Toronto, ON (April 24, 2009) – RE/MAX Hallmark Realty was honoured once again for their outstanding contribution to the Children’s Miracle Network—and Sick Kids Hospital— in 2008.
Broker-Owners Ken McLachan and Debra Bain were presented with the coveted award for Top Contributing Office in Ontario before an audience of their peers at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. RE/MAX Hallmark Realty contributed over $93,000 to Sick Kids in 2008 through the Miracle Home Program and various other fundraisers, making them the top contributing RE/MAX office in Ontario.
“This award has a very special meaning to our team which includes all of the RE/MAX Hallmark offices in the GTA,” says Debra Bain. “One hundred percent of RE/MAX Hallmark agents have contributed a portion of their commission from each and every sale to the Miracle Home Program. We would like to thank our sales associates and support staff who have worked tirelessly to raise money for those less fortunate in need.”
The majority of funds were raised through the RE/MAX Miracle Home Program, which allows sales associates to donate to a portion of the sale of each home to Children’s Miracle Network. In Canada, 12 children’s hospitals and foundations are supported by Children’s Miracle Network. Monies raised fund research, programs, medical equipment and pediatric care for over two million sick children annually.
“The Top Contributing Office award is presented to a RE/MAX office that has made a significant difference in the lives of others through outstanding charitable work,” says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President and Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. “The RE/MAX Hallmark team is comprised of truly caring individuals who really go above and beyond for this worthwhile cause. We commend them for their efforts.”
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty operates seven offices throughout the Greater Toronto Area, with a total agent count of 530. They are renowned in their community for their philanthropy efforts and fundraising events for Children’s Miracle Network and SickKids.
For more information please contact me.
You can find great local Toronto, Ontario real estate information on Localism.com Frank Bott is a proud member of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a free online community to help real estate professionals grow their business.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
New Study Says Tax Harmonization Would Slam Door on Homebuyers
Ontario’s new homebuyers would face a massive tax grab under the proposed harmonization of the federal GST and Ontario PST, a new report released today concludes.
The report on the implications for sales tax harmonization on new home buyers in Ontario was written by veteran housing analyst Frank Clayton, PhD, of Canada’s largest independent real estate consulting and advisory firm Altus Group, for the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD). BILD is the Greater GTA affiliate of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association.
The report looked at nine Ontario municipalities and three different home types. It revealed tax increases for single detached homes ranging from $8,957 (Windsor) to $17,049 (Ottawa) in markets outside the GTA, and from $24,566 (Mississauga) to a whopping $46,676 (Toronto) within the GTA.
“All told, harmonization of PST and GST without any offsetting measures by the provincial government would rip $2.4 billon dollars out of the pockets of new home buyers, slamming the homeownership door shut in the face of many Ontarians,” said Stephen Dupuis, President and CEO of BILD.
BILD Chair Leith Moore added that the proposal for GST/PST harmonization couldn’t come at a worse time and runs completely contrary to the Province’s efforts to stimulate spending and jobs.
"There's no point putting the gas pedal to the metal from a stimulus standpoint while braking equally hard with the other foot, but that's what harmonizing the sales tax on housing amounts to," Moore said.
Meanwhile, Ontario Home Builders’ Association president Frank Giannone said harmonization is a “poison pill” for housing. “Housing is the only product that keeps on paying property tax after it is consumed. So to cripple the new home buyer market at this time not only damages the provincial economy, it also hurts governments in terms of revenues. In addition, the HST would also add additional tax to future renovation projects, and we all know tax increases drive consumers into the underground economy and into cash deals. It makes no sense,” he said.
Dupuis explained that builders are not fighting harmonization, but fighting for fair treatment of housing under a harmonized sales tax regime. “The reason housing gets hit so hard is that it is the biggest of the big ticket items and it’s not currently directly subject to PST, for good reason,” he said.
“As matters currently stand, builders are paying an average of two per cent PST embodied in the price of each new home and they’re prepared to keep on paying at that rate, notwithstanding all the other taxes, fees and levies they must endure.“What home builders are not prepared to do is to sit idly by while home buyers are hammered to the tune of $2.4 billion due to harmonization. That's not on," Dupuis concluded. (CREA 11/03/09)
The report on the implications for sales tax harmonization on new home buyers in Ontario was written by veteran housing analyst Frank Clayton, PhD, of Canada’s largest independent real estate consulting and advisory firm Altus Group, for the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD). BILD is the Greater GTA affiliate of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association.
The report looked at nine Ontario municipalities and three different home types. It revealed tax increases for single detached homes ranging from $8,957 (Windsor) to $17,049 (Ottawa) in markets outside the GTA, and from $24,566 (Mississauga) to a whopping $46,676 (Toronto) within the GTA.
