Monday 6 April 2015

Royal LePage CEO Phil Soper looks forward with economic outlook

Royal LePage sales reps (including myself) look back to sales result of 2014
By Mark Schadenberg

Royal LePage leads the way in Canada.
I've been a Royal LePage Realtor for 16 years – a fact I'm very proud to state.
About a week ago, we had our annual Royal LePage Triland awards luncheon to recognize the many success stories of 2014, and I was honoured to be among the group receiving certificates and plaques based on a sales level achieved last year. It was satisfying to be there for many reasons, including receiving my 'envelope' from Royal LePage president and CEO Phil Soper (left) along with Triland co-manager / broker Peter Meyer (co-manager along with Peter Hoffman and Adam Miller).
A small part of the agenda was a speech by Soper as he looked back to where Royal LePage has evolved and expanded to, along with peering into the future.
Soper, who has been at the helm of Royal LePage since 2002 is also a graduate of London's Western University and its Ivey executive program, recalled how interest rates peaked at 21.7% back in 1981, and how our Canadian and provincial economies are now flowing well based on our attractive and on-going very low interest rates.
One worrisome fact to track, however, is how the average price of a home increases in relation to any rise seen in salaries.
“For about four years (2008-12) home prices essentially stood still, but since 2012 home prices have risen faster than wages,” noted Soper, who made an obvious parallel between interest rates and the cost of money and the machinery on how low interest rates can stimulate the economy across the country.
The fluctuating price in the gas / oil sector – huge swings at gas station pumps – have had there effect on the overall economy says Soper, but with a negative effect only seen in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland.

With approximately 600 locations and 16,000 Realtors across Canada, Soper says the Royal LePage brand is as strong as ever. Using a bar graph to depict growth, he pointed out there were only 7,000 Royal LePage Realtors back in 2002.
“I truly believe Royal LePage has a winning culture. Our strong people attract more strong people,” said Soper. “Studies and surveys show that Canadian consumers like Royal LePage because of instant credibility and trust. We have a client-focused culture.”
In the area of technology, Soper reminded the Triland sales force that www.RoyalLePage.ca was actually launched about 1.5 years before www.mls.ca (Today called: www.realtor.ca). Soper is a former senior executive member with IBM and has always maintained the direction of keeping Royal LePage ahead of the competition in any internet / social media / technology / communication area. It is certainly due to Soper's commitment that led him to winning the 2014 CEO of the year award from The Canadian Public Relations Society.
Soper's podium moments also included a plug for the company's recent launching of a new magazine called Home. This publication is designed to focus on promoting high-end listings, but certainly also to update consumers on all trends in the Canadian real estate market.
For some general real estate information research, www.royallepage.ca is a good place to start or simply contact me for a discussion on the home-buying process.

LINKS:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/video/video-oil-pressure-being-felt-on-house-prices-royal-lepage-ceo/article22441973/

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage - Woodstock
www.wesellwoodstock.com
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination



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