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Formerly | ByTheOwner |
---|---|
Private Company | |
Industry | Real estate |
Founded | Canada (2009) |
Area served | Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan |
Key people | Marco Dodier (President & CEO), Jean-Bruno Lessard (Sr VP), Lukas Lhotsky (VP Corporate Development & Operational Strategy), Marie-Christine Blain (VP Legal Affairs & Compliance) |
Services | online home listings, customer support, marketing materials, mere postings in Alberta and Ontario |
Number of employees | 400 [1] |
Parent | Purplebricks |
Website | comfree |
ComFree is a Canadian real estate broker platform. [2] [3]
ByTheOwner, composed of PrivateRealEstate in Ontario, ComFree in Alberta, ComFree in Manitoba, and Skhomes4sale in Saskatchewan, [4] was acquired by DuProprio in 2009. [5] After the acquisition, the company was rebranded as the ComFree network. [6]
In January 2012, the two ComFree Commonsense Network brokerages were launched in Ontario and Alberta. [7]
In July 2013, WeList.com joined the ComFree network. [8]
In 2015, DuProprio (the site's parent company) was purchased by Yellow Pages Group for $50 million. [9]
In 2018, the company was purchased by Purplebricks, a United Kingdom company also offering commission-free real estate services, for $51 million. [10]
The ComFree network offers different flat-fee service packages to help homeowners sell their homes. Basic packages include exposure on ComFree.com, lawn signs, and a personalized consultation with a sales rep (depending on location). The more premium packages offer additional advertising support. Depending on location, a competitive market analysis may also be available. [11] In Alberta and Ontario, the ComFree Commonsense Network brokerages enable homeowners to list their homes on REALTOR.ca through a board's MLS system, and allow them to access owner-directed services such as advice on appraisals, and legal and administrative aspects of the home sale in addition to marketing support. [4]
In Saskatchewan, ComFree provides flat-fee services via a "for-sale-by-owner" model [11] to homeowners who want to sell without a real estate agent. [12] In Alberta and Ontario, the services to homeowners are provided by ComFree Commonsense Network brokerage, a brokerage duly registered in each of those two provinces under the applicable real estate/brokerage act. [4] In Manitoba, the services to homeowners are provided by ComFree Commonsense Network broker, a brokerage duly registered in this province under the applicable real estate/brokerage act. [13]
This aims to be a complete list of the articles on real estate.
A multiple listing service is a suite of services that real estate brokers use to establish contractual offers of compensation and accumulate and disseminate information to enable appraisals. A multiple listing service's database and software is used by real estate brokers in real estate, representing sellers under a listing contract to widely share information about properties with other brokers who may represent potential buyers or wish to work with a seller's broker in finding a buyer for the property or asset. The listing data stored in a multiple listing service's database is the proprietary information of the broker who has obtained a listing agreement with a property's seller.
A broker is a person or firm who arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller for a commission when the deal is executed. A broker who also acts as a seller or as a buyer becomes a principal party to the deal. Neither role should be confused with that of an agent—one who acts on behalf of a principal party in a deal.
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a person who represents sellers or buyers of real estate or real property. While a broker may work independently, an agent usually works under a licensed broker to represent clients. Brokers and agents are licensed by the state to negotiate sales agreements and manage the documentation required for closing real estate transactions. In North America, some brokers and agents are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the largest trade association for the industry. NAR members are obligated by a code of ethics that go above and beyond state legal requirements to work in the best interest of the client. Buyers and sellers are generally advised to consult a licensed real estate professional for a written definition of an individual state's laws of agency, and many states require written disclosures to be signed by all parties outlining the duties and obligations.
CKNX-TV was a television station owned by CTVglobemedia which served mid-western Ontario, Canada. It was part of the A television network. The station's offices, studios, and transmission facilities were located in Wingham. A bureau in Owen Sound closed down in late 2004.
A mortgage broker acts as an intermediary who brokers mortgage loans on behalf of individuals or businesses.
For Sale By Owner, or FSBO, is the process of selling real estate without the representation of a real estate broker or real estate agent. Homeowners may employ the services of marketing or online listing companies or market their own property but do not pay a commission and represent themselves with the help of a lawyer or Solicitor throughout the sale.
Closing costs are fees paid at the closing of a real estate transaction. This point in time called the closing is when the title to the property is conveyed (transferred) to the buyer. Closing costs are incurred by either the buyer or the seller.
