared to $865,467 in central Toronto.
Along the eastern border of North York, but also still centrally located you’ll find Parkwoods - an area dominated by 60s and 70s era detached homes that are currently selling for $503,040 on average. Parkwoods runs east of the Don Valley Parkway between Highway 401 and Lawrence Avenue, offering residents the natural beauty of the Don River Valley at a lesser price than you would pay in Don Mills. Although it has a suburban feel, its proximity to the Don Valley Parkway means that you’re only minutes away from city life as well.
Offering even easier access to downtown Toronto is East York, which runs long O’Connor Drive between Pape and Woodbine Avenues. Established in 1924, East York’s growth occurred primarily between 1946 and 1961 when its housing stock nearly doubled in size. Known as Canada's only Borough (until 1998), this area features well-loved brick bungalows, increasingly being left behind by seniors and snapped up by young professionals. In recent months, a detached home in East York could be found for approximately $493,870.
The southwest section of downtown Toronto is also a popular option. Beaconsfield Village, named after former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, who was given the title of Lord Beaconsfield by Queen Victoria, has undergone extensive gentrification in recent years. This area, along with neighbouring Little Portugal, is popular with Toronto's arts community, which has gradually migrated west along Queen Street. Immediately north of this area is Dufferin Grove, a community that has been completely revitalized by improvements to its focal point, the 14-acre Dufferin Grove Park. You’ll find even greater affordability just west of this area in Brockton Village where detached homes have recently sold for $496,911. Throughout these neighbourhoods you’ll find a variety of single and semi-detached homes, which offer a fair price in exchange for some elbow grease.
Further west, in Etobicoke, you can find another gem of a neighbourhood in New Toronto. Originally planned in the 1890s as a working town near the rail lines, this area has begun to attract young professionals thanks to its proximity to both downtown and most significantly, the waterfront. Petite detached homes and cottages, currently selling for $382,750 give this neighbourhood a cozy feel.
These are just a few examples of neighbourhoods that offer affordability all within reach of downtown Toronto. By working with a REALTOR®, you’re certain to find many more that are tucked away. For more information please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
Monday, October 19, 2009
GTA Realtors offer MLS info on other cities
Greater Toronto REALTORS® Offer MLS® Information on Other Ontario Cities
TORONTO, October 19, 2009 - Information on Ontario’s four largest real estate markets is now available to clients through Greater Toronto REALTORS®.
As a result of a groundbreaking agreement between Ontario’s four largest Real Estate Boards and REALTOR® Associations, real estate professionals throughout the province can now access a broad new range of information to better serve their clients.
The Connect project, a joint venture of the Toronto Real Estate Board, the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington, the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® and the Ottawa Real Estate Board, offers REALTORS® real time access to participating Boards’ and Associations’ Multiple Listing Service ® information.
“While the consumer website www.REALTOR.ca is an excellent starting point for those considering a move, it is also important to work with a REALTOR® because they can offer professional guidance based in part, on a greater depth of information available to them through the MLS®,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour. “Through Connect, REALTORS® can now also provide that depth of
information and an informed referral when clients are faced with the challenge of relocation.”
Connect offers members of participating boards and associations the ability to search and view the active listings and recent sales history of all other participating organizations in their own local MLS® format.
Specifically, two years of Active, Sold, Conditional Sold and Pending Sold information is available for all listing classes through Connect, with the exception of Commercial, which offers four years of history.
“Through Connect REALTORS® can offer immediate, in-depth guidance to their clients, regardless of geographic area,” he said. “It is an important new tool, given that technology has made boundaries limitless.”
While it provides access to important information, Connect doesn’t offer the full functionality of an MLS® system. Listings for example, can be printed but not emailed through the Connect system.
Access is currently only provided through the four participating Boards’ and Associations’ MLS® systems however, other Ontario Boards and Associations will soon be invited to join.
“Connect will allow us to serve our clients more effectively, and given that REALTORS® guide their clients through the largest financial decisions of their lives, in our profession exceptional service is absolutely paramount.”
Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Serving over 28,000 Members in the Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest real estate board. Greater Toronto Area open house listings are now available on www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com.
TORONTO, October 19, 2009 - Information on Ontario’s four largest real estate markets is now available to clients through Greater Toronto REALTORS®.
As a result of a groundbreaking agreement between Ontario’s four largest Real Estate Boards and REALTOR® Associations, real estate professionals throughout the province can now access a broad new range of information to better serve their clients.
The Connect project, a joint venture of the Toronto Real Estate Board, the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington, the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® and the Ottawa Real Estate Board, offers REALTORS® real time access to participating Boards’ and Associations’ Multiple Listing Service ® information.
“While the consumer website www.REALTOR.ca is an excellent starting point for those considering a move, it is also important to work with a REALTOR® because they can offer professional guidance based in part, on a greater depth of information available to them through the MLS®,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour. “Through Connect, REALTORS® can now also provide that depth of
information and an informed referral when clients are faced with the challenge of relocation.”
Connect offers members of participating boards and associations the ability to search and view the active listings and recent sales history of all other participating organizations in their own local MLS® format.
Specifically, two years of Active, Sold, Conditional Sold and Pending Sold information is available for all listing classes through Connect, with the exception of Commercial, which offers four years of history.
“Through Connect REALTORS® can offer immediate, in-depth guidance to their clients, regardless of geographic area,” he said. “It is an important new tool, given that technology has made boundaries limitless.”
While it provides access to important information, Connect doesn’t offer the full functionality of an MLS® system. Listings for example, can be printed but not emailed through the Connect system.
Access is currently only provided through the four participating Boards’ and Associations’ MLS® systems however, other Ontario Boards and Associations will soon be invited to join.
“Connect will allow us to serve our clients more effectively, and given that REALTORS® guide their clients through the largest financial decisions of their lives, in our profession exceptional service is absolutely paramount.”
Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Serving over 28,000 Members in the Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest real estate board. Greater Toronto Area open house listings are now available on www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Home improvement programs
Value Added
October 16, 2009 -- We Canadians love fixing up our homes. A home not only provides shelter, it’s a refuge, a source of happy memories and tremendous pride.
In recent years, we have found our inspiration from a multitude of home improvement programs on television, then headed to the nearest big box renovation stores to begin the next great project.
According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, close to $19.7 billion was spent in our country’s 10 major centres on renovations last year, an increase of more than $2 billion compared to 2006.
And there’s no end in sight to our passion for refurbishment. A survey by RBC/Ipsos Reid released last fall indicates that 66 per cent of Ontario home owners say they are planning to renovate over the next two years, with an average budget of $10,495.
Whether you’re planning a renovation in preparation for a sale, because your house is in need of repairs or simply for esthetics, it’s wise to plan carefully to achieve the best return on investment.
Most of us know that kitchens, bathrooms and a fresh coat of paint inside and out, offer the best return on investment. You can expect to get back 75 to 100 per cent of what you put into kitchens and bathrooms. Painting will return 50 to 100 per cent of your investment.
While these fix-ups are a pretty safe bet, there are a number of factors that can influence your return on investment. Location is one such consideration. While a basement recreation room will generally return 50 to 75 per cent of expenses, the preferences of future buyers in your community, seniors for example, can limit its value.
It’s also important to consider what your home needs most. Window and door replacement may offer a return 50 to 75 per cent but if your existing units are broken, there’s no question this should top your project list. In this case, the value associated with your home’s overall impression outweighs specific project returns.
Similarly, new flooring can dramatically enhance the overall look of your home despite the fact that the project itself will provide returns of 50 to 75 per cent. A new heating system will offer a 50 to 80 per cent return but buyers won’t have the same emotional response, which is a key factor in yielding a higher selling price.
There are some renovations that we undertake purely for our own enjoyment, like a swimming pool, which offers up to a 40 per cent return or landscaping, from which you will get back 25 to 50 per cent. They can however, also contribute to a more attractive property overall.
Regardless of the project you plan to undertake, strive to achieve good quality without overspending on custom materials. Remember that even the simplest improvements like new light fixtures, cabinet hardware or faucets can give your home a fresh, updated look.
