Tag Archives: potential home buyers
CENTURY 21 Canada Launches Mobile Platform for Property Search
CENTURY 21 Canada has launched a mobile web platform for users of popular hand held devices and smart phones, including Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Google Android phones. Additional devices will be added as development continues.
The mobile website offers the following features:
* Mobile-device-optimized property search, real estate agent/office search and agent pages
* Proximity search, enabling users to find homes and offices near their current locations
* ‘Your Account’ functionality for consumers to view and save favourites:
o Ability to add properties and notes on the go
o ‘Favourites’ option to view properties and notes later at Century21.ca
* Full integration with Century21.ca website
o Main website will detect mobile devices and redirect the visitor to the mobile platform
o Visitors can switch between the mobile platform and full website
Users of iPhones currently account for the majority of visits to Century21.ca from mobile devices, with iPods and Blackberry users coming in second and third, respectively. “Most of the approximately 900,000 monthly visits to Century21.ca still come from home computers,” says CENTURY 21 Canada President Don Lawby, “But mobile search optimization is the future of online real estate marketing, in my opinion.”
Alex Blyakhman, President and Chief Product Officer of WhereToLive.com – real estate SEO specialists who developed the platform exclusively for CENTURY 21 Canada – agrees. “Many smart phones today have search functionality equivalent to home computers. Their technology lets potential home buyers tour neighbourhoods, view properties, download pictures or videos and then share their favourites with friends anywhere in the world. As a marketer, your website had better provide a positive and problem-free experience for these users or they’ll go somewhere else.”
All CENTURY 21 real estate professionals in Canada can now market listings and property features using the mobile website. The site is currently available in English, with French and Chinese platforms due for release in the summer of 2010.
About Century 21 Canada Limited Partnership
Century 21 Canada Limited Partnership (Century21.ca) is a real estate franchisor with exclusive rights to the CENTURY 21 Brand in Canada and provides comprehensive training, management, administrative and marketing support for the CENTURY 21 System. With more than 117,000 sales professionals in approximately 7,700 offices worldwide, the CENTURY 21 System is the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization, providing comprehensive training, management, administrative and marketing support for its members. As an exclusive Sponsor in the real estate category of the AIR MILES® Reward Program, only the CENTURY 21 organization in Canada can offer customers reward miles on real estate transactions.
Related posts:
- Century 21 Canada redefines its brand Century 21 Canada has unveiled a new branding direction...
- Message from Don Lawby C21 supports the rules amendments accepted by CREA members on...
- Century 21 Canada does battle with Rogers Century 21 Canada is suing Zoocasa Inc., which officially launched...
- First-Time Buyer Survey • First-time buyers must compromise to conquer record-high housing market...
- Severe deregulation would hurt consumers real estate professionals worry that severe deregulation in the real...
Message from Don Lawby
The Canadian Real Estate Association and the Competition Tribunal
At CENTURY 21 Canada, acting in the best interest of home buyers and sellers is a pillar of our business. We believe that the MLS system protects the standards and integrity of the real estate industry and the safety of Canadian consumers, for whom buying or selling a home is likely the most significant transaction they will make in their lifetimes.
The real estate market in Canada is and will continue to be highly competitive. Canadians selling their homes today can choose from a variety of business models, listing options and compensation/commission structures. CENTURY 21 Canada advocates that consumers should remain protected by real estate industry standards of conduct and ethics, which is at the cornerstone of what the current MLS system offers.
I support the rules amendments accepted by CREA members on Monday, March 22, and believe they satisfy concerns expressed by the Competition Bureau while preserving the integrity of our industry. False or misleading information has found its way onto many well-intended publicly accessible information and advertising sites, with little recourse for consumers.
CENTURY 21 Canada Key Messages
1. Canadian consumers have always been free to choose from different service and advertising options when selling their homes.
CENTURY 21 sales representatives pride themselves on providing full service to clients through the selling process. CENTURY 21 sales representatives are not opposed to posting listing information on MLS on behalf of clients, for a fee, but believe that most clients will continue to want a more comprehensive range of services to assist them in selling their homes.
2. The MLS System is trusted by CENTURY 21 sales representatives as a source for accurate and reliable listing information for clients.
