After more than 55 years as an active philanthropic and business presence in the community, the Moose Jaw Real Estate Board (MJREB) recently disbanded.
All 83 Moose Jaw Realtors have joined the Association of Regina Realtors (ARR), bringing the Association’s membership to 557, plus an additional 166 Regional Council members in Yorkton, Estevan, Weyburn and Swift Current.
While MJREB president Mike Walz says Moose Jaw buyers and sellers won’t notice much, if any, difference, he acknowledges closing the local board is bittersweet. “We have some Realtors who are the children and grandchildren of founding members. It’s the end of an era, but I think having a bigger, stronger regional voice is going to benefit all involved, especially in working with our provincial and national associations and lobbying the federal government.” Walz says similar consolidation has happened with smaller boards and the Saskatoon Region Association of Realtors.
“We’re excited to work more closely with our Moose Jaw colleagues,” says ARR president Tim Chicilo, adding that he hopes Moose Jaw members will run for the ARR Board of Directors. “Adding over 80 members will allow the association to offer new programs and services we perhaps could not have considered before.”
In a news release, ARR says that along with administrative support and greater exposure for their listings via the Regina Real Estate Review, Regina Leader-Post and ARR’s own website, Moose Jaw members have access to more sophisticated and accurate pricing information because the city will now be included the MLS Home Price Index.
The Moose Jaw board was operating without an executive officer after EO Jim Millar retired a few months ago.
At its last meeting, MJREB directors presented the Moose Jaw Health Foundation with a cheque for $100,000 to equip the state-of-the-art trauma room at the new Moose Jaw Regional Hospital.