Calgary's NW sector boasted the largest gains in single family homes sales in the first quarter. Single family home sales in the first quarter of 2011 were 3,309, a 4 per cent increase over the first quarter of 2010. The combination of stable home prices, low interest rates and year-over-year improvements in employment are the primary factors fueling the growth.

CALGARY, March 1 /CNW/ - According to figures released today by CREB® (Calgary Real Estate Board), for the second month in a row, single family home sales in the city ofCalgary increased over previous month figures and levels recorded in February 2010. The rise in sales continues to point to a gradual recovery in Calgary's housing market.

Calgary, December 1, 2010 – November home sales in the city of Calgary remained steady month- over-month, while year-over-year sales were down, according to figures released today by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®).

“Indeed, the second half of 2010 has proven to be weaker than expected, and Calgary’s housing market is taking some time to re-gain traction,” says Diane Scott, president of CREB®. “Subdued sales have meant buyers have an abundance of products to choose from, and they can be selective in their buying criteria.”

CALGARY, Nov. 1 /CNW/ - Home sales in the city of Calgary were down month-over-month in October 2010, showing signs that buyers still remain cautious, despite signs of economic recovery. Year-over-year sales continued to trend lower in the month of October, according to figures released today by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®).

Edmonton, AB - Housing prices in the Edmonton area remained stable as we enter the final quarter of the year. Single family dwelling prices in September mirrored prices in August and condo prices rose slightly after four months of decline. Both listings and sales declined in September as compared to a month ago.

Home sales in the city of Calgary were up month-over-month in September 2010, the first uptick in sales since April 2010. Year- over-year sales continued to trend lower in the month of September, but at a pace slower than previous months, according to figures released today by the Calgary Real estate board (CReb®).

City of Calgary sales wane as town and country sales hold steady.

CALGARY, June 29 /JAC/ - AMBA Launches new program for Members required to purchase Financial Institution Bonds for Alberta Securities Commission registration.

June 16 -Equifax Canada invites you to attend the first in a three-part risk management Webinar series.

June 14 - Recognizing the Past – Respecting the Present – Embracing the Future is the affirmation for the AMBA Awards.

CALGARY, June 11 /JAC/ - The Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) held its Annual General Meeting yesterday and has announced that Dean Koeller is the new Association President.

You don’t want to miss Arlene Dickinson one of the “Dragons” from the “The Dragon’s Den”.

Well, this may be an opportunity to do just that! AMBA's industry night is coming up next week!!!

Let your voice be heard and vote for your 2010/2011 AMBA Board of Directors.

The MLAA/AMBA Spring Charity Classic is well on its way, this is your LAST chance for sponsorship and time to SAVE THE DATE!!!!

As most of you are aware a sub-committee headed up by our Director of Public Policy & RECA Relations Dave McKitrick has been working diligently on the new changes involving Syndicated Mortgages and MIC’s. Many hours have been put into this by members of the AMBA Board, other involved mortgage professionals, and RECA.

April 16 - Please pass this message on to anyone that is interested in the Mortgage Brokerage Industry to help ensure this course will be able to run in the spring semester. UPCOMING COURSE DATE IN EDMONTON! May 3 - May 20, 2010

CALGARY, Alberta – March 30, 2010 / JAC / – Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) invites Alberta consumers to participate in a free live webinar on April 13th.

Eileen Ashmore, President of E.M. Ashmore & Associates Inc will teach you about the tools you need to launch your own business. She has her MBA in Marketing and Distribution Systems and is a strategy and planning specialist with 20 years of experience in management consulting!!

The home sales market in New Brunswick in September defied national trends and posted a year-over-year increase, according to the Multiple Listing Service® reports from the real estate boards in the province.

Home sales activity in New Brunswick posted a noticeable year-over-year decline in July 2010 compared to the record levels reached in the same month last year.

Vancouver, BC – May 3, 2011. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) is pleased to announce that Rick Valouche, a Vancouver REALTOR® and former President of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), has been elected as its 2011-2012 President.

Vancouver, BC – March 14, 2011. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province climbed 5 per cent in February from January 2011, on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared to February of 2010, MLS® residential unit sales increased 8 per cent to 6,410 units. The average MLS® residential price rose 18 per cent to $587,571 in February compared to the same month last year.

VANCOUVER, BC – Demand for detached homes continues to be strong across Greater Vancouver, with particularly high sales volumes occurring in Richmond and Vancouver Westside. For the past two months, the number of properties listed for sale and those sold on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Greater Vancouver outpaced the 10-year average in both categories. From a historical perspective, February’s 3,097 homes sales outpace the 2,742 home-sale average recorded in the region over the last ten years.

