We’re going to start our blog on procrastination by doing a little procrastination of our own.
Take the following short, fun quiz to see what kind of procrastinator you are.
When confronted with a large, complex task you:
A. Get down on it immediately because having too much on your plate makes you anxious
B. Start thinking about ways to tackle the project by making lists
C. Put it out of your head completely. No point worrying about something that’s due a month away
Your in-laws are coming for dinner and you want to impress them. You:
A. Paint the living room two weeks before the big day
B. Clean your house as usual, buy fresh flowers and a prime roast of beef the day before their arrival
C. Order in
At work, colleagues describe your work style as:
A. Diligent but uptight
B. Conscientious and fair
C. Reasonable but a little flaky and unreliable
If you answered mostly As, you need to procrastinate more or at least relax a bit. Mostly Bs means you’re well balanced in the procrastination department. Mostly Cs tells us it’s time to curb your procrastinating because it’s annoying others.
People procrastinate for a swarm of reasons. Some say it’s simply habit, a product of how we were raised. While others think it’s a clear sign of mental health issues such as depression.
Do you procrastinate because you’re a perfectionist? Are you afraid of failure? Do you get easily distracted?
Here are some helpful suggestions to stop you from your delay tactics:
Time to jump in – literally. Stop thinking and start doing needs to be your new mantra. By over thinking and attempting to dream up the perfect plan you’re putting off the inevitable. Perhaps you’re trying to protect yourself from the pain of failure. Stop it and get on with your life, your projects, your...whatever.
Connected to this is the tendency for the procrastinator to really blow things out of proportion. By putting things off, you end up magnifying the task at hand, making a mountain out of an ant hill and imagining that it’s much worse than it is. Do something, anything. The first step is difficult but attempting it is big because it prompts acceptance and looking forward to the second step and so on.
To help you meet deadlines at a pace other than breakneck, set deadlines or mini deadlines for the completion of something. For instance, with housework, try assigning one reasonably doable task in an afternoon rather than several different tasks that add up to a monumental job. Get the vacuuming done as opposed to the whole house top to bottom.
Large complex tasks need to be broken down into smaller more manageable segments. Attempt each separately. When trying to tackle a larger project, parse it out into smaller blocks of work. Instead of attempting four hours of dreaded paperwork, break it down into one-hour slots. Be sure to take a break after each block of time and perhaps even treat yourself with a latte.
When trying to take on a large and complex project, always start with the easiest part. That will make your introduction to the project that much easier and enjoyable.
Use the friends and family approach by making yourself accountable to them for completing a project. Looking to a trusted friend who can offer encouragement and support is another way to motivate you to get the job done.
Because we are so hyper-connected these days it can be hard to turn down the volume but that’s a must if you’re a diehard procrastinator who gets easily distracted. No TVs, radios, iPods because they’re job is to divert your attention. Reward yourself later with the X-Box.
As difficult as it is to start a project, remember also to finish it. There is nothing like completing a task, no matter how small, to earn you a sense of accomplishment.
Do you have classic procrastinator tendencies? What tasks or duties do you love to put off to another day? Ever notice a time when procrastinating helped you?
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Mortgage Interest Rates, Up or Down?
September 19th, 2011
The interest rate gap between variable rate mortgages and fixed rate mortgages is narrowing.
The rate difference is now under 1%, down from 1.50% a month or so ago.
Although the prime rate of 3.00% may not change for a year or so it is now more tempting to lock in a 5 year term fixed rate, especially since it it unlikely that fixed rates will come down much more. So the choice for a new mortgage, on average, is between a 5 year term 2.70% variable rate and a 3.49% fixed rate at most banks.
If your clients already have a 2.25% (prime minus 0.75%), mortgage there is less incentive to move to a fixed rate at this time.
Fixed Mortgage Rates:
Move up and down every 6 months or so with bond rates. Recently they have been moving down and are now the lowest they have been for many, many years.
