In another push toward data transparency, sold prices for listings from Greater Vancouver Realtors (GVR) are now live on Realtor.ca.
The update was announced Friday in a LinkedIn post by Realtor.ca Interim CEO Patrick Pichette, who emphasized the platform’s evolving role in meeting the information demands of today’s buyers and sellers.
“Consumers are actively looking for this kind of information, and they expect to find it on Canada’s leading real estate platform,” Pichette writes. “Our research has consistently shown that the more context we provide (photos, virtual tours, property data, sold prices, etc.) the more trust we build with Canadians, and the more likely they are to engage with a Realtor. This release is another strong step in support of that strategy.”
Source: Realtor.ca
A move towards transparency
The digital platform has moved towards enhanced transparency for consumers in recent years, with provinces like Nova Scotia leading the charge. Previously GVR—formerly known as the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV)—only shared historical home sale prices. For consumers browsing Realtor.ca, the change means they can now view the final sale price of GVR listings once the transaction is firm and keys have changed hands.
Other regions are also stepping up their transparency. In Saskatchewan, listings now include a conditional sale status when an offer has been accepted but the deal hasn’t yet firmed. Realtor.ca has also upgraded its search features in the province, allowing users to search by more detailed location data—especially useful for those seeking rural or lakefront properties.
Big changes for consumers
The platform’s data model is shifting from a listing-focused site to what Pichette called a “property-centric platform” in a June 2023 interview, and while the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors was the first in Canada to make sold prices visible, Pichette said there has been consistent demand across the country.
“When you talk to consumers, the top thing that they ask for is more information, specifically when it comes to sold price history. They want the comparables. They want more transparency of information,” he told REM at the time.
The inclusion of sold prices also reflects growing pressure on Realtor.ca to remain competitive in a digital marketplace filled with alternative platforms offering similar, or even more, detailed property data. “We need to stay relevant,” Pichette noted. “All of this is Realtor-generated data in the first place.”
Realtor.ca, now a wholly owned subsidiary of CREA, can only display sold data when local boards and associations opt-in.
Real Estate Magazine has reached out to Greater Vancouver Realtors for comment but did not receive a reply in time for our deadline.
