October 2025 Newsletter by REMAXEN

2025 From Bots to Brilliance: Reset Real Estate with Conrad’s Blog Page 8-9 Cheers to 13 Years of Wins — and Holiday Excitment to Come! Page 4-5 Circle Your Calendar: Exciting dates ahead! Page 2-3

EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT

MARKET UPDATE

Join us IN-PERSON or VIRTUALLY for a variety of relevant training opportunities. Scan the QR Code or go to RemaxEscarpmentNiagara.EventBrite.com to register unless otherwise indicated in the course description.

OCT 22

IN-PERSON & VIRTU AL | WINTERBERRY OFFI CE | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

MARKET UPDATE

– STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Market Update is your chance to tackle today’s challenges and gain practical strategies from Broker of Record Conrad Zurini alongside our trusted partners at RBC, Escarpment Law, and Mission35 Mortgages. Together, we break down the latest market trends, financing options, and legal insights so you can serve clients with confidence.

Market Update is more than just information — it’s your opportunity to reset, recharge, and sharpen your edge in a fast-moving market.

Strongly recommended for all agents and assistants. Lunch will be provided for all in-person attendees following this update.

FUN WITH FORMS

with Nathan Morrissette

IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL | WINTERBERRY OFFI CE | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Nathan will take you through some new and updated forms, clauses and TRESA-related changes. He will discuss: Consent for Advertising, Commission Agreement, Clauses for when a client does NOT want to be in Multiple Rep, and more! He will highlight what’s changed, why it matters, and how to apply it in your day-to-day practice. Whether you’re new to the updates or looking for a refresher, this session will keep you compliant and confident.

EN ROAD SHOW

with Virginia Paul, Mark Jesus & Eric Johnson

IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL | WINTERBERRY OFFI CE | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Unlock the full potential of your real estate career with the comprehensive suite of services and tools provided by RE/MAX Escarpment & Niagara. This course is designed to give agents and their assistants an in-depth understanding of the resources available to them, ensuring they can leverage these tools to maximize their success. Learn about, Lead Gen, Branding, Departments, Services, Studeo, RealMarketing, Coaching Programs, and so much more.

RE/MAX ESCARPMENT AGENTS

CONSISTENT BEHAVIOUR PAYS DIVIDENDS with Lynn Hoffmann | 16 classes in total 10:00 – 12:00 | OCT 28, 30 | NOV 4, 6, 11, 18, 25 | DEC 2, 9, 16 | JAN 13, 20, 27 | FEB 3, 10, 17 FAIRVIEW OFFICE – IN PERSON ONLY

Now is the time to strengthen your fundamental skills and get back to the basic principles of real estate sales. Join Buffini Certified Mentor, Lynn Hoffmann, for 100 Days to Greatness, the most comprehensive, step-by-step training program created for the real estate industry. Receive weekly action steps to generate a steady stream of leads, gain the skills needed to close sales and learn how to leverage your time, money and energy to be successful. SCAN THE ATTACHED QR CODE and SIGN UP (for new to Buffini) or SIGN IN (exisiting Buffini account) and Register early to allow for ample shipping time for your course materials. REGISTER EARLY! This class will only run if there is a minimum number of attendees.

Say Hello To,

The Wait is Over – DealTrack is Finally Here!

Big things are happening at RE/MAX Escarpment & Niagara – and we’re excited to announce that DealTrack, our brand-new deal management system, is officially launching this October!

This powerful platform has been carefully designed to transform the way we manage transactions, streamline communication, and give every agent and staff member a smoother, faster, and more intuitive experience.

To ensure a smooth transition, onboarding will be rolled out in phases across our regions:

October 8 – Niagara

October 15 – Escarpment

October 22 – All Sub-Brokerages

This is more than just new technology – it’s a game-changer for how we support our clients, our agents, and our teams. With DealTrack, you’ll have more time to focus on what matters most: building relationships, growing your business, and achieving even greater success.