Our biggest concern is the preservation of the integrity of this System. MLS was created for use by Realtors, who are bound by ethical and legal standards set forth by their licensing bodies. The MLS System’s integrity is maintained because sales professionals who upload misleading or false information to the System can lose their livelihoods or, at minimum, their reputations. It is impossible to enforce these standards on non-licensed sales professionals and the public, to protect what is likely the largest financial transaction a person will make in a lifetime.
3. CENTURY 21 Canada supports CREA’s defence that MLS Rules in no way limit consumers’ options or bind them to full-service fee models.
There are many commission and compensation structures in the industry, but CREA has never dictated what Realtors can charge their clients, or for what services. CENTURY 21 sales representatives are free, like all Realtors, to negotiate fees and service options with individual clients. It is also a myth that discount real estate service providers are prohibited access to the MLS System.
Questions and Answers for Consumers
1. What is MLS and why am I not able to access it?
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is an online business tool developed for Realtors, including CENTURY 21 sales representatives, to upload and share listing information on properties and collect market data. There are multitudes of MLS sites across the country, each operated by different Real Estate Boards. Generally, a local Realtor includes the MLS as part of his or her overall service contract. The Canadian Real Estate Association created an advertising website, www.realtor.ca, so that consumers and real estate sales representatives could view all MLS listings in one place and contact agents associated with those listings.
CENTURY 21 Canada also has agreements with Real Estate Boards across Canada to collect MLS data. That data enables us to provide detailed and accurate property information on all our sales representatives’ sites at Century21.ca.
2. With the new CREA rules, can I now post my home on the MLS system without going through a Realtor?
No. The MLS was developed as a member-to-member platform for licensed Realtors. Like all Realtors, CENTURY 21 sales representatives are bound by ethical and legal standards of conduct, which applies to listing information published on the MLS. The MLS has become such a strong brand because of the integrity of its information. While CENTURY 21 Canada isn’t opposed to posting listings to the MLS for a fee, allowing direct public access to the MLS risks undermining industry standards, as well as the security of potential home buyers – virtually every public advertising site runs the risk of exposing its customers to scam artists and unscrupulous sellers.
3. So, when will I be able to pay you just to list my home on the MLS?
You have always had that choice. All real estate service fees are negotiable between Realtors and their clients. As well, a consumer has the option to list their property for sale on a range of websites that don’t require the assistance of a licensed real estate agent. CENTURY 21 sales representatives aren’t going to prevent clients from choosing this option; however, we would discourage individual home owners from publishing their properties online
without a clear plan as to how they are going to manage the sales process, qualify prospective buyers and complete the required documentation for closure.
4. Why do Realtors charge so much commission for providing services that I could just as easily do myself?
Realtors receive extensive training to be licensed to operate in Canada and work hard for the commissions they earn. The vast majority of Realtors are not getting rich on commission fees. According to the National Real Estate Association 2009 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 69% of homeowners who chose to go the ‘for sale by owner’ route indicated that they did so to avoid paying commission fees; and 74% of those reported having difficulty with the selling process. Getting the price right, preparing a home for sale, understanding and completing paperwork and selling within the length of time planned were common difficulties expressed by survey respondents. Buyers are aware of the value of commission fees, and will often offer less than market value on ‘for sale by owner’ listings. There is value in hiring an agent with superior sales skills and knowledge of your market.
5. Why is the Canadian Real Estate Association trying to stop consumers from being able to choose the services they want to sell their homes?
This is a myth that has gained momentum because of the Competition Bureau issue. The MLS was created by CREA for its members to post their listings and share data. Like with any competitive business landscape, there is an array of online advertising choices other than the MLS for independent home sellers, including social media sites, Craigslist and Kijiji. As well, Canadians have always had the option to compare and negotiate real estate service fees offered by different business models.
6. When do the new rules come in? Should I wait until then to list my property for sale?
The new MLS rules voted on by members of the Canadian Real Estate Association on March 22 are now in the process of being ratified by provincially-based real estate boards. The process could take a few months to complete, as some Boards will have to call general meetings to revise their rules. It may take up to a year for a decision to be made by the Competition Tribunal of Canada, and that could be followed by an appeals process. With interest rates anticipated to rise by mid-2010, coupled with the introduction of the HST in BC and Ontario on July 1st, waiting to sell your home – with or without a Realtors – might net you a lower selling price or increase the time it takes to sell your home. In addition, the rules and regulations that are in the process of being amended reflect service options that are already available today.
