Historical Foundations

The Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board traces back to 1919 when ten local brokers formed the Vancouver Real Estate Exchange. This makes it one of Canada’s oldest real estate boards, and Vancouver’s board is credited with pioneering the first MLS system in the country. The organization evolved over decades – renaming to the Vancouver Real Estate Board in 1948 and later the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) – to reflect its expanding scope. As of 2024, the organization has rebranded as Greater Vancouver REALTORS®.

Throughout its history, REBGV has been closely tied to the MLS® service, enabling brokers to cooperate and share listings widely. Today, the association has grown from its initial 10 founders to over 12,500 members, all subscribing to the MLS® and the association’s standards. This century-long history of service and innovation underpins the Greater Vancouver MLS’s reputation as a leader in Canadian real estate.

Area Coverage

The Greater Vancouver MLS covers a broad geography in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, encompassing Metro Vancouver and some surrounding areas. Areas in the coverage include:

• City of Vancouver (all neighborhoods)
• West Vancouver and North Vancouver (both City and District)
• Burnaby, Richmond, and New Westminster
• Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody)
• Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge
• South Delta (Ladner and Tsawwassen)
• Squamish (Sea-to-Sky Corridor)
• Whistler (resort municipality)
• Sunshine Coast (e.g., Gibsons, Sechelt)
• Bowen Island

The REBGV MLS covers most Lower Mainland regions except the Fraser Valley communities to the east. This comprehensive coverage ensures the MLS database includes listings from urban core neighborhoods to suburban municipalities and outlying areas under one system.

Membership and Fee Structure

Real estate professionals must become board members to access the Greater Vancouver MLS. This requires obtaining a real estate license in BC through the BC Financial Services Authority and joining a REBGV-member brokerage. Membership in REBGV automatically includes membership in the provincial association (BCREA) and the national association (CREA).

The cost of membership involves one-time entrance fees and ongoing dues:

• New Member Entrance Fee (one-time): $1,200 + GST
• Annual CREA Dues: approximately $310
• Annual BCREA Dues: roughly $204
• Local Board Membership Dues (included in MLS fees)
• MLS Service Fees: variable, typically $75-$100 monthly or per-transaction fees
• Lockbox/Access Fees: approximately $100-$200 per year

In practical terms, a new Realtor in Greater Vancouver will pay approximately $1,260 upfront to join, covering initiation to all three levels of the REALTOR® organization. Ongoing costs include annual dues to CREA and BCREA and the monthly MLS/board fees.

MLS Database and Property Types

The Greater Vancouver MLS database is a comprehensive repository of real estate listings of virtually all types. It primarily includes:

• Residential properties (detached homes, townhouses/rowhouses, condominiums)
• Residential land and development sites
• Commercial real estate (office buildings, retail storefronts, warehouses)
• Business-for-sale listings
• Rental Properties

Each MLS listing includes detailed information: property details, photos, virtual tours, pricing history, and REALTOR® remarks. The REBGV MLS uses modern software allowing mapping, saved searches, and statistical analysis. Members can run comparative market analyses (CMAs) and access the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI), which tracks price trends for “benchmark” properties by area and type.

Market Statistics (2024-2025)

High prices and increasing inventory have characterized the Greater Vancouver housing market in 2024-2025. As of early 2025, the benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is around $1.19 million. Breaking it down by property type:

• Detached houses: average over $2.1 million
• Townhomes: around $1.23 million
• Condo apartments: about $806,000

These figures represent a slight softening from the absolute peak in 2022, but only by a few percentage points. Overall, home prices in Greater Vancouver are near record levels, reflecting persistent demand and limited supply. Over the long term, prices have shown tremendous growth – the benchmark has increased approximately 60% over the past decade.

As of March 2025, 14,546 properties were actively listed for sale on the MLS in Metro Vancouver, a 38% increase compared to March 2024 and the highest inventory for a March in a decade. This rise in listings gives buyers more choice than in recent years.

Sales volumes have seen dramatic highs and lows in the past decade:

• 2015: Approximately 32,600 sales
• 2018: Approximately 25,500 sales
• 2021: 43,999 sales (record)
• 2022: 29,261 sales
• 2023: 26,249 sales

Key Services and Features

Members of the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® Association benefit from various MLS technologies, tools, and services, including:

MLS® System Access: Secure login credentials to the online MLS system with real-time updates, saved searches, prospect match emails, and report generation capabilities.

Data Distribution & REALTOR.ca Integration: All REBGV MLS listings are fed into the national REALTOR.ca website and mobile app, making them accessible to consumers worldwide.

Standard Forms and Contracts: Digital forms with auto-population of MLS data for accuracy.

MLS® Home Price Index (HPI): Tools to generate charts of price trends for specific property types and areas.

Technology Tools: Auto-notification emails, mobile MLS apps, and integration with lockbox systems.

Realtylink.org Public Platform: A public MLS search focused on Lower Mainland listings with an interface branded by the board.