5 year term fixed rate:
3.39% if closing in 30 days
3.49% for closings and pre-approvals with rate holds to 120 days
rates apply to both 20% down payment and 5% down payment CMHC insured mortgages
Variable Mortgage Rates:
Prime rate to bank borrowers is 3.00%
The prime rate affects business loans, car loans, etc and is not likely to move up in the next year unless the economy improves both in Canada and the United States.
The variable mortgage rate has moved up from prime minus 0.75% to prime minus 0.50%, so 2.25% up to 2.50%.
5 year term variable rate:
2.50% for closings and pre-approvals with a non bank mortgage lender
2.70% with a bank rates apply to both 20% down payment and 5% down payment CMHC insured mortgages, the borrower must qualify using a rate of 5.39%
Open Mortgage Rates:
Home Equity Line of Credit available at prime plus 0.50% for a rate of 3.50%.Open to repayment any amount, anytime.Payments as low as interest onlyMonthly payments onlyMinimum down payment 20%, no CMHC
Higher Mortgage Rates:
Credit Beacon Score 600 or less, rate about 1% higher, 15 to 25% down payment and a 1% lender fee
Business for Self, stated income, less than 2 years or Commission Income, same as above.
We can help. All we need is the Mortgage Application and Privacy Notice.
Click here to download Ray Eady's application
Click here to download Rich Eady's application
Making You Feel Right At Home!Arthur Bartram
President / Broker of Record
416-391-3232
arthur@rightathomerealty.com
Right At Home Realty Inc., Brokerage - Toronto, Ontario
Independently Owned and Operated
The interest rate gap between variable rate mortgages and fixed rate mortgages is narrowing.
The rate difference is now under 1%, down from 1.50% a month or so ago.
Although the prime rate of 3.00% may not change for a year or so it is now more tempting to lock in a 5 year term fixed rate, especially since it it unlikely that fixed rates will come down much more. So the choice for a new mortgage, on average, is between a 5 year term 2.70% variable rate and a 3.49% fixed rate at most banks.
If your clients already have a 2.25% (prime minus 0.75%), mortgage there is less incentive to move to a fixed rate at this time.
Fixed Mortgage Rates:
Move up and down every 6 months or so with bond rates. Recently they have been moving down and are now the lowest they have been for many, many years.
5 year term fixed rate:
3.39% if closing in 30 days
3.49% for closings and pre-approvals with rate holds to 120 days
rates apply to both 20% down payment and 5% down payment CMHC insured mortgages
Variable Mortgage Rates:
Prime rate to bank borrowers is 3.00%
The prime rate affects business loans, car loans, etc and is not likely to move up in the next year unless the economy improves both in Canada and the United States.
The variable mortgage rate has moved up from prime minus 0.75% to prime minus 0.50%, so 2.25% up to 2.50%.
5 year term variable rate:
2.50% for closings and pre-approvals with a non bank mortgage lender
2.70% with a bank rates apply to both 20% down payment and 5% down payment CMHC insured mortgages, the borrower must qualify using a rate of 5.39%
Open Mortgage Rates:
Home Equity Line of Credit available at prime plus 0.50% for a rate of 3.50%.Open to repayment any amount, anytime.Payments as low as interest onlyMonthly payments onlyMinimum down payment 20%, no CMHC
Higher Mortgage Rates:
Credit Beacon Score 600 or less, rate about 1% higher, 15 to 25% down payment and a 1% lender fee
Business for Self, stated income, less than 2 years or Commission Income, same as above.
We can help. All we need is the Mortgage Application and Privacy Notice.
Click here to download Ray Eady's application
Click here to download Rich Eady's application
Making You Feel Right At Home!Arthur Bartram
President / Broker of Record
416-391-3232
arthur@rightathomerealty.com
Right At Home Realty Inc., Brokerage - Toronto, Ontario
Independently Owned and Operated
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Roll With The Changes & Make Yourself Successful
What is that they say about best laid plans?
It is a well known fact that success as a Real Estate or Mortgage Professional lies heavily in knowing your market intimately and developing a highly detailed plan that encompasses both strategy and tactical measures, with an eye for growth.