For more information check out the Appraisal Institute of Canada’s RENOVA online worksheet or visit the Toronto Real Estate Board’s consumer website www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com to find a REALTOR® who can advise you on the smartest fix-ups for your home.
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.
October 16, 2009 -- We Canadians love fixing up our homes. A home not only provides shelter, it’s a refuge, a source of happy memories and tremendous pride.
In recent years, we have found our inspiration from a multitude of home improvement programs on television, then headed to the nearest big box renovation stores to begin the next great project.
According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, close to $19.7 billion was spent in our country’s 10 major centres on renovations last year, an increase of more than $2 billion compared to 2006.
And there’s no end in sight to our passion for refurbishment. A survey by RBC/Ipsos Reid released last fall indicates that 66 per cent of Ontario home owners say they are planning to renovate over the next two years, with an average budget of $10,495.
Whether you’re planning a renovation in preparation for a sale, because your house is in need of repairs or simply for esthetics, it’s wise to plan carefully to achieve the best return on investment.
Most of us know that kitchens, bathrooms and a fresh coat of paint inside and out, offer the best return on investment. You can expect to get back 75 to 100 per cent of what you put into kitchens and bathrooms. Painting will return 50 to 100 per cent of your investment.
While these fix-ups are a pretty safe bet, there are a number of factors that can influence your return on investment. Location is one such consideration. While a basement recreation room will generally return 50 to 75 per cent of expenses, the preferences of future buyers in your community, seniors for example, can limit its value.
It’s also important to consider what your home needs most. Window and door replacement may offer a return 50 to 75 per cent but if your existing units are broken, there’s no question this should top your project list. In this case, the value associated with your home’s overall impression outweighs specific project returns.
Similarly, new flooring can dramatically enhance the overall look of your home despite the fact that the project itself will provide returns of 50 to 75 per cent. A new heating system will offer a 50 to 80 per cent return but buyers won’t have the same emotional response, which is a key factor in yielding a higher selling price.
There are some renovations that we undertake purely for our own enjoyment, like a swimming pool, which offers up to a 40 per cent return or landscaping, from which you will get back 25 to 50 per cent. They can however, also contribute to a more attractive property overall.
Regardless of the project you plan to undertake, strive to achieve good quality without overspending on custom materials. Remember that even the simplest improvements like new light fixtures, cabinet hardware or faucets can give your home a fresh, updated look.
For more information check out the Appraisal Institute of Canada’s RENOVA online worksheet or visit the Toronto Real Estate Board’s consumer website www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com to find a REALTOR® who can advise you on the smartest fix-ups for your home.
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.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Human Rights on Rental Housing
New Policy on Human Rights and Rental Housing
October 15, 2009 -- The Ontario Human Rights Commission has released a new Policy on Human Rights and Rental Housing. This policy document is intended to give practical advice on how people (both tenants and landlords) can exercise their rights and fulfill their obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code, with regard to how it applies to rental housing.
Ontario Human Rights Code
Under Ontario’s Human Rights Code, tenants and housing providers (landlords) have rights and obligations. Under the Code, everyone has the right to equal treatment in housing, without discrimination and harassment. Landlords are responsible for making sure the housing they operate is free from discrimination and harassment.
Under the Code, people cannot be refused an apartment, bothered by a landlord or other tenants, or otherwise treated unfairly because of their:
• Race, colour or ethnic background
• Religious beliefs or practices
• Ancestry, including people of aboriginal descent
• Place of origin
• Citizenship, including refugee status
• Sex (including pregnancy and gender identity)
• Family status
• Marital status, including people with same-sex partner
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Age, including people who are 16 or 17 years old and no longer living with their parents
• Receipt of public assistance
People are also protected if they face discrimination because of being a friend or relative of someone identified above.
Additional Information
The Ontario Human Rights Code and the new Policy on Human Rights and Rental Housing provide additional detail on the application of these rights and landlord obligations.
Detailed information on these issues, including the new Policy on Human Rights and Rental Housing, is available from the Ontario Human Rights Commission web site. http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/policylaunch
10/15/09
October 15, 2009 -- The Ontario Human Rights Commission has released a new Policy on Human Rights and Rental Housing. This policy document is intended to give practical advice on how people (both tenants and landlords) can exercise their rights and fulfill their obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code, with regard to how it applies to rental housing.
Ontario Human Rights Code
Under Ontario’s Human Rights Code, tenants and housing providers (landlords) have rights and obligations. Under the Code, everyone has the right to equal treatment in housing, without discrimination and harassment. Landlords are responsible for making sure the housing they operate is free from discrimination and harassment.
Under the Code, people cannot be refused an apartment, bothered by a landlord or other tenants, or otherwise treated unfairly because of their:
• Race, colour or ethnic background
• Religious beliefs or practices
• Ancestry, including people of aboriginal descent
• Place of origin
• Citizenship, including refugee status
• Sex (including pregnancy and gender identity)
• Family status
• Marital status, including people with same-sex partner
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Age, including people who are 16 or 17 years old and no longer living with their parents
• Receipt of public assistance
People are also protected if they face discrimination because of being a friend or relative of someone identified above.
Additional Information
The Ontario Human Rights Code and the new Policy on Human Rights and Rental Housing provide additional detail on the application of these rights and landlord obligations.
Detailed information on these issues, including the new Policy on Human Rights and Rental Housing, is available from the Ontario Human Rights Commission web site. http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/policylaunch
10/15/09
Friday, October 9, 2009
Obama-Nobel Peace Prize Winner!
Obama is surprise winner of Nobel Peace Prize
Module body
1 hour, 23 minutes ago
By Matt Spetalnick and Wojciech Moskwa
ADVERTISEMENT
WASHINGTON/OSLO (Reuters) - Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world.
The bestowal of one of the world's top accolades on a president less than nine months in office, who has yet to score a major foreign policy success, was greeted with gasps of astonishment from journalists at the announcement in Oslo.
Obama expressed surprise at winning the award, saying he felt humbled and unworthy of being counted in the company of the "transformative figures" of history who had won it.
"I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather an affirmation of American leadership," he said in the White House Rose Garden. "I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Obama for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," citing his fledgling push for nuclear disarmament and his outreach to the Muslim world.
Obama has been widely credited with improving America's global image after the eight-year presidency of George W. Bush, who alienated both friends and foes with go-it-alone policies like the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama so far has made little tangible headway as he grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea.
Obama, who got the news of the prize in a pre-dawn call from his press secretary, now also has the burden of living up to its expectations.
LITANY OF UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS
The first African-American to hold his country's highest office, Obama, 48, has struggled with a litany of foreign policy problems bequeathed to him by Bush, while taking a more multilateral approach than his predecessor.
Obama acknowledged while accepting an award predicated on the pursuit of peace, he was commander-in-chief of a country in two wars. "We have to confront the world as we know it," he said.
He received the honor the same day he was convening his war council to weigh whether to send thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan to turn the tide against a resurgent Taliban.
Despite troubles at home including a battered economy and fierce healthcare debate that have eroded his once-lofty approval ratings, the Democratic U.S. president is still widely seen around the world as an inspirational figure.
"Very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the Nobel committee said in its citation.
But some analysts saw the award as a final slap in the face for Bush from the European establishment, which had resented what they saw as arrogance and recklessness in world affairs.
Obama will travel to Oslo to receive the prize on December 10, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said.
While the award won praise from such statesmen as Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev, both Nobel laureates, it was also attacked in some quarters as hasty and undeserved.
Afghanistan's Taliban mocked the award.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, speaking to Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location, said it was absurd to give a peace award to a man who had sent 21,000 extra troops to Afghanistan, and Obama "should have won the 'Nobel Prize for escalating violence and killing civilians.'"
Obama is considering a request from his top commander in Afghanistan to send him at least 40,000 more troops.
The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and opposes a peace treaty with Israel, said the award was premature at best.
EMBARRASSING "JOKE"
Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjoern Jagland rejected suggestions from journalists that Obama was getting the prize too early, saying it recognized what he had already done over the past year.
