Real estate websites you should explore
Before you jump into the real estate market, be sure to educate yourself on all of the real estate information and services available to you. There’s a wealth of valuable information available online that can help you make informed decisions, whether you’re looking to buy or sell.
Today’s consumers have access to numerous resources at their fingertips. You can find a Realtor, find a property and connect all the dots in between right from your own computer.
Remember, housing market information originating from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is the most reliable, reputable and comprehensive data available for those looking to buy or sell a home. When researching housing market information online, make sure the information you use is associated with the MLS brand.
Here’s a rundown of some of the key real estate websites:
www.realtor.ca
This is the most popular and comprehensive real estate listing website in Canada. Each month, over six million unique visitors go to www.realtor.ca (or use their mobile app) for more than 20 million sessions. The home listing information on www.realtor.ca streams from the Multiple Listing Service but does not contain the full collection of information on the system. Over 100,000 Realtors across the country provide this service to help market properties on behalf of their clients.
At any given time, there are approximately 320,000 active Canadian listings on the website, worth an estimated $140 billion. All totalled, 506,410 homes were sold through the MLS in Canada last year worth $224 billion.
Search the site today to learn what’s for sale in your neighbourhood of interest. www.rebgv.org and REBGV social media pages
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s (REBGV) website offers an array of housing market information. You’ll find everything from detailed MLS statistics and monthly video market updates, to consumer information including details about government initiatives and different cost-savings programs.
The most popular sections of the website are consistently related housing market activity and cost savings programs.
The REBGV has also established a presence in social media with sites on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rebgv) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/rebgv). These websites are updated with a blend of information from the REBGV, other real estate industry sources and news publications.
www.realtylink.org
This website is another great resource for consumers, featuring home listings for properties across the province and a range of in-depth, walkthrough-style information. You can also use the site to find a Realtor working in your community.
www.howrealtorshelp.ca
Built and maintained by the Canadian Real Estate Association, this site is filled with information for buyers and sellers. The site offers details on a variety of real estate-related topics and includes brief videos from their TV ad campaign to illustrate examples. You can also find handy tools like checklists for buyers and sellers and mortgage calculators.
www.recbc.ca
The Real Estate Council of British Columbia is the body responsible for licensing and regulating Realtors in BC. Their website contains valuable consumer protection information, as well as information on how to become a Realtor.
One of the most popular features on this website is the Complaints & Discipline section, which allows the public to inform themselves about recent disciplinary decisions.
Today’s consumers have access to numerous resources at their finger tips. You can find a Realtor, find a property and connect all the dots in between right from your own computer.