Why Are Realtors Trying To Stop Us From Knowing The Facts On Housing?

As house prices have soared, the issues of foreign homebuyers and house-flipping have become big in Canada. Industry insiders, policymakers, economists and virtually everyone else has an opinion on just how much of the house-price boom can be attributed to investors from abroad or speculators who buy properties only to sell them at inflated prices.

But there's one group of people that really doesn't want to talk about it: Real estate associations. In fact, they seem to be doing everything they can to keep people from finding out just how much of these sorts of activities is going on.

Court Rules Toronto Real Estate Board Must Share Sold House Data, A Game Changer For The Biz

The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a previous ruling that Canada's largest real estate board must allow its realtor members to make home sales data available online, in a precedent-setting case that could enable agents across the country to introduce new online services.

The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) has vowed to continue to fight the decision in court.

Toronto Real Estate Board demands brokers halt online sales stats

It’s about to get tougher to sleuth out how much homes are selling for in Toronto.

This week, three real estate brokers are cutting off customers’ online access to recent final home sales prices — coveted information that can help buyers and sellers gauge a property’s worth.

The trio are the latest to give in to a threat made by the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) to stop doling out home sales information or risk losing a lifeline to all privileged industry data.

This Is Why People Are Getting Frustrated With Real Estate Agents

When it comes to cutting land transfer taxes that tack on thousands to the cost of a home, Canada’s realtors are happy to talk.

But when it comes to realtors’ fees, which have been soaring in recent years in tandem with house prices, the realtor lobby will accept no questions. And they will tell you you're not even allowed to ask about it.

The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) hosted a campaign event for Doug Ford this week, giving him a venue to promote his plan to cut Toronto’s land transfer tax by 15 per cent.