How to Find a REALTOR® When Moving to Another Province

Real estate is intensely local. Market conditions, school catchment areas, neighbourhood character, transit access, and proximity to employment can vary significantly even within the same city. An agent who specialises in your destination community will save you time, help you avoid costly mistakes, and give you access to information that is difficult to find remotely.

When you are relocating from another province, you are making a significant financial decision about a place you may have visited only once or twice. The right local agent is your most important resource for understanding what you are buying into.

A good destination agent will not just help you find a property -- they will help you understand the community, identify the neighbourhoods that align with your lifestyle and budget, and guide you through a buying process that may differ from what you are used to in your home province.

Real estate licences in Canada are issued by provincial regulators, not a national body. This means a REALTOR(R) licensed in Ontario cannot legally represent you in a BC transaction, and vice versa.

Each province has its own regulator: the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) in Ontario, the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) in BC, the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) in Alberta, and equivalent bodies in other provinces.

When you are moving between provinces, you need a licensed agent in each province: one to handle your sale in your origin province, and one to represent you as a buyer in your destination province.

You can verify that an agent is licensed in their province by searching the relevant provincial regulator's public registry.

In most Canadian real estate transactions, the buyer's agent is compensated through a co-operating commission paid by the seller's brokerage. This means buyer representation typically costs you nothing directly.

Under this arrangement, your buyer's agent has a fiduciary duty to represent your interests -- not the seller's. They are obligated to disclose information that is material to your decision and to negotiate on your behalf.

The specifics of buyer representation vary by province. Ontario's Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA), BC's Real Estate Services Act, and Alberta's Real Estate Act each set out the obligations of buyer's agents in their respective provinces.

Before you begin working with a buyer's agent, they are required to explain your representation options and have you sign a representation agreement. This agreement sets out the terms of your relationship, including the agent's compensation.

Local specialisation: Look for an agent who works primarily in your destination community, not one who covers a wide geographic area. Neighbourhood-level knowledge is what you need.

Experience with relocation buyers: An agent who regularly works with buyers relocating from other provinces will understand your specific challenges -- remote searching, coordinating timelines, and making decisions with limited local knowledge.

Communication style: You will be making significant decisions remotely. Choose an agent who communicates clearly and proactively, and who is comfortable with video calls, detailed written summaries, and virtual tours.

References: Ask for references from past relocation clients. A good agent will be happy to provide them.

• Verify the agent's licence with the provincial regulator
• Ask how many relocation buyers they have worked with in the past year
• Confirm their knowledge of your specific destination neighbourhoods
• Ask how they communicate with out-of-province clients
• Request references from past relocation clients

Camille Elliott is a REALTOR(R) with eXp Realty in Alberta. She works with a network of vetted local agents across BC, Ontario, and Alberta who specialise in relocation buyers.

When you submit a relocation inquiry, Camille reviews your move details -- origin, destination, timeline, and property requirements -- and identifies an agent in her network who is the right fit for your specific situation.

The introduction is free. There is no obligation to proceed with the agent introduced to you. You decide whether the fit is right.

Camille may receive a referral fee from the destination agent if you proceed with a transaction. This is a standard practice in the real estate industry and is disclosed in the referral disclosure on this site. The referral fee does not affect the commission you pay or the service you receive from your local agent.

Have a question that isn't answered here? Reach out directly — we're happy to help.