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You can’t post to REALTOR.ca yourself. It shows listings from boards’ MLS® Systems, and only REALTOR® members can list on those. As a private seller, you hire a brokerage for a flat-fee MLS® listing (a mere posting). It posts your home, and you handle showings and negotiation.
Why can’t you post on REALTOR.ca yourself?
REALTOR.ca isn’t a classifieds site. The Ottawa Real Estate Board explains that it’s a website run by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). It shows a shorter version of most listings uploaded to local MLS® Systems, and only a REALTOR® can list on a board’s MLS® System. CREA’s rules say the same: only REALTOR® members may place listings, and the listing brokerage must act for the seller to post, change or remove them.
A small but useful detail: “REALTOR®” is a CREA trademark for its members, and not every real estate agent is a REALTOR®. The brokerage you use must be a member of a board, or you won’t reach MLS®.
How do private sellers get on REALTOR.ca?
Through a mere posting: a flat-fee agreement in which a member brokerage posts your listing while you handle the sale. CREA’s rules leave services beyond posting up to the brokerage and seller to agree, and RECO’s guide notes some sellers sign an agreement just to be advertised on a listing service. Read more in What is a mere posting?.
Step by step: listing on REALTOR.ca with ListedBySeller.ca
- Pick a package. Month to month ($74.99) or 2, 3, 6 or 12 months ($98.99 to $197.93), all plus HST. Pricing starts as low as $16.49 a month with our 12-month plan ($197.93 for 12 months, plus HST). See the pricing page.
- Prepare your details. Address, price, room sizes, taxes, features and what’s included. Get the facts right: RECO recommends that listing details be backed by documentation.
- Add photos. Up to 40 on REALTOR.ca. Bright, level, uncluttered shots work best. Paid photo services are available; see current pricing.
- Submit online and verify. You’ll need photo ID and a property tax bill before your listing goes live.
- Go live. Your listing is posted by ICI Source Real Asset Services Inc., Brokerage on the PropTx MLS® System, and from there it reaches REALTOR.ca. Typical timing: about two days.
- Handle leads. Buyers call the brokerage’s 24/7 receptionist, click Email REALTOR (forwarded to you automatically, usually within 5 minutes), or click Go to Listing to reach your property page.
- Show and negotiate. You book showings and review offers with your lawyer. Use our free agreement templates or paid agreement preparation.
What appears on your listing?
| Item | On REALTOR.ca | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photos and description | Yes | Up to 40 photos on our packages |
| Price and property details | Yes | You can update them online at no charge |
| Your phone or email | No | Brokerage contact only; leads are forwarded to you |
| Link to your property page | Yes, via Go to Listing | Your contact details appear there |
| Offer to buyer’s brokerage | Shown on the MLS® listing | You set the amount; many sellers offer 2% to 2.5% |
That last row matters. CREA’s rules require the listing REALTOR® to offer compensation to the buyer’s brokerage on MLS® listings, and a zero offer isn’t allowed. CREA confirmed this in October 2025, and the Competition Bureau is investigating the rule. Ask before you list.
Which areas are covered?
Listings go on the PropTx MLS® System, which covers 14 boards, including the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board and the Ottawa Real Estate Board, at no extra charge. If your area’s buyers mainly search another board, our interboard upgrade adds it for an extra fee (see current pricing on that page). Local guides: Toronto, Mississauga, Durham Region and London.
What should you prepare for after you go live?
Calls from buyers’ agents, often within days. RECO’s page on representing yourself is worth reading first: buyers’ agents represent their clients, and you’re responsible for your price, terms and documents. Line up a real estate lawyer before offers arrive.
Frequently asked questions
Can a homeowner list directly on REALTOR.ca?
No. REALTOR.ca is operated by CREA and displays listings uploaded to member boards’ MLS® Systems, which only REALTOR® members can list on. A flat-fee brokerage listing is the way in.
How long does it take to appear on REALTOR.ca?
With ListedBySeller.ca, your listing typically goes live about two days after submission. Timing depends on approval of your details and the board’s system.
Will my phone number show on REALTOR.ca?
No. Only the brokerage’s contact details are shown there. Buyers reach you through the brokerage’s 24/7 receptionist, the Email REALTOR button (forwarded to you automatically), or the Go to Listing link to your property page.
How many photos can I upload?
Our packages let you upload 40 photos to REALTOR.ca.
Which MLS® System will my listing be on?
Our listings go on the PropTx MLS® System, which covers 14 Ontario boards. Interboard listing on other boards is available at extra cost.
Can I list a rental on REALTOR.ca?
Yes. Landlords can list for lease the same way. See our leasing services.
Can I edit or cancel my listing?
Yes. Changes are made online, and we don’t charge to change or cancel a listing.
Sources
All sources below were checked on October 23, 2026. Rules and rates change, so confirm anything important with the source or a professional.
- Ottawa Real Estate Board: REALTORS® and the MLS® System
- CREA By-Laws and Rules (approved April 2025), Rule 11.2
- CREA: Trademark protection and competition
- RECO Information Guide (Real Estate Council of Ontario)
- RECO: Know the risks of representing yourself
- CREA statement, October 15, 2025
- Competition Bureau Canada: call-out for information on CREA’s commission rules and Cooperation Policy
