Insight: REIBC blog > 10 professional real estate resources
1. ProSeries & ProSeries Sparks Courses
The REIBC ProSeries is an immersive online learning experience for real estate professionals. Each course is designed and delivered by an RI-designated professional, pre-recorded in a studio and available on-demand.
The ProSeries Sparks are shorter segments we call Sparks: Total class time under 30-minutes. These shorter online courses offer a concentrated dose of advice, insights and ideas.
These courses are designed to help any real estate professional excel to the next level in their career, no matter what sector of real estate you’re working in.
Check out the ProSeries & ProSeries Sparks Courses by REIBC.
2. Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate
The Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) is a regulatory agency of the B.C. government that protects consumers who are buying, selling or renting a home. OSRE carries out the duties of the Superintendent of Real Estate.
OSRE provides oversight and regulation of the real estate industry in B.C. Under the Real Estate Services Act, the Real Estate Development Marketing Act and the Strata Property Act, OSRE exercises statutory jurisdiction and takes enforcement action against misconduct.
Any real estate professional can learn from the findings and resources that the OSRE has to offer, as oversight of the industry is performed by the OSRE.
Check out the resources provided by the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate.
3. BC Real Estate Association
The BC Real Estate Association (BCREA) provides four core services to support BC’s ten real estate boards and 23,000 commercial and residential REALTORS®. These core services are advocacy, economics analysis, professional development and standard forms.
The BCREA has a large number of resources available to real estate professionals in BC, including information on the economics, legal and other areas of real estate in BC.
Additionally, they provide a wide variety of educational courses for REALTORS, including professional development and other accredited courses.
Check out the BCREA Resources here.
4. Real Estate Studies at Langara
Vancouver's Langara College is a gateway to all facets of the real estate profession, including property management, building management, appraisal, social housing management, construction and development, energy management and Trading Services and Broker's Licensing. Whatever your area of interest, you can begin your future in real estate at Langara College.
While most of the resources that Langara provides have a price tag, it’s well worth the investment. Their real estate studies program works closely with many other real estate organizations across BC, including REIBC and UBC to ensure the courses and program provide a great experience. Their Diploma in Real Estate program has been approved by REIBC as suitable education for the RI designation. And if you’re interested in UBC’s Urban Land Economic Diploma, Langara does offer the diploma’s first five courses.
Check out the Real Estate Studies at Langara.
5. University of British Columbia Real Estate Courses
The Real Estate Division of UBC offers a comprehensive range of top-calibre, industry-driven distance education programs that serve the needs of the real estate community locally, nationally and internationally.
Again, another paid resource, UBC offers a wide array of different real estate courses, including the Urban Land Economics Diploma (a common and a potential pre-requisite to becoming an RI at REIBC).
To become a member of the Real Estate Institute of BC, minimum education requirements can be met by the Diploma of Urban Land Economics and/or the Post-Graduate Certificate in Real Property Valuation program at UBC.
Check out real estate courses at UBC.
6. REIBC & Partner Research
The Real Estate Institute of BC (REIBC) partners with and syndicates research from other professional organizations.
The research provided is an amazing resource to many different types of real estate professionals. From those interested in social purpose organizations and how that land is utilized, research about agricultural land, REIBC and partners provide in-depth and detailed research accessible to the public and real estate professionals.
These types of reports are invaluable to real estate professionals across any industry, as this in-depth research is translatable across all areas of real estate.
Check out the REIBC & Partner Research resources.
7. Courthouse Libraries BC
The Courthouse Libraries of BC is an often-overlooked resource for many real estate professionals who need understanding or insights into the legal proceedings around real estate.
The resources they provide allow one to search the Courthouse Libraries of BC for any case that had a public judgement or verdict, which can be invaluable, depending on your real estate profession.
Check out the Courthouse Libraries main search engine here.
8. BC Housing Resources
The BC Housing site provides an extensive selection of resources that can help any real estate professional.
From the vast array of document resources, from Capital Planning to Energy Efficient Retrofit Program Information, the BC Housing site and resources contain many resources that real estate professionals may find useful.
Check out the BC Housing Resources site here.
9. The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Different than a college or university, the British Columbia Institute of Technology offers practical, applied education with instructors who have direct, hands-on experience in their field.
Specifically, the Professional Real Estate Advanced Diploma program offered by BCIT will set you apart from the rest, and will help you build a network of peers to help you excel in any real estate sector when you graduate.
Check out the resources that BCIT has to offer here.