Guy Bezeau 2012 President

Finances are on everyone's mind these days, including my own. For that reason I thought this column would be an excellent time for me talk about one of the most misunderstood financially-related items REALTORS® deal with in their professions: FINTRAC.

In years past, whenever my thoughts would turn to FINTRAC, I would immediately get frustrated. It seemed like I was being asked to give up some of the precious little time I had each day to do the work of a bunch of federal employees in Ottawa. I always thought it weird that I would be legally required to ask my clients (most of whom were personal friends) to formally identify themselves. I can still remember back in June 2008 when we as REALTORS® were legislated to begin gathering financial information on our buyers and sellers. Without doubt, I considered it a sad day for real estate. The reality is that FINTRAC is not going to go away, so my whining won't help!

FINTRAC was formed in 2000 as an independent Federal Agency, reporting directly to the Minister of Finance, through an Act of Parliament (Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA). The mission of the Agency (as stated on its website) is: "To contribute to the public safety of Canadians and help protect the integrity of Canada's financial system through the detection and deterrence of money laundering and terrorist financing." The Agency is based in Ottawa and currently has a staff of 342 employees who report to the current Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.

I would like to acknowledge that our National Association (CREA) worked exceedingly hard to reduce the impact of this organization on the lives of REALTORS®. The mandatory FINTRAC requirements of today are far less than what was required when the legislated information-gathering was first introduced. Over the past four years, I've had ample opportunity to reflect on FINTRAC and have come to the conclusion that there is just cause for the Agency and that there is real good in the efforts we make on its behalf. When you complete your FINTRAC requirements you may not be directly thwarting terrorism, but you are certainly blocking the money-laundering efforts of criminals and gangsters on Vancouver Island.

By having to report any cash deposits $10,000 or larger, you are taking away a loophole the underworld has exploited for decades. After all, lawyers, notaries, banks, credit unions, mortgage brokers and others also have to adhere to similar regulations. You can expect in the coming years that we, as REALTORS®, will be called upon to play an even larger role in documenting our relationships with buyers and sellers – for the overall good of society. As REALTORS®, we have to continue to do our small part to assist FINTRAC in its efforts to derail the illegal activities of criminals and terrorists.

You may feel that filling in the FINTRAC forms is unproductive time, but it's important to realize that 100,000 REALTORS® across the country are making a real difference. Hopefully, in the future, you can view your FINTRAC work not as a burden, but as a valued exercise in making Canada a safer and better place for everyone.

Finally, given the time of year, I just want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and to send out the hope of Successful Selling in 2013!

Thank you to those members who provided VIREB with their "Speak-Ups". Since the last issue of In Touch, VIREB has received 5 Speak-Ups, all expressing their frustration and concerns with the new WEBForms®. However, we are pleased to advise that on December 4, 2012, the new WEBForms® 4.9.1 update was released, which focused on usability improvements. The new design changed the toolbar to resemble the familiar Adobe Reader toolbar; there were "bug fixes" and improvements in the handling of clauses.

REALTORS® are now able to create transaction kits, edit forms, templates and clauses using virtually any HTML5-compatible browser including Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Apple's Safari. We are hoping this new update has alleviated the concerns that were addressed with the Speak-Ups.

We appreciate member's comments. If you have a concern or need to "speak up" on an issue, simply send in your Speak-Up by email to: speakup@vireb.com – Subject Line – "Speak-Up". Thank you!

VIREB was represented as BC NDP leader, Adrian Dix, held his annual Leader's Levee in Vancouver October 5. As part of a BCREA initiative, representatives from virtually every real estate board in the province had members in attendance, as part of an ongoing non-partisan support of the different political parties in the province. VIREB President Guy Bezeau, Director Blair Herbert and Manager Member Services Darrell Paysen were in attendance at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Vancouver.

