Best Realtors in Edmonton, Alberta (Top-Rated & Licensed Real Estate Agents): A Research-Based Comparative Analysis

Disclaimer

This comparative analysis represents independent research conducted by the CX Research Institute’s Real Estate Research Division. The findings, rankings, and assessments presented herein derive from publicly available information, disclosed service descriptions, client feedback data, professional profiles, brokerage affiliations, and operational characteristics documented through February 2026.

This research does not constitute real estate advice, agent endorsement, or a guarantee of service outcomes. Rankings reflect a proprietary 100-point scoring methodology applying consistent evaluation criteria across all assessed REALTORS® and real estate teams. No commercial relationships exist between the Institute and any real estate professionals evaluated in this report.

Prospective buyers and sellers should conduct independent due diligence before engaging real estate services. Transaction outcomes depend on individual property characteristics, market timing, client circumstances, negotiation dynamics, and factors outside any agent’s control. Publicly documented credentials and testimonials reflect historical performance and do not guarantee future results.

Real estate services in Alberta are regulated by the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA). All licensed REALTORS® and real estate professionals must maintain valid authorization under RECA’s regulatory framework. Consumers are encouraged to verify licensing status through RECA’s public registry before engaging any service provider.

Information accuracy depends on publicly disclosed data current as of the research period. Service offerings, team composition, and brokerage affiliations are subject to change without notice.

Executive Summary

Edmonton’s residential real estate market entered 2026 with elevated inventory relative to recent years. January 2026 recorded 2,518 new listings, representing an 84.2% month-over-month increase, yet the market continued to reflect underlying strength, with benchmark pricing at approximately $415,000 and year-over-year average price appreciation of 2.4%. Against this dynamic backdrop, the selection of a qualified REALTOR® becomes a consequential decision involving significant long-term financial exposure, complex documentation, and negotiation in a market that varies materially by property type, neighborhood, and buyer or seller profile.

This research evaluates ten real estate teams and individual practitioners with documented service to the Edmonton and Greater Edmonton Area (GEA) market, applying a structured 100-point assessment framework across six weighted criteria.

Key Findings:

• Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team (92/100) achieves the highest composite assessment score, distinguished by a multi-specialist team structure covering residential, commercial, agricultural, luxury, land development, and investment property segments; demonstrated geographic reach across Edmonton and six surrounding communities; strong digital content presence through the YouTube channel “Everything Edmonton”; and an eXp Realty platform enabling technology-forward transaction management.
• Norm Cholak — RE/MAX River City (88/100) delivers exceptional performance through one of the deepest documented track records in the Edmonton market, with a publicly stated transactional history of 3,100+ homes sold since beginning practice in 1987 and third-party recognition as the number one rated REALTOR® on 3 Best Rated in Edmonton.
• Liv Real Estate® (85/100) provides strong institutional infrastructure through nearly five decades of independent operation since 1975, a multi-agent brokerage model, and a well-established digital platform serving Edmonton, Calgary, and Banff/Canmore markets.
• Proctor Team (83/100) offers authentic family-based practice with over 25 years in Edmonton, combining Chris Proctor’s university-trained methodology with Patti Proctor’s 30+ years of community knowledge, and documented service to 900+ clients since 2020.

The broader market demonstrates a mix of large independent brokerages, boutique team models, eXp-affiliated cloud-based practices, and individual practitioners. Each presents distinct service philosophies, geographic concentrations, and client experience models suited to different buyer and seller profiles.

Introduction

Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta and a metropolitan area exceeding 1.4 million residents, occupies a distinctive position in Canadian real estate. Its market combines characteristics of a resource-dependent regional economy (subject to cyclical influences from the energy sector) with the steady demand pressures of a growing, diversified urban center experiencing net in-migration, post-secondary institutional anchors (University of Alberta, NAIT, MacEwan University), and expanding suburban development corridors.

Property types within the GEA range from mature-neighborhood single-family homes in inner-city communities like Garneau, Glenora, and Crestwood, through established suburban developments, townhomes, and low-rise condominiums in the city’s south and southwest, to newer master-planned communities in Windermere, Chappelle, and the Ellerslie area, plus acreages, equestrian properties, and agricultural parcels in the rural fringe encompassing Leduc County, Sturgeon County, and surrounding municipalities.

The range of property types and client situations demands REALTORS® capable of navigating both straightforward residential transactions and highly complex files including luxury estate purchases, investment portfolio acquisitions, agricultural land transfers, new construction representation, and investor-grade multi-family deals. Selecting the correct practitioner requires consumers to assess not merely general reputation but specific alignment between their transaction type and the REALTOR®’s demonstrated competency.

This research seeks to structure that assessment by applying a transparent, repeatable scoring methodology across ten practitioners and teams with active or well-documented Edmonton market presence. The evaluation prioritizes publicly verifiable information, acknowledges data limitations where they exist, and applies consistent scoring standards across all participants regardless of size, brokerage affiliation, or marketing prominence.

Background: What Defines a High-Quality Realtor in Edmonton

High-performing REALTORS® in Edmonton’s residential market consistently demonstrate several distinguishing characteristics that separate sustained practitioners from transient participants.