The results of the PropertyWire.Ca reader survey, Successful Habits Of Canadian Realtors are in!...
Read More What may be as necessary though, is your ability to proactively manage that which you don’t expect, and having the professional depth to adapt your plans and your focus as the market dictates.
This versatility can be required as a consequence of outside forces that are beyond your control, or from the realization that the plans you made yourself, marketing and/or operationally, are somehow not hitting the marks you had intended.
Success relies on much more than having a plan. It is about being reactive in a professional context and, in a sense, being proactive enough to allow yourself to be professionally versatile.Change, whether selected after careful analysis, or whether thrust upon you, always represents the opportunity to streamline your business, as well as deepen your brand, if it is leveraged correctly- and a lot of that has to do with the origin and requirements of change.
One of the hardest parts of being a professional is having the courage to hold a mirror up to your business, and having an honest look to determine what change needs to be implemented to streamline your business. The truth is, if you want your boat to float, you need to plug the holes.
Change is Not Just About Getting Rid of the Negative
While it seems more obvious to want to cut the dead wood out of your business and your marketing strategy, it may be gentler to start with celebrating your successes.
Take a look at your marketing strategy, and decide not only what worked- but why it worked.
Was it something that you did specifically that is unique to your skill set? Did the market itself communicate the success of a tactic by its’ measurable response?In extracting the essence of your success and spreading it around to other operational and marketing activities, you may be able to salvage some of your marketing activities that are not as successful.
Measurable Results as a Barometer
In theory, change should be more easily managed if you initiate it yourself. However, implementing self-driven change presents itself with other challenges as well- namely what if, despite all your planning and hard work, your marketing plan does not seem to be yielding the results that you were after?You need to place professional distance between yourself, the plan, and the results- and be ruthless in your evaluations. For goals that are measurable, the numbers speak for themselves, and the success of your business hinges on your ability to adapt them- even if that means letting go of the vision you have constructed.While it may seem like a discouraging distance to go all the way back to the drawing board, it is more discouraging to discover that you have arrived at your intended marketing destination, without your baggage- so to speak.
That is why it is crucial when, after having your strategic marketing goals laid out, and setting out the tactical actions to help your marketing strategy translate to growth of your business, that you need to not only set up benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaign- but to also have specific goals in mind when visiting these along the way.
Be specific in your language when setting goals, and when associating tasks. What are some of the things your business needs to get out of them in order to move to the next level? Is this about client retention? Are you trying to generate leads? Referrals?
Invite Feedback
When you are setting out quantifiable goals to gauge the success of your business planning, there are elements that are extremely important to your success, that are not as easily measured- client satisfaction for one- which has a direct correlation on the likelihood of referrals- and in turn on your growth and your bottom line.Although there is little more stomach churning than asking for honest feedback about weaknesses, it is a must.
When you are in the relationship business, you must consider that a big proponent of your ability to be successful in your business relies on not only on your strategy and plans, but on the way you are perceived by your clients.You take pains to project a certain image, and hope that you succeed by communicating that to clients. If you are off the mark, and clients are less than satisfied about the service they received with you, or they were just generally not pleased, you need to know that- and you need to know why.
Furthermore, you need to have the professional courage to implement those changes into the way you do your business.
Make feedback an essential part of your process, having a set time during the business cycle with clients to ask for it.
Let them know that you genuinely want to know what they think, as their impressions are valued in the way in which you do business, and that you welcome the opportunity to implement suggested changes.Worst case scenario, you will hear nasty things about yourself.
On the other hand, if clients have valid points, that you may not have considered from their point of view, then feedback allows you to move your business forward- and to be stronger for it.On the up side, if you are being effective in your client relationships, than you can celebrate your successes; gather some testimonials to support your marketing initiatives.
Also, these conversations give you ammunition in asking for referrals, which can help contribute to the measurable parts of your campaign.
Mitigate the Change you don’t see Coming
For all of your planning, and attention to detail, there remains the possibility that there are issues in your local market and beyond, which you absolutely cannot control.
