TORONTO — The coronavirus outbreak is pushing some realtors to turn away all but the most desperate clients, while others are adopting extraordinary measures in an effort to help maintain social distancing and stem the spread of the pandemic.Mar 26, 2020 4:08 PM 

By: Canadian Press

TORONTO — The coronavirus outbreak is pushing some realtors to turn away all but the most desperate clients, while others are adopting extraordinary measures in an effort to help maintain social distancing and stem the spread of the pandemic.

Darren Slavens, a broker and vice-president at Toronto-based Slavens and Associates, says he has seen many agents decline to put out new listings or hold showings in order to do their part to fight the virus, but not everyone’s doing so.  

“It’s a question of making sure everybody’s safe. We’re told to self-isolate, we’re told to stay in, so how do you purchase a property, why are people still out there looking to purchase a property if that’s the case?”

Real estate boards have recommended against open houses and even any in-person sales activity, but even doing things remotely through video and virtual tours requires a team to go through the house including stagers, photographers, and a floor plan assessor, he said. 

Slavens said he’s concerned that because the market was in such a frenzy before the outbreak hit, new listings are too tempting for those who were in the market.

“When properties are put out, it’s like putting candy in front of a baby, we can’t expect our buyers to not want to go out and see these properties.”

He said he’s only helping clients who are truly in a bind, such a family who recently moved from the U.K. and are stuck in an Airbnb, but doesn’t think people should be listing properties if they don’t have to.

“Bringing out something because someone wants to sell right now is just wrong, it’s wrong.” about:blank

Said Warde, a Toronto-based realtor with Royal LePage, said he’s only taking out people who are in a situation where they need to buy, and would try to dissuade those simply looking for a bargain from shopping for a home right now.

“Some buyers might a bit selfishly, if they’re not in the need, try to sort of score a deal and take advantage of the fact that there’s less competition going on, but if that’s going to be your strategy, and that’s not something you need to do, I would talk you out.”

Ontario Real Estate Association president Sean Morrison said the designation of realtors in the province as an essential service means it should be used only when necessary.

“This should only be for essential transactions at this point, this is not business as usual.”

The association has particularly urged realtors to recommend clients avoid in-person showings when the homes are occupied by tenants, who otherwise often have little say in the matter.   

Morrison said that overall the board is definitely seeing a drop in activity, but that it’s too soon to say what kind of long-term impact the outbreak might have.

The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers said Wednesday in a release that the number of sales in the Montreal area is growing at a slower pace than in previous weeks, but is still higher than it was last year during the same period.

The association, however, notes that new listings are down and it says that “the number of listings should drop rapidly in the coming weeks,” because of government action on the virus.

Those realtors who are still showing properties are taking increasingly stringent precautions.

Alaina Burnett, a realtor with ReMax in Vancouver, said the company has come out with a waiver for showings that instructs clients not to touch anything and not to bring children if they can’t be controlled.

She said she’s also driving to showings in separate vehicles from clients, keeping a distance in the homes, using lots of hand sanitizer and even taking fire escape staircases to avoid the confined space of elevators.

“We just have to do it in as cautious a way as we can.”

She said she’s still seeing a fair bit of activity, with 201 new listings and 136 units sold Wednesday in just the areas of the city she monitors for clients.

“Things are still being listed and still selling, so things are chugging along.” 

She said she tries to lay out the situation to clients but that it’s ultimately up to them to decide.

“People have to weigh the risks with their own personal needs and agendas.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2020.

Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press

STOREYS Real Estate News

With some experts saying the fall housing market will heat up, we’ve asked some of real estate’s biggest names what they believe is the most important thing to keep in mind for the upcoming season.

Even in the summer heat, the real estate market was surely cooler than it had been in months. While the Toronto Real Estate Board reported in August that average prices in the Greater Toronto Area had seen a nearly 25 per cent decline since April, experts suggest the upcoming season will see prices heating up once again. So what’s a hopeful homebuyer or seller to do?