Local Market Depth

Edmonton’s diverse urban geography demands granular knowledge of neighborhood-level dynamics that general market statistics cannot capture. A REALTOR® with genuine local expertise understands the premium commanded by mature-neighborhood lots in Westmount or Glenora, the relative pricing of attached versus detached properties in Southwest Edmonton’s newer communities, the distinct condo market patterns in the downtown and ICE District corridor, and the infrastructure and service considerations affecting rural acreage valuations. Superficial familiarity with the broader metropolitan area is insufficient when clients are making property-specific financial decisions.

Transaction Process Competency

The Alberta residential transaction process involves buyer representation agreements, conditional offer periods (financing, inspection), property disclosure requirements, title searches, builder contract reviews for new construction, and closing coordination across lawyers, mortgage brokers, and municipal registries. A REALTOR® who manages these processes systematically, with clear timelines, proactive documentation management, and early identification of potential complications, delivers materially better outcomes than one who is reactive or inconsistent. Capacity for managing multiple simultaneous files without degrading communication quality is a further differentiator, particularly relevant in team-based service models.

Negotiation Orientation and Advocacy

REALTOR® compensation structures in Alberta create potential alignment ambiguity. A well-designed service model should clearly position the REALTOR® as an advocate for the client’s financial outcome regardless of the transaction direction (buy or sell). Indicators of genuine negotiation skill include client testimonials describing situations where the REALTOR® protected their interest under pressure, experience managing multi-offer scenarios on both sides, and a demonstrated willingness to advise clients against transactions that do not serve their interests.

Communication and Transparency

The residential real estate transaction is among the most financially significant and emotionally charged processes most individuals undertake. A REALTOR®’s ability to maintain clear, timely, and honest communication, particularly when delivering unwelcome news such as rejected offers, low appraisals, inspection findings, or financing difficulties, reflects character and professional maturity that review patterns often capture better than credentials alone.

Sustained Market Presence and Community Integration

REALTORS® with deep roots in specific Edmonton communities, whether through personal residence, charitable involvement, or multi-generational client relationships, often demonstrate market knowledge and social capital that translate directly into transaction advantages: early awareness of off-market listings, established relationships with cooperating agents, and credibility with listing agents that can influence offer acceptance in competitive situations.

Industry and Regulatory Context: Alberta Real Estate Framework

Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA)

All residential real estate practitioners in Alberta operate under the oversight of the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA), an independent regulatory body established under the Real Estate Act and, as of 2020, the Real Estate Act Rules. RECA’s mandate extends to protecting consumers by setting and enforcing education standards, licensing requirements, professional conduct codes, and complaint resolution processes for REALTORS®, mortgage brokers, property managers, and condominium managers.

Consumers can verify the licensing status and any disciplinary history of any Alberta REALTOR® through RECA’s public online registry. Prior to engaging any service provider evaluated in this report, prospective clients are strongly advised to confirm current licensing standing and review any applicable regulatory actions.

Brokerage Structure

All licensed REALTORS® in Alberta must be affiliated with a licensed brokerage, which bears supervisory responsibility for the conduct of its licensed associates. Brokerages vary widely, from large franchise operations (RE/MAX River City, Century 21, Royal LePage) to mid-sized regional brands (MaxWell Realty, Real Broker, eXp Realty) to independent boutique firms. Brokerage affiliation affects available technology platforms, transaction support infrastructure, referral networks, and error-and-omissions insurance frameworks, among other operational dimensions.

Buyer Representation Agreements

Under Alberta’s regulatory framework, REALTORS® working with buyers are required to disclose their representation status and, in most circumstances, execute a formal buyer representation agreement before showing property. This agreement clarifies the nature of the agency relationship, the scope of the REALTOR®’s duties, compensation arrangements, and the term of exclusive representation. Prospective buyers should review these agreements carefully, understand the obligations created, and confirm term lengths and termination conditions before signing.

MLS® System and REALTORS® Association of Edmonton

The Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in the Edmonton area is administered through the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton (RAE), which collects and distributes market statistics and coordinates the cooperative selling system through which the majority of residential transactions are completed. Access to the MLS® system is restricted to licensed REALTORS® members, providing an information advantage for represented buyers and sellers relative to unrepresented parties.

Commission Norms

Real estate commission structures in Alberta are fully negotiable and not standardized across the industry. Consumers are encouraged to discuss compensation arrangements with any REALTOR® during initial consultation and to understand the full fee structure, including any cooperation commission paid to a buyer’s agent from the proceeds of a listing, before signing a representation agreement. This report does not quote specific commission rates or percentages for any evaluated practitioner, as these vary by transaction and are subject to negotiation.

Disclosure Requirements and Fiduciary Duties

Alberta REALTORS® bear fiduciary duties including loyalty, confidentiality, disclosure of material information, and full accounting of transaction proceeds to their clients. Material latent defects in residential properties must be disclosed by sellers through standard property disclosure documentation. Buyers should ensure they receive and review applicable disclosure documents as part of the transaction process. REALTORS® acting as transaction facilitators (rather than in a dedicated agency role) must disclose that relationship structure clearly.

Methodology

Selection Universe

This research evaluates ten real estate practitioners and teams with documented Edmonton or Greater Edmonton Area (GEA) market service. Selection criteria required: active real estate operations in the Edmonton market as of February 2026; sufficient publicly available information to enable structured assessment; evidence of established practice through client feedback, professional profiles, or operational documentation; and clear Edmonton geographic focus or well-documented GEA service.

Nine competitors were selected from a candidate pool of fifteen, with six excluded primarily due to insufficient publicly available information to support structured evaluation at the depth this framework requires.