Although political, natural or economic events sometimes take place in the communities in which you live or work, there are those that take place all over the globe, and their effects are far reaching.
The question is, why does something like that impact business operationally, and how can expecting the unexpected affects of uncontrollable events help build business, and how can you communicate confidence to your clients in the times of upheaval?It’s about having your finger on the pulse of the market, even when that means having to go look for it during a shift.
Luigi Frascati, Sutton Centre Realty, with years of experience as a Realtor in his Vancouver market, has been through enough news cycles to know well the relationship between world events and his own local market. His advice? Know your market, know how it fits into the bigger picture, and parlay that information to your clients, giving them a compelling value-add reason to do business with you: “In a cosmopolitan city like Vancouver, BC where I mostly practice, we are all dependent upon events, whether of an economic or political nature, upon which we have absolutely no control. By way of an example, when the war started in Iraq I believe in 2002 - 2003, here the market came to a complete halt for three months. Clearly that was not an event that had originated from the local real estate market, but since real estate here is dominated by foreign investors, the influx of foreign money back then all but stopped.”
“So the trick to being a good advisor is not only to be knowledgeable of the local market, but also to be on top of world events that may affect the local market. I can tell you, from past experience, that next summer the market here will be slow (American presidential elections are due in November 2012)."
In managing change, and in strengthening your business, you can adapt your business and marketing plans to meet need, but as Frascati suggests, your focus must remain with laser-beam accuracy on the client- and how your actions and professional offerings service the requirements of client centric business.Also, know your community.While you never know when forces of nature or economics may strike a community down, history and/or a little bit of research may tell you the likelihood of these events happening.
This, when looking at brass tacks, comes down to including part of your marketing budget for Ad Hoc marketing- when situations socially or communally arise- so that these unexpected circumstances enhance your marketing efforts, rather than derailing them.
Similarly, one must have tactical plans that are flexible enough to bend without breaking when necessary.It is doubtful that Ghandi was talking about business growth when he said, “Be the change you want to see,” but it is applicable.
Don’t let the prospect of your plans not going to plan cause panic or despair, or create a sense of loss- rather visualize where you want your business to be, and allow room in your planning to expand and contract as the market, the globe, or your client base requires you too.Your road to success is not necessarily a straight line, but you want to avoid going in circles.
It is a well known fact that success as a Real Estate or Mortgage Professional lies heavily in knowing your market intimately and developing a highly detailed plan that encompasses both strategy and tactical measures, with an eye for growth.
The results of the PropertyWire.Ca reader survey, Successful Habits Of Canadian Realtors are in!...
Read More What may be as necessary though, is your ability to proactively manage that which you don’t expect, and having the professional depth to adapt your plans and your focus as the market dictates.
This versatility can be required as a consequence of outside forces that are beyond your control, or from the realization that the plans you made yourself, marketing and/or operationally, are somehow not hitting the marks you had intended.
Success relies on much more than having a plan. It is about being reactive in a professional context and, in a sense, being proactive enough to allow yourself to be professionally versatile.Change, whether selected after careful analysis, or whether thrust upon you, always represents the opportunity to streamline your business, as well as deepen your brand, if it is leveraged correctly- and a lot of that has to do with the origin and requirements of change.
One of the hardest parts of being a professional is having the courage to hold a mirror up to your business, and having an honest look to determine what change needs to be implemented to streamline your business. The truth is, if you want your boat to float, you need to plug the holes.
Change is Not Just About Getting Rid of the Negative
While it seems more obvious to want to cut the dead wood out of your business and your marketing strategy, it may be gentler to start with celebrating your successes.
Take a look at your marketing strategy, and decide not only what worked- but why it worked.
Was it something that you did specifically that is unique to your skill set? Did the market itself communicate the success of a tactic by its’ measurable response?In extracting the essence of your success and spreading it around to other operational and marketing activities, you may be able to salvage some of your marketing activities that are not as successful.