"We hope this can contribute a little bit to enhance what he is trying to do," he told a news conference.
Obama is the fourth U.S. president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after Jimmy Carter won in 2002, Woodrow Wilson picked it up in 1919 and Theodore Roosevelt was chosen for the 1906 prize.
Issam al-Khazraji, a day laborer in Baghdad, said of Obama: "He doesn't deserve this prize. All these problems -- Iraq, Afghanistan -- have not been solved ... man of 'change' hasn't changed anything yet."
Liaqat Baluch, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, a conservative religious party in Pakistan, called the award an embarrassing "joke."
But the chief Palestinian peace negotiator, Saeb Erekat, welcomed it and expressed hope that Obama "will be able to achieve peace in the Middle East."
While many Americans voiced pride, some were puzzled.
"It would be wonderful if I could think why he won," said Claire Sprague, 82, a retired English professor as she walked her dog in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. "They wanted to give him an honor I guess, but I can't think what for."
The committee said it attached "special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons," saying he had "created a new climate in international politics."
On other pressing issues, Obama is still searching for breakthroughs on Iran's disputed nuclear program and on stalled Middle East peacemaking.
Israel's foreign minister said on Thursday there was no chance of a peace deal for many years.
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who had been tipped as a favorite for the prize, told Reuters that Obama was a deserving candidate and an "extraordinary example."
The prize is worth 10 million Swedish crowns ($1.4 million).
(Additional reporting by Oslo newsroom, Kamran Haider in Pakistan, Mohammed Assadi, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Mark Denge in Nairobi, Jason Webb in Spain; Writing by Alistair Bell, Editing by Frances Kerry and Eric Beech)
Module body
1 hour, 23 minutes ago
By Matt Spetalnick and Wojciech Moskwa
ADVERTISEMENT
WASHINGTON/OSLO (Reuters) - Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world.
The bestowal of one of the world's top accolades on a president less than nine months in office, who has yet to score a major foreign policy success, was greeted with gasps of astonishment from journalists at the announcement in Oslo.
Obama expressed surprise at winning the award, saying he felt humbled and unworthy of being counted in the company of the "transformative figures" of history who had won it.
"I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather an affirmation of American leadership," he said in the White House Rose Garden. "I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Obama for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," citing his fledgling push for nuclear disarmament and his outreach to the Muslim world.
Obama has been widely credited with improving America's global image after the eight-year presidency of George W. Bush, who alienated both friends and foes with go-it-alone policies like the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama so far has made little tangible headway as he grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea.
Obama, who got the news of the prize in a pre-dawn call from his press secretary, now also has the burden of living up to its expectations.
LITANY OF UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS
The first African-American to hold his country's highest office, Obama, 48, has struggled with a litany of foreign policy problems bequeathed to him by Bush, while taking a more multilateral approach than his predecessor.
Obama acknowledged while accepting an award predicated on the pursuit of peace, he was commander-in-chief of a country in two wars. "We have to confront the world as we know it," he said.
He received the honor the same day he was convening his war council to weigh whether to send thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan to turn the tide against a resurgent Taliban.
Despite troubles at home including a battered economy and fierce healthcare debate that have eroded his once-lofty approval ratings, the Democratic U.S. president is still widely seen around the world as an inspirational figure.
"Very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the Nobel committee said in its citation.
But some analysts saw the award as a final slap in the face for Bush from the European establishment, which had resented what they saw as arrogance and recklessness in world affairs.
Obama will travel to Oslo to receive the prize on December 10, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said.
While the award won praise from such statesmen as Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev, both Nobel laureates, it was also attacked in some quarters as hasty and undeserved.
Afghanistan's Taliban mocked the award.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, speaking to Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location, said it was absurd to give a peace award to a man who had sent 21,000 extra troops to Afghanistan, and Obama "should have won the 'Nobel Prize for escalating violence and killing civilians.'"
Obama is considering a request from his top commander in Afghanistan to send him at least 40,000 more troops.
The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and opposes a peace treaty with Israel, said the award was premature at best.
EMBARRASSING "JOKE"
Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjoern Jagland rejected suggestions from journalists that Obama was getting the prize too early, saying it recognized what he had already done over the past year.
"We hope this can contribute a little bit to enhance what he is trying to do," he told a news conference.
Obama is the fourth U.S. president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after Jimmy Carter won in 2002, Woodrow Wilson picked it up in 1919 and Theodore Roosevelt was chosen for the 1906 prize.
Issam al-Khazraji, a day laborer in Baghdad, said of Obama: "He doesn't deserve this prize. All these problems -- Iraq, Afghanistan -- have not been solved ... man of 'change' hasn't changed anything yet."
Liaqat Baluch, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, a conservative religious party in Pakistan, called the award an embarrassing "joke."
But the chief Palestinian peace negotiator, Saeb Erekat, welcomed it and expressed hope that Obama "will be able to achieve peace in the Middle East."
While many Americans voiced pride, some were puzzled.
"It would be wonderful if I could think why he won," said Claire Sprague, 82, a retired English professor as she walked her dog in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. "They wanted to give him an honor I guess, but I can't think what for."
The committee said it attached "special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons," saying he had "created a new climate in international politics."
On other pressing issues, Obama is still searching for breakthroughs on Iran's disputed nuclear program and on stalled Middle East peacemaking.
Israel's foreign minister said on Thursday there was no chance of a peace deal for many years.
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who had been tipped as a favorite for the prize, told Reuters that Obama was a deserving candidate and an "extraordinary example."
The prize is worth 10 million Swedish crowns ($1.4 million).
(Additional reporting by Oslo newsroom, Kamran Haider in Pakistan, Mohammed Assadi, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Mark Denge in Nairobi, Jason Webb in Spain; Writing by Alistair Bell, Editing by Frances Kerry and Eric Beech)
Undersupply of good homes for sale
Average Canadian home prices up slightly, says Royal LePage survey
Thu Oct 8, 7:18 AM
The Canadian Press Email Story IM Story Printable View
By The Canadian Press
TORONTO - The housing market may be recovering, but is experiencing an undersupply of homes for sale in southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.
That's according to the latest house price survey by Royal LePage. It says with the recession retreating, home prices are stabilizing and unit sales are increasingly driven by improved affordability.
Royal LePage says the average price of a two storey home in Canada is up just 0.1 per cent from a year ago at $409,335.
Average bungalow values grew 0.06 per cent year-over-year to $341,146, while the price of an average condo increased 0.09 per cent to $243,748.
Royal LePage says a shortage in housing supply is leading to bidding wars in several cities, including Toronto, Montreal, St. John's, N.L.; St. John, N.B. Moncton, Edmonton, Calgary, North and West Vancouver, and Victoria.
While the Atlantic provinces saw a strong recovery in home prices, western provinces have been slower to recover from significant price corrections in 2008, particularly in British Columbia and Alberta.
Ontario and Quebec saw home prices stabilize or gain slightly year-over-year with much of the recovery occurring in a strong third quarter.
Thu Oct 8, 7:18 AM
The Canadian Press Email Story IM Story Printable View
By The Canadian Press
TORONTO - The housing market may be recovering, but is experiencing an undersupply of homes for sale in southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.
That's according to the latest house price survey by Royal LePage. It says with the recession retreating, home prices are stabilizing and unit sales are increasingly driven by improved affordability.
Royal LePage says the average price of a two storey home in Canada is up just 0.1 per cent from a year ago at $409,335.
Average bungalow values grew 0.06 per cent year-over-year to $341,146, while the price of an average condo increased 0.09 per cent to $243,748.
Royal LePage says a shortage in housing supply is leading to bidding wars in several cities, including Toronto, Montreal, St. John's, N.L.; St. John, N.B. Moncton, Edmonton, Calgary, North and West Vancouver, and Victoria.
While the Atlantic provinces saw a strong recovery in home prices, western provinces have been slower to recover from significant price corrections in 2008, particularly in British Columbia and Alberta.
