Royal Bank launches first annual REALTOR® Appreciation Week

The Royal Bank of Canada’s Osborne and Walker  branch will be displaying information provided by WinnipegREALTORS® as part of a new national campaign.
To celebrate the partnership between REALTORS® and the bank, RBC launched the first annual National Realtor Appreciation Week from March 21 to 27, which includes local activities and events to celebrate real estate professionals across Canada.
“Canadians rate real estate professionals and bank mortgage advisors very high in terms of advice on purchasing a home,” said Matt Varey, senior vice-president and head of career sales, Royal Bank of Canada. 
“This partnership is very important to ensure that home buyers choose the right type of property at a price and payment strategy that fits with their overall financial plan.”
A recent RBC homeownership study found that almost half of Canadians (46 per cent) use a banker or real estate professional as the primary source of information when purchasing a home — more than friends, family and online tools.
“Buying a home is an important life decision that signals a sense of accomplishment and a place for memories to be created,” said Varey. 
“Real estate professionals help navigate this important life decision by providing expert advice and guidance on the right type of home.”
According to the poll, 67 per cent of motivated home buyers intend to use a real estate agent to assist in a home purchase, more than any other source, including family, real estate websites, friends and social media. 
WinnipegREALTORS® president Ralph Fyfe said the strength of the local market makes it even more important that people get the best advice when buying a home.
Due to the existing market conditions, Fyfe recommends that home buyers extensively interview agents, asking them, “What are you going to do for me?”
“The point is to be very comfortable with the home buying process,” he added, “and make sure there are no surprises along the way.”
He said REALTORS® are trained professionals who guide clients through the home buying or selling experience to arrive at the best result for everyone involved.
“REALTORS® make it their business to build strong relationships with other professionals, including financial institutions such as the Royal Bank,” said Peter Squire, the market analyst for WinnipegREALTORS®.
“REALTORS® always make it clear to buyers that they should pre-qualify for a mortgage before starting out to house hunt,” he added. 
“By pre-qualifying, house hunters can be more comfortable in the home-buying process as they already know what they can and can’t afford.”