The Leader's Levee is a yearly leader's dinner and political presentation put on by the provincial NDP party. It is an opportunity for Dix to meet leaders from within the provincial real estate profession in a more informal setting. Organized real estate supports the electoral process in all of its forms, but does not endorse any one political party. The next provincial election is slated to occur in May 2013, so the Leader's Levee can be seen as a warm up for future campaigning efforts on behalf of Dix and his party.

In anticipation of the upcoming provincial election, VIREB is already making plans to help encourage the democratic process by more effective marketing efforts. More information on this program will be presented as the plans are formalized.

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) held a technology forum and Special General Meeting in Winnipeg October 28 and 29, and VIREB was well represented. VIREB President Guy Bezeau, President Elect Gary Gray and Executive Officer Bill Benoit were all in attendance at the two-day meeting and training session.

The central portion of the event, held at the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg, was the 2012 MLS® and Technology Council (MTC) meeting. This tech-focused gathering was an opportunity for information sharing about technology issues that affect organized real estate. VIREB I.T. Staff Liason, Jason Conway, also attended this event which brought together technology leaders from across the country. Sessions held as part of the two-day training opportunity included information about Social Media marketing, updates on the new DDF system and insights into tech trends that are changing the real estate sales landscape.

The second major portion of the two-day event was CREA's Special General Meeting, sponsored by the Winnipeg REALTORS® Association. This national assembly had been organized to address specific issues that had arisen since the last Annual General Meeting held earlier this year. A number of supplemental training courses were also organized to run concurrently with the forum, adding to the wealth of information presented to participants.

A group of eleven REALTORS® participated in the most recent New Member Orientation training session November 7 at the VIREB Training Room in Nanaimo. Coming from all across the island, the group was a true mirror of the contemporary real estate profession as it was made up of members of both genders and all age groups. Primarily first time REALTORS®, one of the participants was a returning member who has come back to VIREB after working in another field for a few years.

Overseen by Manager of Member Services Darrell Paysen, the training feature session included input from a number of the VIREB staff including Patti Wenman (Professional Development Coordinator) as well as Joanne Russell and Ellen Cadwallader from the VIREB MLS® team. Navigating REALTOR Link®, insights into the concept of Broker Loading listings and other technical aspects involved in being a modern REALTOR® were examined during the day. The one day overview provided the new members with a detailed snapshot of the services and products provided by VIREB for its membership. Welcome to VIREB everyone!

VIREB Participated At NAR

More than 20,000 REALTORS® attended the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida November 9 to 12 and VIREB was there. Board President Guy Bezeau, President-Elect Gary Gray, Board Director Margo Hoffman and VIREB Executive Officer Bill Benoit were all representing the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board during the event.

The NAR Conference and Expo is the yearly fall event that brings together a 400 exhibit trade exposition, multiple keynote presentations and a world-class networking opportunity for those real estate professionals who take part. The theme of this year's session was: Discover Your Magic, and the hope was that the knowledge gleaned from attending will allow the participants to take their careers to the next level.

Training sessions ranged from an examination of current economic issues to learning how to effectively work with investors. A sampling of some of the training sessions available to participants during the three days included marketing farmland, developing literacy for dealing with cross generational clients and learning how to adapt the latest technology to today's real estate office. The NAR Conference is considered one of the best educational and networking opportunities for REALTORS® held anywhere.

Providing a sneak peak for incoming Directors and addressing the details of the 2013 VIREB budget were just some of the highlights of the November 21 VIREB Board of Directors meeting. An overview of items covered during the meeting included:

Introduction: Two new Board Directors had their first look at the workings of the board during the meeting. Neil Woodrow (Zone 2) and Kathy Koch (Zone 4) were both elected to the VIREB Board of Directors for 2013 and were in attendance at the November meeting to experience the activity of a board meeting first hand. Another guest in attendance was Ian Lindsay, Vice Chair of the VIREB Commercial Council who attended on behalf of Commercial Council Chair Judy Gray who was unable to attend the meeting. Lindsay will be moving into the Commercial Council Chair position in 2013.

