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A licensed REALTOR® has the education and experience to help you

If you’ve decided to buy or sell a home, you’re in good hands with a licensed REALTOR®.

What does it take to become a professional realtor? Sales skills and people skills are a starting point, but earning a real estate license requires much more than that. It requires a solid foundation in property law, contract law, finance, appraisals, marketing and many other aspects of the real estate industry.

Through a broad-based education, REALTORS® gain a big-picture view of the entire real estate transaction. That means that a licensed REALTOR® has the knowledge and experience to guide you through the complex process of buying or selling property.

The first step to becoming a REALTOR® in BC is completing an extensive training program administered by the real estate division of the UBC Faculty of Commerce. Students have one year to complete the pre-licensing requirements and pass a final examination. If they decide to focus on property management or to open their own real estate company, further coursework and exams are required.

The real estate pre-licensing program covers these and other areas of study:

Land ownership: the laws governing land ownership in BC and Canada and the land title system, including types of land title, such as freehold, leasehold, and strata.

Real estate finance: the laws governing mortgages; interest rate calculations and the range of mortgage loan options.

Agency relationships: the legal relationships between the REALTOR® and the client, depending on whether the REALTOR® is representing the buyer, the seller or both. Strict legal guidelines govern these relationships.

Writing enforceable contracts: the fundamentals of contract law so contracts can be effectively prepared to protect the consumer.

Property evaluation: The tools, techniques and skills for establishing the market value of a property.

Earning a real estate license is only the beginning of a long process of professional development.

The real estate industry and real estate law are constantly evolving, and technology has an ever-growing impact. Greater Vancouver area REALTORS® keep up through a wide range of courses, seminars, conferences and publications offered at the Real Estate Board.

Courses cover a wide range of topics, from technology and legal issues to environmental updates, business planning, and marketing. They also cover new legislation governing key areas that impact REALTORS® ability to serve clients such as money laundering, the Privacy Code and the Community Charter. REALTORS® also frequently take advantage of additional accreditation available in the industry.

REALTORS® are also kept informed through an industry-based intranet, RealtorLink.ca, developed by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and its partner organizations.

This intranet offers a comprehensive source of business information, the latest news and discussion forums for sharing ideas and advice.

Buying or selling a home is complex. Your realtor’s role is to represent and protect your interests, and to help you interpret a vast amount of information to make the best possible decision. The strong educational foundation and ongoing professional development of licensed REALTORS® gives them the ability to succeed in that vitally important role.