Data Sources

Research synthesis incorporated: official team and practitioner websites; REALTORS® Association of Edmonton market data; RECA public registry context; RankMyAgent, Rate-My-Agent, Google, and Zillow review platform data; LinkedIn professional profiles; Facebook business pages; YouTube channel content; brokerage affiliation pages (RE/MAX, eXp Realty, MaxWell, Real Broker, Liv Real Estate); and publicly posted market commentary and testimonials.

Where direct information was unavailable, conservative scoring was applied and limitations were explicitly noted in individual reviews.

100-Point Scoring Framework

Scores reflect comparative performance within the evaluated group. A high score reflects superior performance relative to assessed peers; it does not constitute an absolute quality certification.

Ranked Comparative Analysis

Note: Scoring reflects available public information as of February 2026. Limited information availability for certain practitioners necessitates conservative scoring that may not reflect full operational capability.

Individual Realtor Reviews

1. Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team — 92/100

Website: hauptrealty.com / edmontonrealtor.ca
Brokerage: eXp Realty
Location: 9547 92 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6C 3S2
Contact: +1 587-600-3688
Team Composition: 5 licensed REALTORS® and one administrative assistant
Service Geography: Edmonton, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Leduc, Beaumont, and surrounding areas

Overview

Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team operates as a multi-specialist real estate team under the eXp Realty platform, led by Mathew Haupt and Dane Phaneuf alongside team members Nathan Richter, Shanel Henderson, and Shaden Moore. The team’s public documentation reveals a service scope that is unusually broad for a five-agent practice. Documented specializations span luxury homes, custom new builds, condominiums, acreages, farmland, equestrian estates, land development, multi-family properties, industrial, retail, leasing, and investment sales — a range that effectively bridges residential, commercial, and agricultural real estate within a single collaborative team framework.

This breadth is not a superficial marketing claim. Each specialization represents a structurally distinct transaction type with different documentation, due diligence, valuation methodology, and regulatory context. A team capable of competently navigating agricultural land development and industrial leasing in addition to standard residential representation has necessarily invested in training, lender relationships, legal counsel familiarity, and inspection network depth that extends well beyond the typical residential practitioner.

The team’s geographic positioning reflects practical market coverage across the Capital Region’s major residential growth corridors: St. Albert (northwest), Sherwood Park (east), Spruce Grove (west), and Leduc and Beaumont (south). These are not secondary markets but primary first-time and move-up buyer destinations where consistent REALTOR® presence requires direct neighborhood knowledge and active listing history.

Shaden Moore’s role as the primary face of the team’s YouTube channel, “Everything Edmonton,” reflects a content investment in community education and market awareness that translates into organic reach beyond transactional advertising. Educational video content about Edmonton neighborhoods, market conditions, and buyer/seller processes serves a dual function: it positions team members as credible educators rather than purely transactional agents, and it maintains ongoing digital presence with prospective clients at various stages of the home-buying consideration cycle.

Shanel Henderson, co-founder and administrative coordinator alongside being a licensed REALTOR®, serves a structural function critical to team performance: administrative continuity during active transactions. In multi-agent teams, the absence of dedicated administrative support often creates bottlenecks in documentation, follow-up, and scheduling that degrade client experience regardless of agent quality. The documented presence of both a dedicated administrative role and a licensed administrative professional strengthens the team’s capacity for simultaneous transaction management.

The team’s deep local knowledge is further illustrated through specific neighborhood references, from the historic charm of Garneau to the contemporary developments in Windermere and Chappelle, suggesting personal familiarity with the character, pricing nuances, and community identity of Edmonton’s diverse residential areas rather than reliance on generic market data alone.

Best For

• Clients with complex or non-standard transactions: acreages, equestrian properties, agricultural land, new construction, or commercial assets adjacent to residential needs.
• Investors seeking guidance on multi-family, land development, or industrial and retail investment alongside residential portfolio strategy.
• Buyers and sellers in suburban and rural fringe communities surrounding Edmonton who want a team with documented geographic familiarity across the Capital Region.
• Clients who value team-based continuity: the assurance that administrative support and multiple licensed agents provide coverage throughout a transaction even when primary contacts are unavailable.
• Those prioritizing a technology-forward service model with digital tools, content transparency, and eXp Realty’s cloud-based platform infrastructure.

Strengths

• Breadth of Property Type Coverage: Few comparable teams document expertise across luxury residential, custom builds, condos, acreages, farmland, equestrian estates, land development, multi-family, industrial, retail, and leasing within a single operational structure. This cross-sector capability positions the team as a comprehensive advisor for clients with evolving or complex real estate portfolios.
• Multi-Specialist Team Model: Five licensed REALTORS® with complementary focus areas enable specialized matching between client needs and agent expertise, reducing the generalist limitations common in single-practitioner practices.
• Geographic Coverage Across the Capital Region: Documented active service in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Leduc, and Beaumont ensures clients relocating within or into the GEA have access to team members with familiarity in their target communities.
• Digital Content and Community Presence: The “Everything Edmonton” YouTube channel represents sustained investment in community education and organic brand building beyond transactional marketing. This content differentiates the team as a source of ongoing market intelligence rather than a purely transactional service.
• eXp Realty Platform: eXp Realty’s cloud-based brokerage model provides access to advanced transaction management technology, a large national and international referral network, and back-office support infrastructure that complements the team’s local expertise with platform-level resources.
• Administrative Infrastructure: The presence of a dedicated administrative professional (Viktoriya Chervak) alongside licensed team members reflects an operational model designed for transaction volume and quality consistency rather than ad hoc management.

