Consumer Alert: Martina Robinson of Musquodoboit Harbour — Not Licensed to Trade in Real Estate in Nova Scotia
                                                                                                                                                                                                       Jan. 8, 2018

Halifax, NS: The Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission has reason to believe Martina Robinson is trading in real estate without a real estate licence. 

Robinson’s licence has been suspended for a year, commencing Sept. 1, 2017. This decision was reached by the discipline hearing panel that determined Robinson lacked the knowledge or judgement necessary to be a competent broker in Nova Scotia.

Since her suspension, Robinson has advertised herself as having a German real estate licence and that Robinson Harmsen Lifestyle Real Estate Inc. is Nova Scotia’s first German real estate brokerage. Any such licence is not valid in Nova Scotia.

Robinson currently holds no licence authorizing her to trade real estate in Nova Scotia. Further, Robinson Harmsen Lifestyle Real Estate Inc. is not a licensed real estate brokerage in Nova Scotia.

The Commission advises consumers to work with licensed real estate practitioners who are required to abide by the Nova Scotia Real Estate Trading Act and Commission Bylaws. Consumers can confirm if a person holds a real estate licence by visiting www.nsrec.ns.ca and using the “Licensee Search” tool. 
It is the Commission’s mandate to ensure consumer protection measures are being enforced. This is achieved through conducting brokerage audits, enforcing licensing requirements, administering disciplinary proceedings, if necessary, and making it mandatory for Nova Scotia real estate practitioners to have errors and omissions insurance coverage.

The Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission is the regulator of the real estate industry in the province, whose goal is to ensure consumer confidence through the administration of the Real Estate Trading Act and the Commission Bylaw. The Commission is an independent, non-profit agency that supervises the professional activities of all real estate brokers and salespeople practicing in Nova Scotia.

-30-

_____________________________

If you are unable to view the image above, click here to read the text version. 

The 2018 Mandatory Forms Update course begins January 19, 2018.
The NSREC Board of Directors has approved 14 forms brought forth by the forms committee. The approved forms include the new Agreement of Purchase and Sale and other related forms. These forms contain extensive revisions so there has been a course developed to educate licensees on these changes.

All licensees (excluding licensees who solely practice commercial transactions) MUST complete the 2018 Mandatory Forms Update course, which will be offered between January 19, 2018, and June 11, 2018. There will be no cost to licensees for the course fee, as it will be paid by the Commission during this time frame.

The updated forms will be distributed with watermarks to the industry on January 19, 2018, for review only. The official release of the 14 forms for mandatory use is July 1, 2018.

The forms being reviewed in the course are:
Form 400 - Agreement of Purchase and Sale
Form 210 - Equipment Schedule
Form 402 - Resale Condominium Schedule
Form 404 - Vacant Land Schedule
Form 406 - Mini/Mobile Home Schedule
Form 407 - Multi-Unit Residential Income Property Schedule
Form 431 - Well and Septic Schedule
Form 430A - Sale of Buyer’s Property Schedule
Form 430B - Sale of Buyer’s Property Seller Notice to Buyer
Form 430C - Sale of Buyer’s Property Buyer Notice to Seller
Form 410 - Counter Offer
Form 421 - Amendment to Agreement of Purchase and Sale
Form 420 - Addendum Schedule
Form 440 - Termination of Agreement of Purchase and Sale and Release of Deposit

Advertising in the Digital Age

The other 2017-18 mandatory CPE course, Advertising in the Digital Age, must be completed by all licensees. The date to complete this course is June 12, 2018. For this CPE course, licensees are responsible for the course fee.

Quick Tips for Licensees

A: All Residential Practitioners

1. The 2018 Mandatory Forms Update course MUST be completed by all licensees, except those who solely practice commercial. If you are a licensee that solely practices commercial transactions, go to section “B” for requirements.

The 2018 Mandatory Forms Update course will be offered between January 19, 2018, and June 11, 2018. There will be no cost to licensees for the course fee, as it will be paid by the Commission during this time frame.

2. All licensees MUST complete the Advertising in the Digital Age course by June 12, 2018.

B: Commercial Practitioners

1. If a licensee practices both residential and commercial transactions, they MUST complete the 2018 Mandatory Forms Update course. If you are a licensee that practices both residential and commercial transactions, go to section “A” for requirements.

The 2018 Mandatory Forms Update course is NOT required for licensees who solely practice commercial real estate (zero residential transactions).

It is the responsibility of the broker to ensure that exemptions are relayed to the Commission for those licensees who solely practice commercial real estate.

To request an exemption, the broker must provide a list of the licensee(s) who solely practice commercial transactions to Pam Crane, Licensing Officer, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2. Commercial practitioners MUST complete the Advertising in the Digital Age course by June 12, 2018.

C: First-Time Licensees/Transferring Applications from other Provinces

1. Effective January 1, 2018, all first-time licensees and transferring applicants from other provinces MUST take the 2018 Mandatory Forms Update course. This is an approved exception to Commission Bylaw 323 (d).

The course fee of the 2018 Mandatory Forms Update course for first-time licensees and transferring applicants from other provinces will be paid by the Commission.

2. Per Bylaw 323 (d), any first-time licensees or transferring applicants from other provinces, becoming licensed after January 1, 2018, are NOT required to complete the Advertising in the Digital Age course.

Per Bylaw 323 (a), all industry members must complete the annual CPE requirements prescribed by the Commission for their licence prior to June 15th of each year. Should an industry member fail to complete the requirements, their licence will not be renewed until proof that the requirements have been met and is provided to the Registrar.

Contact NSAR to register for CPE courses.

Remembrance Day 2017

• Office Closure
• Nova Scotia Remembrance Day Act

NEW Brokerage Records and Production Policy

New Brokerage Records and Production Policy 

Office Closure—Thanksgiving
Taking Videos of a Seller's Property