Your Canada

Guest post by Julie Kinnear, a Toronto real estate agent.

As is the case in most developed countries in the world, so it is in Canada: there are a handful of major players in the real estate business who collectively dominate the vast majority of the market. Even online services have been largely unable to shake the strong tradition of the real estate agent profession thus far.

This is in part because of the fact that human contact and personal trust are indispensable when it comes to an investment as large as a house. Most of us feel comfortable ordering a book, a movie, or a pizza over the internet, but a house is a completely different story.

For these reasons, about two thirds of the market in Ontario alone is controlled by five to six large agent networks (according to 2010 bought and sold statistics). In Ottawa, six players control as much as 90% of the local market. And when you’re dealing with so much power, it is good to know something about your Realtors®, isn’t it?

Let’s now look at a brief history of each of the largest real estate firms in Ontario.

RE/MAX

RE/MAX was established in Colorado in 1973 to organize real estate agents and allow them to benefit from the synergy of their working together. It had a rocket start, selling the first franchise outside of Colorado a mere two years later.

The first Canadian branch sprouted on the East Coast in 1979. This is still the primary area of influence for the company in the country. RE/MAX has since then “overgrown North America” and settled in many European countries. Israel and a couple of Asian countries are now familiar with the iconic red-and-blue hot-air balloon, too.

RE/MAX is the network with the largest turnover in most Ontario areas, closely followed by Royal LePage.

Royal LePage

Royal LePage is a respected real estate agent network with the longest experience in the Canadian market. It was founded in 1913 by Albert Edward LePage, a 26-year old realty enthusiast, as A. E. LePage Real Estate. The company will thus be celebrating its centennial in 2013. In Canada, Royal LePage is the largest real estate network originating within the country.

Albert LePage was also a founding member of the Ontario Real Estate Association and the Toronto Real Estate Board — two of his many realty career achievements. Nearly 14,000 agents are affiliated with Royal LePage today.

Among the strengths of Royal LePage is its presence across the nation and its reach within relatively small municipalities — this is, of course, in addition to the metropolitan centres. The second largest network in terms of property turnover in Toronto is Royal LePage.

Sutton Group

The Sutton Group came to Ontario with the western wind. Founded in Vancouver in 1983, it had spread across to Atlantic Canada within the first ten years of its existence. Claiming to be the first company to have a website, Sutton is now the home-brand of over 8,700 Realtors®.

In most areas (including Ontario), Sutton ranks within the top seven for its number of closed deals, on the buyers’ as well as the sellers’ side. While RE/MAX and Royal LePage are the industry leaders, there is nonetheless a much smaller bite of the real estate cake left for the smaller players.

Century 21

Century 21 came to Canada as a Vancouver-based franchise in 1974, after its successful launch in California in 1971. There are several hundred independently owned brokers operating in Canada under the Century 21 franchise.
Century 21 is a significant player in Ontario, ranking among the top five big realty networks.

HomeLife

HomeLife has been around for over 35 years. Founded in 1985, HomeLife has been consistently spreading its presence inside and outside of Canada.

HomeLife has considerable presence in certain parts of Toronto — namely Richmond Hill and Central Toronto. Here, it is only slightly lagging behind RE/MAX and Royal LePage.

Keller Williams

Keller Williams was, unsurprisingly, founded by Gary Keller and Joe Williams, in the United States. While the company was busy climbing to the #3 residential real estate company in the US, it has been spreading its nets in Canada as well.

In Ontario, the company has 13 Keller Williams-branded offices, including three in Toronto and four in Ottawa.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this brief enumeration of Ontario’s most influential real estate networks. Please let us know in the comments if you’d like to know more details about either of them.

Brought to you by Julie Kinnear, a Toronto real estate agent. Visit Julie’s GTA and Toronto MLS here. See here for more detailed real estate statistics.

