CREA

Discover CREA (the Canadian Real Estate Association) and its role in supporting REALTORS®, managing listings, and shaping real estate policy in Canada.

CREA



What is CREA?

CREA stands for the Canadian Real Estate Association, the national organization that represents real estate professionals across Canada.

Why CREA Matters in Real Estate

CREA sets professional standards, promotes ethical conduct, and manages national real estate platforms such as REALTOR.ca.



CREA’s core functions include:
  • Supporting REALTORS® with tools and training
  • Advocating on housing policy and regulation
  • Maintaining the MLS® trademark and REALTOR® brand
  • Aggregating national market data and trends



CREA also collaborates with provincial boards and government bodies to represent the real estate profession.



Understanding CREA is important for buyers, sellers, and industry professionals looking to navigate Canada's real estate market.

Example of CREA in Action

A buyer visits REALTOR.ca, the national listing platform maintained by CREA, to view available homes in their preferred neighbourhood.

Key Takeaways

  • National body for Canadian real estate professionals
  • Manages REALTOR.ca and MLS® trademark
  • Sets ethical and professional standards
  • Advocates for industry policy
  • Source for real estate data and research

Additional Terms

Budgeting

Budgeting in real estate refers to the process of forecasting and managing income and expenses associated with owning, operating, or developing a property.. more

Tenant Improvements

Tenant improvements refer to custom modifications or build-outs made to a leased space to suit the tenant’s operational needs, often negotiated as. more

Highest and Best Use

Highest and best use refers to the reasonably probable use of a property that results in the highest value, provided it is legally permissible,. more

Gross Lease

A gross lease is a commercial lease where the tenant pays a fixed rent, and the landlord covers most or all operating expenses such as property. more

Brownfield

A brownfield is a property that was previously used for industrial or commercial purposes and is now vacant or underused, often requiring. more

Record of Site Condition (RSC)

A Record of Site Condition (RSC) is a formal document filed with a provincial environmental authority certifying that a property meets required. more

More For You

Here’s Where You Can Catch Canada Day Fireworks In Toronto
Unsplash

The City of Toronto has you covered for some high-in-the-sky fanfare this Canada Day, which falls on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. There will be a total of seven displays at various locations across the city this year, but the main character of the bunch will be a 14-minute show at Ashbridges Bay Park at 1561 Lake Shore Boulevard East, starting at 10 pm.

In consideration of the show at Ashbridges Bay Park, the TTC will increase subway service on Lines 1 and 2 and streetcar service on the 509 and 510 on Tuesday. There will additionally be extra bus service on the 92 Woodbine and 22 Coxwell routes.

Keep ReadingShow less
What’s Open And Closed In Toronto On Canada Day 2025
Canada Flag
Shutterstock

It looks like Toronto is in for a picture perfect Canada Day.

Bringing a mix of sun and cloud, with warm temperatures to smooth it all over, Tuesday should deliver great weather for a fun-filled Canada Day. Temperatures will remain in the mid-to-high 20s all weekend, as a matter of fact, with rain only expected on Monday. But, with no rain in the forecast for Tuesday, firework shows and festivities should go off without a hitch.

Keep ReadingShow less
Privacy And Beauty Abound At This Remote Roberts Island Paradise
Muskoka Virtual Tours

Nestled in the heart of Muskoka’s cottage country, 0 Roberts Island is an immersive, off-grid retreat where nature’s stillness meets rustic refinement.

Set on 3.66 acres of densely treed land, with 915 feet of prized southwest-facing shoreline, this custom timber-frame estate is surrounded by oak and coniferous forest, and bathed in sunlight from dawn to dusk.

Keep ReadingShow less
New Woodbine GO Will Anchor 684-Acre Rexdale Community
Doug Ford and Jim Lawson, Executive Chair, Woodbine Entertainment/Woodbine Entertainment

In an exciting move for the future growth of northwest Toronto, Woodbine Entertainment — owner of Woodbine Racetrack in Rexdale — has announced it is investing $170 million in a new Metrolinx GO Station at Woodbine Racetrack. Construction broke ground yesterday on the station, which will serve as the anchor to an expansive urban development planned for the surrounding lands.

Also anchoring the development would be the iconic Woodbine Racetrack, home to Canada’s longest continuously run sporting event, the King’s Plate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peel Region Votes To Lower Development Charges By 50%
Scott Webb/Pexels

Earlier today, Peel Region Council voted to reduce development charges by 50% from July 10, 2025 to November 13, 2026 in order to spur housing development and make homes in Caledon, Brampton, and Mississauga more affordable.

The move had commitment of support from the provincial government for $1.3 billion via the Building Ontario Fund, according to a letter from Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack, addressed to the three mayors and Peel Regional Chair Nando Iannicca. However, an official funding agreement has not been signed off on as of now, and included in the motion is a stipulation that the program could be cut short if "a satisfactory financial agreement is not reached with the province by October 17, 2025."

Keep ReadingShow less
A home on a residential street in Calgary.

A home on a residential street in Calgary. / Shutterstock

We're halfway through 2025 and so much has happened that has created so much uncertainty that the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) is now downgrading its forecast for the year, according to a market update published earlier this week.

In January, the CREB published its forecast for the year, projecting that sales were expected to remain strong and exceed 26,000 units in 2025 — 20% higher than long-term trends.

Keep ReadingShow less
Toronto Shies Away From City-Wide Sixplexes, Dilutes Allowances
Ontario sixplex rendering/CMHC Housing Design Catalogue

Yesterday evening, Toronto City Council voted to allow fiveplexes and sixplexes in the Toronto and East York District and a portion of Scarborough — a significant dilution of the originally recommended city-wide legalization. This latest move from the City puts in jeopardy $471 million in federal funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).

The Scarborough region included in the adoption is generally bound by Steeles Avenue to the north, Midland Avenue to the west, Highway 401 to the south, and Neilson Road and Rouge River to the east, where a sixplex pilot ushered forth by Ward 23 Councillor Jamaal Myers was already in place.

Keep ReadingShow less
Structurally Sound, Sentimentally Weak: A Toronto Housing Market Summer Outlook
Cameron Michael Smith/Pexels

With school out and the sun shining, early summer can be hot season for the Toronto real estate market, with activity simmering down as the summer progresses. But with economic uncertainty brought on by geopolitical conflicts, few buyers are in the mood to make the largest purchase most Canadians will make in their lifetimes.

According to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), sales were down 13.3% year over year in May, and the average selling price fell 4%, annually, to $1,120,879. While an improvement over the 23.3%, 23.1%, and 27.4% annual drop in sales recorded in April, March, and February, respectively, May's numbers continue to reflect the ongoing market shyness brought on by tariff-related economic uncertainty.

Keep ReadingShow less