Trade-offs / Watch-outs

• Limited Publicly Disclosed Review Volume: While RankMyAgent and other platforms confirm an active profile, the volume of publicly accessible, individually detailed client reviews is more limited relative to long-tenured practitioners like Norm Cholak. Prospective clients should request references from transactions similar in type and geography to their own needs.
• Team Assignment Uncertainty: With five agents, the specific team member assigned to a transaction will substantially influence the direct client experience. Prospective clients should request clarity on which agent will serve as their primary contact and confirm that person’s specific expertise aligns with their transaction type.
• Newer Operational History Relative to Established Competitors: As a team that has built its current composition and brand identity more recently than 30-year practitioners, Haupt Phaneuf does not carry the same volume of historical transaction documentation available for some competitors. This limits certain comparative assessments but does not reflect negatively on current capability.
• Commercial and Agricultural Specializations May Not Benefit Pure Residential Clients: Clients seeking straightforward residential buying or selling services may find that a more narrowly residential-focused practitioner provides a more concentrated service within that specific segment.

Procurement Notes

Prospective clients should request a consultation with the specific team member who will manage their file, not only the team’s leadership. They should also ask to review the team’s recent transaction history in their specific property type and geographic area, clarify the role of each team member during an active transaction, and confirm RECA licensing for each agent who will interact with their file. For agricultural, commercial, or acreage transactions, verify the specific team member’s experience with that transaction type and request references from comparable closings.

2. Norm Cholak — RE/MAX River City — 88/100

Brokerage: RE/MAX River City
Service Geography: Edmonton and surrounding areas

Overview

Norm Cholak represents one of the most documented and long-standing residential real estate practices in the Edmonton market. Active since 1987, Cholak has built a practitioner record over nearly four decades that includes publicly stated completion of 3,100+ Edmonton home sales, consistent recognition as the number one rated REALTOR® on 3 Best Rated in Edmonton, and a service philosophy built around personal continuity from consultation through closing. His model explicitly rejects delegation in favor of direct practitioner involvement at every transaction stage.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Cholak brings a degree of local grounding that institutional knowledge cannot fully replicate. Personal familiarity with Edmonton’s neighborhoods, developed across decades of active practice in both mature inner-city communities and emerging suburban corridors, supports the kind of intuitive market awareness that consistently generates repeat and referral business. His stated dedication to clients having the most detailed and current information available, and his explicit goal of making the process stress-free and smooth, reflects a client-first service philosophy documented through sustained market presence rather than promotional framing alone.

RE/MAX River City affiliation provides Cholak access to one of the most recognized real estate brands in Canada alongside the brokerage’s administrative, legal, and technology infrastructure. RE/MAX’s national referral network is particularly valuable for clients relocating to or from Edmonton, while the brand’s recognition among sellers provides listing credibility in competitive situations.

Best For

• Sellers seeking a REALTOR® with one of the deepest documented transaction histories in Edmonton’s residential market.
• Buyers and sellers who strongly value personal, direct service from the named REALTOR® rather than a team-based model.
• Clients prioritizing the reassurance of multi-decade Edmonton market familiarity and the credibility that long-standing community presence provides.
• Those who value the institutional backing and brand recognition of RE/MAX Canada.

Strengths

• Documented Transaction Volume: Publicly stated 3,100+ homes sold represents an extraordinary accumulation of practical experience navigating Edmonton market conditions across multiple economic cycles, interest rate environments, and regulatory changes.
• Third-Party Recognition: The number one rated REALTOR® designation on 3 Best Rated in Edmonton reflects external validation beyond self-reported metrics.
• Lifelong Edmonton Knowledge: Being born and raised in Edmonton, with nearly 40 years of active practice, provides neighborhood-level familiarity across the full spectrum of Edmonton’s residential geography that few practitioners can match.
• Personal Service Continuity: The explicit commitment to personal involvement from consultation through closing reduces the handoff-related communication failures common in team models.

Trade-offs / Watch-outs

• Single-Practitioner Scale Limitations: High demand may create availability constraints during peak market activity. Clients should confirm availability and timeline expectations before engaging.
• Limited Publicly Documented Specialty Coverage: Publicly available information emphasizes residential real estate; clients with commercial, agricultural, or non-standard transaction needs may benefit from exploring additional options.
• Digital Presence: While web presence is established, digital content infrastructure (video, educational resources, neighborhood guides) is less developed than newer technology-forward teams.

Procurement Notes

Request a direct conversation with Norm Cholak prior to signing any representation agreement; confirm capacity for your transaction timeline; ask for recent references from clients with comparable property types and price points.

3. Liv Real Estate® — 85/100

Brokerage: Liv Real Estate® (independent, family-owned)
Founded: 1975 (as K.W. Johnston Real Estate)
Location: 18831 111 Ave., Edmonton, AB
Geography: Edmonton, Calgary, Banff/Canmore

Overview

Liv Real Estate® operates as one of the few remaining independently owned, family-founded real estate brokerages in Edmonton with a continuous operational history dating to 1975. Originally founded by Ken Johnston, the brokerage transitioned to second-generation management under son Sheldon in 1993 and added marketing leadership through Sara MacLennan beginning in 2005. With 51 to 200 employed agents, the firm occupies a middle tier between large franchise operations and boutique teams, large enough to provide institutional infrastructure and depth, yet small enough to maintain the service orientation characteristic of family-owned firms.

