Representing over 100,000 real estate brokers, agents and salespeople, working through 100 real estate Boards and Associations across Canada – we are one of Canada’s largest single-industry trade Associations. And, if your past year was anything like ours, it flew by! Which is why we’ve put together an overview of what we’ve done and where we’re going:
The Internet and technology are now fundamental to doing business. REALTOR.ca has proven to be the most valuable asset Canadians look to for information regarding residential real estate and in 2013, we took it to the next level by launching a completely redesigned website. Coupled with multi-platform mobile Apps and a mobile-optimized site, CREA’s suite of tools & services are at the forefront of digital technology.
Lobbying on behalf of our REALTORS® is perhaps the single most important thing we do at CREA. In 2013 we secured nine separate amendments to anti-spam legislation that, if passed into law, would have been detrimental to how REALTORS® conduct their business. We also worked on behalf of our members, lobbying to limit the amount of paperwork REALTORS® need to fill out to comply with the changes FINTRAC has made to anti-money laundering rules.
Buying a house is often the biggest purchase most Canadians make in their lifetime. Canada’s real estate market also plays a huge role in the overall domestic economy, not just for the $22.3-billion contribution it makes to the country’s gross domestic product, but also because it’s a leading economic indicator policy makers and analysts use to help assess the health of the economy as a whole. Our comprehensive insights on data and trends help REALTORS® make informed business decisions.
Let’s not forget REALTORS®’ continued commitment to their communities! Your generosity certainly did not go unnoticed in 2013. Data from 2012 concluded that REALTORS® across Canada reported to have raised and/or donated $30.6 million for charity! This is in addition to having implemented a fundraising campaign via the REALTORS Care® website after the devastating floods in Southern Alberta.
Read all of this, insight into our initiatives, challenges, and a financial rundown for 2013 in the newly-launched 2013 Annual Report.
