The Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® (NSAR) has been the backbone of the province’s real estate industry since 2000, serving over 2,000 members while shaping housing policy and market standards.
How NSAR Operates: Leadership and Structure
NSAR runs like most professional associations, with a member-elected Board of Directors setting policy and strategic direction. Day-to-day operations are handled by a staff of 16, led by Chief Executive Officer Roger Boutilier. He manages programs and services while working closely with the elected President.
The President position rotates among practicing REALTORS®. Suzanne Gravel currently holds this role in 2025, following previous leaders like Andrew Gilroy and Matthew Dauphinee. This setup means actual real estate professionals drive governance decisions, not just corporate executives.
Over 90 REALTOR® volunteers serve on committees throughout the year. They help carry out NSAR’s work across a range of activities, from education to advocacy. It’s a hands-on approach that keeps the association grounded in what members actually need.
Who Joins NSAR and What They Get
NSAR represents roughly 2,000 licensed real estate professionals. That number includes brokers, salespeople, and some affiliate members from related fields, such as appraisers and mortgage specialists.
Getting in isn’t automatic. You need to complete several steps:
- Obtain a license from the Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission (NSREC)
- Complete the Salesperson Licensing Course and pass the exam
- Meet age and education requirements
- Pass a background check
- Demonstrate English proficiency
Once licensed by NSREC, agents can join NSAR. That membership also makes them part of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), which comes with its own set of benefits and obligations.
What Members Actually Get
The membership fee isn’t just for a certificate on the wall. NSAR provides tools that most individual agents couldn’t afford on their own.
MLS® System Access
NSAR operates the provincial Multiple Listing Service. Since 2003, this has been an online platform (currently the Paragon system) where members list properties and search inventory across Nova Scotia. Without MLS® access, a REALTOR® would struggle to compete in today’s market.
Technology That Works
Members get access to electronic forms (WEBForms® and ZipForms), lockbox systems in significant markets, showing schedulers, transaction management platforms, and data analysis tools. NSAR even explores AI integration to speed up listing input and compliance checks.
Education and Training
NSAR provides all real estate licensing courses in the province through an agreement with NSREC. In 2024, they launched a revamped 16-week Salesperson Licensing Course with more comprehensive content. Members also get mandatory continuing education each year, plus optional workshops and one-on-one coaching.
The association doesn’t just teach licensing courses and walk away. They offer ongoing professional development to keep members sharp as laws and practices change.
Networking and Community
Annual conferences (sometimes called “NSAR Day”) bring members together for knowledge sharing and industry insights. Regional meetings let members connect locally. The CEO and Board even visit different regions to hear members’ needs firsthand.
Business Support
Standard contract forms, legal templates, help desk support for MLS® questions, technology troubleshooting, and regulatory guidance all come with membership. There are also affinity programs, like insurance or travel discounts through partnerships.
The REALTOR® Brand
This might sound soft, but it matters. Using the REALTOR® trademark signals to the public that you follow strict ethical standards. NSAR promotes this value, helping members stand out from unlicensed or non-member agents.
What NSAR Does for the Industry
Setting Professional Standards
While NSREC handles licensing regulation, NSAR handles professional conduct among its members. Everyone must follow the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. NSAR provides ethics training and can handle complaints related to professional conduct or MLS® rule violations.
Running the MLS®
This is NSAR’s most significant operational role. The MLS® database is where almost every property listing in Nova Scotia lives. NSAR maintains the software platform, enforces data standards, and regularly adds new features.
In 2024, NSAR became the first association in Canada to mandate extensive accessibility data fields. Listings now capture details like doorway widths, bathroom layouts, and wheelchair access. This helps buyers with disabilities find suitable homes without endless phone calls and disappointments.
The association worked with the Rick Hansen Foundation and local accessibility advocates on this project. Other provincial associations are now following NSAR’s lead.
Teaching the Next Generation
NSAR develops and delivers pre-licensing courses for new salespeople and brokers. They coordinate mandatory continuing education and offer optional courses throughout the year. This education role is actually contracted from NSREC, making NSAR the official education provider for the province.
The 2024 course overhaul extended the salesperson program to 16 weeks. Previous versions were shorter and less detailed. The new curriculum better prepares agents for the complexities they’ll face, from legal issues to technology adoption.
Supporting Members Day-to-Day
Help desk support, training on technology tools, regular surveys to understand member needs, newsletters with industry updates, and legal changes. NSAR responds when members say they need something, whether that’s negotiating group discounts or introducing new digital tools.
Informing Consumers
NSAR’s website includes resources explaining how REALTORS® help buyers and sellers. The association also partners on programs like the Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP), which provides interest-free loans to first-time buyers.
