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Some Realtors React Positively

The following are comments from a couple of Canadian Real Estate agents, they are looking into the future with changes coming due to the allegations by the Competition Bureau which CREA (Canadian Real Estate Association) is fighting hard against and are holding their heads high.  I personally think less agents will be in business in a few years and there will still be a number of people who will prefer to use an agent…therefore, for a hardworking agent it will still be a fairly profitable business. 

What do you think?

Ms. Bailey knows her industry is evolving, but she says there will always be a role for full-service agents. “I don’t worry about it. People who want to work with me will want my help. They don’t have time to do their open houses and market their property,” she says.

There are similar optimistic views across the country. “I’m not just an agent. Half the time I’m acting as psychologist, holding the buyer’s hand,” says Ellie Silver, a 12-year industry veteran who works in Montreal’s exclusive Westmount area. She adds people will never be able to effectively negotiate when it comes to the price of their home. “They are just too close to it,” she says.

To read the full article from which these comments came from, click HERE.

Say “No” To A Part-Time Agent

Michael Polzler, head of Re/Max Ontario-Atlantic Canada recently launched a campaign against choosing a part-time Realtor(R).  In a letter/advertisement he placed in The Real Estate Magazine he stated that it is time to “take back the industry”. 

He says that if an agent is doing at least 1 deal per quarter they should not be in Real Estate.  Having stronger rules around education and adding an apprentice program would be beneficial he says.  In Toronto 20% of Realtors did not complete a deal in 2009.

“Someone who has a non-real-estate, full-time job should not be allowed to handle the largest financial transaction most people make in their lifetime. You have taxi drivers with real estate licences and that’s not cool,” Mr. Polzler said.

When you consider the numbers…98,000 agents (that’s one agent for approximately 336 people)…maybe he has a point.

What do you think?

New President Ready For Court

Georges Pahud assumed the presidency of the Canadian Real Estate Association this week in Ottawa, in the midst of the Competition Bureau’s challenge of CREA’s MLS rules. Although CREA made changes to its MLS access rules, the bureau says the changes are not enough and that it will continue to pursue the challenge before the Competition Tribunal.

He said this week, “You can’t get something for nothing; it just doesn’t work. You can’t work for nothing. People need to be willing to pay a fair price for their choices and, in Canada, we are lucky because we have choices.“

Come Realty Boost often for more updates!

87% Voted YES

On March 22, 2010 CREA voted and 87% voted, YES, to the changes presented regarding the MLS system (see previous post for more details).

Although, Melanie Aitken the Commissioner of Competition still isn’t satisfied, saying, “These amendments amount to a blank cheque allowing CREA and its members to create rules that could have even greater anti-competitive consequences.”

This Thursday is the deadline for CREA to submit to the Tribunal a response to the Bureau’s accusations.  We’ll have to wait and see if they agree or disagree that these changes satisfy the Bureau’s issues.

Watch Realty Boost for an update later this week!