RECBC, OSRE and BCREA Update Recommendations on Open Houses

As of July 1, brokerages and REALTORS® should follow WorkSafeBC’s Communicable Diseases Prevention guidelines. June 30, 2021 – With British Columbians set to enter Step 3 of the province’s Restart Plan on July 1, the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC), the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) and the British Columbia Real

BCREA Agrees with Expert Panel’s Calls to Increase Housing Supply for Improved Affordability

Increasing and diversifying housing supply is part of a necessary, meaningful, and long-lasting solution to make housing more affordable in British Columbia. The British Columbia Real Estate Association is encouraged by the final report from the Expert Panel on Housing Supply and Affordability and its specific recommendations around housing supply. “There is no question that,

New BCREA Research Finds Funding is Key to Adequate Floodplain Mapping in BC

Since 2015, only 38.5 per cent of BC communities and First Nations have created or updated floodplain maps, according to new research published by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) in the 2021 BC Floodplain Maps Inventory Report (for complete functionality, please download the PDF after clicking on the link). The report, which identifies

PODCAST: Five Questions for the Post-Pandemic Housing Market (June 2021)

Open House by BCREA logo

On this month’s episode of Open House by BCREA, our Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson joins the show to talk about his new Market Intelligence report exploring five questions about the post-pandemic housing market. From rising mortgage rates to remote work and market balance, we highlight what Realtors should be looking for as the economy emerges

Expert Panel Recommends Meaningful Action to Increase Housing Supply

The Expert Panel on Housing Supply and Affordability established by the governments of Canada and BC to examine housing trends for rental and homeownership has published its final report, with 23 recommendations for the provincial and federal governments. The panel was created in September 2019 to explore the issues of housing supply and affordability and

Co-Ownership Agreements: “Till Dispute Do Us Part” #539

With the cost of properties continuing to rise in most parts of British Columbia, many people are looking to invest or acquire properties with others. While the co-ownership of property can have financial benefits at the outset, it can also come with a host of problems and disputes. Therefore, parties should consider entering into a

Five Questions for the Post-Pandemic Housing Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has had substantial and often counter-intuitive impacts on the BC economy and housing market. As we hopefully put the worst of the pandemic behind us and look ahead to a post-pandemic world, there remains significant uncertainty about what exactly that world is going to look like. In this Market Intelligence, we look

Strong Demand, Dwindling Supply for BC Housing Markets

For the complete news release, including detailed statistics, click here. Vancouver, BC – June 14, 2021. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 12,638 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May 2021, an increase of 178.2 per cent over May 2020 when the onset of

No Changes to Real Estate Practice in Step 2 of Restart Plan

With vaccine numbers rising and infection rates continuing to fall, BC is on track to move to step 2 of BC’s Restart Plan as of June 15 and all of us are eager for further easing of COVID-19 restrictions. However, REALTORS® and consumers will have to be patient a little longer when it comes to

What Does It Take to Be a Practice-Ready REALTOR®?

By Katja Gallagher, Education Coordinator, BCREA BCREA needs your input concerning the unique needs and challenges of new REALTORS®. Complete our Practice-Ready REALTOR® survey for your chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card! BCREA has launched the Practice-Ready REALTOR® Research Project that seeks to identify opportunities to better support new entrants into the real

Contract Law Foundations for REALTORS®: Online Course Explores Legal Principles Behind Real Estate Contracts

BCREA has created a new self-paced online course, Contract Law Foundations for REALTORS®, which equips learners with a foundational understanding of the legal principles relevant to contracts respecting to real estate in British Columbia. Contract Law Foundations for REALTORS® focuses on the foundational principles, common pitfalls, and best practices with real estate contracts. Possessing an

BCREA Explores Four Standard Forms in New Tutorial Videos for REALTORS®

In BCREA’s latest release of tutorial videos for BC REALTORS®, we explore four key standard forms: These tutorial videos are intended to help Realtors better understand and use these common forms and feel confident in explaining these forms to their clients. Co-Listing Form – Separate Representation This video tutorial explores the Co-Listing Form – Separate

Standard Forms Spotlight: Buyer’s Deposit Paid by a Third Party

The BCREA Standard Forms team has received several great questions about what to do, if anything, when a buyer’s deposit is paid by a third party, such as a family member or a client’s business account. To help ensure REALTORS® are aware of their obligations, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions on third-party

Webinar Recording: Understanding the June 1 FINTRAC Changes

On June 2, BCREA hosted a free one-hour webinar to help REALTORS® and brokerages understand the new regulatory amendments introduced by the Financial Transactions & Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) on June 1. Thank you to the over 4,400 Realtors who attended! If you attended the full live session, please allow up to two