Empower Your Clients: Better Informed = Better Decisions

The Financial Consumers Agency of Canada or FCAC/ACFC has valuable information for prospective home buyers. Add this valuable resource to your list of ways you add value to real estate transactions. Help your clients by guiding them to valuable tools that can help them become more informed and therefore better protected consumers.

Go to http://www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/eng/consumers/mortgages/index-eng.asp

Two REALTOR® Profession picks

DO you find there are too many sources of info to sift through and pick items that could be useful to the professional REALTOR®? We see many at the ASR and are providing these two as they may be useful for your business practices. 

These two links are for your consideration only. They are in no way associated with or mandated by the ASR but are only noted for your use if you choose to.

The following site may be a fee-for-service but it has an interesting informational video that will bring you up to date on several aspects involved with online marketing generally. 

Have you already seen the "google ranking self promotion site http://freegooglerankingreport.com/ "?

The following SRES course has not been taken, reviewed or rated by anyone at the ASR. 

If you do take it please let the ASR know what your thoughts are on the quality of the course.

Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) at REALTOR® University online Canadian Edition. 

http://www.learninglibrary.com/aspdotnetstorefront70/p-510-seniors-real-estate-specialist-sres-designation-course-canadian-edition.aspx?affiliateId=10681?utm_source=Monthly_Specials&utm_medium=All_RU_Users_Email&utm_content=SRES_Canadian&utm_campaign=March_Specials_part2 

If you have come across sources that you would recommend to other members of the ASR please send them to us so that we can share them with all members.

Regards to all,

ASR

REALTOR® Business Resolutions for the New Year

As we enter into a brand new year we should make sure we are going to be doing all the right things to ensure our success. Things are changing fast, are you leading the way or just putting in the hours?
Doug Devitre brought ePro to Saskatchewan and he has posted some useful tools for you to use in your business plan assessment. He asks ...

"Are You Overwhelmed? It’s Your Own Fault

Have you ever said to yourself…

If I only had more hours in the day.

If I only had someone to do all this for me.

I need more technology so I can keep up.

Let me be the first to tell you don’t need more hours in the day, someone to help you with all the tactics or invest in more technology.  There is no magic bullet to getting more out of your day and please for the sake of your own spirit quit spending money on new technology or marketing ideas until you understand one core concept fundamental to every entrepreneur’s success. ..."

Take a few moments and check out the rest of his article it may be useful for you! 

From the Directors, Members and Staff of the ASR all the best in 2013.

CMHC 2013 Saskatchewan Housing Outlook Conference

WHY do I, as a REALTOR®, need to go to these conferences?

CMHC will provide the latest economic and housing market information. CMHC presentations bring those important statistics to life. As a ‘Professional’ REALTOR® you need to be ready to give those numbers meaning and relevancy for your clients. The new REALTOR® is the resource with all the right information. Gone are the days of the sage on the stage, with today’s well informed consumers, REALTORS® are the resourceful guide on the side. A REALTORS® in-depth knowledge and experience can interpret and filter the overwhelming amount of information available. It is said that knowledge is power. In our profession our expertise protects and unlocks the doors to the future homes of our clients.

February 14, 2013

9:30a.m.-3:00p.m.

Delta Regina Hotel

1919 Saskatchewan Drive

Details and Registration Form are at www.cmhc.ca/conferenceregistration

ASR Education has a new app for you

The ASR Education Resource Center has a new web app for you. 

Look for great new online courses like: 

• "Competition Law - What You Say and Do Matters", or 
• the Canadian Real Estate Encyclopedia, check out the links to VIP documents including 
• the "Clauses and Phrases for Contracts of Purchase and Sale" or the 
• "Homeowner's Handbook - How to Buy and Sell Your Home with Confidence"

Click the web app below to see these professional REALTOR® specific resources!!! 

 NEW REBAC accreditation courses ABR and SRS are coming soon. 

November is Financial Literacy Month

Did you know that November is Financial Literacy Month! Helping your clients to assess their financial status can be assisted by the great materials available on the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s website . Professional REALTORS®  help their clients make informed decisions. 

“Financial literacy gives people the knowledge, skills and confidence to make responsible financial decisions,” said Minister Menzies. “The Harper Government is committed to enhancing the financial well-being of all Canadians by increasing awareness of financial literacy resources, and by strengthening consumer protection measures on issues as diverse as network-branded prepaid cards and credit agreements.” (quoted from online press release by Minister Menzies Leads Panel Discussion On Financial Literacy) 

FINTRAC explains why REALTORS® ask for ID

NEW FINTRAC brochure explains to consumers

Why they are being asked for ID:

What You Need to Know

Money services businesses, including trades in real estate, have certain legal obligations under the federal law Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. 
REALTORS® have legal obligations which they must meet to be in full compliance with the law.
To inform consumers FINTRAC has published a multilingual booklet explaining these obligations in English, French, Arabic, Farsi, Punjabi, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese.

This brochure would be an asset to have in your resources kit. To learn more about the brochure and how to order go to: 

http://www.fintrac-canafe.gc.ca/publications/brochure/2012-06/1-eng.asp.

or

Go to http://www.fintrac-canafe.gc.ca/publications/brochure/05-2003/3-eng.asp to open a printable text version.

or

Click here to download the full colour pdf available at http://www.fintrac-canafe.gc.ca/publications/brochure/05-2003/PDF_files/3-eng.pdf !

By providing your information you can order copies of this new multilingual publication at: publications@fintrac-canafe.gc.ca