Ontario and Quebec saw home prices stabilize or gain slightly year-over-year with much of the recovery occurring in a strong third quarter.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Toronto Resale Market figures
GTA REALTORS® REPORTING SEPTEMBER RESALE MARKET FIGURES
TORONTO, October 5, 2009 - In September 2009, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported
8,196 sales, up 28 per cent from September 2008. The average price for September
transactions was $406,877 – up by 10 per cent compared to the same month last year.
"We have experienced an increasing rate of existing home price growth in the GTA as sales have continued to outpace 2008 results," said TREB President Tom Lebour. "Consumers have remained confident in ownership housing as a long-term investment."
Year-to-date sales, at 66,437 were up 4.5 per cent compared to the first nine months of 2008.
Average price, at $388,417 was up by almost 1.5 per cent.
"Existing home sales will finish strong this year, pushing through the 80,000 mark and moving in line with some of the best years on record under the current TREB market area," according to Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.
Summary Of September Sales And Average Price
September
2009 2008
Sales Average Price Sales Average Price
City of Toronto ("416") 3,341 $437,182 2,546 $393,648
Rest of GTA ("905") 4,855 $386,022 3,878 $352,071
GTA 8,196 $406,877 6,424 $368,549
Source: Toronto Real Estate Board
Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They adhere to a strict Code of
Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Serving over 28,000 Members in the
Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest real estate board.
Greater Toronto Area open house listings are now available on
www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com.
TORONTO, October 5, 2009 - In September 2009, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported
8,196 sales, up 28 per cent from September 2008. The average price for September
transactions was $406,877 – up by 10 per cent compared to the same month last year.
"We have experienced an increasing rate of existing home price growth in the GTA as sales have continued to outpace 2008 results," said TREB President Tom Lebour. "Consumers have remained confident in ownership housing as a long-term investment."
Year-to-date sales, at 66,437 were up 4.5 per cent compared to the first nine months of 2008.
Average price, at $388,417 was up by almost 1.5 per cent.
"Existing home sales will finish strong this year, pushing through the 80,000 mark and moving in line with some of the best years on record under the current TREB market area," according to Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.
Summary Of September Sales And Average Price
September
2009 2008
Sales Average Price Sales Average Price
City of Toronto ("416") 3,341 $437,182 2,546 $393,648
Rest of GTA ("905") 4,855 $386,022 3,878 $352,071
GTA 8,196 $406,877 6,424 $368,549
Source: Toronto Real Estate Board
Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They adhere to a strict Code of
Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Serving over 28,000 Members in the
Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest real estate board.
Greater Toronto Area open house listings are now available on
www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
OREA Edge News
Edge News
October 2009
Distracted driving law on the horizon
Outlook improves for jobless Canadians
Legal Forum hits a milestone!
REALTOR® ad campaign builds on success
Economists optimistic recession is over
RECO decision: Access to lockbox must be authorized
LEGAL BEAT: Warranty merged on completion
Take home tutor now available
OREA stands up for stronger property rights
Distracted driving law on the horizon
Bill 118, banning drivers from using handheld devices while operating a vehicle on the road, will become law on October 26, 2009. The legislation will prohibit drivers from holding devices such as cell phones, smartphones, iPods or other portable MP3 players, or portable games while driving. Viewing display screens on devices not required for driving such as a laptop or DVD player is also prohibited. Dashboard-mounted and hands-free devices, including commercial GPS units, will be permitted. Drivers will be allowed to use any device while pulled-over or parked in a way that does not disrupt traffic. Violating the ban will likely carry a fine of $500. Log in to www.orea.com Members Only for updates.
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Outlook improves for jobless Canadians
More Canadian employers will be hiring in the October to December period of 2009, according to the latest results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. The survey of more than 1,900 Canadian employers reveals that 15 per cent plan to increase their payrolls in the fourth quarter of 2009, while 11 per cent anticipate cutbacks and 73 per cent of employers expect to maintain their current staffing levels. One per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions. Of the 10 surveyed industry sectors, employers in both the Construction sector and the Finance, Insurance & Real Estate sector report the most favourable forecasts for the period. More information can be found at Manpower Canada’s Web site at www.manpower.ca.
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Legal Forum hits a milestone!
Got a burning real estate question? Chances are you will find the answer to it on OREA’s online Legal Forum. Since its creation in 1999, Legal Forum has become the most popular page on the OREA Web site answering more than 4,000 questions from REALTORS®.
The forum fields questions on a wide range of topics including commission entitlement, multiple offers, disclosures, advertising and promotion, grow house issues, condominium status certificates, Do Not Call and many others. Questions are answered by well-known real estate lawyer Merv Burgard, Q.C., a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, member of the Ontario bar for over 40 years, and a regular contributor to many real estate publications. While not intended to provide legal advice or opinion, the Legal Forum offers perspective on situations that commonly occur in a REALTOR®'s day-to-day business.
Legal Forum's most popular topics include commissions, disclosure, and offers. “Many questions still display confusion about basic topics such as agency,” says Merv. “Many more bring current issues to the forefront and reflect a changing emphasis in members' professional activities in active markets.” Some more recent frequently asked questions involve issues such as privacy law or FINTRAC requirements.
In some cases, Legal Forum questions require a more in-depth discussion of a particular topic. These questions are referred to the OREA Legal Resource Committee for possible development into legal pamphlets. OREA's Legal Pamphlets also provide an excellent resource for legal information, covering topics such as disclosing defects, deposits, underground oil tanks and multiple offers. Like the Legal Forum, pamphlets can be accessed from the Members Only section of the OREA Web site
Commercial REALTORS® have used the Forum to find out information about issues of particular interest to them, such as leasing, GST, environmental matters and property specifications.
To submit a question, visit the OREA Web site, log on to “My OREA” and go to “LEGAL Forum” under the legal section. You will need to include your first name and e-mail address and type in your question in the space provided. When your question and Merv’s response are posted on the Web site, you will be notified at the e-mail address that was submitted, so be sure to input the information correctly.
Questions and answers are initially posted in both the Recently Asked Questions area, as well as under the appropriate Topic and Subtopic. Members are encouraged to review the topics or use the Legal Forum Search function on the Legal Forum page. The nice thing about the Legal Forum search function is that it conducts a search of not only Legal Forum but the entire Legal section of the Web site including Legal Articles and Legal Pamphlets and Privacy Compliance articles/resources.
Whether you have a specific question or just want to increase your knowledge, a visit to Legal Forum on a regular basis can help you catch up on the latest questions and responses. For Merv, answering over 4,000 questions on the forum is often an enlightening experience for him too. “I am frequently surprised at the depth of the questions and the fact that many members have already searched the previous Q & A before asking. Every now and then it is a two-way street when I say ‘That is a great question!’ And then I do some research and post an answer and say, "I didn't know that before, either!"
Devoted readers say…
Over the years, many questions have come with comments praising the service and its administrator. A few examples: “Hi Merv, Great site. Once again I stayed up long past my bedtime reviewing the different topics and subtopics where I found lots of interesting issues…. Hi Merv, Let me say first that it is sure great to have this service you are providing for us REALTORS®.... It is absolutely wonderful to have you as a resource and to be able to review your answers & directions, thank you so much… as a fairly new REALTOR® I find the site to be a comforting guideline to complex issues.… Hello Guru of Real Estate Law!”
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REALTOR® ad campaign builds on success
This fall, OREA will be continuing the very successful residential campaign that impresses upon consumers the importance of using a REALTOR®.
The renewed campaign features a new commercial which will begin to air in the third week of September, and which will run through November.
First up for the promotion is an amusing commercial that cleverly features a key value that REALTORS® bring to the table – negotiating skills.
The commercial sees two young couples, probably in their 20s sitting across from one another at a dining room table as they attempt to negotiate a private sale.
The two couples can’t seem to agree on a price, and as a result the process drags on to the point where we actually see the couples age dramatically.
The first couple writes a figure on a piece of paper and slides it across to the second couple, who, since we first saw them, appear to have aged into their 40s.
The second couple, still not agreeing on the price, write down a new offer, and send it back across the table to the first couple, who appear now to be in their 60s. They write a new figure and send it back to the second couple who now look to be in their 80s.
