Toronto Real Estate Board President Mark McLean announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 5,595 condominium apartment sales through TREB’s MLS® System during the fourth quarter of 2015. This result was up by 12.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2014.
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TREB Reports Q4 Condo Market Statistics for 2015
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Q4 2015 Community Reports Now Available
Q4 2015 Community Reports Now Available
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MEMBER ALERT: Cheques Compromised When Mailed
A Member has reported that a cheque sent to another Brokerage by mail has been compromised.
While in transit, the cheque was stolen and tampered with, such that a new payee had been superimposed on it. The cheque was then cashed.
Since the cheque number and amount remained unchanged on the falsified cheque, they were difficult to capture.
The Brokerage receiving the cheque reported to the Member that this is not the first time it has happened.
Accordingly, Members are encouraged to be vigilant with respect to all financial documents being sent by mail.
Did you know? The following are all accessible from the Stratus home page via the Your Resource Centre button.
- Member Alerts (including archived items);
- A Fraud Red Flag Checklist;
- CREA’s ‘The Safe Side - REALTOR® Safety Issues’ brochure; and,
- REALTOR® Safety Tips.
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MEMBER ALERT: SPAM email with subject "Desk" or "Webmail maintenance"
Spam email is circulating with the subject "Desk" and asking "customers" to update their information to avoid termination or suspension of account. Another has the subject "Webmail Maintenance".
TREB has no connection to these emails and did not send it out. If you receive, do not click on any links or attachments and delete right away.
See sample of SPAM email:
Did you know? The following are all accessible from the Stratus home page via the Your Resource Centre button.
- Member Alerts (including archived items);
- A Fraud Red Flag Checklist;
- CREA’s ‘The Safe Side - REALTOR® Safety Issues’ brochure; and,
- REALTOR® Safety Tips.
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CREA DDF® Rule Changes
A new section has been added to the CREA Data Distribution Facility (DDF®) Rules that states participants must not pull a feed of listing content for a National Shared Pool (NSP) website until they have opted into the NSP through the DDF® dashboard. The existing rule regarding use of a technology provider has also been expanded to make it clear that participants must opt into the NSP before they retain the services of a technology provider to operate a NSP website. This rule change ensures that technology providers cannot display DDF® listing content on their clients' websites before their clients have contributed their own listings to the NSP.
A requirement that members must refresh their websites at least once every 24 hours was built into the DDF® Rules when they were created. However, this rule did not address cached listing content or members' obligations with respect to outdated listing content. For this reason, DDF® Rule 5 has been amended to say that all listing content that is no longer current after a refresh must be removed from the National Pool or Member Feed Website.
TREB Members, and especially their technology providers, who are using DDF® should familiarize themselves with these rule changes. CREA's full explanation of these rule changes, including a link to the DDF® rules in their entirety can be found here:http://news2me.crea.ca/boards/2016/01_jan/readmore-a.htm
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December Housing Market Charts Available
December Housing Market Charts Available
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Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program
The City of Toronto offers a Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program to assist owners of heritage properties with the cost of maintenance and conservation.
The program is currently in transition due to staff recommendations that were adopted by Council on July 8, 2014.
Only properties that received a Heritage Property Tax Rebate for any of the 2010, 2011, 2012 or 2013 tax years may apply for the 2014 tax year. Their applications will be processed under the program as previously administered. These applications must be completed, submitted with all required information, and received by 4:30 P.M. EST, Friday, February 27, 2015 to be considered.
New for 2015, eligible properties must be classified commercial and industrial, where a minimum of 50% of the current value assessment (CVA) is attributable to commercial or industrial taxes. Other conditions and requirements apply. Properties that are not eligible for the tax rebate program may be eligible to apply to the Toronto Heritage Grant Program.
Should you have questions about the Toronto Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program, you can contact Gary Miedema from Toronto’s Heritage Preservation Services directly atgmiedem@toronto.ca or (416) 338-3278.
For more information on the Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program, click here.
Or for more information on the Toronto Heritage Grant Program, click here.
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GTA REALTORS® Donate $485,410 to Shelter Charities
Greater Toronto REALTORS® kick off 2015 by providing grants to 60 different shelter-related charities throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
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Nominations Now Open for the TREB Community Service Award
The Community Service Award recognizes TREB Members who are making a difference in their communities by holding local fundraisers, volunteering in the community or contributing in countless other ways to charitable causes.
Do you have someone great working in your office or know of a deserving Member who would qualify?
If so, we want to hear from you!
Please complete the attached application form and email to awards@trebnet.com or fax to 416-443-9515.
Deadline for nominations is February 27, 2015.
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GTA REALTORS® Report Q4 Rental Market Figures
Toronto Real Estate Board President Paul Etherington announced that fourth quarter 2014 condominium apartment rental transactions though the TorontoMLS system were up by 17 per cent to 5,036 compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. Over the same period, the number of condominium apartments listed on TorontoMLS was also up, but by a lesser annual rate.