Budget Discussions: One of the most complex aspects of the meeting was the delivery of an overview of the 2013 preliminary budget. Developed by VIREB staff with input from the Executive Management Committee, the budget was reviewed page by page by the Directors with in-depth discussion at every stage of the review. After review, the Directors agreed that monthly dues would not be increasing next year with the deficit being offset from the surplus allocation. The budget as amended was approved by the Directors. The one amendment in the government relations portion of the budget will be done and the final budget brought forward for ratification in December.

• BCREA Report: Director Jim Stewart provided an update on behalf of BCREA. Stewart was pleased to report that Jennifer Lynch (Zone 4) will be the 2013 BCREA President. He also reported that he would be serving for a one year term as a BCREA Director under their new governance structure.
• Professional Standards: Director Frank Fairley provided an update from his committee. To this point there have been 15 files reviewed, as compared to 21 at the same point last year. As of the date of the Board Meeting there had been one incidence of Arbitration (resolved) and one file that was still in the works.
• MLS® & Technology: Portfolio Chair Jason Finlayson advised that a number of speak-ups continue to come forward and be dealt with. He also reported that he continues to spend a large amount of time on the Zone 3 subarea review which must be completed prior to year end.
• Professional Development: Director Margo Hoffman was unable to attend the meeting but submitted a written update. She reported that 166 members attended the recent Professional Development Day, down from the 237 who attended last year. There are four PDP courses booked for the balance of the year. She also reported that the New Member Orientation Course became mandatory in 2012 and to date 50 members have attended one of the four sessions held this year at VIREB.
• Communications: Director Corey Zaal provided a media summary as well as information on VIREB's social media footprint and on the activities related to the Touchbase. We continue to show good return on our media coverage.
• Government Relations: Director Blair Herbert reported that he had attended the NDP Leader's Levee in Vancouver in October along with President Guy Bezeau and VIREB's Darrell Paysen. The NDP Leadership dinner in Nanaimo in September was also attended. He said he would like to see a section added to the public VIREB website devoted to the upcoming provincial election.
• Quality of Life: Director Heather Parker provided an update on her portfolio and on some of the recommendations that have come from the Quality of Life Task Force. She said she is fine tuning the group's written summary and will bring it forward at the next Board of Directors meeting.

An update from the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), an overview of newly launched VIREB programs and services, and a sneak peak at the future of organized real estate on Vancouver Island were all examined during the Managing Brokers Meeting held November 22 at the VIREB offices in Nanaimo. More than 25 REALTORS® and Managing Brokers from across Vancouver Island were in attendance as BCREA's Marla Gerein provided a preview of the provincial organizations new Education Plan.

This extensive program will offer member REALTORS® wider and more tailored educational products in the coming months. Gerein's detailed report outlined pending changes to the Applied Practice Course, among other redevelopments such as a new approach to the mandatory Legal Update course. BCREA has hired an instructional designer who is overseeing the changes to the Legal Update course which will be introduced next year.

The revised version of the Applied Practice Course is expected to be launched in early 2014. Updates on various VIREB programs were also provided during the Managing Brokers meeting, while insights into the Board's plans for 2013 were shared with those in attendance. Managing Broker meetings are typically held twice a year to serve as information updates and catalysts for further discussion.

A total of 15 Sales Associates from across the VIREB coverage area, as well as others from Victoria and the Lower Mainland were busy hitting the books at the VIREB Training Room in late November. The group had been taking part in the Residential Trading Services Applied Practice Course organized by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA). Running Monday to Friday, November 26 – 30, the course is part of the licensing process for REALTORS® and is taught by a variety of VIREB Associates. The list of participating instructors included Ron Williams (Coast Realty Group), Susan McGougan (RE/MAX of Nanaimo), Ray Pellerin (Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty), Joan Miller (RE/MAX of Nanaimo), Kathy White (Coast Realty Group), Sharon Jensen (Century 21 Harbour Realty), Sue Russell (RE/MAX Ocean Pacific) and Tony Joe (RE/MAX Camosun).