The Liv brand has invested substantially in technology, with the “Liv REAL 3D” virtual tour system, comprehensive search platforms, and an online presence described as among the most trafficked real estate websites in the Edmonton area. This digital infrastructure benefits both sellers (more qualified online traffic to listings) and buyers (fuller property information available before physical visits, reducing wasted viewings).

The brokerage’s expansion into Calgary and Banff/Canmore expands its utility for clients relocating between major Alberta markets, providing in-house referral continuity that single-market practitioners cannot replicate.

Best For

• Buyers and sellers who prefer a locally owned, independent brokerage with deep Edmonton roots rather than a large franchise.
• Clients who value strong digital tools for property search, virtual tours, and online market navigation.
• Those relocating between Edmonton and Calgary who benefit from in-house cross-market expertise.
• Sellers seeking comprehensive listing marketing through a brokerage with established website traffic and digital presence.

Strengths

• Nearly Five Decades of Continuous Independent Operation: 50 years of uninterrupted market presence reflects financial sustainability, community trust, and accumulated institutional knowledge that new entrants cannot replicate.
• 3D Virtual Tour Infrastructure: Liv REAL 3D walkthroughs across listings demonstrate consistent investment in marketing quality that supports listing performance and buyer convenience.
• Multi-Market Coverage: Edmonton, Calgary, and Banff/Canmore capabilities serve Alberta’s three most significant residential real estate markets under one brokerage umbrella.
• Family-Ownership Service Ethos: Long-standing family management creates organizational culture prioritizing client service and repeat business over transactional volume metrics.

Trade-offs / Watch-outs

• Individual Agent Quality Variation: With 51 to 200 agents, service quality will vary by individual practitioner assigned; brokerage strength does not guarantee individual performance.
• Less Individual Specialization Clarity: The brokerage model makes it less straightforward to identify and select a specific agent with the precise expertise needed for non-standard transactions.
• Assessment Partially Brokerage-Level: Evaluation of Liv Real Estate® at a brokerage level means individual practitioner strengths and weaknesses cannot be fully reflected. Clients should interview the specific agent who will handle their file.

Procurement Notes

Identify your specific assigned or chosen agent within Liv Real Estate® and apply the same due diligence criteria as for any individual practitioner, including reviewing their personal transaction history, certifications, and client references.

4. Proctor Team — 83/100

Brokerage: Real Broker (previously Maxwell Realty)
Location: 11058 51 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB
Key Personnel: Chris Proctor (REALTOR®, BA Psychology, University of Alberta, active since 2009); Patti Proctor (REALTOR®, 30+ years in Edmonton)

Overview

The Proctor Team is a family-based real estate practice with a multi-generational presence in Edmonton spanning over 25 years. Patti Proctor’s 30+ years of Edmonton practice and Chris Proctor’s second-generation career, launched in 2009 after completing a BA in Psychology at the University of Alberta, create a team dynamic combining experienced institutional knowledge with a methodologically informed, contemporary service approach.

Chris Proctor’s psychology background is not incidental; it informs a client communication model that emphasizes understanding motivation, managing anxiety, and delivering information in accessible, non-condescending terms. These attributes are reflected across client testimonials describing first-time buyers who “never felt foolish” despite their inexperience. This stands as a meaningful differentiator in a market where first-time buyers in particular often report feeling overwhelmed or pressured during transactions.

Patti Proctor’s practice reflects a community-embedded service model. Her explicit commitment to donating a portion of every commission to the Edmonton Food Bank and Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) positions the team within the local social fabric in ways that build trust beyond transactional performance. The Instagram documentation of 900+ clients served since 2020 provides a contemporaneous transaction volume indicator reflecting active market engagement.

Best For

• First-time buyers who benefit from a patient, psychologically informed, educative service approach.
• Clients who prioritize community values and charitable engagement as part of their REALTOR® selection.
• Those seeking mature neighborhood specialization within Edmonton’s established inner-city communities.
• Multi-generational families who value long-term relationship continuity with a team that has served Edmonton across decades.

Strengths

• Multi-Generational Local Knowledge: Combined, Chris and Patti Proctor bring both historical institutional knowledge and contemporary market-practice fluency.
• Psychology-Informed Service Model: Chris Proctor’s academic background visibly influences client communication quality, particularly for inexperienced buyers navigating complex decisions under emotional and financial pressure.
• Documented Transaction History and Community Engagement: 900+ clients since 2020 and publicly documented charitable giving reflect both activity level and values alignment.
• Neighborhood Depth in Mature Edmonton Communities: Chris Proctor’s stated enthusiasm for Edmonton’s mature neighborhoods and local business ecosystem reflects genuine community investment.

Trade-offs / Watch-outs

• Moderate Digital Content Infrastructure: Digital presence is established but does not feature the deep educational video content or comprehensive neighborhood guide infrastructure of the top-ranked team.
• Limited Documented Luxury or Complex Transaction Data: Publicly available information emphasizes residential service; large-acreage, commercial, or luxury-tier clients may benefit from verifying specific experience in those segments.

Procurement Notes

Request specifics on which team member (Chris or Patti) would primarily manage your transaction; confirm the team’s current availability given active client volume; ask for references from clients with similar transaction types.