Guest post by Allison Gamble

Crazy busy! That’s how life can get. So, if you need a rat race remedy, why not visit Canada where the opportunity for a little R & R lies around every corner? Canada is a huge country with a diverse topography and no shortage of tranquil, peaceful destinations. Here, you’ll find the top picks for those who need to unwind, regroup, and get a fresh perspective on life.

Tofino, British Columbia

Tofino sunset. Photo by Allison Gamble. Used by permission.

Nothing says relaxation like a few days of lounging on the beach. True, Canada isn’t normally thought of as a major beach destination, but visitors to Tofino can spend their days unwinding on warm sandy beaches where the rhythm of crashing waves is sure to ease away their stress. Pass the days combing the beach, surfing the waves, kayaking, or hiking miles of coastal trails. For a little more adventure, visit the rainforest on Clayoquot Sound or nearby botanical gardens. While in Tofino, rent a beach front villa or stay at the secluded Wickaninnish Inn where guests enjoy the best in de-stress treatments at The Ancient Cedars Spa.

Prince Edward Island

Located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence off the coast of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island is most noted for its striking beauty. Green, rolling hills contrast with distinct red-soil cliffs, rocky coastal inlets, and red-sand beaches, making Prince Edward Island a nature lover’s paradise. You can commune with nature on the island’s expansive trail system, or simply lounge on the beach with a good book at Cedar Dunes Provincial Park. Add to the laid-back atmosphere of Prince Edward Island by staying at the West Point Lighthouse in O’Leary. Here, guests may enjoy the unique experience of spending the night in a light keeper’s room.

Churchill, Manitoba

This small town, located on the shores of the Hudson Bay, is famous for its polar bear and beluga whale sightings. Spend the day taking a tour to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures, or hike through the nearby Boreal Forest to observe one of the world’s largest natural bird habitats. Reconnect with mother nature and let the rustic charm of this secluded northern town soothe away the tension of your hectic daily schedule. As darkness falls in Churchill, sit back and watch in wonder as the Aurora Borealis displays its magical show in the sky.

Quebec City, Quebec

If you want to escape to a faraway place, but just don’t have the time to travel far, Quebec City is the place for you. In all of Canada, there isn’t a city more culturally unique. In fact, a trip to Quebec City is like traveling to Europe without ever leaving North America. Visitors can lose their worries in this city’s abundance of European charm. Sip coffee at sidewalk cafes, enjoy world-class museums, or partake in one of the city’s many festivals. While in Quebec City, visit the famous Chateau Frontenac, resting on cliffs overlooking the beautiful St. Lawrence River. No matter what activity you choose, a visit to Quebec City will make you feel like you’re worlds away from home.

Banff National Park, Alberta

Banff National Park, Alberta

There’s nothing that soothes away stress more than losing yourself in the wild beauty of Banff National Park. The enchanting scenery of the area attracts visitors from around the world who travel to enjoy this area’s boundless natural attractions. Whether visiting in the summer or winter, enjoy an endless array of activities or just simply sit back and drink in the beauty of the area. Spend the day on the Lake Louise and let the majestic power of the towering mountains diminish your worries. After a day packed full of fresh air activities, get a good night’s rest in the areas world-class accommodations such as the Banff Springs Hotel or Chateau Lake Louise.

Taking time out from the stress of our daily lives is important for our overall health and well-being. So when it comes to taking care of yourself, spend a little down-time in the many tranquil locals that Canada has to offer. No matter what your preferred style of rest and relaxation, its a sure bet that Canada has the destination for you.

Allison Gamble has been a curious student of psychology since high school. She brings her understanding of the mind to work in the weird world of internet marketing with psychologydegree.net.

Canada is emerging as an increasingly popular destination for UK citizens studying overseas.

Guest post by James Cave

With the introduction of compulsory course fees at English and Welsh universities, many potential UK undergraduates are seriously considering studying overseas for the first time. The thinking goes that if you’re going to be paying thousands each year to expand your mind at university, why not enhance the experience by submerging yourself in the culture of a different country at the same time?