“All told, harmonization of PST and GST without any offsetting measures by the provincial government would rip $2.4 billon dollars out of the pockets of new home buyers, slamming the homeownership door shut in the face of many Ontarians,” said Stephen Dupuis, President and CEO of BILD.
BILD Chair Leith Moore added that the proposal for GST/PST harmonization couldn’t come at a worse time and runs completely contrary to the Province’s efforts to stimulate spending and jobs.
"There's no point putting the gas pedal to the metal from a stimulus standpoint while braking equally hard with the other foot, but that's what harmonizing the sales tax on housing amounts to," Moore said.
Meanwhile, Ontario Home Builders’ Association president Frank Giannone said harmonization is a “poison pill” for housing. “Housing is the only product that keeps on paying property tax after it is consumed. So to cripple the new home buyer market at this time not only damages the provincial economy, it also hurts governments in terms of revenues. In addition, the HST would also add additional tax to future renovation projects, and we all know tax increases drive consumers into the underground economy and into cash deals. It makes no sense,” he said.
Dupuis explained that builders are not fighting harmonization, but fighting for fair treatment of housing under a harmonized sales tax regime. “The reason housing gets hit so hard is that it is the biggest of the big ticket items and it’s not currently directly subject to PST, for good reason,” he said.
“As matters currently stand, builders are paying an average of two per cent PST embodied in the price of each new home and they’re prepared to keep on paying at that rate, notwithstanding all the other taxes, fees and levies they must endure.“What home builders are not prepared to do is to sit idly by while home buyers are hammered to the tune of $2.4 billion due to harmonization. That's not on," Dupuis concluded. (CREA 11/03/09)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Are You Fit To Sell?
New RE/MAX program helps Canadian homeowners secure the value of their biggest investment. As home sellers across the country adjust to new market realities, RE/MAX is set to launch Fit to Sell, an innovative new program designed to secure homeequity in uncertain times.
“The stark reality is that more than 2,000 properties are listed for sale every day in Canada,”
explains Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic
Canada, “yet only a quarter of them will be sold. With the creation of Fit to Sell, RE/MAX is
intent on helping Canadians get the most out of their biggest investment – their home.”
RE/MAX has enlisted the help of popular staging expert Carla Woolnough, host of the DVD series ‘How to Stage your own Home’ and owner of Nex-Step Design, to develop Fit to Sell. The program encourages existing homeowners to increase their stake in the home-selling process by working with their real estate professional to bring their home to the market. Fit to Sell ultimately rewards their participation by maximizing sale price and minimizing on-market time.
“Sellers are no longer in the driver’s seat but there’s also no reason for them to take a back seat,” explains Polzler. “We know that location, price, and condition are the three major factors that come into play when selling a home – and while location and price are clearly choices made by the buyer at the onset, condition is the one factor that a seller can influence. Sellers who make the right moves in preparing their home for sale can maximize their housing potential and ultimately improve their bottom line. After all, there are still buyers in the market and they are looking for quality product.”
RE/MAX and Carla Woolnough, the national spokesperson for RE/MAX Fit to Sell, have created a checklist of the top 10 priorities for preparing a property for sale, ranging from air quality to furniture placement and lighting. The checklist and tips can also be found on www.fittosell.ca
“By following these simple and inexpensive tips, homeowners across the country can secure top dollar for their properties,’ says Carla. “All it takes is a little upfront planning and some advice from your RE/MAX sales professional.”
“The stark reality is that more than 2,000 properties are listed for sale every day in Canada,”
explains Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic
Canada, “yet only a quarter of them will be sold. With the creation of Fit to Sell, RE/MAX is
intent on helping Canadians get the most out of their biggest investment – their home.”
RE/MAX has enlisted the help of popular staging expert Carla Woolnough, host of the DVD series ‘How to Stage your own Home’ and owner of Nex-Step Design, to develop Fit to Sell. The program encourages existing homeowners to increase their stake in the home-selling process by working with their real estate professional to bring their home to the market. Fit to Sell ultimately rewards their participation by maximizing sale price and minimizing on-market time.
“Sellers are no longer in the driver’s seat but there’s also no reason for them to take a back seat,” explains Polzler. “We know that location, price, and condition are the three major factors that come into play when selling a home – and while location and price are clearly choices made by the buyer at the onset, condition is the one factor that a seller can influence. Sellers who make the right moves in preparing their home for sale can maximize their housing potential and ultimately improve their bottom line. After all, there are still buyers in the market and they are looking for quality product.”
RE/MAX and Carla Woolnough, the national spokesperson for RE/MAX Fit to Sell, have created a checklist of the top 10 priorities for preparing a property for sale, ranging from air quality to furniture placement and lighting. The checklist and tips can also be found on www.fittosell.ca
“By following these simple and inexpensive tips, homeowners across the country can secure top dollar for their properties,’ says Carla. “All it takes is a little upfront planning and some advice from your RE/MAX sales professional.”
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