A listing contract is a contract between a real estate broker and an owner of real property granting the broker the authority to act as the owner's agent in the sale of the property.
Business brokers, also called business transfer agents, or intermediaries, assist buyers and sellers of privately held businesses in the buying and selling process. They typically estimate the value of the business; advertise it for sale with or without disclosing its identity; handle the initial potential buyer interviews, discussions, and negotiations with prospective buyers; facilitate the progress of the due diligence investigation and generally assist with the business sale.
Redfin is a real estate brokerage. The Seattle-based company was founded in 2004, and went public in Aug. 2017. Glenn Kelman is the CEO. Redfin's business model is based on sellers paying Redfin a small fee, in the 1-2% range. This does not include an additional fee charged to the seller to compensate the brokerage representing the buyer. This latter fee usually is in the 2.5-3.0% range. Buyers are given a small portion of this fee by Redfin.
Flat-fee MLS refers to the practice in the real estate industry of a seller entering into an "à la carte service agreement" with a real estate broker who accepts a flat fee rather than a percentage of the sale price for the listing side of the transaction. A flat-fee MLS brokerage typically unbundles the services a traditional real estate brokerage offers and lists the property for sale in the local multiple listing service (MLS) à la carte without requiring the seller to use all services.
A real estate trend is any consistent pattern or change in the general direction of the real estate industry which, over the course of time, causes a statistically noticeable change. This phenomenon can be a result of the economy, a change in mortgage rates, consumer speculations, or other fundamental and non-fundamental reasons.
The Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006 came into force on July 1, 2008, replacing Ontario's Mortgage Brokers Act, 1990, and requires all individuals and businesses who conduct mortgage brokering activities in Ontario to be licensed. The Act is currently administered by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.
Canadian Crown corporations are state-owned enterprises owned by the Sovereign of Canada. They are established by an Act of Parliament or Act of a provincial legislature and report to that body via a minister of the Crown in the relevant cabinet, though they are "shielded from constant government intervention and legislative oversight" and thus "generally enjoy greater freedom from direct political control than government departments."
The Real Estate Council of Alberta is the independent governing authority that sets, regulates and enforces standards for Alberta's Real Estate Broker, mortgage broker, and Real Estate Appraisals industries, and for consumer protection. Through the authority of the Real Estate Act of Alberta, the Real Estate Council of Alberta sets and enforces standards of conduct and education requirements for industry professionals in order to protect the consumer; provide services that enhance and improve the industry; and promote the integrity of the industry. The Real Estate Council of Alberta's mandate is to protect consumers and to provide services that enhance and improve the industry and the business of industry professionals.
Forsalebyowner.com is the United States largest "by owner" real estate website. It provides a real estate advertising and information service that charges a flat fee to property owners who advertise their property on the company’s Website. It created a business model that competed directly with traditional real estate firms, connecting buyers and sellers without the use of brokers. Property sellers devise and customize the content and format of their advertisement. ForSaleByOwner.com then charged to the owners a listing fee that is directly proportional to the length of the advertisement and the period of time it appears on its Web site. For an additional fee, property owners can have also list their properties on the MLS with a real estate agent affiliated with ForSaleByOwner.com. Interested buyers can use the service to search listed properties for free. However, ForSaleByOwner.com does not represent or negotiate on behalf of either the seller or the buyer. On its Website, a disclaimer clearly states that it is not a real estate agent and is legally prohibited from taking part in the actual sales transaction.
Mortgage Professionals Canada is the national association representing Canada's mortgage industry. Mortgage Professionals Canada’s membership included 12,000 mortgage brokers, mortgage lenders, mortgage insurers and other industry stakeholders. Mortgage Professionals Canada provides the Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) designation in Canada, to qualifying mortgage professionals.
Purplebricks is an online estate agent which operates in the UK, Canada, US and Australia. Founded in 2012 by Michael Bruce and Kenny Bruce, it is backed by investors that include venture capital firm DN Capital as well as Neil Woodford, Paul Pindar, and Errol Damelin.
NoBroker is a Bangalore based real estate search portal that connects flat owners and tenants directly with each other. The company does not charge any brokerage from either parties but they have some service packages range from worth 999 to 5,999. Founded in 2014, the company has 4 lac users, which it claims are genuine owners and home seekers. It is operational in 5 cities namely, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Gurugram.