The Residential Trading Services Applied Practice Course is compulsory for all new licensees and is designed to provide practical training in real estate to new licensees which, together with the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course, will enable them to confidently and effectively serve the public's real estate needs in a professional manner. BCREA administers the course, which is compulsory for all new licensees, on behalf of the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) and it forms part of the total real estate licensing process. This course is offered at several locations throughout the province (including Nanaimo) by instructors who are experienced real estate professionals and trained in instructional methods.

Professional Development

Please be reminded that there will be no courses scheduled for the month of January 2013. If you need a course, you can register for one online or check with another Board. Courses for the first quarter of 2013 will be published by the end of December. Thank you for your patience.

VIREB Books Speaker for AGM

The calendar may say December, but VIREB's staff is well along the road organizing February's Annual General Meeting (AGM). Planned for Friday, February 22, 2013, the AGM will be held this year at Nanaimo's Coast Bastion Inn. One of the pivotal tasks of the yearly event is selecting the group of keynote speakers. The presenter selected for the upcoming session is economic analyst Ryan Berlin of the Urban Futures group in Vancouver. An expert in economic and demographic research, Berlin will be exploring how change is affecting the British Columbia housing market. Uncertainty and cynicism seems to surround the BC housing market these days as there are concerns about falling prices and sales volumes, affordability, and the longer-term stability of the market. While there is little doubt that the market has softened over the past year, the concerns people have about a US-style market collapse are (according to Berlin) unfounded.

In his presentation at the VIREB AGM, he will explore some of the current conditions within Vancouver Island's housing market, looking at how we got to where we are today and where we are going in the years to come. His presentation will emphasize that the long-run outlook for housing - which is fundamentally driven by demographics - remains sound despite media headlines. In addition to exploring population change and the impact it has on housing, he will also look at historical trends in sales prices and volumes.

Berlin has been active in economic and demographic research for many years. He is the research leader in housing market and economic analysis at Urban Futures. In addition he has contributed to a number of publications and authored a number of reports on varying subjects including economic sustainability, forecasting in BC health care, challenges of the aging Canadian population, demographic harmonization and population growth in Canada.

Common Sense & REALTOR® Etiquette

During wartime they used to say that loose lips sink ships – in the battle for real estate clientele loose lips can sink your chances of making a sale. A disgruntled homeseller recently wrote an e-mail to VIREB to complain about the vocal editorializing carried out by REALTORS® participating in an Open House – excerpts of this letter are included below.

To whom it may concern,

This Tue morning I witnessed the 'usual' REALTORS'® open house for a new listing - a manufactured home. I observed that most REALTORS® spent less than a minute in the house, however what really disturbed me were comments made by individuals as they exited the home. The house is listed for $225,000. In a very loud and public way, one REALTOR® stated in front of the home that they (the owners) would be lucky to fetch $160,000! Maybe, maybe not, however, that very loud and public comment was rude, painful to the owners and certainly uncalled for. Several of the neighbours heard those comments. All of us are on a tight budget - insensitive REALTORS® we can do without!

From an ex-REALTOR®.

Little in the way of supplemental explanation is required in this case – unfortunately the letter speaks for itself. The bottom line is that REALTORS® must be aware at all times that they are professionals and must act accordingly. Unprofessional commentary or editorializing about a property or anything else must be avoided. Always think before shooting from the lip.

A Vancouver Island project was one of the winners of the 2012 Land Awards organized each year by the Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC). The Land Awards recognize initiatives that showcase leadership, innovation, and collaboration in sustainable land use in British Columbia. The awards are broken into four sectors: non-profit, private, public, and individual. The awards presentation took place October 29 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver.

The Ty-Histanis Neighbourhood Development located near Tofino was the winner in the Public Sector category. A community development of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, the project involved the development of a new and environmentally sustainable community on 84 hectares of land transferred by the Federal Government from Pacific Rim National Park. The new community is a supplement to the Band's existing outdated and overcrowded community site.

