UPDATE: This post was updated on August 1 to include the BCFSA link to the July 2021 Report from Council. A previous link from the Real Estate Council of BC website no longer exists. BC’s revised Real Estate Services Rules also come into effect on August 1. Click here to learn more. On August 1, 2021, the …
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 …
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 …
On May 4 and 5, over 80 attendees from all around BC participated in BCREA’s Government Liaison Days. At this virtual conference, attendees learned about how the government can improve housing supply as well as energy efficiency in homes. REALTORS® then met with their MLAs to discuss the impact in their communities. Energy efficiency Realtors …
In March, amendments to the Real Estate Services Act (RESA) received Royal Assent, paving the way for a single financial services regulator in BC, including real estate. On May 19, the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) announced that the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) and Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) …
On May 19, the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) published a status update regarding the integration of the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) and Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) into the BCFSA to create a single regulator for BC’s financial services sector. In the news release published on its website, …
BCREA would like to thank all the REALTORS® who participated in this year’s annual Government Liaison (GL) Days live sessions on May 4 and 5. Realtors from across the province convened virtually to learn about policies to address the two issues of improving housing supply and energy efficiency in homes. In addition to discussion around …
Are homebuyers willing to pay more for a sustainable home than a conventional one? What features do homebuyers value most when it comes to sustainable homes? These are some of the questions students from BCIT’s Sustainable Business Leadership Program are hoping REALTORS® will help them answer by participating in a short online survey. The survey …
On April 19, Canada’s Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland introduced the Liberal government’s first budget since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget provides significant funds to many programs, including several to assist homeowners and renters, increasing the federal deficit by an estimated $382 billion, but also includes measures which are concerning to BCREA. …
Government Liaison (GL) Days is an annual event where REALTORS® meet with MLAs across BC, speaking with a united voice to advocate for key housing-related issues and improving Quality of Life in BC communities. This event has a long history, first taking place in Victoria in 1988. Due to COVID-19, participants won’t be able to …
On April 1, BCREA and the ten BC real estate boards made a joint submission to the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) and the Real Estate Council of British Columbia (RECBC) in response to their consultation on regulating real estate teams. The regulators’ interest in teams came up as a result of …
On March 9, the BC legislature approved changes to the Real Estate Services Act (RESA) contained in Bill 8: Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2021. None of the changes will take effect immediately. Over the next weeks and months, BCREA will work with the regulators to understand the impact of all of the changes and to …
On March 2, Bill 8: Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 was introduced in the BC Legislature. With its introduction, the BC Government’s intention to create a single financial services regulator, including real estate, announced in September 2019, was finally made clear. The bill creates the path for the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate …
Illegal funds have no place in BC’s real estate market. Real estate playing an important role in the lives of British Columbians, serving as one of the key economic drivers in the province. BCREA shows leadership on behalf of REALOTRS® by advocating for smart policy to ensure integrity and transparency and supporting Realtors to help …
The Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) invites REALTORS® and others to give input into the regulation of real estate teams by participating in a survey open until Friday, April 2, 2021. OSRE has been working with the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) to consider how to enhance the regulation of teams …
On Tuesday, February 9, the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) announced five preliminary recommendations to support managing brokers as part of a report into the role of managing brokers in real estate transactions. The study was completed in collaboration with the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) and with input from BCREA, …
Today, the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) and the Real Estate Council of British Columbia (RECBC) announced changes to the Real Estate Rules to expand the use of administrative penalties (APs). OSRE first proposed these rule changes in September 2020, in a consultation that attracted nearly 600 responses – including a detailed …
Effective April 1, 2021, The Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) will increase their biennial licensing fees from $1,800 to $2,000. RECBC members approved the proposed increase on January 18, following a short consultation beginning in December 2020. The new fee structure will be implemented, subject to objections from Minister of Finance Selina Robinson. Licensing …
By: Ellen Baragon, guest contributor Brokerages, managing brokers, compliance officers, brokerage staff and REALTORS® are uniquely positioned to assess certain aspects of a real estate transaction that others may not have access to. By complying with your professional obligations to file a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) and share suspicious transaction information with the Financial Transactions …
2020 was an eventful year that required BCREA to adapt to many unexpected challenges. As with most British Columbians, the COVID-19 pandemic required changes how we conduct our practices. We have learned just how resilient and adaptable BC’s Realtors can be, showing leadership and coming together to help flatten the COVID-19 infection rate. Below are …
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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