The voice over advises: “REALTORS® know things you might not…like how to close the deal.”
“REALTORS® know” is the key message that the joint OREA/CREA campaign is trying to get across to potential buyers and sellers and was chosen after research showed that it resonated with consumers and REALTORS® alike. Members, consumers and FSBOs all responded positively to the tagline.
The goal is for the new commercial to build on the success that the campaign has had so far. OREA has been tracking public response to the campaign with surveys every year, and, says OREA President Pauline Aunger, “I can tell you that consumers today have a more positive attitude about the value of a REALTOR® than they did when we began this campaign back in 2007.”
From 2007 to 2008 more consumers agreed that using the services of a REALTOR®: help avoid hassle and complications (40% from 34%); ensure things go smoothly (36% from 31%), and; helps in getting the best deal possible (29% from 19%.)
Boards will continue to have access to the radio commercials that have been running since the start of the campaign. With their similar message to underscore what a REALTOR® would know that a consumer would not, the many-sided approach to the campaign allows the real estate association and individual boards to promote and reinforce a similar message.
The ad campaign also continues to drive consumers to the Web site www.howrealtorshelp.ca, which was updated earlier this year.
Commercial campaign also gets a boost
With its mostly Internet based campaign, CREA is also promoting the knowledge Commercial REALTORS® bring to an industrial, retail or multi-family residential real estate transaction.
The campaign consists of banner ads launched by the association and print ads that will be available to boards.
The banner ads and print ads promote a similar theme to that of the residential campaign; Get a Commercial REALTOR®’s perspective and find the perfect space for your business.
The message is that REALTORS® know that there is more to the perfect space than just space. The information you need to make smart real estate decisions is not always easy to find. But REALTORS® know. The commercial campaign also drives consumers to a resource Web site: www.howcommercialrealtorshelp.ca .
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Economists optimistic recession is over
The outlook is brightening for the economy in general and the housing industry, specifically, according to some recent reports. The major banks and some of the larger real estate franchises say the recession in Canada is either over or soon to be.
RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic issued a good news reports that existing home sales are up, with some markets moving into a seller’s market. And affordability has come down toward more historical averages according to RBC Economics, putting homeownership back in reach for many.
“Encouraged by recent government initiatives, home ownership in Ontario is becoming a reality for an increasing number of younger purchasers,” says a recent report by Royal LePage Real Estate Services. “Eighty-six per cent of potential first-time buyers say low interest rates make them more likely to purchase a home; 81 per cent cite lower housing prices as a motivating factor; while 76 per cent cite job security and 64 per cent say a stable economy is an important factor in their decision to buy.”
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is also predicting the worst of the recession is over and that housing markets will stabilize across the country in 2010. “We are definitely seeing signs that the rate of economic retraction in Canada and worldwide is slowing,” says Ted Tsiakopoulos, CMHC Regional Economist. “However, Ontario is underperforming compared to the rest of the country due largely to our ties with the United States. A sustainable Ontario economic recovery will rely on improved US business and consumer spending and a pickup in provincial exports which comprise a sizable share of Ontario’s GDP (gross domestic product).”
In its third quarter Housing Market Outlook, CMHC is more bullish on new construction prospects for Ontario in 2010 than resale housing. “Sales in resale markets have overshot expectations in recent months,” says Tsiakopoulos. “New home building is typically a lagging indicator that follows the resale trend so while we are expecting a cool down in resales, we believe new housing starts will rise.”
Some of the reasons for the recent surge and expected decline in the resale market include less demand as many prospective buyers rushed to get in before rates and prices rise. Even though the Bank of Canada has made a commitment to keep short term rates steady until spring, Tsiakopolous says bond yields which are tied to mortgage rates are poised to increase. “We will likely see a one-quarter to one-half percentage increase on five year rates,” he says.
Another factor that will impact affordability over the next year, particularly at the upper end of the market, is the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax. “The HST will not only affect the cost of new housing, but also other real estate services such as commission and legal fees.”
For an average home priced at $302,354, OREA estimates that an HST could add $1449.00 in new taxes to closing costs. In Ontario, the HST could add an estimated $262 million in new taxes annually to residential resale real estate transactions.[1]
Although many economists and industry leaders are overwhelmingly positive about the economic prospects for the next year, not everyone is buying into the optimism. Mortgage broker, David O’Gorman says, “I don’t like to be a pessimist, but I don’t see the rebound yet. Real estate has traditionally rebounded about 18 months after the stock markets bottom out. If that holds true this time, we have a rocky year ahead.”
Housing markets to rebound in Ontario?
Yes, but moderately.
Here are a few details specific to Ontario from CMHC’s Q3 Housing Market Outlook Report:
Single starts have started to recover and will continue to trend higher in the second half of 2009. Single starts will reach 20,150 units this year before stabilizing at 20,625 units in 2010. Multi-family home starts will also trend higher in the remaining months of 2009, reaching 28,525 unit starts, down from just shy of 44,000 units in 2008.
Ontario existing home sales have staged a remarkable come back this spring when compared to activity in late 2008. The strong pace seen in the second quarter of this year reflects, in part, activity that was delayed in the previous two quarters and is not likely to be sustained. The level of sales will move back closer in line with improving economic conditions. As a result, MLS® sales will average 174,000 units this year. A gradual recovery in Ontario labour markets combined with low mortgage rates will help stabilize existing home sales at 166,750 units in 2010.
After experiencing buyers market conditions in early 2009, Ontario resale markets have tightened and balanced market conditions will be restored. As a result, Ontario existing home prices will grow by 1.6 per cent and 0.8 per cent in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
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RECO decision: Access to lockbox must be authorized
The following RECO Complaints, Compliance and Discipline Appeals decision has been condensed and can be viewed in its entirety on the RECO Web site at www.reco.on.ca.
The Case
This case involves violations of the former Code of Ethics including Rules 1(1), 2 and 42. The registrant (Broker A) took a listing for a rural property and represented both the sellers and the buyers in the transaction.
One of the conditions included in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale was that the sellers were to provide a Certificate of Potability for the water well on the property. Two tests done on the well on the property indicated that the water in the well then existing on the property was unsafe for consumption.
Resolution of the water issue, including a Certificate of Potability, was necessary for the buyers to obtain a mortgage. As a result of the sellers’ inability to provide a Certificate of Potability, the buyers gave the sellers two options: 1) The sellers would install a new well and pump system, or 2) the purchase price would be reduced from $295,000.00 to $280,000.00 and the buyers would agree to incur the expense of installing a new well and pump.
The sellers accepted the second option, provided that the buyers accept their counter-offer that the purchase price be reduced only to $283,000.00. The buyers agreed to this counter-offer. Accordingly, an Amendment to the Agreement of Purchase was executed changing the purchase price to $283,000.00 and inserting the following provision: “Buyer agrees to have a new drilled well and pump installed at his own expense.” That Amendment also moved the completion date forward.
Shortly before the transaction closing date, the sellers contacted Broker A and asked to meet him at the property. However, when the sellers met Broker A at the property, he was not in possession of the key to the property that he had been given by the sellers, and which had been placed in a lockbox.
Broker A contacted the buyers, who came to the property to return the key. The sellers then entered the dwelling on the property and discovered that the buyers had undertaken substantial work to the interior of the dwelling with a view to making alterations or renovations, including substantial alterations to the living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway and bedroom, basement stairs and basement. At no time did the sellers give authorization for the buyers to commence these alterations.
The Findings
The RECO panel determined that the registrant acted unprofessionally, when he gave the buyers access to the lockbox and thereby the means to unsupervised access to the property before title was transferred, without having obtained the consent of his clients the sellers including consent in writing.
He therefore breached the following sections of the RECO Code of Ethics:
Rule 1 – Ethical Behaviour – A Member shall:
1) endeavour to protect and promote the best interests of the Member’s client.
Rule 2 – Primary Duty to Client – A Member shall endeavour to protect and promote the best interests of the Member’s Client. This primary obligation does not relieve the Member of the responsibility of dealing fairly, honestly and with integrity with others involved in each transaction.