Measurable Results as a Barometer
In theory, change should be more easily managed if you initiate it yourself. However, implementing self-driven change presents itself with other challenges as well- namely what if, despite all your planning and hard work, your marketing plan does not seem to be yielding the results that you were after?You need to place professional distance between yourself, the plan, and the results- and be ruthless in your evaluations. For goals that are measurable, the numbers speak for themselves, and the success of your business hinges on your ability to adapt them- even if that means letting go of the vision you have constructed.While it may seem like a discouraging distance to go all the way back to the drawing board, it is more discouraging to discover that you have arrived at your intended marketing destination, without your baggage- so to speak.
That is why it is crucial when, after having your strategic marketing goals laid out, and setting out the tactical actions to help your marketing strategy translate to growth of your business, that you need to not only set up benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaign- but to also have specific goals in mind when visiting these along the way.
Be specific in your language when setting goals, and when associating tasks. What are some of the things your business needs to get out of them in order to move to the next level? Is this about client retention? Are you trying to generate leads? Referrals?
Invite Feedback
When you are setting out quantifiable goals to gauge the success of your business planning, there are elements that are extremely important to your success, that are not as easily measured- client satisfaction for one- which has a direct correlation on the likelihood of referrals- and in turn on your growth and your bottom line.Although there is little more stomach churning than asking for honest feedback about weaknesses, it is a must.
When you are in the relationship business, you must consider that a big proponent of your ability to be successful in your business relies on not only on your strategy and plans, but on the way you are perceived by your clients.You take pains to project a certain image, and hope that you succeed by communicating that to clients. If you are off the mark, and clients are less than satisfied about the service they received with you, or they were just generally not pleased, you need to know that- and you need to know why.
Furthermore, you need to have the professional courage to implement those changes into the way you do your business.
Make feedback an essential part of your process, having a set time during the business cycle with clients to ask for it.
Let them know that you genuinely want to know what they think, as their impressions are valued in the way in which you do business, and that you welcome the opportunity to implement suggested changes.Worst case scenario, you will hear nasty things about yourself.
On the other hand, if clients have valid points, that you may not have considered from their point of view, then feedback allows you to move your business forward- and to be stronger for it.On the up side, if you are being effective in your client relationships, than you can celebrate your successes; gather some testimonials to support your marketing initiatives.
Also, these conversations give you ammunition in asking for referrals, which can help contribute to the measurable parts of your campaign.
Mitigate the Change you don’t see Coming
For all of your planning, and attention to detail, there remains the possibility that there are issues in your local market and beyond, which you absolutely cannot control.
Although political, natural or economic events sometimes take place in the communities in which you live or work, there are those that take place all over the globe, and their effects are far reaching.
The question is, why does something like that impact business operationally, and how can expecting the unexpected affects of uncontrollable events help build business, and how can you communicate confidence to your clients in the times of upheaval?It’s about having your finger on the pulse of the market, even when that means having to go look for it during a shift.
Luigi Frascati, Sutton Centre Realty, with years of experience as a Realtor in his Vancouver market, has been through enough news cycles to know well the relationship between world events and his own local market. His advice? Know your market, know how it fits into the bigger picture, and parlay that information to your clients, giving them a compelling value-add reason to do business with you: “In a cosmopolitan city like Vancouver, BC where I mostly practice, we are all dependent upon events, whether of an economic or political nature, upon which we have absolutely no control. By way of an example, when the war started in Iraq I believe in 2002 - 2003, here the market came to a complete halt for three months. Clearly that was not an event that had originated from the local real estate market, but since real estate here is dominated by foreign investors, the influx of foreign money back then all but stopped.”
“So the trick to being a good advisor is not only to be knowledgeable of the local market, but also to be on top of world events that may affect the local market. I can tell you, from past experience, that next summer the market here will be slow (American presidential elections are due in November 2012)."
In managing change, and in strengthening your business, you can adapt your business and marketing plans to meet need, but as Frascati suggests, your focus must remain with laser-beam accuracy on the client- and how your actions and professional offerings service the requirements of client centric business.Also, know your community.While you never know when forces of nature or economics may strike a community down, history and/or a little bit of research may tell you the likelihood of these events happening.