————————————————————————————————————
Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information - 416-388-1960
————————————————————————————————————
Incoming search terms
Related posts:
- Severe deregulation would hurt consumers real estate professionals worry that severe deregulation in the real...
- Fifty years later, MLS maintains its monopoly An MLS for you and another for agents – guess...
- Real estate association faces probe Competition board is asking if CREA is restricting trade By Tony...
- More hostility greets realty group Plans appear anti-competitive: Ex-TREB president By Tony Wong – Toronto...
- Tone down the real estate speeches Tales of an overheated housing market show why Bank of...
Mid-rise living has its advantages
Michael Collins-Williams – Special to QMI Agency
No doubt, many of today’s home buyers think of just two options when it comes to purchasing a new home —it’s either a high-rise condo in Toronto or the more traditional low density suburban home. But as our communities evolve — more and more consumers are recognizing the benefits in buying a home in a mid-rise building. This third option for home buyers is anticipated to flourish in the years ahead.
Across the Greater Toronto Area, decades of low density development has not always made the most efficient use of existing infrastructure. Most of us are all too familiar with ever increasing traffic congestion, longer commutes and rising housing costs. Despite these issues, our relative prosperity ensures that the GTA will remain the destination of choice in Canada for tens of thousands of new immigrants for the foreseeable future. If we are going to preserve the high quality of life we’ve all become accustomed to, new patterns of growth planning and transportation planning are inevitably going to evolve.
One of the key factors supporting mid-rise condo development is the increasing environmental awareness of governments, businesses and citizens which is directing us to utilize our resources more efficiently. In the coming years, this will translate to an increased focus on the renewal of community infrastructure, as well as the protection and enhancement of our assets. Recent changes in the policies of the provincial government, such as the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and the Greenbelt Plan are some of the driving forces behind intensification of new development today. Mid-rise buildings will become much more common as the building type of choice both for developers constructing them and new home buyers looking for affordable options that aren’t located in the concrete jungle of downtown Toronto.
As well, Canadians can reduce their impact on the environment through mid-rise condo living. Individual suites are typically smaller than single family homes which is an effective way to reduce both the carbon footprint and the monthly operating costs for homeowners. Glenn Miller, vice-president of the Canadian Urban Institute, suggests “the mid-rise building form has the potential to be the most energy efficient of all building forms.” This type of housing is a perfect opportunity to help the environment and your pocketbook. The buildings themselves are typically located on main streets close to shops and services, which reduces auto-dependency and promotes a healthy active pedestrian lifestyle. Miller notes that “mid-rises are built to a human scale that contributes to street life”. This provides a perfect smart growth alternative to larger scale apartment blocks without compromising the character of traditional neighbourhoods.
The graying of society with many baby boomers approaching retirement age is a second major driving force behind mid-rise condo development. This growing segment of society will increasingly be looking to downsize and live in an easy, maintenance-free lifestyle that doesn’t involve a lot of stairs. Unlike towering skyscrapers, mid-rise buildings in the four to eight floor range have the ability to integrate themselves within the existing urban fabric. These boutique style condo buildings are perfectly suited to provide a new supply of housing to a growing portion of the housing market in an aging society.
Mid-rise condos provide opportunities to enhance our communities while reducing our impact on the environment. Mid-rises blend into and improve neighbourhoods as Miller further suggests that “it’s a building form that adds to the quality of life in cities through quality urban form.
Mid-rise buildings can be viewed as an ideal scenario to provide an affordable supply of new housing for potential home buyers and slightly increase densities without disrupting established communities. There is almost an overwhelming amount of choice in today’s rapidly evolving real estate market. However, considering all the environmental, economic and lifestyle benefits that mid-rise living has to offer, a home in a mid-rise project is a choice worthy of consideration for anyone in the market for a new home.
————————————————————————————————————
Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information - 416-388-1960
————————————————————————————————————
Incoming search terms
Related posts:
- Toronto Real Estate Forecast 2010 MLS® sales in the GTA will hit a record high...
- Condos to remain an attractive option for many home buyers TD Canada Trust Canada’s condo markets have delivered a strong performance...
- Condo townhomes fuse ground-floor living with high-rise amenities A flourishing trend, condo townhomes are part of the blueprint...
- Luxury Living: The glam slam All forms of luxury homes in the GTA have...
- Vertical living in condos Young buyers willing to raise family in condos, but want...