Vancouver, BC – February 14, 2011. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province climbed 7 per cent in January from December 2010, on a seasonally adjusted basis.

VANCOUVER – December 2, 2010 – Greater Vancouver residential home sales improved in November compared to the previous four months, with the number of sales posted on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) coming in slightly higher than the 10-year average for that month.

“Housing sales numbers were fairly typical for a November and indicate a fairly balanced market. Activity on the buyer side has been stable, with slight increases, over the last few months while the number of homes listed for sale in our region has declined each month since we reached a peak in June,” Jake Moldowan, REBGV president said.

December 2, 2010 - For the fifth consecutive month, sales processed on the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) have remained stable with November’s figures showing a modest increase over October.

“Consumers are responding to how prices have moderated in the last six months, in addition to the double dip in mortgage rates,” says Deanna Horn, Board president.

Vancouver, BC – November 10, 2010. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its Fall Housing Forecast 2010 today. "A moderate increase in BC home sales is expected next year coinciding with employment and population growth," says Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist.

VANCOUVER, BC - Greater Vancouver home sales have remained steady over the past four months, indicating stability in the residential housing market. With the MLS® sales to active listing inventory ratio indicating a buyers’ market, properties appropriately priced are selling. "We’ve seen a lot more consistency and less volatility in recent months when it comes to both number of sales and pricing, although it’s important to remember that conditions often vary between communities and neighbourhoods,” Jake Moldowan, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president said.

MEM is a complete program designed to give you educational content applicable to today's consumer, and enable you to deliver a relevant, interesting and professional seminar. You may opt to team up with service providers such as appraisers, realtors and insurers to reach a larger client base - resulting in increased consumer awareness of the benefits of using a mortgage broker.

Vancouver, BC – October 13, 2010. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province declined 36 per cent to 5,511 units in September compared to the same month last year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, MLS® residential unit sales in the province increased 2 per cent in September from August 2010. The average MLS® residential price climbed 4 per cent to $493,846 in September compared to the same month last year.

After a slowdown in July and August, the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) saw a modest month-over-month increase in sales on its Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) in September and a decrease in overall inventory for the fourth month in a row.

TORONTO, Sept. 13 /CNW/ - The National Quality Institute is pleased to announce that 15 Canadian organizations will receive the Canada Awards for Excellence for outstanding achievements in quality, customer service, and a healthy workplace. Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver has been recognized with the Order of Excellence, Quality, Award which will be presented by the National Quality Institute's Champions of Excellence: Sun Life Financial, Canada.

VANCOUVER, September 2, 2010 - Conditions in the Greater Vancouver housing market continued to favour buyers in August. Since April, prices have edged down slightly as the number of sales and the number of properties coming on to the market have been declining.

September 2, 2010 /JAC/ - Fraser Valley buyers and sellers continued to take a holiday from the real estate market in August with the region’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) showing a decrease in sales, new listings and overall inventory compared to July.

Surrey, BC - August 4 - The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) processed 1,101 sales on its Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) in July, a decrease of 47 per cent compared to the 2,089 sales during the same month last year and down 39 per cent compared to June.

“Last year, we experienced the busiest July in our history and this year it was the quietest in a decade,” says FVREB President, Deanna Horn. “Although the real estate market typically slows in the summer months, we didn’t anticipate this level of change.

VANCOUVER, BC - Home sales activity in Greater Vancouver was quieter last month than most Julys over the past decade, with residential sales, prices, and the number of homes listed for sale trending downward in recent months.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that the number of residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,255 in July 2010. This represents a 45.2 per cent decline from the 4,114 sales in July 2009, the highest selling July ever recorded, and a 24.1 per cent decline compared to June 2010.

VANCOUVER, BC – The Greater Vancouver housing market experienced steady activity to begin the summer season. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,972 in June 2010, a decline of 30.2 per cent compared to the 4,259 sales in June 2009, which was the second highest selling June on record.

July 27 - MBABC - Charity Golf Tournament Registration Limited Space Left

July 16 - SUMMER SAVINGS for Club MBABC Members.

July 13 /JAC/ - Registration and details for the MBABC Charity Golf Tournament,

VANCOUVER, July 6 /JAC/ - July MBABC Newsletter.