Rule 42 – Competence – A Member shall render conscientious service with the knowledge, skill, judgment and competence, in conformity with the Code of Ethics and the standards which are reasonably expected of Members. When the member is unable to render such a service, either alone or with the aid of another Member, the Member shall decline to act.
Penalties and Costs
Administrative Penalty of $4,000.00 payable to RECO and successful completion of the “Real Property Law” classroom course and provide RECO with proof of successful completion within 90 days of sending the decision.
Discipline under REBBA 2002
This decision was rendered under the old RECO Code of Ethics, which has been replaced by the Code of Ethics under REBBA 2002 – Ontario Regulation 580/05. A majority of the rules under the old Code have equivalent sections in the new REBBA Code. Consult the explanatory notes for the provisions of the REBBA Code of Ethics in RECO’s Online Guide to REBBA 2002.
Relating to this matter, see:
Section 3 – Fairness, Honesty etc. – A registrant shall treat every person the registrant deals with in the course of a trade in real estate fairly, honestly and with integrity.
Section 4 – Best Interests – A registrant shall promote and protect the best interests of the registrant’s clients.
Section 5 – Conscientious and competent service etc. – A registrant shall provide conscientious service to the registrant’s clients and customers and shall demonstrate reasonable knowledge, skill, judgement and competence is providing these services.
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LEGAL BEAT: Warranty merged on completion
The sellers sold commercial condominium premises and a business used as a party hall primarily for Hindu wedding receptions.
Three clauses in the offer stated: FUTURE USE: Vendor and purchaser agree that there is no representation or warranty of any kind that the future intended use of the property by Purchaser is or will be lawful except as may be specifically provided for in this Agreement.
The second clause stated: The Vendor warrants that the property is presently zoned for a Party Hall and that the property can be used as a Party Hall providing accommodation to three hundred people.
The third clause concerning Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation has a warranty that this has never been used on this building. That clause goes on to read: “The Vendors further warrant that this warranty shall not merge on completion of this transaction but shall survive the closing and will continue in full force and effect after the closing.”
After the deal was closed the Buyers discovered that they could not use it for that warranted purpose. The Buyers sued the Sellers for damages for breach of the warranty. One of the major issues is whether a warranty survives closing or not. The Judge said: "The question of whether or not a warranty innocently given merges on the closing of the transaction, therefore, becomes one of the intentions of the parties. In my opinion, the wording of the clause in the agreement of purchase and sale dealing with the potential use of the Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation stating that it would not merge on closing indicates that the parties turned their minds to the fact of possible merger upon closing of the transaction. Their failure to provide that the warranty for zoning of the premises was not to merge on closing establishes that this provision did merge when the transaction was completed and the deed transferred. Thus, it cannot now be relied on."
Sellathurai v. Sriskanda, 2007 CanLII 25664
MERV'S COMMENTS
Some questions for discussion. Should the buyers' lawyer be responsible for failing to confirm the zoning before closing the deal? Should the buyers' brokerage be liable for failing to protect them in the offer?
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Take home tutor now available
To better prepare students for Registration Education course examinations, OREA Real Estate College has launched ExamTutor© CD ROMs.
The initial CD titled ExamTutor© 1 contains a compilation of all the Mini Reviews and Active Learning Exercises taken from Registration Education course texts. These are designed to review comprehension of course curriculum. Users will get feedback to answers so that the respondent will know why an answer is right or wrong. The tutor will let the user know in what areas of study he or she is weak.
A guide setting out an explanation of the types of multiple choice questions asked as well as the distribution of marks on examinations is provided. Practice multiple choice examination questions are also included to assist in exam preparation. Here, too, in cases where an incorrect answer is selected, the tutor will advise the user which topic in the course needs to be reviewed.
ExamTutor© 1 covers Pre-registration courses including Course 1, Course 2, Course 3 General, Course 3 Advanced Residential and Course 3 Advanced Commercial.
ExamTutor© 2 will be released at a later date and will cover Real Property Law, Real Estate Investment Analysis, Principles of Appraisal, Principles of Mortgage Financing, Principles of Property Management and the Real Estate Broker Course.
ExamTutor© 1 was released September 14, 2009 and e-mail messages were sent to all My Portfolio accounts announcing the release. ExamTutor© 1 is available for purchase for $25.00 plus GST by contacting the OREA Real Estate College at 416-391-6732 or toll free at 1-866-411-OREA (6732).
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OREA stands up for stronger property rights
Speaking in favour of stronger, better defined property rights, OREA made a presentation in August to the Standing Committee on General Government regarding Bill 173, the Mining Amendment Act.
In the presentation, OREA expressed its support for Bill 173, but also expressed some concerns. One example is the purpose section of the Bill, as set out in section 2, which does not mention or affirm the rights of surface rights owners. OREA recommends that section 2 be amended to include wording that recognizes and affirms the rights of surface rights holders. In addition, OREA contends that Bill 173 lacks significant details on how specific proposals will be implemented, and recommended that the government post all draft regulations on the Environmental Registry for comment by stakeholders.
To read a copy of OREA’s presentation go to http://www.orea.com/index.cfm/ci_id/13360.htm.
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[1] Using 2008 MLS® average residential property selling price of $302,354. In 2008, 181,001 residential properties were sold in Ontario.
Privacy Policy / Disclaimers
October 2009
Distracted driving law on the horizon
Outlook improves for jobless Canadians
Legal Forum hits a milestone!
REALTOR® ad campaign builds on success
Economists optimistic recession is over
RECO decision: Access to lockbox must be authorized
LEGAL BEAT: Warranty merged on completion
Take home tutor now available
OREA stands up for stronger property rights
Distracted driving law on the horizon
Bill 118, banning drivers from using handheld devices while operating a vehicle on the road, will become law on October 26, 2009. The legislation will prohibit drivers from holding devices such as cell phones, smartphones, iPods or other portable MP3 players, or portable games while driving. Viewing display screens on devices not required for driving such as a laptop or DVD player is also prohibited. Dashboard-mounted and hands-free devices, including commercial GPS units, will be permitted. Drivers will be allowed to use any device while pulled-over or parked in a way that does not disrupt traffic. Violating the ban will likely carry a fine of $500. Log in to www.orea.com Members Only for updates.
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Outlook improves for jobless Canadians
More Canadian employers will be hiring in the October to December period of 2009, according to the latest results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. The survey of more than 1,900 Canadian employers reveals that 15 per cent plan to increase their payrolls in the fourth quarter of 2009, while 11 per cent anticipate cutbacks and 73 per cent of employers expect to maintain their current staffing levels. One per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions. Of the 10 surveyed industry sectors, employers in both the Construction sector and the Finance, Insurance & Real Estate sector report the most favourable forecasts for the period. More information can be found at Manpower Canada’s Web site at www.manpower.ca.
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Legal Forum hits a milestone!
Got a burning real estate question? Chances are you will find the answer to it on OREA’s online Legal Forum. Since its creation in 1999, Legal Forum has become the most popular page on the OREA Web site answering more than 4,000 questions from REALTORS®.
The forum fields questions on a wide range of topics including commission entitlement, multiple offers, disclosures, advertising and promotion, grow house issues, condominium status certificates, Do Not Call and many others. Questions are answered by well-known real estate lawyer Merv Burgard, Q.C., a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, member of the Ontario bar for over 40 years, and a regular contributor to many real estate publications. While not intended to provide legal advice or opinion, the Legal Forum offers perspective on situations that commonly occur in a REALTOR®'s day-to-day business.
Legal Forum's most popular topics include commissions, disclosure, and offers. “Many questions still display confusion about basic topics such as agency,” says Merv. “Many more bring current issues to the forefront and reflect a changing emphasis in members' professional activities in active markets.” Some more recent frequently asked questions involve issues such as privacy law or FINTRAC requirements.
