After more than a year and about $2 million spent on restoration and re-construction, the Queen’s Hotel on Main Street Unionville is set to re-open.

The hotel, built in the 1870s, was damaged during a fire last March.
Since then, the owner has been working to preserve the historic building.

“This street is recognized because of this building,” said James Hussaini, president of Business Point, a co-working office space company that owns the building.

“This building is in every picture. There are a lot of emotions attached to this building.”
Preserving the bricks and mortar was the priority, for the business and for himself.

“Even I have an emotional attachment to this building,” said Hussaini, who worked in a highrise prior to starting his own business.

He remembers a photo on the wall showing the hotel in the late 19th century.
“There were no cars,” he said. “There were horses in the photo. That type of history creates an attachment.”
The cause of the fire was sourced back to a malfunctioning potlight in the ceiling of a retail store on the ground floor.
“It was a stubborn fire,” said Neelo Ahmadi, hotel restoration project manager. “It’s because it was an older building, it went quickly. Thank goodness there were no injuries.”

While there was little damage to the exterior, there was extensive smoke and water damage to the interior.
The interior of the building is brand new. The restoration process included new electrical, HVAC and plumbing systems as well as extensive fire-proofing measures.

“We want to make sure this never happens again,” Ahmadi said. “The good news is it’s all new and the outside is preserved.”
With any restoration, there were ups and downs.

While the city toed the line when it came to preserving heritage, as it should Hussaini said, he never expected the process to drag on more than a year.

At one point, their insurance company wanted to take down part of the exterior wall along Main Street.
It took about six months to settle that debate between city and insurer.
“We weren’t looking for financial help,” Huassini said. “But we thought because it was a heritage building, the process would be expedited.”

The fire and the restoration process took a toll on several businesses in the building and Business Point lost a few tenants.
But the restored building will be home to a couple of boutique retail shops on the ground level and a slew of businesses on the second and third levels including a lawyer, real estate agent, wedding planner and mortgage broker.
​
There was some discussion about transforming the building into an indoor mall with several small retail and boutique shops, while maintaining the historical integrity of the exterior.

The mall would have added another attraction to the street, especially during winter, Hussaini said.
But after pushback, he kept the original plan – executive office spaces and a business centre.
If all stays on track, Business Point will open by the end of the month, just in time for the summer when Main Street is at its busiest.

“We’re excited,” Ahmadi said. “We can’t wait to open again. It’s very emotional.”

James Hussaini announces the establishment of Commercial Point, a leading consultancy in the Greater Toronto Area, that specializes in the condo conversion process for commercial office buildings and properties.

WireService.ca Press Release (11/24/2015) Toronto, ON - Commercial Point is a Toronto area condo conversion consultancy service that will help established property owners unlock the equity in their property.
"Commercial Point brings together under one roof the ability for property owners to discover the hidden value of their properties through the condo conversion process" James Hussaini said.
"Our experience" continued James, "in the condo conversion process is what sets up apart from other developers that talk about adding value to a commercial property. Usually the discussion is centered on expensive upgrades or marketing campaigns to bring in higher paying tenants. Through our process property owners can unlock the equity in their property while maintaining ownership and at the same time unburdening themselves of the daily property management obligations and costs."

Commercial condos, while not a new idea in property ownership, is a complicated and drawn out process that most developers shy away from. They can be time consuming and have a high learning curve for the unexperienced.
The Commercial Point's team of consultants has the experience to minimize the time involved, allowing owners to realize the value of their property sooner, as well as the experienced professionals that smooth the process, eliminating the blocks that can appear during the process.

"There has to be a team effort in the condo conversion process," James said, "with experienced people ready to deal with the municipal government officials, surveyors, real estate lawyers, environmental assessment experts, appraisers and others that are required to push the process forward. Having an experienced professional to manage the process will make the difference between success or failure of the conversion process."