The countdown is officially on – get ready to experience a faster, smarter, and more seamless way of doing business with DealTrack at RE/MAX Escarpment & Niagara.

We are proud to share that our brokerage has been recognized with the Consumers Choice Award for Business Excellence for 13 consecutive years —a distinction no other brokerage has achieved. This accomplishment cannot be replicated and truly sets us apart in the industry, reflecting both our commitment to excellence and the trust we’ve earned from clients.

Agents, this is a powerful differentiator—make sure you showcase it! Use the award graphic in your listing presentations, social media posts, email signatures, and mailouts to highlight the strength and credibility of our brokerage. By sharing this recognition, you not only elevate the brand but also reinforce the value you bring to every client relationship.

DOWNLOAD THE LOGOS HERE

MARKETING SPOTLIGHT

NEW BRANDING | WELCOME TO WHAT’S NEXT

A new look for a new chapter! Corporate has given the green light to our updated signage designs, setting the stage for a bold, modern, and unified brand presence. This marks a huge milestone in our commitment to keeping the RE/MAX brand fresh, modern, and instantly recognizable across every market.

These updated designs aren’t just about aesthetics — they’re about strengthening our presence, standing out in every community, and ensuring brand consistency across the entire network. With this roll out, our signage will reflect the same innovation and energy that defines who we are as an organization.

Let’s get ready to shine brighter than ever before — because the best way to show who we are is to be bold, consistent, and unmistakably RE/MAX! ��

STATS | WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW YOU CAN USE THEM!

We’re excited to announce that our mid-year stats have officially been released-and they’re all available for you on ENcore! These numbers are more than just data-they’re powerful tools to help you showcase your value, secure new clients, and close more deals with confidence.

In addition to the full set of stats, you can also request your very own personalized report card (for internal use only). This is a great way to highlight your accomplishments and see exactly where you stand among the region’s leading brokerages. It’s a resource designed to give you both perspective and pride as you continue building your business.

FOR YOUR PERSONALIZED REPORT CARD, CONTACT US AT MARKETING@RMXEMAIL.NET

FOR ALL YOUR OTHER STATS, SCAN HERE

AGENT TOOLS

SPOTLIGHT

LIFESTYLE STUDIO

It’s quickly becoming a favourite among agents for good reason! Some have used it to host intimate book club gatherings, others have captured stunning brand photos, and a few have even sealed the deal in high-impact client meetings.

However you choose to use it, the space is yours to get creative with, the opportunities are endless!

• Film videos for social media or client updates

• Host virtual meetings or webinars in a polished setting

• Create content to elevate your marketing and grow your business

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re ready to take your content to the next level, the Lifestyle Studio is here to elevate your brand!

TBORE

HERE’S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT...

SCAN HERE TO BOOK ON OUTLOOK OR CALL YOUR FRONT DESK TO BOOK TIME

We’re six episodes into Season 2 of TBORE: The Business of Real Estate Podcast, and the conversations just keep getting better! This season, we’re taking an even deeper look at the topics that matter most to today’s real estate professionals—market shifts, industry challenges, innovative strategies, and the stories shaping the way we do business. Each episode features fresh insights and diverse voices from across the industry, all designed to keep you informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve.

If you haven’t tuned in yet, now’s the perfect time to jump in. Scan the QR code to catch up on past episodes and explore what you’ve missed. Then stay connected as we continue rolling out new perspectives and discussions you won’t want to miss.

SCAN HERE

MISSED AN EPISODE? CATCH UP NOW!

ARE WE AT THE DAWN OF ‘THE GREAT RESET’?

CONRAD ZURINI

The word ‘GREAT’ has been used throughout history to describe extraordinary events which not only had extreme consequences at the time but had tremendous physical and symbolic impact in their wake. What’s uncanny is the fact that most of these so called ‘GREAT’ events were not always born of greatness the way we know it. When we think great, the ‘GOAT’ comes to mind (greatest of all time), or ‘Great minds think alike’, or ‘Great job’, or the ‘Great White North’. All things rich with enthusiasm, except if you are a sitting Republican president, the last one may not count.

Events of the past which were associated with this adjective were usually associated with large scale human hardship, like; The Great Fire of Chicago (1871), The Great Famine (1845), The Great Plague (1665), The Great Depression (1929), and The Great Recession (2008). The Great Reset is something which has been referred to by conspiracy theorists post pandemic, it is not an actual historical event, but it comes at a time when I believe we are being faced with the most incredible technological advancement in the last 500 years…. Artificial Intelligence.

Okay, five hundred years sounds a tad bombastic, but for sure this technology will definitely shape the 21st century. If we examine what has been spent in Q2 of 2025 on all things AI ($400 Billion), it overshadowed consumer consumption in the US, (consumer spending makes up over 60% of US GDP). Not to mention that growth in AI stocks in Canada and the US make up an oversized proportion of stock market activity.

If It Looks Like a Bubble It Must Be a Life Changing Technology

Throughout economic history we have experienced these technologies which without question changed the world, but also burst like a bubble. Remember the dot-com bubble as the internet became the dominant technology of the day. Not only did direct to consumer companies like Pets.com ($11 IPO to $0.22 two years later) collapse in the bubble, but so did internet infrastructure companies like Nortel, at one point it was Canada’s largest company, and well positioned to supply the world with telecommunications equipment. Then the bubble began to expand with an oversupply of broadband infrastructure throughout North America and Nortel’s stock peaked at C$124.00 after a massive stock split in-between, and later plummeted to 47 cents.

Is AI All That And A Bag of Chips

There are a few theories to the origin of the expression ‘All that and a bag of chips’, for this article I’m going with a food vendor who exclaimed “all that” was a basic meal and the addition of a bag of chips brought the meal to a new level of value. Like the icing on the cake, it is an intensifier. AI to this humble blogger’s opinion is like the bag of chips for everything we do. It is next and a differentiator when we add it to what we are already doing. It is something that should ‘UP’ our businesses, it will help with developing and refining a piece of content, it will help us streamline our operations model, it will help identify gaps in our service model and give us ideas to improve it. It can identify bottlenecks and friction points in or general operations and help design a new model, and create resources to smooth the edges. AI represents your ‘power partner’ to power our businesses through this new reset era.

2025 The Year That Was Supposed To Be

This was supposed to be that golden year (even though 25 is the silver anniversary year) for so many industries, real estate included. Two things lined up, it has been 5 years since the pandemic, and the fact that the century has come of age. The movie theatre business is the poster child for 2025 being the turn around year. Summer to the movie business is like

Conrad Zurini, Broker of Record, Manager conrad@rmxemail.com | 905-719-3033

Christmas is to the retail business and Halloween is to the candy business. The summer block buster was the one to heal all woes of a lack luster year. It’s like their Black Friday. Aside from pandemic years July and August represent $2 billion plus in sales, which have been that way since 2015. It has been reported that the cinema business is off by 20 to 25% pre-pandemic, sound familiar?

Content Is No Longer King

The traditional movie business has proven you can’t win with content alone. Let’s face it theaters are fundamentally the same as they have been since as long as I can remember. Decades old facilities, sticky floors, unoriginal concessions and ridiculously high prices for a bottle of water. In 2025 the thought-to-be blockbusters like Snow White, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (let’s hope its the final sequel), Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth turned out to be busts. Tried and true franchises like the Fantastic Four and Ballerina the John Wick spin-off, reek of unoriginality and failed to re-attract their core audience.

It’s time this business redefines the movie-goer experience, not only should they re-design the theaters with 4D motion seats, pod seating, couches, blankets etc. Provide virtual or augmented reality previews tied to upcoming films, insert Easter eggs in the cinema experience films only, gamify the theatre experience to encourage people to go multiple times and to multiple movies, with surprise gifts for those loyal viewers. Full digital experience with interactive apps where you choose your seat, and you have a food locker with your snack order in it for the minute you arrive. More gourmet and healthy options for food and beverage. The decor should be themed toward the movie, with instagrammable back drops. Encourage movie-goers to share their ideas for future sequels and pay royalties to those who provided the best ideas.