In some cases, Legal Forum questions require a more in-depth discussion of a particular topic. These questions are referred to the OREA Legal Resource Committee for possible development into legal pamphlets. OREA's Legal Pamphlets also provide an excellent resource for legal information, covering topics such as disclosing defects, deposits, underground oil tanks and multiple offers. Like the Legal Forum, pamphlets can be accessed from the Members Only section of the OREA Web site
Commercial REALTORS® have used the Forum to find out information about issues of particular interest to them, such as leasing, GST, environmental matters and property specifications.
To submit a question, visit the OREA Web site, log on to “My OREA” and go to “LEGAL Forum” under the legal section. You will need to include your first name and e-mail address and type in your question in the space provided. When your question and Merv’s response are posted on the Web site, you will be notified at the e-mail address that was submitted, so be sure to input the information correctly.
Questions and answers are initially posted in both the Recently Asked Questions area, as well as under the appropriate Topic and Subtopic. Members are encouraged to review the topics or use the Legal Forum Search function on the Legal Forum page. The nice thing about the Legal Forum search function is that it conducts a search of not only Legal Forum but the entire Legal section of the Web site including Legal Articles and Legal Pamphlets and Privacy Compliance articles/resources.
Whether you have a specific question or just want to increase your knowledge, a visit to Legal Forum on a regular basis can help you catch up on the latest questions and responses. For Merv, answering over 4,000 questions on the forum is often an enlightening experience for him too. “I am frequently surprised at the depth of the questions and the fact that many members have already searched the previous Q & A before asking. Every now and then it is a two-way street when I say ‘That is a great question!’ And then I do some research and post an answer and say, "I didn't know that before, either!"
Devoted readers say…
Over the years, many questions have come with comments praising the service and its administrator. A few examples: “Hi Merv, Great site. Once again I stayed up long past my bedtime reviewing the different topics and subtopics where I found lots of interesting issues…. Hi Merv, Let me say first that it is sure great to have this service you are providing for us REALTORS®.... It is absolutely wonderful to have you as a resource and to be able to review your answers & directions, thank you so much… as a fairly new REALTOR® I find the site to be a comforting guideline to complex issues.… Hello Guru of Real Estate Law!”
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REALTOR® ad campaign builds on success
This fall, OREA will be continuing the very successful residential campaign that impresses upon consumers the importance of using a REALTOR®.
The renewed campaign features a new commercial which will begin to air in the third week of September, and which will run through November.
First up for the promotion is an amusing commercial that cleverly features a key value that REALTORS® bring to the table – negotiating skills.
The commercial sees two young couples, probably in their 20s sitting across from one another at a dining room table as they attempt to negotiate a private sale.
The two couples can’t seem to agree on a price, and as a result the process drags on to the point where we actually see the couples age dramatically.
The first couple writes a figure on a piece of paper and slides it across to the second couple, who, since we first saw them, appear to have aged into their 40s.
The second couple, still not agreeing on the price, write down a new offer, and send it back across the table to the first couple, who appear now to be in their 60s. They write a new figure and send it back to the second couple who now look to be in their 80s.
The voice over advises: “REALTORS® know things you might not…like how to close the deal.”
“REALTORS® know” is the key message that the joint OREA/CREA campaign is trying to get across to potential buyers and sellers and was chosen after research showed that it resonated with consumers and REALTORS® alike. Members, consumers and FSBOs all responded positively to the tagline.
The goal is for the new commercial to build on the success that the campaign has had so far. OREA has been tracking public response to the campaign with surveys every year, and, says OREA President Pauline Aunger, “I can tell you that consumers today have a more positive attitude about the value of a REALTOR® than they did when we began this campaign back in 2007.”
From 2007 to 2008 more consumers agreed that using the services of a REALTOR®: help avoid hassle and complications (40% from 34%); ensure things go smoothly (36% from 31%), and; helps in getting the best deal possible (29% from 19%.)
Boards will continue to have access to the radio commercials that have been running since the start of the campaign. With their similar message to underscore what a REALTOR® would know that a consumer would not, the many-sided approach to the campaign allows the real estate association and individual boards to promote and reinforce a similar message.
The ad campaign also continues to drive consumers to the Web site www.howrealtorshelp.ca, which was updated earlier this year.
Commercial campaign also gets a boost
With its mostly Internet based campaign, CREA is also promoting the knowledge Commercial REALTORS® bring to an industrial, retail or multi-family residential real estate transaction.
The campaign consists of banner ads launched by the association and print ads that will be available to boards.
The banner ads and print ads promote a similar theme to that of the residential campaign; Get a Commercial REALTOR®’s perspective and find the perfect space for your business.
The message is that REALTORS® know that there is more to the perfect space than just space. The information you need to make smart real estate decisions is not always easy to find. But REALTORS® know. The commercial campaign also drives consumers to a resource Web site: www.howcommercialrealtorshelp.ca .
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Economists optimistic recession is over
The outlook is brightening for the economy in general and the housing industry, specifically, according to some recent reports. The major banks and some of the larger real estate franchises say the recession in Canada is either over or soon to be.
RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic issued a good news reports that existing home sales are up, with some markets moving into a seller’s market. And affordability has come down toward more historical averages according to RBC Economics, putting homeownership back in reach for many.
“Encouraged by recent government initiatives, home ownership in Ontario is becoming a reality for an increasing number of younger purchasers,” says a recent report by Royal LePage Real Estate Services. “Eighty-six per cent of potential first-time buyers say low interest rates make them more likely to purchase a home; 81 per cent cite lower housing prices as a motivating factor; while 76 per cent cite job security and 64 per cent say a stable economy is an important factor in their decision to buy.”
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is also predicting the worst of the recession is over and that housing markets will stabilize across the country in 2010. “We are definitely seeing signs that the rate of economic retraction in Canada and worldwide is slowing,” says Ted Tsiakopoulos, CMHC Regional Economist. “However, Ontario is underperforming compared to the rest of the country due largely to our ties with the United States. A sustainable Ontario economic recovery will rely on improved US business and consumer spending and a pickup in provincial exports which comprise a sizable share of Ontario’s GDP (gross domestic product).”
In its third quarter Housing Market Outlook, CMHC is more bullish on new construction prospects for Ontario in 2010 than resale housing. “Sales in resale markets have overshot expectations in recent months,” says Tsiakopoulos. “New home building is typically a lagging indicator that follows the resale trend so while we are expecting a cool down in resales, we believe new housing starts will rise.”
Some of the reasons for the recent surge and expected decline in the resale market include less demand as many prospective buyers rushed to get in before rates and prices rise. Even though the Bank of Canada has made a commitment to keep short term rates steady until spring, Tsiakopolous says bond yields which are tied to mortgage rates are poised to increase. “We will likely see a one-quarter to one-half percentage increase on five year rates,” he says.
Another factor that will impact affordability over the next year, particularly at the upper end of the market, is the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax. “The HST will not only affect the cost of new housing, but also other real estate services such as commission and legal fees.”
For an average home priced at $302,354, OREA estimates that an HST could add $1449.00 in new taxes to closing costs. In Ontario, the HST could add an estimated $262 million in new taxes annually to residential resale real estate transactions.[1]
Although many economists and industry leaders are overwhelmingly positive about the economic prospects for the next year, not everyone is buying into the optimism. Mortgage broker, David O’Gorman says, “I don’t like to be a pessimist, but I don’t see the rebound yet. Real estate has traditionally rebounded about 18 months after the stock markets bottom out. If that holds true this time, we have a rocky year ahead.”
Housing markets to rebound in Ontario?
Yes, but moderately.
Here are a few details specific to Ontario from CMHC’s Q3 Housing Market Outlook Report:
Single starts have started to recover and will continue to trend higher in the second half of 2009. Single starts will reach 20,150 units this year before stabilizing at 20,625 units in 2010. Multi-family home starts will also trend higher in the remaining months of 2009, reaching 28,525 unit starts, down from just shy of 44,000 units in 2008.
Ontario existing home sales have staged a remarkable come back this spring when compared to activity in late 2008. The strong pace seen in the second quarter of this year reflects, in part, activity that was delayed in the previous two quarters and is not likely to be sustained. The level of sales will move back closer in line with improving economic conditions. As a result, MLS® sales will average 174,000 units this year. A gradual recovery in Ontario labour markets combined with low mortgage rates will help stabilize existing home sales at 166,750 units in 2010.
