STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.

Nanaimo realtor newest B.C. Real Estate Association president

Mar 28, 2017 | 9:20 PM

NANAIMO — The newest president of the B.C. Real Estate Association says he has a vision for how to correct the province’s spiral into a housing crisis.

Realtor Jim Stewart, who sells in Nanaimo, was elected to the position after sitting on the board for several years.

Repairing a fractured relationship between the association and the province is one of his main tasks. The relationship turned sour when the association lost their ability to self-govern and weren’t treated as their own entity, according to Stewart.

“When we lost self-regulation, that was a personal blow to me,” Stewart said. He was the chair of government relationships with the association at the time. “We’re going to work real hard to make sure we can represent the interests of 22,000 realtors throughout the province.”

In recent days, Stewart said he’s met with various representatives from the province to help bring their relationship back on track.

By having a solid base and better communication between themselves and other agencies, Stewart said they can help tackle other issues.

“We’re also trying to wrestle (housing) affordability in how we can help government move forward and get more inventory. It’s gonna be a tough challenge, I don’t under-estimate the challenges,” he said.

Both housing affordability and availability have been major issues in Nanaimo and B.C.

In 2017 the housing market is expected to slow, with more options on the market for buyers.

 

spencer.sterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit