Advocacy

Advocacy

BCREA is the voice of BC’s REALTORS®. In collaboration with the province’s eight real estate boards, we work with all levels of government to advocate for public policy that provides housing opportunities, ensures economic vitality, protects property owners, preserves the environment and builds better communities.

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Key Priority Topics

  • Housing Affordability
  • Real Estate Practice
  • Climate Change Preparedness
  • Consumer Protection

Housing Affordability

The BC housing market has experienced substantial price increases over the past decade. Many British Columbians have expressed concerns over declining listings and price increases. BC REALTORS® support policies that provide more housing opportunities that British Columbians can afford.

We maintain an ongoing dialogue with the BC Government on the following recommendations:

  • Increase housing supply across the housing continuum.
  • Implement policies to ensure that renters, first-time and move-up buyers have appropriate, affordable housing options.
  • Encourage the creation of more “missing middle” housing options.
  • Promote policies that speed-up the development process among local governments.
  • Take actions to address rising strata insurance costs.
  • Ensure fairness and effectiveness in real estate taxes.
  • Develop a provincial framework to remediate buildings used in drug production to ensure they can be safely reintroduced to existing housing stock.

Real Estate Practice

Changes to the practice of real estate should be made with care so consumers and REALTORS® have confidence in real estate transactions.

We maintain an ongoing dialogue with the BC Government on the following recommendations:

  • Ensure that the BC Financial Services Authority is a stable, efficient, world-leading regulator that gives REALTORS® a voice.
  • Revise the managing broker structure so that it provides adequate supervision for representatives without discouraging managing brokers from their practice.
  • Provide greater clarity about real estate teams conduct and professional activity.
  • Enhance the ability of REALTORS® to serve consumer needs.
  • Explore a separate license or designation for commercial real estate practice.

Climate Change Preparedness

BC REALTORS® support BC’s targets to achieve Paris emissions reductions targets for 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. We are deeply concerned about the impacts of climate change on BC’s housing stock and homeownership in the face of increasingly common climate change-induced disasters such as floods and wildfires. REALTORS® do their part by continually familiarizing themselves with developments and trends related to energy efficiency and climate change preparedness.

We maintain an ongoing dialogue with the BC Government and key stakeholder groups on the following recommendations:

  • Improve the energy efficiency of existing homes through voluntary measures and incentives for property owners.
  • Ensure floodplain maps are updated and remain current, while ensuring sufficient funding to implement flood mitigation initiatives.
  • Propose policies that balance private property rights with public policy in the Agricultural Land Reserve.

Consumer Protection

As trusted advisors on the majority of real estate transactions, BC REALTORS® have an intrinsic interest in consumer protection. BCREA strives to continually increase professionalism and consumer confidence as ongoing operational priorities. We are committed to evolving our sector, practices and Realtor professionalism.

We maintain an ongoing dialogue with the BC Government on the following recommendations:

  • Enact changes to the real estate transaction framework that increase transparency and protections for consumers while balancing unintended consequences, such as impacts on housing affordability.
  • Improve the foundation of effective real estate policy through fulsome stakeholder engagement.
  • Address the root cause of many real estate consumer concerns, which is a mismatch between housing supply and demand.
  • Consult with BCREA, real estate boards and managing brokers to build a meaningful education for preparing new licensees.
  • Work with all levels of government and BCREA to ensure that money laundering has no place in real estate.
  • Reduce the harms caused by the ban on limited dual agency.