As an English speaking Commonwealth country, Canada is emerging as a top choice for many getaway students from the UK. This is understandable for the reason that Canada is different from home but not different enough to be scary or alienating.

However, here are many good reasons to consider studying in Canada. Firstly, it’s a big place, stretching from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific in the west, and offers a huge variety of locations to choose from. From cutting-edge festival cities such as Montreal and Toronto which regularly poll as offering among the highest quality of life anywhere in the world to visually stunning and unique places such as Quebec, Alberta and Newfoundland, Canada has a university town to attract everyone. And, although it is a long plane journey away, there are plenty of companies that fly to Canada, especially to Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal.

On a practical level, tuition fees in Canada are generally competitive with those in the UK and other English speaking countries. Many educational institutions in Canada offer scholarships, grants or bursaries for international students. Each institution is different, though, so it’s best to research the institutions you’re considering applying to individually to find out what sort of financial support opportunities may be available. You can find contact information for each university at the Study in Canada website. You’ll also find information on the admission policies of each institution.

Crucially, the education you receive and the qualifications you gain from an accredited Canadian university, college or business school will be recognised throughout the world. You can check that a particular institution is fully accredited by visiting the website of the

Avenue St-Denis, with Chateau Frontenac in the distance.

Guest post by Janelle Vadnais

Also known as Ville de Quebec, Quebec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is the second largest city (by population) after Montreal. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is a popular tourist destination as it is rich in history as well as extremely scenic.

Depending on where you are coming from as well as how long you are planning on staying, you may want to consider hiring an car transport company to ship your vehicle to Old Quebec City. Of course, there is nothing wrong with driving there yourself either. Regardless of how you decide to get there, the following are some points of advice if you do find yourself traveling to this historic area.

1. Bring a passport. As a non-native, make sure that you have a valid passport as well as a form of photo identification ready to show once you approach the border by car or at customs by airplane.
2. Bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Old Quebec City is a walking city with quaint shoppes and cobblestone streets. There is a lot of history within a short distance, so make sure that you bring some comfortable shoes to wear.
3. Bring a light jacket.Depending on what time of year you travel to Quebec City, you’ll want to make sure that you dress accordingly. For instance, summers in Quebec City aren’t nearly as hot as they are in other parts of the world, with temperatures typically reaching no more than 78 degrees. Nights tend to be cool, so make sure you bring a light jacket if traveling there during the summer months.
4. Know the foreign currency conversion before you leave. The foreign exchange rate changes all of the time. Make sure that you check it with your current currency before you leave. Depending on the current rates, you may want to exchange your monies prior to leaving.
5. Notify your bank/credit card company of your travel itinerary. With some credit card companies, such as American Express, you do not need to notify them when you travel outside of your native country. However, for most other creditors, placing a simple phone call could save you a ton of frustration or financial problems when you find your accounts frozen due to suspicious activity. Letting them know when you are planning to travel as well as where will help to prevent any trouble.
6. Plan to be stopped at the border. If you are traveling by car, make sure that you have all of the necessary paperwork for your vehicle with you as well as your passport and photo identification. Though your vehicle is not customarily searched, the border control officers will ask you a series of questions as to your business in that country as well as questions as to how you know the other passengers in your vehicle, etc.
7. Bring a French/English dictionary, just in case. If you don’t know French, it may be a good idea to bring a French/English dictionary just in case as the official language of Quebec City is none other than French. And though most places will provide an English equivalent, street signs/names will be listed in French. Additionally, more than 80 percent of the population in Quebec City speaks French with the remaining population speaking English.
8. Take advantage of free activities. Just because you are traveling to a foreign country doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to spend an exorbitant amount of money. When you arrive, grab a walking tour map and spend the first day exploring the city on your own. Once you get a feel for it, you can venture out more and choose certain activities to do.

About the Author: Janelle is an avid travel enthusiast and blog manager for one of the leading auto movers in the United States, National Transport, LLC. For more information about car shipping rates, you can contact National Transport, LLC at 1.800.665.5022.