http://www.orea.com/index.cfm/ci_id/157.htm
The foundation was first initiated in 1967 as part of the Canadian Real Estate Boards Foundation and was repatriated to Ontario in 1977. Through financial support to many local, charitable organizations, the OREA Foundation assists REALTORS in re-investing in the communities in which they work and live. As members of OREA, every REALTOR is automatically eligible to apply for funding on behalf of a shelter-based non-profit or charitable cause. Members of the public representing shelter-based charitable organizations and interests may also apply directly to the fund for assistance.
The Ontario Real Estate Association represents 40,000 brokers and salespeople and 43 real estate boards throughout the province. OREA serves its members through a wide variety of publications, educational programs and special services. Membership at the Ontario Real Estate Association costs only $80 a year and offers you lots of marketing tools and benefits. Here are some of the things you get:
The latest news and industry updates in the monthly edge.
A strong lobbying voice at Queen's Park that's saved you $500 per year by blocking a business licensing tax on REALTORS.
Thousands of dollars of savings on things like cell phones, clothing and home and auto insurance.
Access to Ontario's Largest Commercial Property Database.
MCE credits in convenient and cost-effective ways, including online courses.
Free downloadable Consumer Brochures
The Ontario Real Estate Association has a body specifically devoted to serving commercial practitioners. The Ontario Commercial Council (OCC) engages in a wide variety of activities to ensure that commercial REALTORS obtain maximum value for their dues investment. The Chair of the OCC is elected by OREA's commercial members and represents their interests on the OREA Board of Directors.
Today’s modern family is so comfortable with technology that it’s become an expected part of everyday life.
New homes, particularly if you’re buying before construction, can be wired for 21st century living, including multiple phone lines, high-speed Internet and extra cable outlets.
Resale homes may not be wired to handle all of our tech toys. There may be fewer electrical outlets in the home and an electrical system that may need to be upgraded.
These are the kinds of things you’d like to have quick access to, such as schools, fitness centres, grocery stores and other retail outlets. New homes are often built with future promises of schools and parks. However, they may not be constructed until after the development is completed. These neighbourhoods away from the city core may be closer to large retail outlets offering more competitive prices. Resale homes are already part of an established area – schools and parks have been built, neighbourhood conveniences established. There is less likelihood that new development will take place.
According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the average size of a Canadian house in 2004 was 1800 square feet. That’s a big leap from the average 800 sq. ft. recorded in 1945 and the 1075 sq ft. noted in 1975. New homes may be bigger than their older counterparts, answering today’s lifestyle demands that include open layouts, ensuite bathrooms, storage space and attached garages. Resale homes may have more interior walls, creating more rooms but less of an open feeling. There may be more character to the homes – ceilings, archways and built-ins to make the home distinctive.
As the costs of heating and electricity increase, homeowners discover the state of their windows, furnaces and foundations can make a big difference in their monthly expenses. New homes must meet higher energy standards. New building materials boast of lower energy costs for homeowners, including glazed windows and thicker insulation. The appliances offered by builders are more energy-efficient. Resale homes will cost more to run, unless the systems have been upgraded. It is expensive to replace older windows and furnaces but those improvements will cut down on those expenses in the future.
