RBC Bank Hosts U.S. Realtor Appreciation Week

RBC Bank, the leading provider of banking solutions for Canadians visiting or staying longer-term in the United States, is hosting the second annual U.S. Realtor Appreciation Week, April 25 – 29, to celebrate U.S. realtors. RBC Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Canada, truly appreciates the efforts of realtors in the U.S. and Canada to make the dream of home ownership a reality for so many individuals and families.

In honor of U.S. Realtor Appreciation Week, RBC Bank is sharing the top five questions that every realtor should ask a potential Canadian buyer to ensure a smooth process:

· How often do you visit the U.S.? Millions of Canadian snowbirds travel to U.S. every year to escape the harsh Canadian winter and enjoy amenities like beaches, golf, dining and more. Renters miss out on the benefits of owning a home – including lower monthly payments compared to renting, market appreciation, investment diversification and knowing their home is always available when they come to visit.

· Have you considered financing? In the past, Canadians have primarily paid cash to buy their U.S. home. However that means using the equity in their Canadian home, cashing out investments or using savings. With these options buyers will have to exchange Canadian dollars (CAD) for U.S. dollars (USD), significantly reducing the cash they have to buy a U.S. home. Financing a home significantly reduces the one-time impact of currency exchange due to the weak CAD.

· What features are important to you? Does your client enjoy an ocean view, an early tee time or whipping up a delicious dinner? Canadians have different priorities when it comes to how they spend their time in the U.S. Ask about what’s important to them to find the perfect home to suit their lifestyle.

· What type of property is right for you? Some Canadians are empty-nesters seeking minimal maintenance while others hope to have their whole family come visit.

· Do you know the difference between buying in the U.S. vs. Canada? Timing, taxation, fees and documentation are just a few differences between U.S. and Canadian home buying that challenge cross-border buyers. Steer your clients towards cross-border experts like RBC Bank to ensure a smooth home-buying process.

As part of the U.S. Realtor Appreciation Week festivities, RBC Bank and the Global Real Estate Council of Orlando will host an exclusive event for realtors on April 27 from 3 – 5 p.m. in Orlando, Florida. HGTV star Kimberly Seldon will speak at the event, which will highlight design trends and financial considerations for Canadian buyers. Seldon will also join RBC Bank for a U.S. Realtor Appreciation Week event with the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR) in Naples, Florida, on April 28 from 5:30 to 7:30. Register for the event in Orlando at www.orlandorealtors.org and the event in Naples at www.nabor.com/events/calendar.

RBC Royal Bank started RBC Realtor Appreciation Week in Canada to acknowledge the ongoing dedication of real estate professionals to provide expert advice and guidance to their clients. RBC Bank is proud to continue this tradition by recognizing realtors who are helping Canadians find and purchase properties in the U.S.

“RBC Bank works with realtors every day, and through their expertise and support we are proud to make U.S. home ownership a reality for our Canadian friends,” said Alain Forget, director of U.S. business development, RBC Bank. “Canadians remain a crucial segment of buyers in the U.S., and our goal is continue to provide a seamless process – whether a buyer is taking their first step inside a property, or needs guidance to finance their dream home.”

RBC Bank offers tailored mortgage solutions and makes it easier for Canadian clients to access, manage and transfer money when they make the trip to the U.S. Additionally, RBC Bank is the only U.S. bank that can use a client’s Canadian credit history and their RBC Royal Bank relationship to help secure a mortgage anywhere in the U.S.

About RBC Bank
RBC Bank (Georgia), N.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Canada, provides U.S. banking solutions to RBC consumer clients with a cross-border lifestyle, including snowbirds, expats, student, businesses and more. RBC Bank pioneered cross border banking and has been serving clients who visit, shop, study or relocate in the U.S. for more than ten years. Today, the Bank provides everyday banking, business banking and real estate lending solutions in all 50 states. For more information, visit www.rbcbank.com.

Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC.

About RBC Royal Bank

Royal Bank of Canada is Canada’s largest bank, and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management, insurance, investor services and capital markets products and services on a global basis. We have over 80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 37 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.‎

RBC helps communities prosper, supporting a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2015, we contributed more than $100 million to causes around the world.

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