VANCOUVER, July 3 /JAC/ - The federal government released two documents on CRA 250, the most recent release in June 2010 to clarify aspects of the release in February 2010. CRA 250 deals with proposed amendments to the definition of financial services which may result in GST/HST being applied to mortgage broker commissions. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) released a Revised and Expanded version of Notice 250.

VANCOUVER, June 29 /JAC/ - The Mortgage Brokers Association of British Columbia say they expect mortgage demand to remain steady - this as the HST is due to become a part of daily life and home purchases, effective July 1st. British Columbians continue to enjoy historically low retail lending rates and a generous supply of housing inventory and that should make for little to no significant change, predicts the MBABC.

June 8 - The MBABC wishes to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Jack Oyhenart, broker/owner of DLC Aegis Mortgage Services in Richmond, who passed away on May 31.

June 7 - MBABC: Mortgage Lead Generation and Identification for Criminal Record Checks.

The MBABC June Report provides a round-up of timely and relevant news.

VANCOUVER, May 17 /JAC/ - MBABC extends registration for the May 20th Okanagan Networking Event.

VANCOUVER, May 4 /JAC/ - The MBABC Board of Directors concluded their team building and strategy planning this week.

April 14, 2010 - On February 16, 2010, CMHC announced changes to the treatment of rental income when calculating a borrower’s total debt service ratio (TDS) for mortgage loan insurance applications. The purpose of this note is to provide additional detail with respect to this calculation and the documentation that can be used to support rental income.

March 4th, 2010. Club MBABC is brought to you by the Mortgage Brokers' Association of BC. This program is designed to provide you with valuable insider discounts on the products and services you want and need. Offers can be redeemed in a variety of ways - online, in-store and by phone. Click on an offer below to find out more. - The Club MBABC Team

APRIL 21-22 2010 DELTA BURNABY HOTEL

October 8, 2010 WINNIPEG - It took until the month of September last year to set a new sales and dollar volume MLS® record in comparison to the same month the year previous.

WINNIPEG - August 5, 2010, /JAC/ - When all is said and done about our Bombers at the end of July - they’re 2 and 3 – but the numbers don’t look all that bad! And to hold Calgary to 6 points in the second half and still have a chance to win with 30 seconds on the clock with our first-string quarterback hurt - a lot of positives are in the air.

Happy New Year and welcome to the first edition of CAAMP Update for 2011. Over the course of the coming year, CAAMP will be offering numerous opportunities designed to make important connections and gather information to help you grow your business. I encourage you to take advantage of everything your association has to offer.

"This is my last Update as Chair of CAAMP and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 2009/2010 Board of Directors and CAAMP management for the support and advice they provided me throughout the past year."

OTTAWA – October 15th, 2010 – National resale housing activity edged higher for a second consecutive month in September 2010, according to statistics released by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Combined with a falling supply of homes on the market, the number of months of inventory also declined for the second consecutive month.

CAAMP Mortgage Forum early bird ends TODAY, October 15th.

CAAMP hosts AMP Appreciation Event at Blue Water Café in Vancouver this past week on October 7, 2010.
Check out the great party!

As the end of my term as Chair draws near, I would like to provide you with an update on one of my key priorities that I announced at last year's national conference - the development of qualifications and competencies for the Accredited Mortgage Professional. Earlier this year, an AMP Task Force was created with the goal of reviewing the designation and providing recommendations to strengthen it. The recommendations were approved by the Board of Directors and will be rolled out this fall and officially implemented on January 1, 2011. Additional details will be made available in the weeks to come. We are excited about the changes and what they represent.

The September issue of Mortgage Journal magazine is available online.

VANCOUVER, August 9 / CAAMP/ - On June 30, 2010 the federal government released two revised documents regarding CRA Notice 250. This is the Notice that dealt with proposed amendments to the definition of financial services which may have resulted in broker commissions being subject to GST/HST. The revised Notice included two specific examples referencing mortgage brokers as well as changes to the definitions section of the Budget Bill referencing brokers.

July 27 - The July/August issue of Mortgage Journal magazine is available online.

July 27 - CAAMP is pleased to accept the following Points/Rewards as payment for Mortgage Forum 2010 in Montreal.

July 20 - EXHIBIT AT CAAMP's 2010 MORTGAGE FORUM

July 15 - A Message from the Chair, Hali Strandlund, AMP

OTTAWA, July 15 /JAC/ - Statistics released by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) show that the number of newly listed homes and sales activity declined in June 2010.

July 13 /JAC/ Details and registration for Mortgage Forum 2010.