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GTA REALTORS® Report Q4 Resale Condominium Figures
Toronto Real Estate Board President Paul Etherington announced that there were 4,975 condominium apartment sales reported through the TorontoMLS system in the fourth quarter of 2014. This result was up by 8.3 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2013.
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Have You Received Across The Board?
On January 15, we email broadcast January’s edition of the monthly, electronic Across The Board Member newsletter to all TREB Members. This issue features:
- Move Your Prospect Match Searches From Old Stratus Into New Stratus Now
- TREB Member Benefits – Member RRSP/TFSA Program
- In Six Weeks, Old Stratus Retires
- 2015 OREA & CREA Dues – Friendly Reminder
- A Homeowner’s Guide to Radon
- Delivery Service Reminder – Last Day for Pickups
- Member for Members – Thank You for Your Service!
- Four TREB Past President’s Scholarships Available
- TREB Course Registration Just Got Easier!
- RECO License Renewal On Or Before July 31
- Printer Cartridges, Cell Phones & Cameras Can Be Turned Into Food!
- Religious Holy Days Calendar
If you can’t find the email link to Across The Board in your Inbox, or you’ve accidentally deleted it, you may click here to open the newsletter.
If this issue didn’t arrive in your Inbox, you may not have your preferred email address on record with TREB. For step-by-step instructions to set your preferred email address, print this document or watch this training video.
If the link to open Across The Board doesn’t work on your computer, there is an alternate method to read the newsletter. To access Across The Board from within TorontoMLS/New Stratus:
- Log into TorontoMLS/New Stratus.
- Click Your Information Centre near the top of the home page. The Your Information Centre page appears in a separate window.
- Click Across The Board Newsletter. The current edition of the newsletter appears.
- To print or download the current issue, select Click here to download current issue in PDF. To read a previous issue, select CLICK HERE FOR ARCHIVES, then select the issue you want to read.
To print Across The Board:
- Follow the steps above to open the PDF version of the newsletter.
- Click File, then Print.
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2015 OREA & CREA Dues – Reminder
Take the advantage of paying online via e-Commerce. Avoid the last minute rush and long wait times.
If you have already paid, thank you.
January 31, 2015 is the payment due date for your 2015 OREA and CREA annual dues.
Payment of annual dues by January 31, 2015 will confirm a Member’s intention to renew his/her membership with TREB. Please remember that payment must be received by TREB by JANUARY 31, 2015 to avoid any service interruptions and the $100.00 reinstatement fee.
The following payment methods are available:
- e-Commerce : Invoices paid online through Old Stratus or New Stratus
- Major Credit Card
- INTERAC Online – internet banking enabled through TD Canada Trust, RBC, Scotiabank and BMO
- Visa Debit Card
TREB handles the issuing and payment processing on behalf of the Ontario Real Estate Association and the Canadian Real Estate Association as a service to Members to keep collection and processing costs at a minimum. All amounts collected are remitted to OREA and CREA.
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GTA REALTORS® Report Mid-Month Resale Market Figures
Toronto Real Estate Board President Paul Etherington announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 1,409 sales through the TorontoMLS system during the first 14 days of January 2015.
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The GTA Home & Reno Show – Feb. 13 – 16, 2015
Tickets now available thru the Realtor Store. Renew, refresh and renovate your home at Canada’s newest home show. Shop, find ideas and get advice from Toronto & the GTA’s finest retailers and industry experts.
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New Policy Regarding Photography Charges
Members are reminded that on January 1, 2015, a new policy came into effect regarding requests for changes to photographs on active listings in TREB’s MLS® System.
Effective February 1, 2015, a $10.00 fee (plus applicable taxes) will be charged to Members who request that TREB staff change, re-arrange or delete photographs on active listings. There continues to be no fee charged to Brokerload listings with photographs when initially placed on TREB’s MLS® System.
With regard to Boardload listings, while the fee of $10.00 (plus applicable taxes) that is charged to Members when TREB staff upload listings to the MLS® System remains in place, an additional $10.00 fee (plus applicable taxes) will be charged to Members who request that TREB staff change, re-arrange or delete photographs on active listings.
Requests to remove photographs from sold, terminated or expired listings continue to be processed free of charge.
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TREB’s President’s News Beat: TREB Gathers to Discuss Affordable Housing
According to an annual study released recently by researchers from York University and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, approximately 235,000 Canadians find themselves homeless each year, at a cost of $7 billion to the economy. One of the key factors contributing to the issue, suggests theState of Homelessness in Canada report, is a limited supply of affordable housing units.
Recognizing that residents who reach their full potential through happy, healthy lifestyles contribute to the long-term prosperity of our region, Greater Toronto REALTORS® are deeply committed to fostering opportunities all along the housing continuum, including those that relate to affordable housing.
