About the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton
In 1909 the Edmonton Real Estate Exchange was created. It introduced a
shared listing concept, a uniform rate of commission for services and endeavored
to create a high standard of integrity and encourage a spirit of fair and
honourable competition in the marketplace. The exchange operated only to
1913, overwhelmed by the political and economic upheaval of the times.
Reflecting better economic times of the late 1920s, members of the Edmonton
real estate industry established the Edmonton Real Estate Association in
1927.
This organization adopted a code of ethics, established
a two-tier membership system of salesmen and agents and a committee system
of operating. Its most important accomplishment was the passage in 1929
of the Real Estate Agents Licensing Act, a bill to require persons
to furnish qualifications to act as real estate agents. The Association
evolved into the Edmonton Real Estate Board cooperative Listing Bureau
Ltd. in 1952, just in time to service the needs of the post war boom. The
next three decades would be the golden age of real estate in Edmonton.
The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton is a professional
services association comprised of over 3500 Brokers and Associates serving
the greater Edmonton area. The strategic affairs of the Association are
governed by a volunteer Board
of Directors, comprised of working REALTORS® and administered
by a President and CEO and a staff of 30.
The REALTORS® Association delivers professional education and advertises
property listings on the Internet at REALTOR.ca,
as well as in the Real
Estate Weekly for the benefit of REALTORS® and their clients.
REALTORS® in Edmonton and area also hold membership
in both the Canadian Real Estate Association and the Alberta Real Estate
Association.
The Canadian Real Estate
Association (CREA) is one of Canada's largest single-industry trade associations, representing approximately 94,000 real estate brokers/agents and salespeople working through 96 real estate boards, 10 provincial associations and one territorial association. CREA's primary mission is to represent its members at the federal level of government and to act as a watchdog on national legislation which pertains to the real estate industry. CREA has frequently taken strong stands to defend the public's right to own and enjoy property. CREA is the owner of various trademarks that serve to identify and brand the services of CREA, Boards/Associations and member salespeople and brokers. While CREA owns a number of trademarks, the most prominent are the seven trademarks which comprise the MLS® and REALTOR® family of marks. CREA also operates REALTOR.ca (formerly known as mls.ca).
Alberta Real Estate
Association (AREA) is
a trade association of 10,800 members in 11 local real estate boards in
Alberta. AREA works to improve and promote the real estate industry for
it members and supports its members in their philanthropic activities at
the community level.
Some interesting events to note
- The Multiple Listing Service® was
introduced in the early 60s.
- A catalogue, introduced in 1973, replaced daily perforated listing
sheets for REALTORS®.
- Computerized operations at the Board began in 1979 with the conversion
of its membership records.
- Members accessed MLS® System information from their first database using
the Vandat system in 1984.
- The EREB acquired an existing real estate weekly in 1985, renaming
it the Real Estate
Weekly.
- In 1990 the EREB became the first board in Canada to use secure electronic
keyboxes to store keys on listed properties. in 2007, the keyboxes were
updated with new wireless technology and security systems.
- Today, REALTORS® use enhanced software programs to coordinate
their clients home buying and selling needs.
- Entering its second
century of service, the Edmonton Real Estate Board celebrated its 80th
Anniversary in 2007.
- On May 18, 2007, the 80th anniversary, the EREB
changed its name to the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton to reflect
its role as a professional association of REALTORS®.