This, when looking at brass tacks, comes down to including part of your marketing budget for Ad Hoc marketing- when situations socially or communally arise- so that these unexpected circumstances enhance your marketing efforts, rather than derailing them.
Similarly, one must have tactical plans that are flexible enough to bend without breaking when necessary.It is doubtful that Ghandi was talking about business growth when he said, “Be the change you want to see,” but it is applicable.
Don’t let the prospect of your plans not going to plan cause panic or despair, or create a sense of loss- rather visualize where you want your business to be, and allow room in your planning to expand and contract as the market, the globe, or your client base requires you too.Your road to success is not necessarily a straight line, but you want to avoid going in circles.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
How to Turn More Renters into First-Time Buyers
By Bill Ervin
RISMEDIA, July 25, 2011—This is the market of a lifetime, with more opportunities—and challenges—than most of us have ever seen. Now imagine that you’re a renter thinking about buying a first home. You know mortgage rates are at generational lows. You know home prices are as attractive as they’ve been in decades. But, you don’t know what to do next. That’s where real estate professionals like you come in. You can teach first-time buyers how to take advantage of today’s market and showcase the value of hiring a real estate agent like you to guide them every step of the way.
Whether you’re talking to a group of first-time buyers in a seminar setting—or just chatting one-on-one—here’s what you can say to encourage them to buy:
Eight Steps to First-time Buying Success
1. Make the move from renting to buying. Help overcome their fears that they can’t afford to buy. If they can pay rent, they can likely make a mortgage payment. And instead of throwing away their money every month, they’ll build an important financial asset.
2. Get a pre-approval. With a credit and income verified pre-approval, both you and the buyer will be on the same page with a concrete understanding of what they can afford.
3. Get the right mortgage. It’s about more than the monthly payment. Guide first-time buyers toward the best mortgage option for them long-term.
4. Find the right home. Make sure first-time buyers know this is a long-term commitment and must likely meet their needs for many years.
5. Make an offer the seller will accept. Show buyers the three main components of an offer: price, financial/timing terms and contingencies for opting out of the deal.
6. Do your homework. Explain the value of due diligence: performing a property inspection to expose any hidden issues and obtaining a homeowner’s insurance policy.
7. Close on the sale. That stack of documents at the closing table can be daunting but there’s a lot that happens well before then. Be sure to explain buyers’ pre-closing responsibilities (including how to remain “mortgage worthy”).
8. Of course, one of the most critical steps is to hire the right real estate professional. Here’s how to convince them to hire you:
-You know the market
-You’ll help them make the best decisions
-You’ll find the right home
-You’ll quarterback the entire “deal team”
-You’ll be the chief negotiator
-You’ll take care of all the details
-And you’ll solve every problem, from contract to close
In short, you’ll be the professional first-time buyers need to help ensure success.
Bill Ervin is the National Sales Director, Real Estate Relationships for CitiMortgage, Inc. For more information, please visit www.citimortgage.com.
RISMEDIA, July 25, 2011—This is the market of a lifetime, with more opportunities—and challenges—than most of us have ever seen. Now imagine that you’re a renter thinking about buying a first home. You know mortgage rates are at generational lows. You know home prices are as attractive as they’ve been in decades. But, you don’t know what to do next. That’s where real estate professionals like you come in. You can teach first-time buyers how to take advantage of today’s market and showcase the value of hiring a real estate agent like you to guide them every step of the way.
Whether you’re talking to a group of first-time buyers in a seminar setting—or just chatting one-on-one—here’s what you can say to encourage them to buy:
Eight Steps to First-time Buying Success
1. Make the move from renting to buying. Help overcome their fears that they can’t afford to buy. If they can pay rent, they can likely make a mortgage payment. And instead of throwing away their money every month, they’ll build an important financial asset.
2. Get a pre-approval. With a credit and income verified pre-approval, both you and the buyer will be on the same page with a concrete understanding of what they can afford.
