Broker Update, May 26, 2023

Standards Matter Episode 8: What makes a public forum?

Social media has become an indispensable tool for REALTORS® in Greater Vancouver and beyond, serving as a means of marketing and networking. However, the blurred lines between public and private spaces on social media can pose risks.

In episode 8 of Standards Matter, we delve into two real estate cases that highlight how professional standards intersect with social media.

This episode also features advice from REBGV’s Ethics Guy® Kim Spencer on best practices for Realtors navigating social media. He tackles questions such as whether it is acceptable to vent about another Realtor's conduct online, the concept of privacy within social media groups, and how to differentiate oneself without disparaging others.

Listen below:

Each episode of our Standards Matter podcast reviews real disciplinary cases from REBGV’s Professional Conduct Committee to help you understand the issues and scenarios that cause some members to breach the rules of our profession.

If you have a question about rules, standards, or professionalism in real estate that you’d like us to answer on the podcast, email standardsmatter@rebgv.org.

Medallion Club teams must be registered as a BCFSA team to qualify for the program in 2023

Please be aware of changes we announced last week to our Medallion Club teams policy.

The BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) changed its rules around real estate teams earlier this year, and we’re updating our Medallion Club policies to align with these changes. As such, beginning in the 2023 qualifying year, any real estate team wishing to be eligible for Medallion Club must be registered as a team with BCFSA.

These new rules also remove the role of team leader. All REBGV Medallion Club teams will simply have a team name and team members.

These changes also affect individual REALTORS®. For example, team members may not qualify for the individual category when on a team, or if a member of your team is suspended by BCFSA during that year.

Learn more about these changes by reading our FAQ. Share this, and the additional resources below, with the members in your office to help everyone better understand BCFSA’s new teams requirements:

• BCFSA’s Frequently Asked Questions
• BCFSA’s Real Estate Teams Regulatory Information
• BCFSA’s Real Estate Teams Guidelines

Stay tuned for more information, including new Medallion Club teams forms that reflect these changes, updated policies, and more instructions about how to manage these changes.

Email any questions to medallionclub@rebgv.org.

Get social this summer with our selection of fun events

If you’re looking for a way to get out and have fun with your colleagues this summer, we’ve got you covered. We’re delivering a wide selection of social events across Greater Vancouver for REBGV members to enjoy.

Networking events in unique spaces, BC Lions and Vancouver Canadians experiences, our popular summer Party at the Parq, golf tournaments, and more - there's something for everyone this summer!

Here are details on the events you can buy tickets for now.

Watch for more event details in the coming weeks.

REBGV honoured by the Real Estate Standards Organization

The Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) recently honoured your Board with a Leading Edge Award for fostering high standards through promoting their Working With Real Estate Data (WWRED) course.

RESO CEO Sam DeBord described these awards as their way of acknowledging the “best of the best” when it comes to promoting and enhancing real estate data standards.

Seventeen REBGV staff have completed the WWRED course, and more than half of them participate in RESO working groups that contribute to the development of new standards for securely handling and sharing real estate data.

REBGV staff are involved in ongoing work to improve backend technology and are working with the Canadian Real Estate Association on correlating national data standards to RESO standards as examples of this work.

RESO is an independent, nonprofit standards body formed to develop data standards and processes that ensure a smooth experience for all participants in real estate transactions.

Read RESO’s release on their website.

For Approval – a new option for loading listings

We’re offering a new option for you to load listings in your office called For Approval. It allows Brokers to let the REALTORS® in their offices load listings to a partial state on Paragon.

Brokers would then review the listing for accuracy and compliance before completing the listing to go live.

If you have questions about this new service or would like to set For Approval up for your office, contact the MLS® department at 604-730-3010 or email dryall@rebgv.org.

Take a course at the Board this summer

Did you know we've been hosting in-person courses at the REBGV office again?

We’ve got four in-person courses scheduled this summer and we’re working on adding more.

See the upcoming courses at REBGV and learn more on our news blog.

Consider a donation to Brian Friedrich’s bursary

Earlier this year, we shared news of the sudden passing of former REBGV public director Brian Friedrich. Now, the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia have started a bursary in Brian’s memory.

Your Board donated $5,000 in honour of Brian’s contributions to REBGV, where he served as one of our public directors for six years and on our Audit Committee for five years (two of those as Chair).

We also worked closely with Brian and his wife Laura of friedrich & friedrich corp. to develop a white paper on REALTOR® professionalism and the steps we need to take to elevate professionalism to the next level. We’re excited to share this research with you in the coming weeks.

If you'd like to donate to the Brian Friedrich Bursary Fund, follow these instructions.