With several completed condo conversion projects in Commercial Point's portfolio, this experienced team is ready to help any commercial property owner unlock the equity their property holds, that because of vacancy or a different designated property use, they cannot currently access.
​
For more information about the condo conversion process please visit www.commercialpoint.ca
Contact Commercial Point
Website: http://commercialpoint.ca
Email: [email protected]
Address: 240 Duncan Mill Road, #600, Toronto, ON M3B 3S6
Contact James Hussaini
Email: [email protected]
Address: 240 Duncan Mill Road, #600, Toronto, ON M3B 3S6

James Hussaini announces the publication and book launch of his latest real estate book "Yours Independently".
WireService.ca Press Release (11/18/2015) Toronto, ON - December 3, 2015 marks the day that "Yours Independently" by James Hussaini is launched.
"Yours Independently" speaks to the average real estate sales professional about what is wrong with the traditional brokerage model and exposes them to the power they can harness to bring about a dramatic and positive change to their business.
"It's not only time to lead by example, "says author James Hussaini, "but it is also time to provide the tools and motivation to real estate sales professionals so they can truly find success in their chosen career."
"Yours Independently" will be launched on December 3, 2015 during the 1st Annual Realty Point Dinner & Food Drive in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

"I want to share the excitement of my book being published with the charitable good will of the season, "says James, "and when there are more than 850,000 people in our communities visiting a food bank every month, what can be more important to a real estate agent than to ensure their neighbours have enough to eat."

"Yours Independently" took over two years to write, and is based on the realities that James has seen in his real estate career as technology invades the real estate industry and the ways that home buyers and sellers expectations of the customer service they receive from their realtor has shifted.

"As an industry professional I feel it necessary to offer my help and support to those real estate agents that are willing to put in the time and effort of improving their business. 'Yours Independently' will guide them through the steps I myself have taken, allowing them to learn from my experiences and not their own mistakes" James concluded.

More information about "Yours Independently" can be found online at www.YoursIndependently.com

Proceeds from book sales, and tickets to the launch event, will be donated to The Daily Bread Food Bank.
​
About the AuthorJames Hussaini has had a successful career in real estate and most recently founded Realty Point, an Ontario real estate brokerage franchisor that allows real estate professionals to open and manage their own independently operated real estate brokerage and provides them with the tools and support they need to find the success that drew them into a career in real estate sales in the first place.

About the BookYours Independently: Transform Your Real Estate Business with a New Team-based Model of Brokerage Ownership
Published: December 3, 2015
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ISBN (Print Edition): 978-0-9939036-0-1
ISBN (Digital Edition): 978-0-9939036-1-8
Website: www.yoursindependently.com
Contact
James Hussaini
[email protected]
600-240 Duncan Mill Road
Toronto, ON M3B 3S6
416-510-3000

James Hussaini, Founder of Realty Point Inc., Announces the "Realty Point 1st Annual Dinner & Food Drive".

WireService.ca Press Release (10/22/2015) Toronto, ON - James Hussaini, Founder of Realty Point Brokerage Franchisor announces Realty Point's 1st Annual Dinner & Food Drive, taking place on Thursday December 3, 2015 at the Shiraz Restaurant in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
James Hussaini states "I founded Realty Point as an innovative solution that real estate professionals can use as they move their real estate sales business forward to the stage of brokerage ownership and become entrepreneurs in their own right."

"And any entrepreneur will tell you" continued James, "that without a component of giving back to the community that has allowed them to reach a level of success their true potential as business people remains unfulfilled." 

"It is in this spirit of giving that I have taken Realty Point's first anniversary and added to our celebration the effort of tackling hunger in our community. Our food drive effort will not be a one-time occurrence, this will inaugurate the start of a regular food drive effort supported and promoted by our franchisee brokerages and our real estate sales agents throughout the year."

