A new brokerage will continue to represent the RE/MAX name in the Muskoka and Haliburton area, according to an email statement sent to Doppler by APEX, a public relations firm out of Toronto representing the real estate company.
“We are happy to announce that the RE/MAX brand will continue to operate in the Muskoka and Haliburton regions, and RE/MAX Professionals, under the ownership of Leah Ambler, will be opening new locations in the near future. To date, 65 of the former RE/MAX North Country Agents will be transferring their licenses to RE/MAX Professionals and will continue to serve the needs of home buyers and sellers across the region,” states the January 7, 2020 email.
“With deep roots within the RE/MAX network, RE/MAX Professionals has a strong 40-year reputation, and we are confident they will continue to offer the high standard of service that is expected. We are proud to be part of the Muskoka and Haliburton communities and are looking forward to this next chapter for all of our RE/MAX agents and the home buyers and sellers we have the pleasure of interacting with every day,” added the email on behalf of RE/MAX.
In response to questions from Doppler, Joseph Richer, the registrar for the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) stated, also via email, that the RE/MAX North Country brokerage “and its employed brokers and salespeople, cannot undertake any activities that would constitute real estate trading. Examples of trading activities include, but are not limited to, hosting open houses, soliciting possible clients, showing properties, listing properties, and participating in an offer process.”
The brokerage’s website to the public appears to have been taken down. As for the brokers and agents, Richer stated: “Brokers and salespeople can only trade when they are employed by a brokerage that is registered with RECO. As such, broker and salesperson employees of RE/MAX North Country Realty Inc. can only resume trading activities if they transferred to another registered brokerage and trade on behalf of that brokerage. RECO has been assisting the affected brokers and salespeople to expedite their transfer to another brokerage. At this point, the majority of brokers and salespeople from RE/MAX North Country Realty Inc. have transferred successfully to a different brokerage.”
As for pending real estate purchases or sales, Richer stated that any home buyer or seller who is concerned that the suspension of the brokerage will impact the purchase or sale of their home should contact Shaun Chu-A-Kong at (416) 207-4873; Toll Free at 1-800-245-6910, ext. 4873, or via email at [email protected]
When asked whether the council has been in touch with RE/MAX North Country Realty’s broker of record and if further action is anticipated, Richer responded with the following: “There’s nothing further we can say on these matters at this time. When additional information becomes publicly available, we will update the public advisory and registrant search.”
Other former RE/MAX North Country Realty agents have chosen to transfer to other local real estate brokerages or set up their own.
Related: Real estate council suspends registration for Re/Max North Country brokerage
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Anzie Witlox says
Glad to know this is moving forward for all involved.
ed gruscyk says
How can we trust the new brokerage if all the same people involved with the prior management seem to be employed there once again?
Dawn Huddlestone says
Hi Ed,
The people working for the brokerage were not involved in the issue being investigated.