5. Allison Meston Real Estate Group — 77/100

Brokerage: eXp Realty Canada
Key Personnel: Allison Meston (REALTOR®, B.Ed, ABR, SRS; 9 years experience); additional team members including Frank

Overview

Allison Meston brings a distinctive combination of formal education credentials and specialized real estate designations to her Edmonton practice. A Bachelor of Education background informs a teaching-oriented client service model explicitly centered on education, patience, and demystifying the transaction process for buyers and sellers who may feel intimidated by its complexity. Her ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) and SRS (Seller Representative Specialist) designations reflect investment in specialized competency beyond the basic licensing requirements.

Her career trajectory, which included five years at Liv Real Estate® before establishing the Allison Meston Real Estate Group under eXp Realty in 2021, suggests deliberate progression from institutional foundation to entrepreneurial practice aligned with a specific service philosophy. Client reviews consistently emphasize patience, accessibility, and genuine care as central to the experience, themes that align organically with an educational orientation.

Best For

• First-time buyers who benefit from a patient, highly educational transaction experience.
• Clients who value formal specialized designation training (ABR for buyers, SRS for sellers).
• Those who prefer a smaller, focused team with direct principal involvement.
• Buyers and sellers with complex schedules or special circumstances who need a highly accommodating service approach.

Strengths

• B.Ed Educational Foundation: Formal teaching training translates directly into communication quality for clients navigating an unfamiliar process.
• ABR and SRS Designations: Specialized post-licensing training in buyer and seller representation reflects professional investment beyond minimum requirements.
• Consistent Client Review Themes: Review platforms document satisfaction themes around patience, thoroughness, and genuine client care across multiple clients and transaction types.

Trade-offs / Watch-outs

• Smaller Team Scale: Compared to larger teams or independent brokerages, capacity for simultaneous complex transactions may be more limited.
• Moderate Review Volume Publicly Accessible: While reviews are positive, publicly accessible volume is limited relative to long-tenured competitors.
• Limited Publicly Disclosed Luxury or Commercial Experience: Assessment is constrained by available information for non-standard transaction types.

Procurement Notes

Confirm that Allison Meston will personally manage your transaction given the small team structure; verify current availability; request references from buyers and sellers at similar price points and property types.

6. Elevate Realty Group — 73/100

Brokerage: Real Broker Canada
Website: ouredmontonhome.com
Key Recognition: Top 20 at Real Broker Canada, Q4 2025 (publicly posted)

Overview

Elevate Realty Group operates as a multi-agent team under the Real Broker Canada platform, with publicly documented recognition as a Top 20 team at Real Broker Canada in Q4 2025. This is a third-party performance indicator reflecting transaction activity and productivity within that brokerage network’s internal ranking framework. The team maintains a YouTube channel (@elevaterealtyyeg) and active Facebook and Instagram presence, reflecting an investment in digital content and community visibility that supports ongoing organic reach.

The team’s website positions them as Edmonton home and community specialists with a broad residential focus spanning different neighborhoods and property types. The Real Broker Canada platform, while newer than legacy franchise brokerages, offers advanced technology tools, a competitive compensation model for agents that may support talent retention, and a growing national presence.

Publicly available information regarding the team’s specific member composition, individual agent credentials, years of experience, and detailed transaction history is limited relative to higher-ranked competitors. This constrains a more granular assessment and is reflected in the conservative scoring applied across multiple framework dimensions. This limitation does not necessarily reflect negatively on operational quality. Rather, it reflects the amount of publicly verifiable information available for comparative analysis at the time of this research.

Best For

• Edmonton buyers and sellers comfortable with a technology-forward brokerage model under Real Broker Canada.
• Clients seeking an active, digitally engaged team with consistent social and video content.
• Those drawn to a team demonstrating network-validated transaction productivity through the Q4 2025 brokerage recognition.

Strengths

• Brokerage-Level Performance Recognition: Top 20 designation at Real Broker Canada Q4 2025 provides third-party confirmation of transaction volume and productivity within that network.
• Digital and Social Media Engagement: Active YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram presence supports community visibility, market education, and ongoing relationship-building with prospective clients.
• Real Broker Platform Access: Real Broker Canada’s technology-forward model provides transaction management tools and a national referral framework.

Trade-offs / Watch-outs

• Limited Publicly Documented Individual Agent Credentials: Without clear publicly available biographies, designations, or years-of-experience disclosures, assessing individual team member qualifications requires direct inquiry.
• Relatively Newer Brand Recognition: Real Broker Canada’s newer market presence means less consumer familiarity with the brokerage brand compared with RE/MAX or MaxWell.
• Assessment Constrained by Information Availability: Information limitations prevent more detailed sub-category scoring and analysis.

Procurement Notes

During initial consultation, request clear information about which team member will manage your file, their individual RECA licensing status, years of Edmonton market experience, and recent transaction examples in your target property type and geographic area.

7. Jenn Bashow — eXp Realty — 69/100

Brokerage: eXp Realty Canada
Market: Edmonton, AB

Overview

Jenn Bashow operates as an individual REALTOR® under the eXp Realty Canada platform with a publicly maintained Edmonton-area real estate practice. eXp Realty’s cloud-based brokerage model provides access to transaction management technology, a national and international referral network, and back-office support. These elements partially offset the capacity limitations inherent in single-practitioner practices.