The Realty Point Dinner & Food Drive event has partnered with the DailyBread.ca food bank to fight hunger in our community. Cash donations can be made online at www.realtypointfooddrive.org and food donations can be dropped off at any Realty Point office location in the Greater Toronto Area (addresses below).
​
About the Realty Point 1st Annual Dinner & Food Drive 
Date: Thursday, December 3, 2015
Time: 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Location: Shiraz Restaurant, 9737 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 8S7
Evening Agenda
5:30pm to 7:30pm - Networking, Complimentary Photo Booth, Exhibition 
7:30pm to 8:00pm - Speeches and Book Launch 
8:00pm to 9:00pm - Dinner 
9:00pm to 10:00pm -Awards and Prize Draws 
10:00pm to end - DJ & Dancing
Extras
• Each guest in attendance will receive a copy of James Hussaini's new book "Independently Yours" 
• Each ticket purchased is entered into the draw for an all-inclusive vacation trip for two and other prizes 
• Realty Point will match cash donations made to the DailyBread.ca food bank by people joining our food drive team 
• Dry and canned food donations can be dropped off prior to the event at any Realty Point office location in the Greater Toronto Area. 
• Sponsorship opportunities are available
For complete event and food drive details, and to make a cash donation, please visit our website at www.realtypointfooddrive.org
Realty Point Brokerage Franchisees
Crimson Realty Point Brokerage* - 240 Duncan Mill Rd, Suite 600, Toronto, ON M3B 3S6 
Rumi Realty Point Brokerage*- 178 Main St, Unit 250, Unionville, ON, L3R 2G9 
Trust Realty Point Brokerage* - 178 Main St, Unit 109, Unionville, ON L3R 2G9 
World Class Realty Point Brokerage* - 35 Hayden St, Unit 108, Toronto, ON M4Y 3C3
*each office is independently owned & operated
About Realty PointLaunched in the Greater Toronto Region in 2014, the Realty Point brokerage franchise system provides top-earning real estate brokers the framework to open and manage their own real estate brokerage without requiring all the time and effort of a traditional or boutique brokerage business.
Realty Point provides in-house the experienced administration staff that Brokers of Record require to manage the paperwork, phone calls and day-to-day operations of their real estate brokerage allowing them to continue their sales success, and dedicate less time to administration work, that has established their careers so far.
For additional information about Realty Point Brokerage Franchise in Ontario please visit our website at www.realtypoint.ca
Contact:
James Hussaini, Realty Point Founder
[email protected] 
600-240 Duncan Mill Road, Toronto, Ontario, M3B 3S6 
Ph: (416) 510-3000 
Web: www.realtypoint.ca Additional Office Locations
22 King Street West, Suite 300, Oshawa, ON, L1H 1A3 
178 Main Street, Markham, ON, L3R 2G9 
35 Hayden Street, Unit 108, Toronto, ON, M4Y 3C3 
33 City Centre Dr., Suite 577, Mississauga, ON, L5B 2N5
Social Media: 
https://www.facebook.com/RealtyPointInc
https://twitter.com/realtypointinc
http://www.youtube.com/user/realtypointinc
https://plus.google.com/+RealtypointCanada
https://www.linkedin.com/company/realty-point
https://www.pinterest.com/realtypointinc/

BY JAMES HUSSAINI
​
September 10, 2015

​Takeaways:

• Realty Point is an example of a new brokerage model that provides the resources that allow a one-person brokerage or small team to operate as efficiently as a fully staffed brokerage.
• The question of whether the traditional brokerage model is obsolete hinges on how profitable the brokerage is and if there’s a better way.
• The traditional brokerage relies on a large contingent of agents and brokers to bring in business; each agent and broker works alone with little interaction with their brokerage.

I want to introduce you to my new model of brokerage, which includes co-working spaces with shared resources, administrative staff, and office equipment and furnishings.

It’s a Realty Point brokerage. Realty Point provides the resources that allow a one-person brokerage or small team to operate as efficiently as a fully staffed brokerage.

Beginners start with an operation that handles the brokerage registration paperwork required to open a brokerage and provides office space for the brokerage in five Greater Toronto, Canada, locations.

It has the administrative staff to handle the phone calls, transaction paperwork and general office duties. I have made sure that Realty Point franchisees benefit with a low-cost entry point that virtually eliminates the added burden of administering a brokerage.

