Frequently Asked Questions from Buyers and Sellers

As a trade association, AREA cannot recommend a REALTOR®. Please visit our section on Finding a REALTOR® for more information.

The Real Estate Council of Alberta offers a searchable online database at www.reca.ca. Select 'Consumer', then click 'Search for an Industry Member' on the right-hand side of any page.

AREA's real estate contracts are legally binding. That means there are contractual obligations that both parties must fulfill. Discuss the situation with your associate, your associate's broker or your local real estate board. If you then decide to cancel the contract, AREA recommends seeking legal advice.

Your REALTOR® knows what is involved in buying or selling a condominium in Alberta. However, you can boost your knowledge by looking at the legislation that comprises the Condominium Property Act.

If you are having a problem, first talk to the real estate broker or manager of the office employing the associate.

If you are not satisfied, take your complaint to the real estate board where your REALTOR® is a member. There are 10 real estate boards in Alberta.

If your associate is not a member of a real estate board, contact the Real Estate Council of Alberta (info@reca.ca or 1.888.425.2754). The Council's website - www.reca.ca - has information on how to file a complaint.

Refers to free-standing homes and the land on which they were constructed.

Refers to land outside an urban centre with a dwelling(s) and potentially other buildings on the property.

A home typically attached to one or more other homes, often by an adjoining wall. Townhouses may be purchased as free-hold buys (where the owner independently owns the dwelling unit and the land) or as part of a condominium project.

A term, often used interchangeably with 'townhouse' where the home is attached by an adjoining wall to another home. A duplex may be attached side by side, up and down or front to back. Another common style is a fourplex, which is similar to the duplex in configuration, containing four units instead of two.

Condominium is a form of ownership, not style of property, where the owners agree to maintain certain common interests such as structure, lots, roads and/or utilities. Purchasers buy an apartment, townhouse or a lot and share ownership of the common property with other property owners in the same condominium development. The property owners share in the costs of maintenance and repairs of the common property, payment of which is achieved through monthly contributions, usually referred to as a "condo fee". There may also be special levies to pay for major repairs.

Recreational refers to property that is designed for recreational use, such as a cabin situated on property at a lake.

Commercial refers to property intended for business use or, potentially, residential property that is presented for sale, such as an apartment building for sale. Commercial property can also be used for industrial, retail or office purposes.

Refers to property that is used for the production of food or goods through endeavours such as farming, ranching or forestry.

Land typically refers to property that comprises the land itself, without any existing constructed buildings.