UPDATE (March 24, 2021): Minor changes have been made to the Why Do REALTORS® Ask for Your Personal Information consumer video to provide greater clarity on the process for receipt of funds and to update the reference to the Individual Identification Information Record. All other aspects of this video remain unchanged. In September, BCREA released …
BCREA has created a new toolkit on the Standard Forms Resource Centre to help enhance REALTOR® knowledge of the Buyer Agency Remuneration Agreement form. This toolkit reviews the purpose of the form and when and how it should be used. It also includes an annotated version of the form, an interactive how-to-complete guide and frequently …
By Ellen Baragon, Guest Contributor Due to the real estate sector’s size, its services, and the high monetary values involved, real estate is at risk of being targeted for money laundering – as are banks and financial sectors where large transactions are common. One important way a real estate brokerage can reduce this risk is …
Privacy laws in British Columbia require that informed consent is obtained before collecting, using, and disclosing the personal information of individuals. BCREA created the Privacy Notice and Consent form to support REALTORS® in providing disclosure and documenting the informed consent of consumers regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information. Having a consumer …
Selling a home can be a stressful experience, and it can be even more complicated when selling a tenant-occupied property, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. If you are a real estate professional selling a tenant-occupied property during the pandemic, you have an important role to play in managing relationships and expectations and …
The second half of 2020 has been a busy time for real estate transactions, which has resulted in an increase in conveyancing. To help control the spread of COVID-19, it remains paramount to continue using technology to reduce in-person contact during all aspects of a transaction, including conveyancing. In dealing with the consequences of the …
Rising insurance costs are a major concern for many of the approximately one-quarter of British Columbia’s residents who live in strata properties. This issue was a significant advocacy point for BCREA during the recent provincial election campaign, and it will continue to be a key issue as we work with the new government. The recent …
REALTORS® are committed to doing their part to help prevent money laundering in the BC real estate sector. As the professional association for BC Realtors, BCREA is committed to providing knowledge and resources to help address this complex issue. As part of this commitment, we have created a new blog series to increase awareness around …
BCREA is pleased to announce that the Brokerage Insurance Program now offers vicarious liability and disciplinary fines coverage for managing brokers. This coverage is intended to protect managing brokers who have acted professionally and upheld rigorous professional standards but find themselves facing disciplinary action. The Brokerage Insurance Program is an affinity program created by BCREA …
There are two new presentations available in the What Would You Do? Presentation Series, created by BCREA, the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) and the Real Estate Errors & Omissions Insurance Corporation (E&O). These PowerPoint presentations explore the risks around conflicts of interest and misrepresentations and are now available for download on REALTOR Link®. …
On Wednesday, October 21, BCREA hosted a webinar and panel discussion to explore the impacts of the upcoming provincial election on the BC real estate sector. We discussed the key asks that BCREA and real estate boards will make of any new provincial government; the risks and opportunities for the real estate sector arising from …
Join the BC Real Estate Association (BCREA) on Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 am PT to explore the impacts of the upcoming provincial election on the BC real estate sector. During this 75-minute webinar and expert panel discussion, we will review the key asks that BCREA and real estate boards will make of any new …
BCREA’s new nine-week blended learning program, Mastering Compliance: Anti-Money Laundering Training for Brokers, launches on Monday, October 5, and it’s not too late to register! This program combines six self-paced online modules with three virtual classroom sessions to provide brokers and compliance officers with the tools to meet anti-money laundering requirements and foster a culture …
In the coming years, new homes in BC are about to get measurably healthier, quieter, more durable, and more energy efficient than those on the resale market, thanks to a regulation called the BC Energy Step Code. BCREA is collaborating with BC Hydro and the Real Estate Foundation of BC to ensure REALTORS® understand the …
At BCREA, we know that managing a real estate brokerage comes with a great deal of responsibility – including risk management. That’s why we’ve collaborated with Metrix Professional Insurance Brokers to create the Brokerage Insurance Program, a new affinity program* that provides managing brokers with insurance solutions specifically designed for real estate brokerages. The Brokerage Insurance …
Filing a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) can seem like a tough call – what’s considered suspicious? And how do they help anyways? The truth is STRs are an easy and important way for REALTORS® to help protect BC’s economy from money laundering. They also play a key role in helping law enforcement identify money launderers …
Registration is now open for Mastering Compliance: Anti-Money Laundering Training for Brokers, a comprehensive online program designed to provide brokers and compliance officers with the tools to master FINTRAC compliance. This nine-week training program combines self-paced, online learning with virtual classes to help you build a strong culture of compliance at your brokerage and network …
This fall, BCREA is launching Mastering Compliance: Anti-Money Laundering Training for Brokers, a nine-week program created to support managing brokers and compliance officers in meeting anti-money laundering and FINTRAC requirements. This comprehensive program will provide learners with the knowledge, skills and resources to: navigate an audit or examination with confidence, implement effective brokerage compliance training, …
On September 16, BCREA will release seven new standard forms, three new clauses and a significant number of revisions to existing forms. Managing brokers are invited to join the virtual Managing Broker Community of Practice on Wednesday, August 19 at 10:00 am to learn more about the upcoming standard forms release. To register for the …
BCREA conducted a follow-up survey on the impacts of COVID-19 faced by REALTORS®. The survey was completed by 1,950 Realtors from all boards between July 13 and July 20. A quarter of Realtors (26 per cent) continue to report no income from transactions since the end of May. Respondents’ most common reason for not receiving …