More than 1,000 attendees joined some of the world’s foremost real estate and marketing experts to celebrate CREB^®’s 75th Anniversary at the 2018 Forecast Conference and Tradeshow. 

As the crowd rose to “high five” for 75, CREB^®’s newly-elected president, Tom Westcott, took the opportunity to acknowledge CREB^®’s ongoing success and the role that each member has in shaping that story.

Optimism on the horizon for 2018 housing market

CREB^®'s chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie delivered a comprehensive 45-minute presentation on Calgary and area’s housing market, with key insights into the housing types and sectors where members can find an edge.

While Calgary is officially out of a long period of economic downturn, the path to recovery is expected to be bumpy as the impact of stricter lending criteria and higher interest rates is likely to offset modest improvements in the economy.

As the market continues to adjust to the 'new normal', modest job growth and net migration are expected to continue, with expectations of further improvements into 2018.

Be sure to get your own copy of the 2018 Forecast Report. 

Learning how to outsmart, not outspend, the competition

2018’s keynote speaker, advertising expert, CBC radio host and author Terry O’Reilly, delivered a fascinating talk on the how the power of ideas – not budgets - is the key to defining your identity in marketing real estate. 

As Calgary’s market continues its slow recovery, it’s the perfect time to look at how you market to your clients, and ask yourself the tough questions around why you do what you do. For O’Reilly, the emotional power of home ownership (not to mention the fact that it is the single most important purchase Canadians are likely to make in their lives) gives REALTORS^® an opportunity to get creative – and make a lasting impact on their industry.

Gaining an edge from the best in real estate

Throughout the afternoon, attendees enjoyed the sold-out tradeshow and invigorating professional development sessions. Attendees learned sought after secrets in the business including the best ways to manage clients, how to leverage technology and data to find your next big sale and find the right balance in your work and personal life. 

To follow the day’s fantastic conversations, be sure to check out the #CREB18 hashtag on Twitter, where we once again reached number one on trending conversations.

By all accounts, this year’s forecast conference was a remarkable success. We are already at work on next year’s event. Please ensure you complete your post-event survey to make sure that Forecast 2019 is even better!