MLS Statistics and Market Insights: Detailed monthly statistics packages with breakdowns by sub-area and property type.

IDX and VOW Solutions: Internet Data Exchange (IDX) feeds, and Virtual Office Websites (VOW) display MLS listings on broker websites.

Educational Programming

Professional development is a cornerstone of the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® Association. The education pathway includes:

Licensing Education: The UBC Sauder School administers pre-licensing courses, followed by the Applied Practice Course for new REBGV members.

Continuing Education Requirements: Ongoing education credits on a two-year cycle, including mandatory Legal Update courses and electives.

Certification and Designations: Access to courses for designations such as Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) and Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR).

Mentorship Programs: Resources pairing seasoned Realtors with rookies and “mastermind” sessions where veteran top producers share insights.

Broker/Managing Broker Education: Periodic briefings and roundtables for brokerage managers on new policies or form changes.

Industry Conferences and Events: Annual tradeshows, education conferences, and participation in national events.

Global Influence and Market Integration

Vancouver’s real estate market has a significant global dimension, and the MLS and its association are connected internationally in multiple ways:

International Buyers and MLS Exposure: Vancouver MLS listings are visible worldwide through internet platforms, with Realtor.ca accessible globally in multiple languages.

Foreign Buyer Support: Many Greater Vancouver Realtors are multilingual or have international networks, with the board providing multilingual resources and educational materials.

Membership in International Organizations: CREA’s International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA) membership connects Vancouver Realtors to global standards and networks.

Global Referral Networks: Many Vancouver brokerages belong to affiliations like Leading Real Estate Companies of the World or Luxury Portfolio, which are global networks.

Syndication to International Platforms: Canadian listings, including Greater Vancouver’s, appear on international sections of platforms like Realtor.com.

Policy Advocacy

Through its Government Relations committees and in partnership with BCREA, the board actively engages municipal and provincial governments on issues affecting housing and real estate:

Local Government Relations: REBGV maintains relationships with city councils and planning departments, providing feedback on zoning bylaws, empty homes taxes, and short-term rental regulations.

Provincial Advocacy: REBGV works through BCREA to lobby the BC government on broader issues, such as the Foreign Buyer Tax, Speculation and Vacancy Tax, and the Home Buyer Rescission Period.

Federal Engagement: Through CREA, the board addresses issues like mortgage rules (stress test), immigration policies, and infrastructure funding.

The board has historically supported:

• Incentives for homebuyers
• Increasing housing supply
• Urban density along transit corridors
• Reform of strata insurance and rental bylaws
• Property taxation fairness
• Market transparency
• Balanced tenancy laws

Community Development Initiatives

Greater Vancouver’s Realtors are deeply involved in community development and charitable initiatives:

REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive: The signature program, running for over 29 years, collects blankets, sleeping bags, and warm clothing for the homeless and struggling families. Since 1994, it has helped over 480,000 people in need.

Housing Affordability and Shelter Initiatives: Support organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Covenant House Vancouver, and local shelters through fundraising events and donations.

Charity Events: Gala dinners, golf tournaments, and auctions raising funds for housing-related charities.

Realtors Care® Award: Annual recognition of individual members who excel in community service.

Neighborhood Revitalization: Participation in street beautification projects, park improvements, and community safety initiatives.

Sustainability Programs: Promoting green building practices and energy efficiency through seminars and partnerships with organizations like Built Green Canada.

Diversity and Inclusion: Outreach to various ethnic or minority groups with real estate workshops and homeownership seminars.

Creating a Website with MLS Data

Creating a website that integrates with the Greater Vancouver MLS system allows real estate professionals to showcase listings and provide valuable market information to clients. To build such a website, you must utilize the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) feed provided by the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® Association.

First, you must be a member of the board with valid MLS credentials to access the data feed. Once approved, you can implement the IDX solution through a website development platform that supports real estate functionality. Popular options include WordPress with IDX plugins, custom-built solutions, or specialized real estate website platforms.

Your website could feature interactive property searches with filters for neighborhoods, price ranges, and property types across the Greater Vancouver region. You could also incorporate the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) data to display market trends and create neighborhood profile pages with current listing statistics.

To enhance user experience, consider adding features like saved searches, automated listing alerts, mortgage calculators, and virtual tours integration. Remember that any MLS data displayed must comply with REBGV’s data presentation and privacy protection rules.

For best results, combine the technical integration with compelling content about local neighborhoods and the buying/selling process to provide comprehensive value to visitors.

The Greater Vancouver MLS is more than a listing service; it is part of an organization that fuses market facilitation with community responsibility. From its historical foundations and expansive coverage, through its member services and global reach, to its advocacy and community care initiatives, the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® association plays a pivotal role in the region’s real estate landscape. It continues to adapt and lead, ensuring that the MLS remains a tool for positive impact – economically, professionally, and socially – in Greater Vancouver.