RE/MAX Ontario–Atlantic Canada Ends Mandatory Board Membership, Shaking Up Real Estate Norms

In a bold move that threatens Canada’s long-standing “organized real estate” framework,Ontario–Atlantic Canada has reached a $7.8 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit—ending its rule that mandates board and MLS membership for agents and franchisees. This change, announced within the past 48 hours, is the first of its kind for a major brokerage and could reshape how real estate is bought and sold in the country.

What’s Behind the Change

Under traditional Canadian real estate practice, agents were required to join local boards to access the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This structure has long enforced standardized commission rules and restricted how listings are shared.
By dropping the membership requirement, RE/MAX is breaking away from these constraints, allowing agents to diverge from conventional practices—though they may still lose MLS access if not board-affiliated.

RE/MAX’s settlement, while not an admission of wrongdoing, mandates the removal of these structural terms. Agents and franchisees now have greater operational flexibility, and opt-outs to the settlement are permitted until September 22, 2025, ahead of a scheduled court review on October 6.

What This Means for Real Estate and Mortgage Professionals

• Listings Dynamics: Without mandatory board membership, some agents may lose MLS access and need alternative listing strategies. This could fragment the centralized property market, affecting visibility and matchmaking efficiency.
• Commission Practices: The change undermines a longstanding norm of preset commission structures, potentially leading to more negotiable rates—but also raising concerns about transparency.
• Buyer Strategies: Mortgage advisors and buyers may increasingly need to seek properties outside of MLS channels or engage with agents comfortable using diverse platforms.

From an industry standpoint, this speaks to a structural shift in how real estate is traded—moving from rigid centralized systems toward more fluid, broker-specific operations.

Why It Matters

The fallout from RE/MAX’s decision could embolden other brokerages to follow suit, leading to broader industry reform. If key players leave the board ecosystem, the ability of buyers and sellers to rely on MLS as a single, definitive source may diminish. This has implications for pricing transparency, market exposure, and the ease of comparison shopping.

Ontario–Atlantic Canada’s departure from mandatory board policies may mark the first crack in Canada’s tightly controlled real estate structure—potentially reshaping how homes are marketed, sold, and financed in the years to come.