The Emergence Of The Hybrid Business Model

The quarter-century milestone brings about sober reflection as the century moves from young adult to full fledged responsible adult. As we now enter the “coming of age” era of this century it brings about feelings of nostalgia and reflection of trends and events of the past, but in order to move forward we must all possess a clear unencumbered vision of the future. In other words, many industries basked in the euphoria of the pre/during pandemic lift, which was artificial non-the-less, but left collateral damage in its wake. As businesses owners and home buyers/sellers mourn the lower costs and benefits of doing business in 2019, and the exponential growth which quickly followed, now must put forth a different strategy for the future.

First-time buyers must make a more defined plan to build a down payment, buy amalgamating accelerated savings through well invested TFSA’s, using RRSP’s which are funded by parents or grandparents, and good old fashioned discipline. Move-up buyers may also have to take a hybrid approach to moving up as equity in some housing categories may not be as accelerated as others.

All industries including real estate practitioners must be thinking in a hybrid fashion going forward. We can learn a lot from Toyota’s hybrid, multi-pathway approach to building cars. They have decided to put their efforts in various fuel cell technologies not just one. We in the real estate industry should adopt a multi-channel approach to our real estate business along with a new and improved customer experience. We should be producing quality general and segmented content (as one size does not fit all), and expand within the real estate vertical to areas like multi-generational housing options to co-purchasing with non-family etc.

What Happens When The Watering Hole Gets Smaller….Consolidation

Companies like Porsche, are realizing a future with less sales, the management at Porsche is imagining a world where selling 20% less vehicles could be the norm. There is no more evidence of this than in the Canadian and US real estate markets. Sales in the last few years have been declining and remain much lower than the 10 year average. Real estate companies have been wrestling with this ‘new normal’ post pandemic and post cheap money. In the past when this occurred consolidation/acquisition was the key to moving on. Increase your top line and all your financial woes would disappear. But when you add AI to the mix it creates a goal within a goal.

ARE WE AT THE DAWN OF ‘THE GREAT RESET’?

CONRAD ZURINI

What I mean by that is as you expand your reach to create an invaluable data lake to draw more water/data. It has been reported that Compass’ purchase of the franchisor Anywhere (Better Homes and Gardens, Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Corcoran, ERA, and Sotheby’s International) was an all-stock transaction valued at $1.6 billion dollars, with Compass assuming Anywhere’s estimated debt of between $2.6 billion to $3.16 billion. At the lower debt level that’s a monthly payment of interest only (5%) of over $10 million dollars to service the debt alone without accounting for operations. This may seem an illogical acquisition on the surface, but is there a deeper strategy at play. The messaging around this acquisition has been touted as a way to strengthen Compass’ balance sheet, increase their footprint and bring about greater revenue diversity.

The Final Word About The Great Reset Goes To The Master Plan of One CEO.

But is there something else at play? There was no question that Compass was ready to acquire something off the heals of their failed purchase of Berkshire Hathaway’s real estate business HomeServices of America back in March of 2025. Not only does this fill some gaps for Robert Reffkin the CEO of Compass but also allows him to put a nail in the proverbial clear cooperation coffin. Clear cooperation is a real estate policy from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in the United States that limits exclusive listings to 24-72 hours, and then must be listed on the Multiple Listing Service. Reffkin’s public feud with NAR and local boards was not a quiet one, also his strategy to hold back listings from the MLS was a direct hit to real estate portals like Zillow and Realtor. com. With the new company now having 340,000 agents, their ability to bypass Real Estate Boards and show case exclusive listings may become a reality, but flies in the face of greater exposure to the approximately 1,113,690 other realtors in the US and in turn ‘RESET’ the way real estate consumers in the US shop for properties.