And the benefits go far beyond even these expense and time-saving services.
Real estate sales professionals in Toronto are showing a lot of interest in this new model of brokerage. With four franchisees and five office locations, Realty Point is growing fast since its founding last year.

Discussing traditional vs. new brokerage models
With my experience on the table, I spoke at Inman Connect San Francisco in August. I appeared on a discussion panel that questioned “Is the traditional brokerage model obsolete?”
​
This discussion was moderated by Bernice Ross, and with me on the panel was Fafie Moore, broker and owner of Realty Executives of Nevada, and Penny Nathan, broker at Ascent Real Estate.
See full biographies of the panel here.

The panel’s discussion looked at the traditional brokerage model and the new brokerage model that is emerging. What follows is a summary of my thoughts on brokerage models.

Maintaining profitability
The question of whether the traditional brokerage model is obsolete hinges on how profitable the brokerage is and if there’s a better way to ensure profitability by staying with the existing model or applying a new one.

The panel’s discussion looked at the traditional brokerage model and the new brokerage model that is emerging. What follows is a summary of my thoughts on brokerage models.

Maintaining profitability
The question of whether the traditional brokerage model is obsolete hinges on how profitable the brokerage is and if there’s a better way to ensure profitability by staying with the existing model or applying a new one.

Traditional brokerage model
The traditional brokerage, for the most part, relies on a large contingent of agents and brokers to bring in business.
Each agent and broker works alone (for the most part) with little interaction with their brokerage.

Communication comes in the forms of basic marketing materials, training (if offered), deal transaction help and transaction related activities that are required to be completed by the brokerage and broker of record.
Within this model, each agent and broker handles his or her own marketing, networking, lead generation and sales.

New brokerage model
The new evolving model of brokerage relies on the team-based model of agents and brokers working within their team unit to achieve the desired results — sales.

Within the team-based model, specialists are created to handle specific duties within the team to achieve optimum results.
Each team member takes charge of their specialty to the benefit of the entire group. This model allows for a greater reach for marketing, networking, lead generation and sales.

The argument that traditional brokerages are obsolete:

• Without adapting to the times, technology and consumer-driven expectations, the traditional brokerage will fail. By adapting to a team-based brokerage model, a brokerage will be profitable due to the determination for the success of each member of the brokerage.

The argument against traditional brokerages being obsolete:

• The only cause for failure is the lack of vision leading to a lack of profitability. Independent agents or brokers have been the cornerstone of the real estate business and will continue to be so, provided the vision of the brokerage owner continues to be an effective business person.
• A brokerage that can maintain a culture that benefits the agents and brokers will always be lucrative because of the determination toward success that drives the business.

There are similarities in both traditional and new brokerage models, on the face of things. But the differences, which at first glance may seem slight, bring about a wholesale change that will affect the basics of real estate sales for years to come.

Tomorrow, we will continue the discussion comparing the traditional versus new brokerage models with regards to recruiting, challengers and competition, and setup and operations, in “Is the traditional brokerage model obsolete? Part 2.”
​
James Hussaini is the founder and president of Realty Point.
Email James Hussaini.

James Hussaini, Founder of Realty Point Brokerage Franchise and author of the soon-to-be released book about real estate brokerage ownership "Independently Yours", releases his August white paper that describes in detail the new methods for building a long-term strategy for real estate brokerage owners.

WireService.ca Press Release (08/27/2015) Toronto, ON - Realty Point's founder James Hussaini brings to real estate sales people "The New ABCs of the Real Estate Business" and unveils the plan for salespeople and brokerages to be profitable by taking advantage of the changes in consumer behavior and technology that must be accepted as the right way to conduct business today.

"The four articles included in the white paper," continued James, "although based in the 'ABCs' every real estate salesperson has been taught to follow over the years, has been updated to reflect the changes that has transformed the real estate business."

"Those that fail to modify their business practices, "continued James, "to what consumers expect, will continue to consolidate, merge or fail."