Each month, NSAR publishes housing market statistics that local news outlets cover. These reports help Nova Scotians understand real estate trends and make informed decisions.
Giving Back
Through the REALTORS Care® program, members volunteer and raise funds for charities. Feed Nova Scotia is the current charity of choice. Since 2012, Nova Scotia REALTORS® have raised over $37,000 and collected more than 2,200 kilograms of food for local food banks.
How NSAR Shapes Housing Policy
Advocacy is a big part of NSAR’s mission. They lobby all levels of government on issues affecting housing and home ownership.
NSAR maintains a Political Action Committee (PAC) for national issues and a Provincial/Municipal Action Committee (PMAC) for local matters. These committees mobilize members to push for policies that improve housing access and economic growth.
Housing Affordability and Supply
NSAR recognizes Nova Scotia’s housing crisis and actively works on solutions. In January 2025, they co-hosted the province’s first Cross-Sector Housing Summit, bringing together 100+ stakeholders from 60 organizations. Private developers, non-profit housing groups, government officials, and community advocates all participated.
NSAR promised an action plan report by April 2025 with concrete steps from the summit. They’ve also produced research reports, such as “We All Play a Part: REALTOR® Solutions to Nova Scotia’s Affordable Housing Crisis,” for the provincial Affordable Housing Commission.
First-Time Buyer Support
NSAR helped design the Down Payment Assistance Program and continues championing its expansion. The program offers 10-year interest-free loans for down payments. NSAR works with the provincial government annually to adjust income caps and home price limits so more people qualify.
They also advocated for increasing the federal Home Buyers’ Plan withdrawal limit from $35,000 to $60,000. This lets first-timers use more RRSP savings for down payments.
Tax Reform Battles
NSAR pushes hard for changes to deed transfer tax. These lump-sum taxes add significant costs, especially for young buyers. The association proposes that municipalities waive the tax for first-time buyers or allow five-year payment installments.
At the provincial level, NSAR strongly opposes the Provincial Deed Transfer Tax (PDTT) on non-resident buyers, which doubled to 10% as of April 1, 2025. They argue this tax harms the economy without actually improving affordability for locals. NSAR is actively advocating for its removal.
Property Tax Cap Issues
Nova Scotia’s Capped Assessment Program limits how quickly property tax assessments can rise for long-term owners. Sounds good in theory, but it creates inequities. New homeowners often face much higher tax bills than neighbors who’ve owned longer.
NSAR and partners are calling for CAP reform to make property taxation fairer. First-time buyers and downsizing seniors shouldn’t be penalized under the current system.
Other Advocacy Fronts
Skilled Trades: NSAR works with partners to help more Nova Scotians enter the construction trades. More tradespeople mean more homes built, which eases supply shortages.
Coastal Protection: The association helped produce a “Guide to Buying a Coastal Home in Nova Scotia” with the provincial government. This includes information on erosion, flooding risks, and the new Coastal Protection Act. As of 2025, property disclosure forms were updated to let buyers ask about coastal flooding history.
Federal Policies: When the Federal Foreign Buyer Ban was enacted in 2023, NSAR clarified its local impact. They provide feedback to ensure Nova Scotia’s interests are taken into account in national policies.
NSAR’s advocacy approach aligns with CREA’s “Quality of Life” philosophy. Instead of just pushing for industry-friendly rules, they frame issues in terms of improving communities and balancing growth through smart policy.
Before recent elections, NSAR surveyed members about priorities. Many of their “asks” showed up in party platforms, which shows their influence is real.
Tracking the Market: NSAR’s Data Role
Because virtually all REALTOR®-facilitated home sales flow through NSAR’s MLS®, the association is the authoritative source for housing market statistics in Nova Scotia.
Since 2003, NSAR has distributed monthly MLS® reports to media outlets. These reports cover sales numbers, average and median prices, new listings, inventory levels, and the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI).
What the Numbers Show
Take October 2025 as an example. NSAR reported 1,078 residential sales province-wide, down 0.9% from the previous year. The average sale price was $464,573, up 4.2% year over year. The MLS® HPI composite benchmark price was around $432,600, 5.2% higher than in October 2024.
NSAR breaks these statistics down by region. Halifax-Dartmouth, Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, and other areas each get their own analysis. This helps buyers, sellers, and policymakers understand localized trends.
Beyond Raw Numbers
NSAR leaders often provide context for the data. Former president Matthew Dauphinee noted in late 2024 that the market was segmenting by price point. Homes under $500,000 were seeing more buyer activity (helped by programs like DPAP), while the high-end market above $800,000 had slowed.
