Welcome to the June edition of LSTAR's e-Bulletin, a recap from the past month and highlights of what's to come. Please let us know your thoughts by sending an email to communications [at] LSTAR.ca (communications[at]LSTAR[dot]ca).

IN THIS ISSUE

PropTx News

PropTx Timeline Reminder

Time Left Until Cutover to the PropTx MLS® Platform - July 15, 2024

Here are some upcoming dates that all LSTAR Members should be aware of:

On or after June 30th, LSTAR Members should not be posting any new listings on the ITSO MLS® system. Active listings that remain on the ITSO MLS® System will need to be maintained until July 15th.
On July 15th, all active LSTAR listings on the ITSO MLS® System and all ITSO services will be terminated.
Your system of choice must be selected before July 31st, and your opportunity to make this selection will open July 17th. If you do not select your system of choice, the default will be REALM™.

Watch this brief video to learn how:

If you have not yet logged into the PropTx system, please reach out to membership [at] lstar.ca (membership[at]lstar[dot]ca) to have your login credentials sent again.

"Community" Field on REALTOR.ca

PropTx currently pulls the "Municipality" field for property address on REALTOR.ca, and not the "Community" field. For instance, Grand Bend shows up as Lambton Shores on Realtor.ca. as the address.

Rural towns will still fall within the PropTx search and Realtor.ca search if they are submitted in the Community field. There is also the Neighbourhood information on REALTOR.ca that will reflect the true location of the listing.

Often, members will highlight the location of the listing in the Public Remarks section of the listing.

LSTAR has requested that PropTx looks for a solution, especially as more Associations with rural communities join. PropTx will be taking this back to the MLS® Committee.

Complete the Community Field in PropTx

Currently the “Community” field is not mandatory; however, PropTx will consider making this mandatory in the near future.

This means that members must accurately fill out this field when submitting a listing on the MLS® System. If the "Community" information is not provided, the listing will not be included in searches based on that community criteria. For example, if a property is in London East A but the member does not specify "East A" in the Community field, the listing will not show up in searches specifically looking for properties in East A.

If you have not included the community information, LSTAR recommends that you edit your listing to include this information.

Images for Listings on REALTOR.ca

With the recent change of listings being sent only from PropTx to REALTOR.ca, issues have been reported regarding images; specifically, reducing the image count and rearranging the order of the images.

PropTx is working with REALTOR.ca to make this process more seamless and efficient.

If you make a change to your images in PropTx and they do not reflect accurately on REALTOR.ca, please reach out to MLS [at] LSTAR.ca (MLS[at]LSTAR[dot]ca) or support [at] crea.ca (support[at]crea[dot]ca).

New Auto-Populated Fields from MPAC Coming Soon to Add/Edit

Input listings into Add/Edit faster and more accurately with auto-populated fields from MPAC propertyline™.

In the coming weeks, an increasing number of fields will auto-populate in Add/Edit using data from MPAC. The first phase of this enhancement includes:

Property Class (Freehold, Condo, Commercial)
Property Type (Detached, Condo Apartment, etc.)

MPAC has mapped their property classes and types to the choices used in Add/Edit, which will ensure a property is classified properly. To comply with the PropTx MLS® Rules, you must always double-check your listing data for accuracy. Fields auto-populated with MPAC data can be easily changed manually, as long as the change accurately reflects the property in question.

More auto-populated fields related to property location, attributes, assessment, and taxation are coming soon.

Need training?

Save your spot to learn how to take advantage of the data and information in MPAC propertyline™.

New Permission Level in Add/Edit: Draft Only

Draft Only is a new permission level in Add/Edit.

With this new permission, Brokers, Salespeople, and Office Administrators can enter and save a draft listing in Add/Edit, but not make it live on the MLS® System. Then those in the same brokerage with the proper permissions can edit the draft and push it live on the MLS® System.

Those with the Draft Only permission can now enter listing information directly into Add/Edit rather than filling out an MLS® Data Information Form and passing that form to admin staff for entry. They can also create an MLS® Data Information Form on the fly by choosing to add signature lines in the draft listing preview.

Then download the form and have it signed in-person, or electronically through an application like SkySlope DigiSign.

Brokers of Record and Managers can assign Draft Self Only, Draft Office Only, and Draft Firm Only permissions for their brokerages in the Add/Edit Admin menu:

Education

Learn About PropTx Tools with LSTAR's Micro-Learning Videos

As Members become better acquainted with the PropTx MLS® ecosystem, you are encouraged to take the next step to customize your MLS® experience, so you can work smarter, not harder.

LSTAR’s trainers have developed several short tech tutorials to help you do just that! The latest videos provide guidance on how to set up your IDX feeds and instructions on how to choose your MLS® platform of choice, check them out:

Adding your Cell Phone to Your PropTx Profile – Learn how to add your Cell Phone to your PropTx profile, so that it shows up on your Listings and on REALTOR.ca
Data Licensing Agreements for IDX, etc. – Learn how to set up Data Licensing Agreements in PropTx for your website’s IDX feeds
How to Choose Your MLS® Platform on PropTx – Learn how to select which MLS® platform you would like to use: REALM™ or Matrix™

For all our micro-videos, check out the full catalogue on the LSTAR Member Hub.