Featured topics in the white paper include:
- The New ABCs of the Real Estate Business
- Real Estate ABCs - Achieving Results
- Real Estate ABCs - Benefiting Your Client
- Real Estate ABCs - Collaborating For Success
The white paper is available for free download, with no registration required, at the Realty Point website. The articles are available for republication as long as the author attribution is included.
​
About Realty PointLaunched in the Greater Toronto Region in 2014, the Realty Point brokerage franchise system provides top-earning real estate brokers the framework to open and manage their own real estate brokerage without requiring all the time and effort of a traditional or boutique brokerage business.
Realty Point provides in-house the experienced administration staff that Brokers of Record require to manage the paperwork, phone calls and day-to-day operations of their real estate brokerage allowing them to continue their sales success, and dedicate less time to administration work, that has established their careers so far.
For additional information about Realty Point Brokerage Franchise in Ontario please visit our website at www.realtypoint.ca
Contact:
James Hussaini, Founder
[email protected]
600-240 Duncan Mill Road
Toronto, Ontario
M3B 3S6
Ph: (416) 510-3000
Web: www.realtypoint.ca
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/RealtyPointInc
https://twitter.com/realtypointinc
http://www.youtube.com/user/realtypointinc
https://plus.google.com/+RealtypointCanada
https://www.linkedin.com/company/realty-point
https://www.pinterest.com/realtypointinc/

James Hussaini, founder of Realty Point Inc, Toronto's fastest growing real estate brokerage franchisor, is pleased to announce his appearance at Inman Connect in San Francisco on August 5, 2015 as he participates on the panel discussion "Is the current real estate brokerage model obsolete?

"WireService.ca Press Release (08/04/2015) Toronto, ON - James Hussaini, Founder of Realty Point, will be participating in a panel discussion presented by Inman Connect San Francisco titled "Is the current real estate brokerage model obsolete?

"I am in agreement that the current model of real estate brokerage is obsolete" said James Hussaini, "and the company that I have founded, Realty Point, is the new brokerage model put into practice."

"Inman Real Estate Connect is the premier real estate technology event for the real estate industry and I am very excited to be invited to be a part of this panel discussion" continued James.

"The real estate industry is evolving and the old way of doing business doesn't connect with today's client. By being a participant in this Inman Connect panel I have the opportunity to introduce thousands of realtors to the new brokerage model I have created" said James, "that will be further revealed in my upcoming book 'Yours Independently' and is currently in practice in Realty Point franchise brokerages throughout Toronto".

About Inman Real Estate Connect San FranciscoProduced by Inman, Real Estate Connect® is the premier real estate technology event for everyone who cares about the real estate industry and where it is going.
Real Estate Connect celebrates its 19th year in 2015, with the San Francisco conference in taking place during August 4-7, 2015.

Conference Details and Website:
https://www.inman.com/inman-connect-sf-15/
About James HussainiFounder of Realty Point Inc Brokerage Franchisor, James has an impressive track record as a real estate Broker of Record brokerage owner and as an entrepreneur with several successful companies in his portfolio of accomplishments.
Website: www.hussaini.ca
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: (800) 410-8516
About Realty Point IncLaunched in the Greater Toronto Area in 2014, the Realty Point brokerage franchise company provides top-earning real estate brokers the framework to open and manage their own real estate brokerage without requiring all the time and effort of a traditional or boutique brokerage business.
​
Realty Point provides in-house the experienced administration staff that Brokers of Record require to manage the paperwork, phone calls and day-to-day operations of their real estate brokerage allowing them to continue their sales success, and dedicate less time to administration work, that has established their careers so far.
Realty Point Inc operates franchise brokerages in 5 locations across the Greater Toronto Area providing unprecedented coverage and opportunities for franchisees.
For additional information about Realty Point Brokerage Franchise in Ontario please visit our website at www.realtypoint.ca
Realty Point
Web: www.realtypoint.ca
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: (800) 410-8516 
Head Office Address: 
600-240 Duncan Mill Road, Toronto, Ontario, M3B 3S6
Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/RealtyPointInc
https://twitter.com/realtypointinc
http://www.youtube.com/user/realtypointinc
https://plus.google.com/+RealtypointCanada
https://www.linkedin.com/company/realty-point