After experiencing buyers market conditions in early 2009, Ontario resale markets have tightened and balanced market conditions will be restored. As a result, Ontario existing home prices will grow by 1.6 per cent and 0.8 per cent in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
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RECO decision: Access to lockbox must be authorized
The following RECO Complaints, Compliance and Discipline Appeals decision has been condensed and can be viewed in its entirety on the RECO Web site at www.reco.on.ca.
The Case
This case involves violations of the former Code of Ethics including Rules 1(1), 2 and 42. The registrant (Broker A) took a listing for a rural property and represented both the sellers and the buyers in the transaction.
One of the conditions included in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale was that the sellers were to provide a Certificate of Potability for the water well on the property. Two tests done on the well on the property indicated that the water in the well then existing on the property was unsafe for consumption.
Resolution of the water issue, including a Certificate of Potability, was necessary for the buyers to obtain a mortgage. As a result of the sellers’ inability to provide a Certificate of Potability, the buyers gave the sellers two options: 1) The sellers would install a new well and pump system, or 2) the purchase price would be reduced from $295,000.00 to $280,000.00 and the buyers would agree to incur the expense of installing a new well and pump.
The sellers accepted the second option, provided that the buyers accept their counter-offer that the purchase price be reduced only to $283,000.00. The buyers agreed to this counter-offer. Accordingly, an Amendment to the Agreement of Purchase was executed changing the purchase price to $283,000.00 and inserting the following provision: “Buyer agrees to have a new drilled well and pump installed at his own expense.” That Amendment also moved the completion date forward.
Shortly before the transaction closing date, the sellers contacted Broker A and asked to meet him at the property. However, when the sellers met Broker A at the property, he was not in possession of the key to the property that he had been given by the sellers, and which had been placed in a lockbox.
Broker A contacted the buyers, who came to the property to return the key. The sellers then entered the dwelling on the property and discovered that the buyers had undertaken substantial work to the interior of the dwelling with a view to making alterations or renovations, including substantial alterations to the living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway and bedroom, basement stairs and basement. At no time did the sellers give authorization for the buyers to commence these alterations.
The Findings
The RECO panel determined that the registrant acted unprofessionally, when he gave the buyers access to the lockbox and thereby the means to unsupervised access to the property before title was transferred, without having obtained the consent of his clients the sellers including consent in writing.
He therefore breached the following sections of the RECO Code of Ethics:
Rule 1 – Ethical Behaviour – A Member shall:
1) endeavour to protect and promote the best interests of the Member’s client.
Rule 2 – Primary Duty to Client – A Member shall endeavour to protect and promote the best interests of the Member’s Client. This primary obligation does not relieve the Member of the responsibility of dealing fairly, honestly and with integrity with others involved in each transaction.
Rule 42 – Competence – A Member shall render conscientious service with the knowledge, skill, judgment and competence, in conformity with the Code of Ethics and the standards which are reasonably expected of Members. When the member is unable to render such a service, either alone or with the aid of another Member, the Member shall decline to act.
Penalties and Costs
Administrative Penalty of $4,000.00 payable to RECO and successful completion of the “Real Property Law” classroom course and provide RECO with proof of successful completion within 90 days of sending the decision.
Discipline under REBBA 2002
This decision was rendered under the old RECO Code of Ethics, which has been replaced by the Code of Ethics under REBBA 2002 – Ontario Regulation 580/05. A majority of the rules under the old Code have equivalent sections in the new REBBA Code. Consult the explanatory notes for the provisions of the REBBA Code of Ethics in RECO’s Online Guide to REBBA 2002.
Relating to this matter, see:
Section 3 – Fairness, Honesty etc. – A registrant shall treat every person the registrant deals with in the course of a trade in real estate fairly, honestly and with integrity.
Section 4 – Best Interests – A registrant shall promote and protect the best interests of the registrant’s clients.
Section 5 – Conscientious and competent service etc. – A registrant shall provide conscientious service to the registrant’s clients and customers and shall demonstrate reasonable knowledge, skill, judgement and competence is providing these services.
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LEGAL BEAT: Warranty merged on completion
The sellers sold commercial condominium premises and a business used as a party hall primarily for Hindu wedding receptions.
Three clauses in the offer stated: FUTURE USE: Vendor and purchaser agree that there is no representation or warranty of any kind that the future intended use of the property by Purchaser is or will be lawful except as may be specifically provided for in this Agreement.
The second clause stated: The Vendor warrants that the property is presently zoned for a Party Hall and that the property can be used as a Party Hall providing accommodation to three hundred people.
The third clause concerning Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation has a warranty that this has never been used on this building. That clause goes on to read: “The Vendors further warrant that this warranty shall not merge on completion of this transaction but shall survive the closing and will continue in full force and effect after the closing.”
After the deal was closed the Buyers discovered that they could not use it for that warranted purpose. The Buyers sued the Sellers for damages for breach of the warranty. One of the major issues is whether a warranty survives closing or not. The Judge said: "The question of whether or not a warranty innocently given merges on the closing of the transaction, therefore, becomes one of the intentions of the parties. In my opinion, the wording of the clause in the agreement of purchase and sale dealing with the potential use of the Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation stating that it would not merge on closing indicates that the parties turned their minds to the fact of possible merger upon closing of the transaction. Their failure to provide that the warranty for zoning of the premises was not to merge on closing establishes that this provision did merge when the transaction was completed and the deed transferred. Thus, it cannot now be relied on."
Sellathurai v. Sriskanda, 2007 CanLII 25664
MERV'S COMMENTS
Some questions for discussion. Should the buyers' lawyer be responsible for failing to confirm the zoning before closing the deal? Should the buyers' brokerage be liable for failing to protect them in the offer?
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Take home tutor now available
To better prepare students for Registration Education course examinations, OREA Real Estate College has launched ExamTutor© CD ROMs.
The initial CD titled ExamTutor© 1 contains a compilation of all the Mini Reviews and Active Learning Exercises taken from Registration Education course texts. These are designed to review comprehension of course curriculum. Users will get feedback to answers so that the respondent will know why an answer is right or wrong. The tutor will let the user know in what areas of study he or she is weak.
A guide setting out an explanation of the types of multiple choice questions asked as well as the distribution of marks on examinations is provided. Practice multiple choice examination questions are also included to assist in exam preparation. Here, too, in cases where an incorrect answer is selected, the tutor will advise the user which topic in the course needs to be reviewed.
ExamTutor© 1 covers Pre-registration courses including Course 1, Course 2, Course 3 General, Course 3 Advanced Residential and Course 3 Advanced Commercial.
ExamTutor© 2 will be released at a later date and will cover Real Property Law, Real Estate Investment Analysis, Principles of Appraisal, Principles of Mortgage Financing, Principles of Property Management and the Real Estate Broker Course.
ExamTutor© 1 was released September 14, 2009 and e-mail messages were sent to all My Portfolio accounts announcing the release. ExamTutor© 1 is available for purchase for $25.00 plus GST by contacting the OREA Real Estate College at 416-391-6732 or toll free at 1-866-411-OREA (6732).
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OREA stands up for stronger property rights
Speaking in favour of stronger, better defined property rights, OREA made a presentation in August to the Standing Committee on General Government regarding Bill 173, the Mining Amendment Act.
In the presentation, OREA expressed its support for Bill 173, but also expressed some concerns. One example is the purpose section of the Bill, as set out in section 2, which does not mention or affirm the rights of surface rights owners. OREA recommends that section 2 be amended to include wording that recognizes and affirms the rights of surface rights holders. In addition, OREA contends that Bill 173 lacks significant details on how specific proposals will be implemented, and recommended that the government post all draft regulations on the Environmental Registry for comment by stakeholders.
To read a copy of OREA’s presentation go to http://www.orea.com/index.cfm/ci_id/13360.htm.
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[1] Using 2008 MLS® average residential property selling price of $302,354. In 2008, 181,001 residential properties were sold in Ontario.
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