Richard Silver

Travel Category

Technology: iProduct, Android or BlackBerry

November 21, 2011 -- Almost every year, I head south in November to spend some time with REALTORS® from all over the world at the National Association of REALTORS® Conference.  It is a great way to find out what is new and happening in terms of technology and get an idea of the upcoming issues for the real estate community. This was a habit that I started long before I was on the Board of Directors at the Toronto Real...Continue Reading...

REALTORS Care Foundation: Realtors ride for a great cause

September 2, 2011 -- One of the many things I enjoy about being a REALTOR® is that there’s never a dull day. Thanks to our varied professional backgrounds and range of special interests, even after 32 years in the business, I learn something new virtually every time I chat with another GTA REALTOR® Member. One example of the diversity within our professional community is a group of REALTORS® who also happen to be motorcycle enthusiasts. Each year they get together for...Continue Reading...

A Lesson in Social Media Gone Wrong!

Over one year ago now we decided that three of us would go on  a Cruise from Santiago Chile' to Rio de Janeiro on Holland America Cruise Lines at Xmas and spending an extra five days in Antarctica. It was a wonderful experience and one we will not forget. For the most part, Holland America was a great host as well but... One of the main reasons we chose Holland America is that two of the three of us are addicted to...Continue Reading...

My Favourite Holidays! Another Day in Paradise!

Let me begin by saying that I totally understand the lure of "all inclusive" vacations and have taken them numerous times when my mental ability was at an all time low and deciding where to go for dinner was a major decision... That said, if I have the time and even passable energy, I am always happier and more fulfilled when I can experience a total change in culture and weather. I have travelled in the Far East, India, Africa, South America,...Continue Reading...

Real Estate: On Buying Condominiums in Florida

Seldom a day goes by that I do not get an email or a phone call from a Realtor in Florida. The market is brutal there, they are overbuilt with second holiday homes, sales are very slow and properties are either under-water (not worth what they are presently financed for) or are in foreclosure. The Realtors are looking north to the Canadian Consumers who are in much better shape, have less debt and who may or may not be lining up to buy...Continue Reading...

Last week at REBarCamp San Francisco.

Last Monday at the 3rd REBarCamp San Francisco there was a heated discussion generated by Joel Burslem's recent blog called "The Death of the Real Estate Blog" for 1000 Watt Consulting . I don't think that I have ever been in a room so filled with the movers and shakers of Real Estate Blogging...the Big Kahunas were there: Jay Thompson , Bill Lublin , Rob Hahn , Heather Elias , Derek Overby , Dale Chumbley , Todd Carpenter , Maya Paveza , Andy Kaufman , Mike Mueller , Ginger Wilcox , Kelly...Continue Reading...

Toronto: The Best Time of the Year!

For years friends have wondered why we stay home on long weekends and March break, and the last weeks of August....Sad to say but Toronto is at it's best at those times...basically times when as many people are away as possible. Traffic decreases and with it the stress levels on the roads, streets and in the Restaurants.... Toronto becomes more livable, casual and an absolute treat. I feel sorry for some of my friends who have drive the 2-3 hours to cottage...Continue Reading...

Impressions of REBarCampNYC and Inman Connect NYC 2010!

So I have been home a week and trying to make sense of all the information that I gleaned in the four hectic days of meetings in New York City. Instead of the usual "Blow by Blow" and who said what, I will just give you some of my impressions: First and foremost, the four days were all about Social Media . Like it or not, just the way we used to say that Realtors with Technology will replace Realtors without it, now,...Continue Reading...

Lessons in Customer Service: Holland America’s Onboard Internet Service.

While on a Holland America  Cruise recently, I messaged my Facebook and Twitter friends that I was enjoying the "Techspert" classes that they had on-board.  Like a lot of Companies today, Holland America , is monitoring the Blogosphere and Tweetosphere and I heard back quickly that they "were happy I was enjoying myself". My response was to tell them that although I was, I thought that their Internet charges ($100 for 250 minutes) were excessive in view of the poor service (back to...Continue Reading...

TRAVEL: Antarctica, Part 3

Here is Part 3 of our trip from Santiago Chile to Rio de Janeiro with 4 days in Antarctica... [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=669xQFSx6w4[/youtube] Here are the photos of our trip to Antarctica, a 20 day cruise on HollandAmerica from Chile to Brazil. (more...)Continue Reading...