TORONTO, July 7 - The AMP is Canada's national standard of industry success and commitment. To apply for the Accredited Mortgage Professional designation, you first need to complete the pre-accreditation course, Ethics and Responsibilities for Mortgage Professionals.

TORONTO, June 30 /JAC/ - Today the federal government released two documents on CRA 250. CRA 250 deals with proposed amendments to the definition of financial services which may result in GST/HST being applied to mortgage broker commissions.

TORONTO, June 23 /JAC/ - Registration details for CAAMP's Ontario Mortgage Agent Course.

TORONTO, June 22 /JAC/ - A new gateway to financial literacy for Canadians has been opened thanks to a joint agreement between the CAAMP Foundation, the charitable arm of Canada's national mortgage industry association and Credit Canada, a prominent player in credit education.

June 21 - I have just returned from our final regional symposium in Halifax. CAAMP's seven symposiums held across the country this spring were an enormous success and I would like to thank everyone involved - we had record attendance and trade show participation. I would like to particularly thank our sponsors and speakers whose support and commitment enable us to offer the quality of content and level of professionalism our members have come to expect and that we at CAAMP endeavour to offer.

OTTAWA, June 16th /JAC/ - Statistics released by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) show that home sales activity and new listings in Canada declined in May.

June 8 - Today in Ottawa, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) issued an audit report of selected mortgage brokers conducted in 2009. The audit included the results of mortgage brokerages on privacy concerns related to credit reports.

TORONTO, June 2 /JAC/ The June issue of CAAMP Stats has been released.

OTTAWA, June 2 /JAC/ – The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has lowered its forecast for home sales via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems of Canadian real estate Boards and Associations. The revision reflects a weaker than expected start to the year in British Columbia, and recent developments that pulled forward the timing as to when sales are expected to ease in other provinces.

OTTAWA, May 28 /JAC/ - A new report released by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) indicates that home prices will stabilize, and will remain stable for some time. This means that Canadian homeowners are unlikely to experience a U.S.-style decline in the value of their homes.

May 20 - The May issue of Mortgage Journal magazine is now available online.

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In my role as CAAMP Chair, I am very fortunate to have the opportunity of travelling across the country to attend our regional symposiums and trade shows and to talk to members whether they be attendees or exhibitors.

VANCOUVER, May 18 /JAC/ - One week to go until the CAAMP Vancouver Mortgage Symposium and Trade Show at the Pan Pacific Hotel on Wednesday, May 26.

ONTARIO MORTGAGE AGENT COURSE Who Should Register? Anyone needing to meet the education requirement to become a mortgage agent in Ontario Anyone wishing to gain knowledge about Canada's mortgage industry.

TORONTO, April 22 /JAC/ - With respect to the proposed amendment to the definition of financial services which may result in GST/HST being applied to broker commissions, CAAMP wishes to provide the following update.

OTTAWA, April 15 /JAC/ – Homebuyers have more choice heading into the busy spring buying season, with new supply in Canada’s resale housing market setting a record for the month of March. While resale housing demand remains strong, rising numbers of new listings are resulting in a more balanced national resale housing market.

April 16 - CAAMP is an active and strong association. We are pleased to offer our members timely and relevant professional development opportunities; regional and national events to help sharpen skills and increase knowledge in addition to communication vehicles with updates and information on critical issues facing our industry.

TORONTO/ON/MARCH 18th, 2010/JAC/-CAAMP is pleased to provide you with the following updates regarding policy changes affecting the residential mortgage market. CAAMP has been actively involved with government, regulators and stakeholders to ensure that the best interests of our members and the Canadian mortgage consumer are met.

Recently, we corresponded with members on the proposed implementation of financial services being subject to GST. The implication could mean mortgage broker commissions will be subject to GST/HST which CAAMP strongly opposes.

OTTAWA – March 15th, 2010 – With rising activity in Toronto offset by lower activity in Vancouver, the number of homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems of Canadian real estate Boards edged lower in February. In recent months, national sales activity has slowed while new listings continue to rise, resulting in a more balanced national resale housing market.

September 3, 2010 /JAC / - Residential sales through the Regina and area MLS® System picked up in August while posting the highest number since May when 363 sales took place, said the Association of Regina REALTORS® Inc.

August 6, 2010 /JAC / - The average selling price remained strong at $289,715.00 up 2% from July 2009 when the average was $283,531.00. Year to date the average selling price is $290,515.00 up 5% from 2009 when the average year to date number was $277,490.00. The higher average selling price indicates continued strength in the mid price range homes. In July it took 39 days on average to sell a home.