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teal Estate: The Oakville Bea BACK in 1953, a small group of Oakville real estate brokers and salesmen met for the first time informally, to discuss a handful of local property listings at a restaurant now known as Sharkeys â€" and then called Riverside Lodge â€" on Lakeshore Road East. But it took almost a year and much research, before the group formed themselves into a proper association, in September 1954. §Group Grows to More Even then they could have scarcely realised that they were the forerunners and founder-members of an organisation now celebrating its 40th anniversary and which has grown into a professional real estate body serving 540 members -â€" reaching 750 at its peak. It also now oversees and governs the ethical standards of property sales over a district of more than 40 miles to the boundaries of Acton. By Derek Coomber “‘There were only about 15 of us in all in those first days,” recalls charter president Bill Davis. “We used to have dinner meetings. Then walk up the hill to a verandah, where we would sit and exchange ideas on sales and help each other out,” he adds, speaking of the group which has grown to be the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board. Today, it may not seem surprising that OMDREB's expanding role means it needs more room in which to operate and continue to serve its progressive memberâ€" ship â€"- it now has over 5,000 sq. ft. near the town cen- tre, after taking over the old Hamilton Auto Club building on Navy Street and vacating its picturesque premises at 152 Trafalgar Road. But the organisation has mushroomed beyond the wildest dreams of Bill Davis, by buying its new $500,000 headquarters. «433M , 333‘ The Board now has five fullâ€"time and two part-time staff, plus 17 special com- mittees covering everything from ethics to public rela- tions and 85 volunteers involved in its work. Speaking of the move to Navy Street, OMDREB public relations chairman Ken Mair said: “We want- ed to take a higher profile and be more accessible. The one way in which we could show faith in the area was to make a ,. larger statement near the town centre hub â€" and we needed the working space anyway.” “We’re also saying to â€" home buyers: ‘We’ve invest- ed in Oakville, why shouldn’t you?’ It was time to make a move anyway. We know Halton’s going to be the hotbed of Toronto area property for the next 20 years and we have to be prepared to provide the necessary service. Now we’re ready.” “It’s just unbelievable how it’s grown,” says Bill Davis, looking back on the group, which set up its first office on Colborne Street (now part of Lakeshore Road). Unfortunately, a fire at Colborne Street later destroyed many of the board‘s records. It moved offices to Church Street in‘1964 and then transferred to 152 Trafalgar Road in 1969. At Navy Street, the Board has double the space of the bulging Trafalgar Road address â€" where both the daily ‘hot sheet’ of sales, new listings and other important data is prepared for member office circula- tion, along with the important bi-weekly catalogue which is assembled by staff on computer discs, before being sent to a London printing house. So now, in place of a few Gestetner copier notes about for sale properties which the fledgling group would exchange with each other, the OMDREB has an DOUBLE THE SPACE MUSHROOMING For several years until 1979, the catalogue used to be printed on an A.B. Dick offset press at the rear of the Trafalgar Road offices and sent out in a loose-leaf format. But as presentational needs for the public have grown, the format has changed too. inch-thick catalogue which currently contains some 1,400 listings and has risen as high as 1,900 properties in one issue. It has become the most popular local, reference book carried by real estate offices and provides a com- prehensive guide for potential customers to initially assess listed homes, while allowing sellers to compare prices with others. Nowadays, some 95% of the properties for sale in thearea ,are circulated through the MLS (Multiple Listings Service), which gives sfivift and Efficient covâ€" erage of the potential marketplaca. As' May Barrett agrees, its a far cryfrom the éays When brokers used to hand {out a few typcwxitten‘isheets. “But it's impmtant to mention that we are a non- profit organise: 0 6 ’re a trade organisation with the highf ' ethieal standards,” says the 21-year-veteran officer. Over its long history, the board seems to have ‘kept house’ rea- sonably well by most people's yardstick â€"â€" it has only had to terminate the membership of one brokerage, needed to suspend one brokerage and suspended one salesperson for malpractice. The Professional Standards Committee investi- gates all complaints about the conduct of boaid mem4 bers. If charges are proceeded With- again 1 then the board’s Discipline Committee ism . take over any case The board has an array. of penalties with which to deal with unprofessional offenders â€" includ- ing fines, suspensions and terminations. The board functions through an annual election prom and its 12 directors are elected on a two rotation basis, which means ‘new blood’ comes aboard every year. Three officers are elected, who, along with the immediate past president, form an executive committee “We also have the authority to send members back to school because of lack of knowledge in any area,” explains the general manager. Occasionally the board 71% old Trafidgar Road Weadquartem BACK TO SCHOOL NON-PROFIT will report the matter to the province’s Ministry of Consumer and Consumer Relations. Ontario has one of the highest and most comprehensive qualification President Nancy Gossling said the board is proud of its past and certain of its continuing role in protect- ing a vital interest of property sellers. “We are trying to retain the community spirit”, she adds. “It’s still the most valid reason. We have the community’s interest at heart and there are things we can do to help each other.” standards for its real estate industry, through the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act. Mrs. Gossling, Who is the board’s eighth female president, said it is involved in much behind-the- scenes work in the town. While residents may not always have time to attend the Waterfront Festival and Midnight Madness events, they are, she believes, invig- orated and reassured by knowing such festivals are there â€" reinforcing their sense of community. The board sees its member role as assisting as much as possible “dedicated professionals who are tryâ€" ing to sell.” Becoming an agent today is demanding â€" both financially and from an educational perspective. An average student pays about $2,000 just to cover the five weeks of schooling and the three 3;“ examinations they need to pass. The pass mark Brokerages joining the OMDREB pay a fee and each sales person pays monthly mem- bership dues. Each new member receives a half-day orientation when they join the Board and a lawyer gives them guidance as to the kinds of problems they may encounter. Newcomers also attend a pro fessional standards seminar for a day. “We are continually striving to bring that level up,” explains Mrs. Barrett. This year, fees have been reduced for members by about a third, compared with former rates. Mrs. Gossling says the move was made because the board was aware of the cost pres- sures for members. Despite the property changes seen in the past few years, she says Oakville still retains a charm which appeals to increasing numbers of people and that first-time buyers are helping to underpin price levels at the lower end of the market. With the weaffli of factsiéna information they can provide to both sefiers and potential buyers â€" includ- ing the regular record of prices obtained for properties SQld â€"â€" mambers are able to offer a comprehensive ser- V‘e whiéh 18 fast and efficient, using the resources at 7board’s command. While the property catalogue workload of the board has fallen from a peak three or four years ago, it is still at very healthy levels, with an estimated 6,000 property listings in the course of a year. In recent years the Board has become more closely involved in working relations with the Oakville’s town council, as the issues of market value assessment have come to the fore and become a controversial and contestable issue locally. The Board's Political Affairs Committee wrestles with ongoing issues relating to zoning and other matters and has had input into the council, in that regard. is 75 %. Once they obtain an initial real estate licence, there are three more courses on property law, appraisal and mortgage financing (each taking two weeks), which members need to complete within two years, in order to have their cer- tificates renewed. BETTER SERVICE HIGHER STANDARDS