3. Get the right mortgage. It’s about more than the monthly payment. Guide first-time buyers toward the best mortgage option for them long-term.
4. Find the right home. Make sure first-time buyers know this is a long-term commitment and must likely meet their needs for many years.
5. Make an offer the seller will accept. Show buyers the three main components of an offer: price, financial/timing terms and contingencies for opting out of the deal.
6. Do your homework. Explain the value of due diligence: performing a property inspection to expose any hidden issues and obtaining a homeowner’s insurance policy.
7. Close on the sale. That stack of documents at the closing table can be daunting but there’s a lot that happens well before then. Be sure to explain buyers’ pre-closing responsibilities (including how to remain “mortgage worthy”).
8. Of course, one of the most critical steps is to hire the right real estate professional. Here’s how to convince them to hire you:
-You know the market
-You’ll help them make the best decisions
-You’ll find the right home
-You’ll quarterback the entire “deal team”
-You’ll be the chief negotiator
-You’ll take care of all the details
-And you’ll solve every problem, from contract to close
In short, you’ll be the professional first-time buyers need to help ensure success.
Bill Ervin is the National Sales Director, Real Estate Relationships for CitiMortgage, Inc. For more information, please visit www.citimortgage.com.
Realtors ride for a great cause
September 2, 2011 -- One of the many things I enjoy about being a REALTOR® is that there’s never a dull day. Thanks to our varied professional backgrounds and range of special interests, even after 32 years in the business, I learn something new virtually every time I chat with another GTA REALTOR® Member.
One example of the diversity within our professional community is a group of REALTORS® who also happen to be motorcycle enthusiasts. Each year they get together for a ride in support of the REALTORS Care Foundation, which assists shelter-related charities throughout Ontario.
This year’s ride, which took place from July 13th to 15th, marked the culmination of an important milestone as riders completed a multi-year goal to visit each of the 42 real estate boards in Ontario. Their objective was to raise funds and awareness of the Foundation’s charitable endeavours, and increased participation in this year’s event showed that their efforts are working. Thirty-five riders took part this year, in a journey that took them throughout Central and Eastern regions of Ontario.
The ride kicked off at the Toronto Real Estate Board with stops at the Durham Association of REALTORS®, the Northumberland Hills Association of REALTORS®, and the Kawartha Lakes Real Estate Association before wrapping up the day’s travels at the Peterborough and Kawarthas Association of REALTORS®. On day two, participants made stops at the Bancroft, Quinte, and Rideau-St. Lawrence Real Estate Boards, remaining in Brockville overnight.
Day three included a visit to the Cornwall and District Real Estate Board before reaching the final destination, the Ottawa Real Estate Board. While media and local politicians greeted riders at various stops throughout the journey, a particularly notable reception took place during the final leg of the trip.
The riders’ arrival in the nation’s capital coincided with 90th anniversary celebrations at the Ottawa Real Estate Board, with representatives on hand from the Ontario and Canadian Real Estate Associations. As anniversary presentations wrapped up, everyone in attendance heard the rumbling of motorcycles and rushed outside to greet riders.
During the last week of July a special visit was paid to the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board, to reach the goal of visiting every real estate board in the province.
As always, TREB’s CEO Don Richardson took part in helping raise awareness. I asked Don to share this year’s experience with us, and here is what he had to say…
“The ride was great! It was very heartening to see even more riders this year. A real sense of community involvement by each Board we visited. The last Board we stopped at was Ottawa. This was perfect, as Ottawa was celebrating their 90th Anniversary with speeches and presentations, apparently the timing was perfect, because just as the last speech ended, those at the celebration heard the bikes rumbling outside as we arrived, and all rushed outside to welcome us. It was heartening to see the support for the Foundation and the increase in awareness. It was perfect throughout. Perfect weather, great energy, excellent planning while raising awareness for a worthy cause.”
Although the total numbers have not yet been calculated, it is anticipated that this year’s ride will have raised more than $50,000 for the Foundation, which will bring the total raised since the event’s inception to more than $220,000.
