March 4th - 2012

Young Professionals Network invites members of all ages

More than eight out of 10 REALTORS® in the province are 40 years of age or older, according to a recent survey by the Ontario Real Estate Association.

More than eight out of 10 REALTORS® in the province are 40 years of age or older, according to a recent survey by the Ontario Real Estate Association.

A major OREA research survey conducted last fall revealed that 85 per cent of respondents were over 40, while 43 per cent were between 40 and 55 years of age. Almost 5,000 brokers and salespeople across the province participated in the survey.

Due to this demographic reality, a number of REALTORS® in the association have banded together to create a new group aimed at encouraging people new to real estate to become more involved in their profession and provincial association, to create a new generation of leaders and share fresh ideas and perspectives.

“Young professionals are the future of the real estate industry,” says Amie Ferris, a real estate professional from Port Dover, Ontario. “In a field where the average age is 52, younger real estate practitioners have been striving for a way to connect with each other and tap into valuable resources to help them succeed in business.”

The Young Professionals. Join the network!For this reason, Barbara Sukkau, the youngest female president of OREA, worked recently with a core group to create the Young Professionals Network (YPN), says Ferris. The group met for the first time in December, and organized its first YPN reception for Feb. 28 at the annual OREA conference. The group has also launched a Facebook page and blog stream to help members connect.

“Age is a relative term, and the definitions of youth and old age change constantly for all of us,” laughs Ferris. “We want to convey the fact that REALTORS® of all ages can join our group. It’s not just for professionals under 40, but for all new practitioners to the field, as well as more experienced individuals. Welcoming and supporting recent entrants to field is a great way to promote professionalism and pave the way for others to succeed.”

Older and more experienced REALTORS® also have a key role to play in the YPN, says Ferris, who is chairing the group. “Seasoned professionals are valuable mentors, and we need their guidance, experience and active participation in order for us to be successful in the future.”

The YPN’s mandate is to: provide young professionals with a voice and link to their provincial association; facilitate opportunities for involvement in association leadership through education and networking; encourage participation in upcoming activities and committees; give people a chance to connect with each other and tap into valuable resources that will help them succeed in business; help OREA to identify and deliver services to address the unique needs of young professionals and new members.

To find out more about YPN and its members, you can connect in the following ways. On Twitter, follow the hashtag #oreaypn. You can view videos on OREA’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/oreainfo. You can send an email to: ypn@orea.com. Visit the Facebook page and “like” us at www.facebook.com/oreaypn and sign up for more information.

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For more information contact

Ontario Real Estate Association

Jean-Adrien Delicano

Senior Manager, Media Relations

JeanAdrienD@orea.com

416-445-9910 ext. 246

Ontario Real Estate Association
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The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS®, and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.

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