NBREA REGISTRANT NEWSLETTER
September 2026
LEGISLATION
Modernized NBREA Act Receives Royal Assent
A major milestone in NBREA’s legislative modernization project
On June 12, 2026, the New Brunswick Real Estate Association Act received Royal Assent, marking an important milestone in NBREA’s four-year effort to modernize the legislation that defines the Association’s role in New Brunswick’s real estate regulatory system.
The modernized Act strengthens NBREA’s governance, accountability, and professional standards, while providing greater clarity around the Association’s responsibilities as a co-regulatory organization working with the Financial and Consumer Services Commission to protect the public and maintain confidence in the real estate profession.
Royal Assent is an important milestone, but the work continues.
NBREA is now focused on the implementation of the modernized legislative framework, including the development and finalization of bylaws, policies, and operational changes.
Members who followed the project through the Legislative Modernization Portal and other resources on the NBREA website will notice changes to those materials in the coming months. As the implementation work progresses, these resources will be updated to reflect the new framework and provide information about the bylaws, policies, and actions resulting from the modernized Act.
Stay tuned to NBREA communications for updates as this work progresses. Visit our Legislative Modernization Portal HERE.
EDUCATION & EVENTS
A New Approach to NBREA Education and Events in 2027
Regional education events and a virtual AGM will replace the traditional annual conference format
Beginning in 2027, NBREA will be changing how mandatory education and the Annual General Meeting are delivered.
Rather than combining the AGM, mandatory education, and other conference programming into one large annual event, NBREA will move to a more focused and flexible model that better reflects the Association’s regulatory mandate and participant feedback.
Mandatory education will be delivered live and in-person education in May 2027 through a day-long Regional Education Session held in five provincial regions – Bathurst/Miramichi (May 4), Edmundston (May 5), Fredericton (May 6), Moncton (May 11), and Saint John (May 12). These will be day-long sessions.
One short, additional module will be offered only online during the final quarter of 2027.
And, as always, all mandatory education modules will be available online in the final quarter of the year, with registrants required to complete the full education program by January 31, 2028.
The new approach will distribute education throughout the year, provide greater flexibility, and reduce the amount of time registrants need to spend away from their businesses at one time.
Manager members will have an additional education requirement in 2027; it will be offered online, with content focused on supervisory, compliance, and operational responsibilities.
The AGM is going virtual
Beginning in 2027, NBREA’s Annual General Meeting will be held virtually.
The virtual format will support live participation, electronic voting, reports and financial statements, member discussion and questions, and recording for archival purposes. Separating the AGM from a larger conference event will allow the annual business meeting to remain focused on governance while making participation more accessible to members across the province.
More information about the 2027 education schedule, regional locations, registration, and the AGM will be shared as plans are finalized.
Watch your inbox and visit nbrea.ca for updates. Questions about education can be directed to: education@nbrea.ca. Questions about events can be directed to: communications@nbrea.ca.
ADVOCACY
Property Tax Reform: Follow-Up to June Member Briefing
Government provides answers to questions raised during NBREA’s briefing
In June, NBREA hosted a member briefing with the provincial government on the property tax reforms it is creating through its new legislation.
The session provided an opportunity for members to hear directly from government officials about the changes and to ask questions about how the reforms could affect property owners, buyers, sellers, investors, and the broader real estate market.
Because there was not enough time during the session to address every question submitted by members, government has now provided NBREA with a Questions and Answers document addressing additional questions raised during the briefing.
The document provides further information from government on the proposed reforms and is available to members below.
NBREA will continue to monitor developments as the province moves forward with its property tax reform agenda and will keep members informed of changes that may affect the real estate profession and New Brunswick’s housing market.
NBREA is actively engaged in the province’s property tax reform work, with a focus on fairness, predictability, transparency, and housing supply.
ADVOCACY
NBREA Participating in Discussions on Proposed Vacant Property Levy
Working with industry to provide feedback to government
The provincial government is also continuing work on a proposed Vacant Property Levy that would give municipalities the authority to impose a levy on certain vacant properties.
The proposal is intended to encourage the productive use and development of vacant or underutilized property. Under the approach presented by government in August, municipalities would be responsible for administering, collecting, and enforcing the levy, with a provincial regulatory framework establishing matters such as its purpose, limits, exemptions, and enforcement.
NBREA supports the objective of encouraging the productive use and development of property. At the same time, we have raised concerns about whether the proposed approach, as currently contemplated, will achieve that objective without creating unintended consequences.
Following a technical briefing with government in August, NBREA provided written feedback requesting additional time for meaningful consultation, further research into the experience of other jurisdictions, and broader participation by industry in the policy-development process.
NBREA is now participating with other industry organizations in providing additional feedback to government. This work is important because the realities of development timelines, market conditions, financing, infrastructure, environmental considerations, and the availability and cost of development can be difficult to capture in a policy framework developed without direct industry input.
NBREA will continue to advocate for an evidence-based approach that supports the government’s goal of encouraging development while avoiding unintended consequences that could work against housing supply, investment, and economic growth.
We will keep members informed as the proposal develops.
Questions may be directed to: communications@nbrea.ca
PRACTICE UPDATES
Confirm Zoning and Development Information
Due diligence can help clients make informed decisions
NBREA has been asked to remind registrants of the importance of confirming applicable planning and development information as part of the due diligence process in real estate transactions.
The Capital Region Service Commission (CRSC), which is responsible for the Greater Fredericton Region and surrounding municipalities, has recently become aware of instances where construction or development activities have taken place without required building permits, development approvals, or other applicable authorizations. However, regardless of the region, all Registrants should be mindful of legislation, regulations, or municipal or rural community by-laws, the appropriate permits and approvals must be obtained before certain construction or development activities take place.
Where appropriate, real estate professionals should advise prospective purchasers to verify planning and development information through a Zoning Confirmation Letter before completing a transaction.
Registrants should ensure clients understand the importance of obtaining appropriate planning and development information when considering a property, particularly where future development or a change in use is contemplated.
EDUCATION
Want to Earn a Real Estate Designation?
Special discount code available for courses this fall, starting as early as Sept 21!
Did you know that an organization called the Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC) provides Canadian real estate professionals with the opportunity to complete a professional designation through the National Association of Realtors (US)? Not only that, NBREA has an exclusive discount code (50OFFNAR) to take $50 off your course registration for a course this fall. Here’s what’s available:
Upcoming Live Instructor-Led Designation Courses (via Zoom):
- Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) – September 21-22, 2026
- Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA) – October 28, 2026
- Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE) — November 9-10, 2026
- Real Estate Professional Assistant (REPA) — December 3-4, 2026
Questions?
Reach out to NBREA at communications@nbrea.ca
BLUEprint is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.