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    Understanding Recent Changes to Age-Restrictions in Strata Corporations
    BC REALTORS® Advocate for More Thoughtful Housing Policymaking Process
    BCREA Hosts Government Liaison Days 2023 in Victoria
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    Diverse Collection of Organizations Call Upon BC Government to Establish a Permanent Housing Roundtable to Collaborate and Test New Housing Policy
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    BCREA Welcomes Budget 2023’s Housing Measures with Cautious Optimism
    Navigating Canada’s Underused Housing Tax
    2023 Throne Speech Outlines BC Government’s Housing Priorities
    Callout to REALTORS®: What’s Your Experience with the Home Buyer Rescission Period?
    2022 Advocacy Year-in-Review
    Federal Foreign Buyers Ban is in Effect
    Helping Homeowners and Buyers Navigate New Federal Tax Changes
    How Do Amendments to the Strata Property Act Impact You?
    UPDATE: BC’s Home Buyer Rescission Period: Your Questions Answered
    Canada’s Foreign Buyer Ban Begins in January
    REALTORS® Call for the Establishment of a Permanent National Housing Roundtable
    BC Municipal Elections: Local Governments Need to Address Housing Affordability
    British Columbians Face Diverse Housing Challenges in Northern and Island Communities
    Metro Vancouver Cities Need Collaboration to Address Housing Affordability
    BCREA and Real Estate Board Delegates Join Discussion on Housing Affordability at 2022 Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention
    Housing Supply: Myth Busting and Providing Real Solutions
    BC’s Homebuyer Protection Period: What’s Next for REALTORS®?
    BC Government to Implement Homebuyer Protection Period in January 2023
    BC Government Releases Cullen Commission Final Report and Recommendations
    Success of Real Estate Consumer Protection Measures Hinges on Next Steps by BC Government and Real Estate Regulator
    BC REALTORS® Advocate for Better Consumer Protections During 2022 Government Liaison Days
    Safety and Manufactured Homes Pilot Project: Resources for Sellers and Buyers
    How the 2022 Federal Budget Impacts BC Real Estate
    Only 35 Per Cent of British Columbians Support Government’s Cooling-Off Period According to Recent Polling
    BCREA Addresses Minister Robinson’s Announcement
    UPDATE: Free FINTRAC Forum to Shine Light on AML Issues and Real Estate Sector
    Pre-offer vs Cooling Off: Communicating with Clients
    BCFSA Proposes Changes to Real Estate Teams
    Summary of Recommendations from A Better Way Home for BC REALTORS®
    Few New Promises to Increase Housing Supply in BC’s 2022 Budget
    Get to Know BCREA Government Relations: The Voice of BC’s REALTORS®
    2021 Advocacy Year-In-Review
    Deal With Strata Properties? Learn More About the Expiring Speculation and Vacancy Tax Exemption for Strata Owners
    “Cooling Off Period” With No Details Creates Uncertainty and Concern in Real Estate Sector
    What is “Blind Bidding?” An Introduction for REALTORS®
    What is a Cooling Off Period? An Introduction for REALTORS®
    Updated CleanBC Roadmap Promises Energy Rating Tool for Homes
    BC Government Takes Positive Step to Increase Housing Supply, But Incentives Needed to Encourage Action
    Collaboration Between Parties and Levels of Government Key to Housing Affordability in Canada
    Why Another Liberal Minority Could Have a Significant Impact on BC Real Estate Sector
    Wildfires in British Columbia
    BC Financial Services Agency Becomes Sole Regulator for Real Estate
    Comparing Election Promises to Increase Housing Supply
    Federal Election: Housing Affordability and Climate Change Top of Mind in BC
    UPDATED – BCFSA Becomes Real Estate Regulator on August 1: What You Need to Know
    New BCREA Research Finds Funding is Key to Adequate Floodplain Mapping in BC
    Expert Panel Recommends Meaningful Action to Increase Housing Supply
    BCREA’s Virtual Government Liaison Days
    One Financial Services Regulator Coming This Summer
    BC Financial Services Authority Publishes Update About Move to Single Regulator
    Housing Supply Takes Centre Stage During GL Days Live Sessions
    Sustainable Homes: Understanding What Homebuyers Want
    Federal Budget Recap: Foreign Buyers Tax Concerning, Other Measures Welcomed
    What to Know About BCREA’s Government Liaison Days Happening in May
    Teams Consultation: BCREA-Real Estate Board Response
    Update: Changes to the Real Estate Services Act and Move to Single Regulator
    BC Government Proposes Changes to Real Estate Services Act Paving Path for Single Regulator
    BCREA Advances Anti-Money Laundering Recommendations
    OSRE Wants Your Input Into Real Estate Teams
    OSRE Announces Five Recommendations to Support Managing Brokers
    Administrative Penalties Expanded
    RECBC Approves 10 Per Cent Hike in Licensing Fees
    How REALTORS® Help Prevent Money Laundering in Real Estate: Identifying and Reporting Suspicious Transactions
    BCREA Advocacy 2020 Year in Review
    CleanBC Rebates Doubled
    New Cabinet Will Lead BC’s Economic Recovery
    How REALTORS® Help Prevent Money Laundering in Real Estate: Reducing the Risks
    Regulator Takes a Step to Curb Strata Insurance Costs
    Continuing Strata Insurance Issues
    Climate Priority for BC Government
    Solutions to Address BC Housing Supply
    How REALTORS® Help Prevent Money Laundering in Real Estate: Setting the Landscape
    New Commercial Rent Assistance Program
    Finding Floodplain Maps
    The Provincial Election’s Over – Now What?
    UPDATE: Have Your Say on Changes to Administrative Penalties
    Webinar Recording: BC Real Estate and the Election on Our Doorstep
    Comparing Provincial Party Housing Platforms
    September Survey Results on Economic Impacts of COVID-19
    New Federal Programs to Assist Canadians Impacted By the Economic Fallout of COVID-19
    Webinar: BC Real Estate and the Election on Our Doorstep
    Three Election Questions REALTORS® Can Ask Candidates
    Planning for Post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery
    Federal Throne Speech Includes Housing in Economic Recovery Plan
    New COVID-19 Presumption in the Workers Compensation Act
    Transparency Registers Effective October 1
    Strata Insurance Update
    Action Plan for Economic Recovery to Achieve CleanBC Goals
    Monitoring COVID: BCREA Develops New Economic Resources
    Anti-Money Laundering Resources
    Province Revises Strata Property Act in Response to Insurance Crisis
    REALTORS® Continue to Be Hit Hard by Economic Slowdown from COVID-19
    REALTORS® Are Facing Significant Hardship Due to COVID-19

    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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