LSTAR's July Class Schedule

LSTAR is committed to providing industry and community-focused events and a dynamic suite of educational classes and continuous learning opportunities to boost its Members' knowledge and professionalism.

Please note that some courses are taught in-person and can be taken in LSTAR's Computer Lab in addition to being offered online via Zoom.

To register for any LSTAR classes please visit the LSTAR Member Hub under Education and scrolling down to “Upcoming LSTAR Learning Opportunities” or follow this link to your “Member Portal - Profile, Account/Payment, Education Registration”.

Once you're on the Member Portal, you'll see all available Learning Opportunities. Click the REGISTER button of the course that interests you.

Please note, if you don't receive a confirmation email after you register, you have not completed the registration correctly. If you require additional support, please email Learning [at] LSTAR.ca (Learning[at]LSTAR[dot]ca).

LSTAR's Advanced REALM™ Webinars

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our two REALM® webinars - “REALM™ Advanced Searching” and “Comparative market Analysis (CMA) In REALM™” featuring Theresa Corindia from Teranet.

If you missed the webinars or are hoping to view them again, check out our Past Webinars on the LSTAR Member Hub.

Events

Join LSTAR's Team of Blood Donors & Bring a Buddy to Win Big!

LSTAR's Team of Blood Donors, now 80 members strong, is at 93 donations so far this year, well on our way to a goal of 200 donations in 2024. Way to go, Team LSTAR!

For your convenience, a Blood Donor Clinic is ongoing in London, located at 820 Wharncliffe Road South.

In St. Thomas, you can donate blood at the Joe Thornton Community Centre at 75 Caso Crossing. Upcoming clinics are scheduled for Wednesday, July 3rd and Wednesday, August 7th, from 1:00 to 7:00 pm.

If you're in Aylmer, you can head over to the East Elgin Community Complex at 531 Talbot Street to donate blood. The next clinics are coming up on Thursday, July 4th and Thursday, September 26th, from 1:30 to 7:30 pm.

If you're already a Blood Donor, why not join our team of blood donors and help us push toward our goal of 200 donations in 2024! And if you're not yet a donor, please consider joining us!

LEARN MORE HERE

Register Now for the 2024 LSTAR Charity Golf Tour

The LSTAR Golf Committee is excited to present the 2024 LSTAR Charity Golf Tour!

The tour will take place on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th at the prestigious HIGHLAND GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB in London.

Registration includes 18 holes with a Cart, Food Stations, Post Round Reception and Golfer Swag! Try multiple challenges for a chance to win some AMAZING PRIZES! There's also a Silent Auction.

All proceeds from this event support Indwell for both London and St. Thomas area.

TO REGISTER, visit www.LSTARevent.ca no later than AUGUST 29th. For more information, email Claire Dawson at Claire [at] LSTAR.ca (Claire[at]LSTAR[dot]ca).

Save The Date for LSTAR's 2024 Christmas Gala

Come celebrate with us at the 2024 LSTAR Christmas Gala on Friday, November 22nd! Get ready for a night of festive decorations, delicious food, and plenty of dancing!

Stay tuned for more details coming soon. And in the meantime, take a look at last year's fun in our photo gallery!

Other News

Lockbox Guidelines

Widely used by REALTORS®, lockboxes are convenient tools for facilitating property showings. However, the use of lockboxes doesn’t come without risks.

To ensure a smooth process and maintain your seller’s confidence, please keep in mind the following tips:

Opt for Electronic Supra Lockboxes: Choose an electronic Supra lockbox over a manual one for an extra layer of security. Supra lockboxes provide traceability, real-time notifications on property access, and great security features like preventing the key release without a valid eKey code.
Secure Seller Consent: Obtain explicit permission from your sellers before using a lockbox. Sellers should be fully informed and agree to the use of this tool for property access. If you are using a Supra Lockbox, mechanical lockbox or both, you are obligated to explain the risks and gain approval for each type.
Restrict Code Sharing: Emphasize the importance of not sharing the lockbox code with unauthorized individuals. Unauthorized access poses risks to both real and personal property, compromising privacy, safety, and security.
Agent Responsibilities: As an agent, it’s essential to understand and acknowledge your responsibility for the safekeeping of the property during showings. Make sure to adhere to all safety and security guidelines to create a positive experience for all parties involved. DO NOT let in another REALTOR® after your showing, secure the key in the lockbox and close it. They are obligated to obtain the key themselves for tracking and liability reasons.
Schedule Showings: Just having a lockbox and an access code does not grant unrestricted entry. All showings must be arranged with the listing brokerage beforehand, unless otherwise specified in the showing information.
Prompt Removal: It’s imperative to remove your lockbox promptly, on or before closing and no later than five business days from closing or the termination of your listing. Failure to do so may result in a referral to the Professional Standards Committee.
Lockbox Permissions: Check with the Property Manager regarding lockbox permissions. Some may only allow specific types, such as the Supra lockbox, while prohibiting mechanical ones.