The REFBC Land Awards celebrate and honour the non-profit organizations, private companies, and government bodies behind the initiatives as well as highlighting the dynamic, forward-thinking people who make it all happen – in other words the leaders who are creating more resilient, healthy communities and natural environments, and making BC a great place to live.

On December 6, the 2012 VIREB Commercial Division AGM was held at the Beach Club Resort in Parksville. There were approximately 35 members in attendance at the event where Commercial Council Chair, Judy Gray presented her report for the year, noting it has been a busy one. Also in attendance were speakers, Lori Camire and Darrell Goetzen from Venture Connect, who provided input on the business landscape and opportunities available in working with Venture Connect; and Rick Turner, from the Business Development Bank of Canada, who provided information on how BDC works and the opportunities available to entrepreneurs.

The Commercial Council for 2013 was introduced as Commercial Chair, Ian Lindsay; Vice-Chair, Bob Moss; Past Chair, Judy Gray; and Councillors Ed Garner and Dave Procter. As well, departing Commercial Councillor, Derek Costantino was acknowledged for all his hard work and commitment while he was on the Commercial Council for the last 2 years. His dedication to the Council assisted in moving a lot of the work forward.

Congratulations to Dave Procter who was the lucky door prize winner of a two-night stay at the Black Rock Resort in Ucluelet and dinner at Norwood's Restaurant.

Do you know of any buildings worth nominating for the 2013 Commercial Building Awards?

To be eligible, an investment, commercial or industrial building or renovation project must be located within the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board's jurisdiction (from the top of the Malahat to the Northern tip of the Island), and completed between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012.

The Project Submission Form is posted NOW on REALTOR Link® under VIREB's Commercial – Commercial Building Awards – 2013. Winners of the 2013 Commercial Building Awards will be announced at a gala dinner on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at the Coast Bastion Inn, Nanaimo.

Please get your Nominations in today!

VIREB was well represented at the Canadian Commercial Council of REALTORS® (CCC) Forum held October 22 and 23 in Calgary. The gathering of commercial real estate professionals was organized by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and allowed the Association to address a number of issues related to commercial real estate activity in Canada.

VIREB EO Bill Benoit, Judy Gray, Chair of VIREB's Commercial Council, and staff liaison, Sue Lessard, all attended the CCC Forum which took place at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel. The CCC represents commercial REALTOR® members of CREA including affiliated commercial organizations. The Council works to serve the needs of commercial practitioner members, and on their behalf, develops products and services, technology initiatives, public policy advocacy, education, research, and legal analysis.

The Calgary meeting had been organized to address CCC strategic priorities for the coming year and to examine other matters that affect commercial real estate operations, including the recruitment of new commercial members. Practitioners from across the country were in attendance during the two day event.

For a group of energetic REALTORS® in the Comox Valley getting fit wasn't just a personal goal, it was a fund raising mission. Taking part in the BodyNetix Agent Challenge, Jamie Edwards and Mike Fisher (Royal LePage), Dave Proctor, Leah Reichelt, Corey Zaal and Ronnie Lister (RE/MAX), Ray Francis and Don Hughes (Coast Realty) all participated in a six week program that saw them working out twice a week at Courtenay's BodyNetix Personal Fitness Training facility. At the end of the vigorous workout each of the participating REALTORS® were re-tested and scored on the level of their individual physical improvement.

Each participant had also been collecting donations for their favorite charities, which range from the Comox Valley Child Development Association (CVCDA), to You Are Not Alone (YANA) which supports local families who have children receiving medical treatment outside of the region, Breast Cancer Research and the local Christmas Hamper Fund. By the time the Challenge had wrapped up, all of the participants considered themselves winners for being able to assist the various local charities with their fund-raising.

