Helping REALTORS® Invest in The Future: PDP Discounts During COVID-19

| April 30, 2020

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) is helping Realtors invest in the future by providing discounts to our Professional Development Program (PDP) courses. Watch a short message from Anthony Bastiaanssen, Chair of the Board of Directors, to learn more: [iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/zxCvbFqekmQ” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen style=”position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;” ][/iframe]  25% Discount On All BCREA Online PDP …

BCREA Creates Virtual Community for Managing Brokers

| April 30, 2020

In April, BCREA launched our Managing Broker Community of Practice, a virtual community where managing brokers can connect, find important information, hear from guest speakers, and share best practices. The current focus of the Community of Practice is supporting managing brokers with information around the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the needs of the community, the …

Five Ways for REALTORS® to Keep Busy During COVID-19

| April 30, 2020

As REALTORS®, the hustle and bustle of your lives may have quieted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t keep busy during this time as you continue to practice social distancing and following government recommended guidelines. Whether you’re continuing to try and conduct business, or are simply looking for ways to …

Online Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

| April 29, 2020

We are a number of weeks into social distancing and we’ve noticed that many REALTORS® are taking this time to pursue online professional development. Likewise, many individuals and organizations are creating new online learning opportunities to meet the growing demand. This blog post will help you navigate the changing landscape of online learning so you …

Action Required to Keep your BCREA Mobile Account Active

| April 28, 2020

We are creating enhancements to our online account management system for all existing BCREA Mobile subscribers. Please check your inbox for an email from [email protected] which provides a username and temporary password in order for you to create an account and register your device on the upgraded system. Please ensure you take action immediately once you receive …

Property Disclosure Statement Revised and Released Alongside New Online Course

| April 27, 2020

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), in collaboration with the provincial Standard Forms Committee, BC’s 11 real estate boards and other stakeholders, has updated the Property Disclosure Statement (PDS). The updated PDS is now available on WEBForms®. What are the changes to the form? As a response to several issues impacting the BC real …

Conducting Live Virtual Tours During COVID-19 and Beyond

| April 24, 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting live virtual tours can help real estate business to continue while keeping REALTORS® and clients safe. A live virtual tour, not to be confused with an open house, is a tour of a seller’s property, during which the seller, seller’s Realtor, buyer and buyer’s Realtor are all present using virtual …

CRA Launches Calculator for Wage Subsidy Program

| April 24, 2020

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has launched an online calculator to help employers estimate the amount of wage subsidy they can expect if they apply for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). This calculator will help you to determine some specific line amounts that you will need to enter into the CEWS application form once it …

PRECs, Dividends & CERB

| April 24, 2020

REALTORS® with Personal Real Estate Corporations who pay themselves dividends can apply for the Canada Emergency Relief Benefit (CERB), as long as they meet other eligibility criteria. On April 6, 2020, the federal government extended CERB eligibility criteria to include self-employed workers who pay themselves with dividends. According to the CERB government website, non-eligible dividends …

Home Inspection Protocols During COVID-19

| April 22, 2020

BCREA is diligently working to keep BC’s REALTORS® informed of the evolving real estate landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preparing your clients for a real estate transaction during a pandemic means being able to explain to them not only how you’ve adapted your business and protocols to reflect the current conditions, but also how related …

BCREA Creates Notice & Acknowledgement Form for Use During COVID-19 Pandemic

| April 22, 2020
Woman signing a contract or form

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) has created a new Standard Form, the Notice & Acknowledgement form, for use by REALTORS® during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now available on WEBForms®. With the practice of real estate having changed since the outbreak of COVID-19, your clients may have many questions and concerns over how …

Communicating During Stressful Times

| April 20, 2020

By Gerald G. Clerx (Success Partner, Engage BRILLIANTLY Training Group) The current pandemic has created a lot of anxiety within the real estate community – it’s a stressful time for everyone. Buyers are uneasy about the future of their investment as well as their ability to qualify and make mortgage payments and sellers are concerned about …

Is It Different This Time? Recessions and the BC Housing Market

| April 20, 2020

To view the Market Intelligence Report PDF, click here. Summary Findings: The 2020 COVID-19 driven recession will be deep, though the duration may be shorter than past recessions. We expect that home sales will post an initial sharp decline as households and the real estate sector adhere to social distancing. As measures implemented to mitigate …