If you are aware of any non-compliance with showing requirements or with accessing a lockbox, please send an email to psc [at] lstar.ca (psc[at]lstar[dot]ca).

CREA Releases Draft Business Case for REALTOR.ca as a Taxable Entity

Last month, on recommendation by the REALTOR.ca Task Force, the CREA Board of Directors voted in favour of moving forward with consultation of the draft business case for REALTOR.ca as a taxable entity.

The proposed transition would enable REALTOR.ca to achieve financial sustainability and reduce REALTOR.ca’s reliance on member dues. This would enable REALTOR.ca to reinvest new sources of revenue back into the platform, helping it innovate and compete in an increasingly challenging prop-tech space.

Read the Business Case here.

Watch for more information on upcoming webinars.

May Housing Market Remains Stable

The local housing market continued its steady streak in May, with 774 homes exchanging hands via LSTAR's MLS® System. Housing supply showed signs of market stabilization, with three months of inventory in May, unchanged from the month before. Year to date, sales are outpacing 2023, with 3,161 total sales, up 1.8% from the same period last year.

Read more here.

Three Outstanding Individuals Recognized at LSTAR's AGM

LSTAR proudly recognized three outstanding individuals at its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, June 25th.

The Lyn Coupland Outstanding Service Award, named in honour of long-time LSTAR staff member Lyn Coupland, who dedicated 36 years with unwavering commitment, passion, and excellence, was awarded to two deserving recipients this year.

Lisa Lansink, who joined the LSTAR Board of Directors in 2021, received this award for her exceptional leadership. Under her guidance, LSTAR's commercial membership has flourished, with increased engagement and participation in quarterly events, including the prestigious Don Smith Commercial Building Awards.

The second winner was Sue Wastell, a long-time REALTOR® with LSTAR since 2010 and a strong advocate for the real estate industry. She has been a vocal champion for industry growth, regularly meeting with government representatives at all levels to drive progress. Sue has also held prominent positions, including Past President of the Canadian Home Builders' Association and Chair of the Urban Council Committee for CHBA.

The Ron Richardson Memorial Award, established to honour the legacy of three-time LSTAR President Ron Richardson (1948, 1949, 1959), was presented by his daughter Maureen Wood to LSTAR REALTOR® Kevin Barry. Kevin has been an exemplary volunteer, consistently providing valuable insights and expert guidance through his involvement in various LSTAR committees. As part of this award, Kevin receives a $1,000 donation to a charity of his choice within the LSTAR catchment area, benefiting local communities.

Membership Updates

Membership Count

As of June 24, 2024, LSTAR has 2,342 Members.

Click here to see a list of all of our Newest Members.

Welcome to our Newest Members!

Andrew Bukta – Team Glasser Real Estate Brokerage
Japneet Dandiwal – EXP Realty
Mary Delorme – StreetCity Realty
Ryan Dupuis – Team Glasser Real Estate Brokerage
Onyeka Ejike – Real Broker Ontario Ltd
Abhishek Gandhi – Century 21 First Canadian
Ben Goetz – Re/Max Sarnia Realty Inc
Gulzar Karwal – Gold Empire Realty Inc
Praveen Kittur – Gold Empire Realty Inc
Harinder Kumar – The Realty Firm Inc
Lindsey Monk – Royal Lepage Triland Realty
Natasha Noel – Exit Realty Community
Jessica Rowan – Royal Lepage Triland Realty
Martin Sarkissian – Century 21 First Canadian
Taranjeet Singh – Keller Williams Lifestyles

New Transfers

Sukhman Jassal – Now with Gold Empire Realty Inc
Matthew Morrison – Now with Century 21 First Canadian Corp (5)
Gloria Roman – Now with Century 21 First Canadian
Chris Amond – Now with Real Broker Ontario Ltd
Sachi Anand – Now with Century 21 First Canadian
Pauline Shannelly – Now with Thrive Realty Group Inc
Greg Wilson – Now with Elgin Realty Limited
Kerilee Wilson – Now with Elgin Realty Limited
Rabia Temoor – Now with Keller Williams Lifestyles
Ryan Hollenbeck – Now with Nu-Vista Premiere Realty Inc
Meghan Williams – Now with Homeology Real Estate Group, Brokerage
Manoj Kumar Pushpamangalath Chandrasekharan Nair – Now with Century 21 First Canadian

New Offices

Bubble Realty
PB: Ivana Cekic

Retired Members

David Aspinall – Vision Realty
Sue McLean – Royal LePage Triland Realty
Ank Bohra – Shrine Realty
Nancy Sharon Davies – Coldwell Banker Power Realty

For any and all questions regarding your LSTAR Membership, please contact our Membership department at Membership [at] LSTAR.ca (Membership[at]LSTAR[dot]ca).

Member Perks: Enjoy Savings and Discounts Today!

Did you know? LSTAR Members are entitled to a wide range of deals and discounts through the LSTAR Member Perks Program. Check out the deals TODAY!

Happy Canada Day!

Please note that LSTAR's offices will be closed on Monday, July 1st, 2024, for Canada Day. We will reopen again on Tuesday, July 2nd at 8:30 am. All of us at LSTAR wish you a safe and happy Canada Day!