There are moments in our industry when we need to pause before we post, comment, like, share or react. The recent scrutiny surrounding regulatory credibility, governance, trust accounts and the culture of real estate regulation in Ontario is one of those moments. These are serious matters. They affect REALTORS®, Brokerages, Broker Owners, regulators, consumers and, ultimately, the public’s confidence in the real estate profession. And that is precisely why we have RECO.
The Real Estate Council of Ontario exists to regulate the profession in the public interest. Its role is not to fuel social-media debate, determine guilt through Facebook commentary or allow industry personalities to become the court of public opinion. Its role is to investigate, enforce the legislation and, where appropriate, refer matters to the appropriate disciplinary process. That distinction matters.
Across private Facebook Groups, many led by non-practicing REALTORS®, professional conversations can quickly become something very different. A question becomes an accusation. An opinion becomes a conclusion. A comment becomes a headline. A “like” can be interpreted as support. And what someone believes is a private conversation may not remain private for very long. Screenshots can be shared. Comments can be forwarded. Conversations can leave the original group and find their way into the broader public domain.
This is particularly concerning when the subject matter involves an active regulatory investigation, disciplinary proceeding or allegations that have not yet been adjudicated. We need to remember a fundamental principle, an allegation is not a finding. Professionalism means allowing the regulatory and disciplinary processes to do the work they were designed to do.
There is another conversation we should be having, when media organizations cover complex issues involving real estate regulation, governance, trust accounts or professional standards, who should they be turning to for perspective? Every REALTOR® has a voice, and every REALTOR® has the right to express an opinion. But having a voice and having the appropriate expertise to speak authoritatively about a complex regulatory matter are not necessarily the same thing.
If the subject is brokerage governance, perhaps we should be hearing from Broker Owners, Brokers of Record and experienced brokerage executives. If the subject is regulation, perhaps regulatory experts and senior industry leaders should be part of the conversation. If the subject is trust-account compliance, perhaps those with direct operational and fiduciary experience should be explaining the implications. And if the subject is the future of the profession, we should seek perspectives from people who have spent years understanding the systems, legislation, governance structures and responsibilities that underpin our industry.
This isn’t about dismissing someone because they are newer to real estate. It is about matching expertise to the subject matter. Experience matters, particularly when the subject involves the regulation and governance of an entire profession.
The media plays an important role in our industry. Good journalism can educate. It can hold institutions accountable. It can ask difficult questions. It can bring important issues into the public conversation. But when the subject matter is complicated, the quality and experience of the source matter enormously.
Selecting someone primarily because they are outspoken, highly visible on social media or willing to provide a provocative comment can unintentionally turn a serious professional issue into something sensational. That doesn’t serve REALTORS®. It doesn’t serve consumers. And it doesn’t serve the profession.
We need context before commentary. We need facts before assumptions. We need experience before speculation. And we need professional discourse rather than professional drama.
This is also one of the reasons BUZZ deliberately does not comment on legal matters or speculate on allegations involving individuals or organizations. There is a responsibility that comes with being a media organization. There are potential legal and reputational liabilities associated with commenting on matters that have not been established, but there is also a much more fundamental reason, we believe allegations should not become conclusions before the appropriate process has taken place.
Where a matter is before a court, we believe in allowing the court to determine the facts and the outcome. Where a matter falls within a regulatory or disciplinary process, we believe the appropriate regulator or adjudicative body should be allowed to do its job. Not every professional matter is decided in a court of law, but every allegation deserves the appropriate process before it is presented as fact.
That restraint is not weakness. It is responsible journalism.
There is a reason Ontario has a professional regulator. RECO’s mandate exists because real estate involves enormous financial transactions, fiduciary responsibilities, consumer protection and public trust. Trust accounts are not a social-media talking point. Governance is not entertainment. Professional standards are not a popularity contest. And disciplinary matters should not be decided in a Facebook Group.
When concerns arise, they should be reported through the appropriate channels. When allegations are made, they should be investigated. When disciplinary proceedings occur, they should be determined through the established process. That is what a functioning regulatory system is supposed to do.
As an industry, we should want more from ourselves. We should be encouraging REALTORS® to think before they comment. We should be encouraging Brokerages to educate their teams about professional conduct online. We should be encouraging media to seek qualified, informed and experienced voices. And we should be encouraging consumers to understand that social-media commentary is not the same thing as regulatory fact.
There is nothing wrong with asking difficult questions. There is nothing wrong with holding institutions accountable. There is nothing wrong with challenging the status quo. But there is a significant difference between constructive scrutiny and destructive speculation.
One strengthens an industry.
The other soils it.
At BUZZ, we have long believed that credibility is the new authenticity. Credibility isn’t about having the biggest following. It isn’t about being the loudest voice. It isn’t about generating the most comments. Credibility is earned through knowledge, experience, integrity, judgment and the willingness to understand an issue before speaking about it.
That standard should apply to everyone, including REALTORS®, Brokerages, associations, regulators and media.
Our industry is being watched. Consumers are watching. Government is watching. And our own professionals are watching one another.
So let’s raise the level of the conversation.
Let’s allow regulators to regulate.
Let’s allow due process to take its course.
Let’s ask media to seek the most knowledgeable voices.
Let’s respect the difference between an allegation and a finding.
And let’s remember that every comment we make, publicly or within a supposedly private professional community, can contribute either to the credibility of our profession or to its erosion.
Professional standards require professional discourse.
And if we genuinely want a stronger, more trusted real estate profession in Ontario, perhaps the conversation begins with something very simple,
Think before you post.
Know before you comment.
Verify before you share.
And respect the process.
Because ultimately, professionalism isn’t just about how we conduct ourselves in a transaction. It is about how we conduct ourselves when the spotlight isn’t on us.