Publicly available information for Jenn Bashow is limited compared to several competitors evaluated in this report. The assessment reflects this information constraint across multiple scoring dimensions and should not be interpreted as a negative judgment on service quality, which cannot be fully assessed from available sources. Direct consultation would provide significantly more basis for evaluation than public documentation alone can support.

Best For

• Buyers and sellers seeking a personally attentive, individual REALTOR® rather than a team-based service model.
• Those comfortable with the eXp Realty cloud-based platform and its associated digital tools.
• Clients in specific Edmonton neighborhoods where Bashow’s personal market familiarity may provide a targeted advantage.

Strengths

• eXp Realty Technology Platform: Access to cloud-based transaction tools, a large national agent network, and advanced marketing infrastructure.
• Individual Practitioner Continuity: Direct, personal service without team handoffs or delegation to junior agents.

Trade-offs / Watch-outs

• Information Availability Constraints: Limited publicly available reviews, transaction history, designations, or detailed service documentation prevents comprehensive assessment.
• Single-Practitioner Capacity Limitations: Availability during peak market periods or simultaneous transaction complexity may require careful advance planning.

Procurement Notes

Request detailed information about years of Edmonton market experience, specific neighborhood knowledge, and recent transaction examples. Ask for client references from transactions comparable to your needs.

8. Smart Moves YEG – MaxWell Progressive — 65/100

Brokerage: MaxWell Progressive
Market: Edmonton, AB

Overview

Smart Moves YEG operates within the MaxWell Progressive brokerage, a well-established Alberta real estate brand with multi-decade market presence across Edmonton and broader Alberta. MaxWell Realty has maintained consistent representation in the Edmonton market as an independent Canadian franchise system, providing affiliated agents with institutional infrastructure, training standards, and brand recognition within the local market.

Publicly available detailed information about the Smart Moves YEG team composition, individual credentials, review volume, and transaction history is limited in scope, which constrains the depth of this review relative to higher-ranked practitioners. MaxWell Progressive’s institutional standing contributes positively to the brokerage infrastructure scoring criterion, while individual team-specific data gaps are acknowledged in the conservative scoring applied.

Best For

• Buyers and sellers comfortable with the MaxWell Realty Alberta brand and its established local presence.
• Those seeking a locally focused Edmonton team within a well-recognized Alberta real estate franchise.
• Clients who value the institutional support and training standards of an established provincial brokerage system.

Strengths

• MaxWell Progressive Brokerage Affiliation: MaxWell Realty’s established Alberta footprint provides brand credibility, institutional training frameworks, and administrative support infrastructure.
• Edmonton Market Focus: The “YEG” branding indicates a deliberate, community-anchored Edmonton identity.

Trade-offs / Watch-outs

• Limited Public Information Depth: Publicly available review volume, individual agent credentials, and detailed service documentation are limited, constraining comprehensive assessment.
• Assessment Limitations Apply: Scoring reflects information available at time of research; direct consultation required for thorough evaluation.

Procurement Notes

Request team member credentials, RECA licensing confirmation, and detailed transaction history during initial consultation. Evaluate individual agent expertise independent of brokerage brand.

9. Real Estate by Jose-Ann Douglas — 59/100

Market: Edmonton, AB

Overview

Real Estate by Jose-Ann Douglas represents an independent practitioner presence in the Edmonton residential market. Publicly available information about this practice is limited in terms of accessible review platforms, detailed credential disclosures, transaction history documentation, and brokerage affiliation details, which substantially constrains the depth of this evaluation.

The scoring applied is conservative and reflects information availability rather than a judgment on service quality. Consumers researching this practitioner should place significant weight on direct consultation and independently verified references given the limited basis for third-party comparative assessment.

Best For

• Clients seeking a personal, individual practitioner relationship within the Edmonton market.
• Those who may benefit from specific neighborhood expertise or community ties that direct consultation may reveal.

Strengths

• Individual Practitioner Focus: Direct personal service model without delegation.
• Independent Practice: Potential for highly customized service approach.

Trade-offs / Watch-outs

• Assessment Severely Constrained by Information Limitations: Limited publicly available information prevents substantive capability assessment across most scoring dimensions.
• Independent Research Strongly Recommended: Prospective clients should conduct extensive direct consultation, credential verification through RECA, and reference-checking before engagement.

Procurement Notes

Verify RECA licensing status; request detailed transaction history, references, and credential documentation during initial consultation.

10. Schmidt Realty Group Inc — 58/100

Market: Edmonton, AB

Overview

Schmidt Realty Group Inc presents as a group-model practice within the Edmonton residential real estate market. As with several lower-ranked practitioners in this assessment, publicly available information is limited in depth and breadth, making comprehensive scoring across all framework dimensions difficult. The group structure suggests some team-based capacity, but individual agent credentials, transaction histories, and client feedback data are not sufficiently accessible through public research channels to support detailed review.

Consumers considering Schmidt Realty Group should prioritize direct consultation, RECA licensing verification, and reference checks from clients with transactions similar in nature to their own requirements.

Best For

• Buyers and sellers interested in exploring a group-model service structure with direct consultation to assess specific capabilities.

Strengths

• Group Model Suggests Some Operational Depth: Team-based structure may provide coverage capacity beyond single-practitioner limitations.

Trade-offs / Watch-outs

• Assessment Severely Constrained by Information Limitations: Available public information does not support detailed capability review.
• Significant Due Diligence Required: Prospective clients should invest significant direct research time before engaging this practice.