The deadline for reporting MLS® sales for 2012 is approaching fast. All sales completing in 2012 must be reported to VIREB:

Year-end is fast approaching. If members want their sales reported for 2012 they MUST have their sales information into the VIREB office before 11:00 AM on Monday, December 31st, otherwise there won't be time for them to be uploaded before the end of the year.

The VIREB office is closed at 12:00 noon that day, so please submit your material in a timely manner to ensure the sale can be updated accordingly.

The RCMP have been advising computer users on Vancouver Island about a new computer virus that effectively takes over an individual's computer and then demands money to release the system from its virtual clutches.

First reported to the RCMP in Campbell River, the virus will make itself known to its unwitting victim by locking down the computer and displaying a convincing screen that shows a very official message that states: "Police Cybercrime Investigation Department – Your Computer Has Been Locked." Beside the title appears a logo which looks very much like the RCMP crest and is labeled: Canadian Pacific Police Service.

No agency of this name actually exists, but for the victim the statement can look very convincing. If the infected computer has a web cam the virus will active it, displaying a live streaming video of the user and the scrolling message: "The work of your computer has been suspended on the grounds of unauthorized cyber activity." The insidious program then itemizes a number of possible violations including copyright infringement, pornography and gambling. The message then suggests the now convinced victim pay a $100 fine to unlock the computer – with a list of payment options conveniently displayed for the hapless user.

The entire presentation is bogus, as no such agency exists and no fine as described is in effect in Canada. The RCMP is urging anyone who encounters this virus to not make any payment, but to take their computer immediately to their preferred computer maintenance shop to have the virtual intruder removed.

VIREB REALTORS® will never be out of touch again – thanks to the Guardly Safe REALTOR® Program. A free service to VIREB members, Guardly is an online system that turns a smartphone into a mobile distress beacon in the event of an emergency. Once a member downloads the Guardly app to their phone, they merely tap the Guardly icon to launch the emergency program which automatically connects the REALTOR® to their office, a trusted group of colleagues, family members or to whomever they pre-determine.

Available for all major smartphone models, Guardly is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch, Blackberry, Android and Windows Phone 7 systems. As added features, Guardly users are provided with real-time location tracking, have the ability to send photographs (full motion video support coming soon) and to even activate a maximum volume whistle/alarm right from your phone. Now available to VIREB members, the Guardly system will turn a smartphone into an easy to use tool for round the clock REALTOR® safety. To learn more about this innovative system check out the Guardly website at https://www.guardly.com/. VIREB members can learn more about Guardly and can download the free app at this link:

There are two versions of the Guardly system, a free basic service and a full featured paid version that is being provided by VIREB to its membership. Once a VIREB member signs up for the service, they will be able to add individuals to their contact circle – but only VIREB members will receive the feature-rich paid version, all others will receive invitations to the free basic service. So take a moment and check out this leading edge safety system – another service for VIREB members.

There are a total of 977 members as of December 11, 2012.

New Zone 3 Office open: Superior Real Estate Services(SUPERDU), has joined effective November 1st, 2012. Managing Broker: Bob Brooke, and the office is located at 751 Coronation Ave., Duncan, BC, phone: 250-701-5170.

Office closed: Total Concept Managment and Realty Inc., at 962 Shoppers Row, Campbell River has closed effective November 30, 2012.

New Zone 1 Office open: O.J. Property Management, has joined effective December 4th, 2012. Managing Broker: Don Fredericksen, and the office is located at 962 Shoppers Row, Campbell River, BC, phone: 250-286-0110.

VIREB - In Touch is VIREB's newsletter.  If you have any newsworthy information that can be included in future issues, please email  to VIREB’s Communication email address at: communications@vireb.com.  (VIREB retains all editorial rights).

Guy Bezeau, President, Re/Max Ocean Pointe Realty, Ladysmith
Bill Benoit, CRAE, CAE - Executive Officer
Darrell Paysen, CRAE - Manager, Member Services
David Holmes - Communications
Sheri Rosewall - Production
Published by the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board. Copyright 2012.