External factors matter too. Higher property taxes from 2022 onwards and rising insurance costs were making buyers more cautious. Mortgage renewals from low-rate pandemic years could force some homeowners to sell in 2025, potentially increasing inventory.
Public Access
Most of NSAR’s market statistics are freely available. Summary reports appear on local news and are accessible through NSAR’s website or the CREA Statistics site. This transparency helps consumers make informed decisions and gives policymakers data to assess the health of the housing market.
Where NSAR Came From
The organized real estate industry in Nova Scotia evolved slowly. In the early 1900s, real estate was largely unregulated. Property ads appeared in newspapers with brief notices directing people to a handful of agents.
The Halifax-Dartmouth Real Estate Board (HDREB) was the province’s first formal board, established by 1943. Over subsequent decades, other regional boards formed across Nova Scotia.
Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
NSAR is a member board of CREA. All NSAR members are also CREA members, giving them access to REALTOR.ca and the REALTOR® trademark. NSAR aligns with CREA on many projects, from federal advocacy to technology initiatives.
The 2024 accessibility features project is a prime example. NSAR developed the MLS® fields, and CREA integrated them into REALTOR.ca so consumers nationwide could search for accessible homes.
Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission (NSREC)
NSREC is the provincial regulator, and NSAR maintains a close working relationship with it. The most significant partnership is NSAR, which provides all licensing courses in Nova Scotia under an agreement with NSREC.
NSAR consults NSREC’s Education Committee to verify courses meet regulatory standards. The two organizations likely coordinate on industry issues when forms or policies change.
Technology Vendors
To deliver cutting-edge tools, NSAR partners with tech companies. The MLS® system runs on Paragon software by Black Knight. Other services, such as ShowingTime (scheduling), Supra (lockboxes), and Dotloop (e-signatures), involve vendor relationships that NSAR manages.
A recent partnership with a tech firm automated MLS® compliance checking using AI, helping NSAR handle over 8,000 listings efficiently.
Charitable Organizations
Under REALTORS Care®, NSAR often partners with charities. Feed Nova Scotia is the current beneficiary, with NSAR coordinating fundraising and awareness campaigns. Over the years, members have supported numerous charities across the province.
2025 Cross-Sector Housing Summit
NSAR kicked off the year by co-hosting Nova Scotia’s first-ever Cross-Sector Housing Summit in January. Over 100 stakeholders from 60 organizations participated, including private developers, non-profit housing providers, government officials, and community advocates.
The goal was to brainstorm solutions to the housing affordability and supply crisis. NSAR took a leading role, reflecting its strategic priority to be at the forefront of housing policy discussions.
A follow-up action plan report was scheduled for April 2025 to outline concrete steps. The outcomes will likely influence provincial housing strategies and could lead to new programs or policy changes.
Accessibility Innovation
By June 2024, NSAR had implemented over 45 new MLS® listing fields focusing on accessibility features. Wheelchair ramp access, accessible washrooms, adaptable design elements, door widths, and turn radii—all now captured in listings.
NSAR partnered with CREA to make these features searchable on REALTOR.ca for consumers. This project was in response to Nova Scotia’s higher-than-average disability rates and was done in consultation with accessibility organizations.
The November 2024 launch made NSAR a pioneer in this area. It helps a traditionally underserved segment of homebuyers and positions NSAR as a leader in using technology for social inclusion.
Education Overhaul
NSAR’s new Salesperson Licensing Course (SLC 2.0) launched in 2024. The course extended to 16 weeks with more comprehensive, practical content. The goal is to better prepare new agents for industry realities.
NSAR also implemented an English Language Proficiency Requirement effective September 2025 for course entrants. This verifies that new agents have the communication skills needed to serve clients properly.
These educational initiatives reflect a strategy to uphold professionalism and adapt to the complexities of modern real estate (legal, technological, and ethical).
Market Stabilization Post-Pandemic
The real estate boom during 2020-2021 gave way to a cooler, more balanced market by 2024-2025. NSAR has been advising both REALTORS® and consumers on navigating this new normal.
Buyers are more cautious due to higher interest rates and costs. Sellers need to adjust expectations compared to the peak pandemic market. NSAR’s latest updates predict modest growth and a possible “steady” market in 2025 with a slight uptick if interest rates drop.
25th Anniversary Reflections
In 2024, NSAR celebrated 25 years since its founding. This was an opportunity to reflect and chart the future. NSAR reaffirmed its mission to empower REALTORS® with tools, services, and advocacy to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.
In the future, they plan to continue investing in technology (exploring AI for faster data entry and compliance checks) and enhancing the member experience. Another strategic emphasis is diversity and inclusion within the REALTOR® community.
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