Yeah, I said it – “Merry Christmas.”
I refuse to take part in the “Happy Holidays” mumbo-jumbo, and although I am a hardened atheist and Christmas does not invoke even the slightest religious response in my body, I still love the last two weeks in December more than any other time of the year. I purposely chose that photo above that has nothing to do with religion, but I’m sure that somewhere, some place, somebody will take offense to it…
It’s been a very interesting year for the Toronto Realty Blog.
We got off to a rough start with my post “Realtors & Social Media” that divided my industry like Moses parting the Red Sea…
Then my post about “Foundry Lofts” set off a small war and resulted in letters being sent to my broker. Oh well. I still think the inside of that building looks like a prison…
My trip to Mount Kilimanjaro made for either the most exciting posts in the blog’s history, or simply non-essential narratives that readers skipped over. Pick your poison…
Then my adventures with “West Side Lofts” began, and I think I made some friends in the public sector, and some (more) enemies in the construction and development industry.
All the while, I have never strayed from my objective to speak the absolute truth at all times regarding the happenings in the real estate industry, consequences be damned.
People might not agree with what I say all the time; I just ask that they respect my endeavour to give my opinions where my counterparts simply refuse to do anything but take the middle ground.
There are some very interesting times ahead for our industry, and while I have purposely refused to comment on the CREA vs. Competition Bureau war, I think our industry will undergo some changes. Personally, I welcome the addition of discount brokers to our industry. It gives us a chance to differentiate ourselves from the pack, justify our professional fees, and ultimately I think it will hold Realtors more accountable while weeding out some of the people that perhaps shouldn’t be in the business in the first place. To be brutally honest, I think discount brokers will fade within 2-3 years as consumers continually get screwed (or screw themselves) and lawsuits run rampant, but I think the consumer deserves the chance to make up his or her own mind.
I’d like to thank all my readers for either your continued support, or your continued personal attacks on the comments forum. Both love and hate are welcomed and encouraged, and the delicate balance of both is what makes this blog interesting.
My blog will be undergoing a small facelift in 2011 just to keep things fresh. Any ideas or opinions on how to improve the site are welcome!
I only had two blog stalkers this year, and I’m really hoping to attract more psychotic females (or males…) in 2011. Then, and only then, can I achieve my dream of playing myself in a made-for-tv movie about the trials and tribulations of a 30-year-old blogger who ends up handcuffed in the back of a trunk…
Merry Christmas, everybody!
Be thankful for what you have, and more importantly, who you have around you.
David.
JG
at 8:58 am
“F@$! you money!” – classic.
That must be the best catch phrase of your blog for the year.
Merry Christmas to you and to all the others that post here.
Cleveland.McMaster
at 10:15 am
I look forward to being entertained in 2011.
Thanks, David, for all the time and effort you put into informing and amusing us…..and doing so without fear of the politically correct among us. Merry Christmas, indeed!
Ryan
at 10:26 am
Ahmen!
Colin
at 11:22 am
Have a fantastic Christmas. Looking forward to working with you again in the New Year.
XOXO
at 12:59 pm
Merry Christmas to you Dave! I’m looking forward to more of your blog posts to read with my morning coffee! Not for me the sappy & shallow stuff of other bloggers. Your blog is entertaining, opinionated and non-politically correct — refreshing & a pleasure to read!! it’s a gift!!
dogbiskit
at 12:48 pm
happy christmas!
meow
at 10:44 pm
Merry HO HO HO!
I look forward to your new posts in the new year!
psychotic female #1
at 2:37 am
I love your blog and read/stalk daily…you’re opinions and thoughts are always off the beaten path and quite entertaining – thank you for that! Cheers!!
Dave
at 10:14 am
Reading your blog is part of my daily ritual. Keep it up, and best wishes for next year!
Krupo
at 12:03 am
In the spirit of the season, there’s a church in the photo you picked – so you still have some religion there. 🙂
Regarding the prediction on discount brokers fading out in 2-3 years: I wonder if the same will be said on the “zaniness” associated with pre-construction condo sales in Ontario as well? You could make the same predictions – lawsuits, disillusionment increasing – along that line of thought too.
Merry Christmas!
Camila
at 3:37 pm
Happy New Year’s David! I hope that 2011 brings you only great things!