In support of National Housing Day on November 21, the Toronto Real Estate Board, in cooperation with Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area, the City of Toronto Affordable Housing Office, and Evergreen City Works, brought together a panel of experts for a discussion that took a fresh look at affordable housing issues.
Held at Scadding Court Community Centre, the event began with a community breakfast and culminated with a tour of Alexandra Park’s revitalization project, which is undergoing a large-scale revitalization effort that will include bringing 1,540 new market units, 5,700 metres of retail space and improved pedestrian areas to the neighbourhood. An initiative spearheaded by Toronto Community Housing Corporation and Tridel, it illustrates the successful outcomes that can be achieved when partnerships to develop affordable housing solutions are formed between government, private enterprise and community residents.
Habitat for Humanity GTA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ene Underwood moderated the exchange of ideas between panelists Greg Spearn, Interim President and CEO of TCHC; Sean Gadon, Director of the City of Toronto’s Affordable Housing Office; Joe Vaccarro, CEO of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association; and Steve Rohacek, Senior Vice President of Municipal Business Development and Lending for Infrastructure Ontario.
The discussion, which focused on the innovation, partnerships and political leadership needed to facilitate affordable housing solutions, generated thought-provoking ideas and information. From new materials that make construction more cost-effective to ideas for greater cohesiveness among social housing organizations, panellists shared their thoughts on how to create more affordable housing opportunities within our city.
One sentiment that rang clear was the need for all levels of government to take ownership of the issue and work together towards solutions. Similarly, it was agreed that more opportunities to streamline regulations and to develop partnerships with private enterprise are needed.
Equally important is the central role that local residents play in revitalization efforts because by engaging stakeholders in the community to guide the process, developers can invest properly in the lives and future of people at the heart of affordable housing communities. Shared space for start-up businesses and community birthing facilities are just two examples of how revitalization efforts can contribute to a healthy economy while serving the needs of the community.
While Greater Toronto REALTORS® focus their efforts on bringing shelter to the people of our city, there are countless opportunities for you to make your mark in building a better GTA, and I encourage you to pursue them. To learn more about the many ways Greater Toronto REALTORS® are working to make a difference, please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com
Paul Etherington is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 40,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
Follow TREB on www.twitter.com/TREBhome, www.Facebook.com/TorontoRealEstateBoard, pinterest.com/trebhome/,www.linkedin.com/company/treb and www.youtube.com/TREBChannel
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Is Your Computer Ready for New Stratus?
The final switch from Old Stratus to New Stratus on March 1 is quickly approaching. It is important to ensure you are using the most up-to-date version of your Internet browser to get the most from New Stratus.
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8 are not fully compatible with New Stratus.
For a better, more secure browsing experience, TREB recommends that users should either upgrade their Microsoft browsers to a more current version now, or install an alternate browser like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
For accessing New Stratus with a PC, you should be using one of the following browsers:
- Internet Explorer 9+
- Google Chrome 30+
- Mozilla Firefox 28+
For accessing New Stratus with a Mac, you should be using one of the following browsers:
- Safari 6+
- Google Chrome 30+
- Mozilla Firefox 28+
To find out which version of Microsoft Internet Explorer you are using, look under the Help menu and click About Internet Explorer.
To download the Google Chrome browser, click on the following link:
https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/
To download the Firefox browser, click on the following link:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
To learn more about the recommended technical requirements for using New Stratus,
click here.
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Friendly Reminder: OREA & CREA 2015 Dues
If you have already paid, thank you!
If you haven’t already paid your OREA and CREA dues and TREB is your home Board, the deadline for payment is Saturday, January 31, 2015.
In order to avoid any possible interruption in service and a $100.00 reinstatement fee, please ensure that payment is received at TREB by Saturday, January 31, 2015.
If payment is not received by Saturday, January 31, 2015, then a Member’s membership is deemed not to have been renewed and membership privileges will cease immediately without further notice.
Please click here to access e-Commerce to pay by credit card.
Thank you for prompt attention in this matter.
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Update – City of Toronto Sign By-laws
City of Toronto staff has advised TREB of an increase in real estate related sign by-law violations. For example, in Ward 25-Don Valley West, directional open house signs have been placed and left in the medians of major roadways. This violation caused an obstruction for motorists and compromises road safety to all road users.
TREB encourages all Members to review the sign by-law to ensure compliance.
Municipal sign by-laws regulate all aspects of real estate signs and are intended to preserve and protect the appearance and safety of communities. Sign by-laws differ from one municipality to the next within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). For REALTORS®, this means the placement and duration of open house directional signs and for sale/lease signs are governed by municipal sign by-laws.
REALTORS® are responsible to comply with the municipal sign by-laws.
To ensure you are up-to-date on the sign by-laws in your community, click here to access the sign by-laws information guide on Old Stratus/New Stratus.
For further questions on sign by-laws, please contact the specific municipality.
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