Before fall officially begins, and those in real estate head into a busy season, we asked a few of the industry’s biggest names in Toronto to offer up their one piece of advice for buyers and sellers in today’s market. Here’s what they had to say …

Darren Slavens, Vice President and Broker of Slavens & Associates

“It is so important to take the emotion out of the purchase. Create a budget and stick to it. Far too often I see buyers lose patience and throw everything they have at a home. It is so imperative to avoid a situation where you will become house poor. It’s also imperative that you plan for a downturn in the economy and raises in interest rates. Your house should be a source of joy and happy memories, not stress and worry. Stay within your means. … Ensure you have an agent looking out for your best interests. Ensure your agent discusses the realities of financing today. Your agent is there to protect you.”

Barbara Lawlor, President/ Broker at Baker Real Estate Inc.

“The biggest advantage to buying early in the new construction condominium process is the equity you earn over the time span of construction.  My advice is buy early, it’s worth the wait!”

Michael Kalles, President of Harvey Kalles Real Estate

“This is a great opportunity for buyers as there is more inventory to choose from.”

Elliott Taube, President of International Home Marketing Group

“When I talk with buyers and the agents that represent them, increases in the price now being asked always come up especially in the pre-construction high-rise sector. They question how something that was $750 square feet not long ago is now approaching the $1,000-square-foot mark. My answer is simple and right to the point: Based on the current price being paid for land in this city, the long approvals process, removal of the OMB, increasing costs of construction and the additional fees the municipalities pile on, developers cannot sell for less and still make an acceptable profit based on the risk. Prices in high-rise are not going down and Toronto as a world-class city is still undervalued. The time to buy is now in my opinion.”

Hunter Milborne, President and CEO of Milborne Group

“Buy on the transit line or on the waterfront. Do not wait to purchase. Demand is very strong and prices could escalate more in the pre-construction sector of the market. Buy as much as you can afford but not more than you can afford, so you do not have to sell at the wrong time.”

Catherine Himelfarb Borden, Branch Manager at Forest Hill Real Estate, Yorkville

“The advice that I most often like to share with our clients and the agents in our office is to buy and sell in the same market.  The Fair Housing Plan, introduced in April of this year, was only an issue for those sellers who missed the signals that a change was in the works and that it would impact the market in our city, in spite of the frenzy we were all experiencing. The fall market is no exception to that rule. Whether the prices are up or down, buying and selling in the same market ensures a market where all things are equal and the margin of error is greatly reduced.”

Debbie Cosic, CEO and Founder of In2ition Realty and Brokerage

“The investment hot spots are the suburban markets. Price growth will be unprecedented in these markets wherever major public transport hubs are in place, or coming soon. Look for developments on the Metrolinx, subway or Go Transit line extensions!”

#9 Darren Slavens

Darren Slavens manages the Darren Slavens Real Estate Group, and is a founder, partner and VP of Slavens & Associates Real Estate, a boutique brokerage based in Toronto. He’s an innovative and dynamic leader who’s recognized for his commitment to the community as well as his clients. Whether he’s organizing major fundraising events or running a neighbourhood Food Bank Drive, people are drawn to Darren’s enthusiasm and passion. This same energy is what makes his team so successful. Darren Slavens acknowledges that in real estate you only have one chance to make a first impression and his team works hard to ensure the first impression is spectacular. From luxury listings to starter condos they approach every property with a business plan and strategic marketing initiatives. Darren also realizes that the purchase or sale of a home is often an emotional decision. He takes his role as advocate for his clients seriously, working diligently to protect them and their assets. To ensure a smooth customer experience, Darren’s team offers full real estate services by handling every step of the process. One of the biggest obstacles most agents face in the current Toronto market is a lack of inventory. Darren’s team rises to the challenge through creative thinking, tenacity, and proactively locating off market opportunities. As for the future, Darren plans to expand his team, maintain their standard of excellence, and continue their support for the community.