Given that the Foundation operates solely on the basis of voluntary donations, these funds are vital to its success. Thanks to efforts like the ride, the Foundation, now in its 44th year, has an impressive track record. Last year alone, TREB provided REALTORS Care Foundation grants to 35 different shelter-related charities throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
While plans will soon be underway for the 2012 Ride, it’s not too late to sponsor one of the dedicated individuals who took part in this year’s event. Since the Ontario Real Estate Association pays for The REALTORS Care Foundation's administrative costs, every dollar donated directly benefits shelter-related charities throughout the province. For more information visit www.realtorscareontario.ca
Richard Silver is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 32,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
Follow TREB on www.twitter.com/TREB_Official, www.Facebook.com/TorontoRealEstateBoard and www.youtube.com/TREBChannel
One example of the diversity within our professional community is a group of REALTORS® who also happen to be motorcycle enthusiasts. Each year they get together for a ride in support of the REALTORS Care Foundation, which assists shelter-related charities throughout Ontario.
This year’s ride, which took place from July 13th to 15th, marked the culmination of an important milestone as riders completed a multi-year goal to visit each of the 42 real estate boards in Ontario. Their objective was to raise funds and awareness of the Foundation’s charitable endeavours, and increased participation in this year’s event showed that their efforts are working. Thirty-five riders took part this year, in a journey that took them throughout Central and Eastern regions of Ontario.
The ride kicked off at the Toronto Real Estate Board with stops at the Durham Association of REALTORS®, the Northumberland Hills Association of REALTORS®, and the Kawartha Lakes Real Estate Association before wrapping up the day’s travels at the Peterborough and Kawarthas Association of REALTORS®. On day two, participants made stops at the Bancroft, Quinte, and Rideau-St. Lawrence Real Estate Boards, remaining in Brockville overnight.
Day three included a visit to the Cornwall and District Real Estate Board before reaching the final destination, the Ottawa Real Estate Board. While media and local politicians greeted riders at various stops throughout the journey, a particularly notable reception took place during the final leg of the trip.
The riders’ arrival in the nation’s capital coincided with 90th anniversary celebrations at the Ottawa Real Estate Board, with representatives on hand from the Ontario and Canadian Real Estate Associations. As anniversary presentations wrapped up, everyone in attendance heard the rumbling of motorcycles and rushed outside to greet riders.
During the last week of July a special visit was paid to the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board, to reach the goal of visiting every real estate board in the province.
As always, TREB’s CEO Don Richardson took part in helping raise awareness. I asked Don to share this year’s experience with us, and here is what he had to say…
“The ride was great! It was very heartening to see even more riders this year. A real sense of community involvement by each Board we visited. The last Board we stopped at was Ottawa. This was perfect, as Ottawa was celebrating their 90th Anniversary with speeches and presentations, apparently the timing was perfect, because just as the last speech ended, those at the celebration heard the bikes rumbling outside as we arrived, and all rushed outside to welcome us. It was heartening to see the support for the Foundation and the increase in awareness. It was perfect throughout. Perfect weather, great energy, excellent planning while raising awareness for a worthy cause.”
Although the total numbers have not yet been calculated, it is anticipated that this year’s ride will have raised more than $50,000 for the Foundation, which will bring the total raised since the event’s inception to more than $220,000.
Given that the Foundation operates solely on the basis of voluntary donations, these funds are vital to its success. Thanks to efforts like the ride, the Foundation, now in its 44th year, has an impressive track record. Last year alone, TREB provided REALTORS Care Foundation grants to 35 different shelter-related charities throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
While plans will soon be underway for the 2012 Ride, it’s not too late to sponsor one of the dedicated individuals who took part in this year’s event. Since the Ontario Real Estate Association pays for The REALTORS Care Foundation's administrative costs, every dollar donated directly benefits shelter-related charities throughout the province. For more information visit www.realtorscareontario.ca
Richard Silver is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 32,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
Follow TREB on www.twitter.com/TREB_Official, www.Facebook.com/TorontoRealEstateBoard and www.youtube.com/TREBChannel
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