More Than Wage Subsidies: Additional Aid for Brokerages

| April 17, 2020

By Anna Jones, CPA, CA (Partner, Church Pickard) The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Temporary Wage Subsidy (read about them here) are just two financial aid programs available to managing brokers as small business owners. The Work-Sharing Program, Canada Emergency Business Account and recently announced Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance programs can all help …

PRECs and Wage Subsidy Programs

| April 17, 2020

If you have a Personal Real Estate Corporation (PREC), navigating Canada’s COVID-19 aid programs can seem even more complicated. If you receive a T4 from your PREC and you meet the Canada Emergency Relief Benefit (CERB) income threshold requirement (read more here), you’ll want to calculate which is more beneficial, the CERB or the wage …

PODCAST: Episode 5 – Conducting Business During COVID-19

| April 17, 2020
Open House by BCREA logo

Episode 5, Conducting Business During COVID-19, features a conversation with Kim Spencer, also known as the “Ethics Guy.” He is a PDP instructor and Manager of Professional Standards at the Real Estate Boards of Greater Vancouver, and on this episode discusses moral, ethical, and practical questions related to REALTORS® working during the COVID-19 pandemic. [div …

Staying Secure When Using Zoom and Other Video Conferencing Tools

| April 17, 2020
Professionals connect via video conferencing

REALTORS®, like many other professionals who rely heavily on face-to-face interaction to conduct business, have quickly had to change the way they meet with colleagues and clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the change may be a lot for some, tools like Zoom have made meeting virtually easier than ever. But a significant increase in …

Broadened CERB Criteria Makes More REALTORS® Eligible

| April 16, 2020

On April 15th, the Government of Canada broadened the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) criteria by allowing applicants to earn up to $1,000 in each four-week eligibility period. People who are eligible for Employment Insurance or sickness benefits or who have exhausted their Employment Insurance benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020 are …

Pandemic Halts Sales Activity in March

| April 15, 2020

For the complete news release, including detailed statistics, click here. Vancouver, BC – April 15, 2020. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 6,717 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in March 2020, an increase of 17.2 per cent from March 2019. The average MLS® residential …

PODCAST: Episode 4 – COVID-19 Standardized Clauses, and Financial Support

| April 9, 2020
Open House by BCREA logo

[div id=”buzzsprout-player-3304732″][/div] [script src=”https://www.buzzsprout.com/831562/3304732-covid-19-standardized-forms-and-financial-support.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-3304732&player=small” type=”text/javascript” charset=”utf-8″][/script] Open House by BCREA is a monthly podcast where REALTORS® will find the latest real estate news and feature conversations with experts on issues related to real estate practice in BC. Learn more about the show here. Episode 4, COVID-19: Standardized Clauses, and Financial Support, features conversations with BCREA’s …

CREA Introduces Feature to Highlight Live-Streamed Open Houses on REALTOR.ca

| April 9, 2020

As COVID-19 continues to impact the way REALTORS® conduct business, virtual showings and living-streaming of open houses have become useful tools for Realtors looking to replace traditional in-person viewings. In support of virtual practices, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has introduced a new feature on REALTOR.ca that allows Realtors to highlight live stream open …

UPDATE: Conveyancing in the Time of COVID-19 – So Far

| April 3, 2020

This post was updated on April 3, 2020 to include additional information on remote witnessing of affidavits in support of land title applications. Even with the Land Title and Survey Authority’s (LTSA) notice temporarily allowing for affidavits for use in land title applications to be taken remotely (by video), there may still be other documents …

CERB or CEWS: Which Federal Aid is Right for You?

| April 3, 2020

If you are a REALTOR® trying to understand whether you should apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) (due to launch April 6) or the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) (launch details unavailable) there are two questions to ask yourself: Are you self-employed? Have you incorporated as Personal Real Estate Corporations (PREC) and receive …

Collapsing Deals: A Refresher on the Common Law Principles #524

| April 3, 2020

The current situation with COVID-19 has led to daily changes in the way we live our lives and conduct our business. The rapid changes and daily announcements have led to a lot of uncertainty and questions. In periods of flux, whether economic, political or social, we often see a greater number of collapsing real estate …

Applying for CERB – Start with a CRA My Account

| April 2, 2020

In order to apply for the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), expected to launch April 6, you must first have an online account with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), called CRA My Account. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) recommends that all REALTORS® who intend to apply for CERB and who do not yet …

The British Columbia Real Estate Association acknowledges that our head office is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish Nations of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam). We also acknowledge the other 195 First Nations in British Columbia, as these are the lands we each call home.

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