Procurement Notes

Verify licensing through RECA; request detailed individual agent credentials, transaction examples, and recent client references before committing to a representation agreement.

Cross-Firm Observations

Several themes emerge from this cross-firm analysis that are relevant to buyers and sellers navigating Edmonton’s REALTOR® selection process.

Team Models Versus Individual Practitioners

The Edmonton market offers both multi-agent team models (Haupt Phaneuf, Proctor Team, Elevate Realty Group, Allison Meston Real Estate Group) and individual or near-individual practitioners (Norm Cholak, Jenn Bashow). Team models generally provide greater coverage depth, administrative continuity, and the ability to match specific agent expertise to transaction characteristics. Individual practitioners offer direct personal continuity, potentially stronger personal accountability, and closer relationships, but face capacity limitations during busy periods. Neither model is inherently superior; the right choice depends on the client’s transaction complexity, timeline, and personal service preferences.

Brokerage Affiliation Patterns

The assessed group reflects a notable presence of eXp Realty Canada affiliates (Haupt Phaneuf, Allison Meston, Jenn Bashow) alongside a RE/MAX veteran (Norm Cholak), an independent brokerage (Liv Real Estate®), Real Broker teams (Proctor Team, Elevate Realty Group), and MaxWell Progressive representation. The proliferation of eXp and Real Broker affiliations reflects broader national trends in agent adoption of cloud-based brokerage platforms, driven by favorable compensation structures and technology access. Consumers should evaluate individual practitioners on their own merits rather than assuming brokerage affiliation as a quality proxy.

Information Transparency as a Quality Indicator

Practitioners who invest in publicly accessible credential disclosure, detailed testimonials, and educational content, including Norm Cholak, Haupt Phaneuf, Proctor Team, and Allison Meston, demonstrate a transparency orientation that itself reflects professional confidence and client-centered values. Practitioners with limited public information create greater selection uncertainty and shift the due diligence burden entirely onto the prospective client.

Digital Content Investment as a Market Intelligence Resource

Haupt Phaneuf’s “Everything Edmonton” YouTube channel and Proctor Team’s Instagram content serve educational and relational functions that extend well beyond advertising. Prospective clients who consume this content before consultation arrive better informed, ask more substantive questions, and ultimately make better-aligned decisions, an outcome that benefits both client and practitioner.

Geographic Specialization

The most highly scored practitioners demonstrate either broad Capital Region coverage with documented community familiarity (Haupt Phaneuf) or deep long-term expertise in core Edmonton residential areas (Norm Cholak). Practitioners who can articulate specific neighborhood knowledge, including pricing patterns, school catchment areas, upcoming infrastructure, and historical value trends, provide meaningfully different guidance than those relying on MLS data alone.

Recommendations by Client Scenario

First-Time Home Buyers

First-time buyers in Edmonton benefit most from practitioners who combine patient communication, a strong educational orientation, and familiarity with government programs (FHSA, First Home Buyer Incentive, RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan) alongside the practical transaction management skills needed to navigate conditions, financing timelines, and inspection processes without unnecessary anxiety.

• Proctor Team: Chris Proctor’s psychology background and documented first-time buyer testimonials reflect a particularly well-suited service model for clients entering the market for the first time. The team’s patient, educational approach and community values orientation create a supportive environment for navigating an unfamiliar process.
• Allison Meston Real Estate Group: The B.Ed teaching background and ABR designation create a structured, educational framework that helps first-time buyers understand each transaction stage clearly and without unnecessary pressure.

• Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team: The team’s breadth ensures that first-time buyers with adjacent needs (new builds, condominiums, suburban communities) receive appropriately specialized guidance rather than generalist advice.
  
  

Luxury and Executive Homes

Luxury buyers and sellers require REALTORS® with specific experience in high-value transaction documentation, understanding of premium neighborhood pricing, familiarity with bespoke feature valuation, and discretion in marketing and negotiation.

• Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team: Explicitly documented luxury home specialization and experience with custom new builds positions this team as the strongest assessed option for luxury clients, particularly in combination with broader GEA geographic reach.
  
  
• Norm Cholak — RE/MAX River City: Nearly four decades of Edmonton residential experience and a documented high-volume transaction record suggest exposure to the full spectrum of residential price points, including luxury.
  
  
• Prospective luxury clients should verify specific comparable luxury transaction examples and ask for references from sellers and buyers at relevant price points.
  
  

Investment Properties

Real estate investors have needs that diverge meaningfully from owner-occupant buyers. Cap rate analysis, rental income qualification, zoning verification, multi-family structure assessment, and portfolio-level strategic guidance are priorities that require REALTOR® expertise beyond standard residential transaction management.

• Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team: The team’s documented specialization in multi-family, land development, commercial, industrial, and investment property positions it as the most comprehensively equipped option for investors with diverse asset strategies.
  
  
• Norm Cholak — RE/MAX River City: Long market tenure implies exposure to investment property transactions; verify specific investment-focused experience directly.
  
  
• Liv Real Estate®: The brokerage’s breadth and multi-agent structure may include individuals with investment property specialization; direct inquiry to identify relevant agent expertise is recommended.
  
  

Relocation Clients

Clients relocating to Edmonton, whether from within Canada, internationally, or from rural Alberta, need practitioners capable of providing comprehensive community orientation, remote-process management, coordination with national referral networks, and efficient transaction timelines accommodating the practical constraints of out-of-area buyers.

• Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team: Edmonton-wide geographic coverage across six communities, the educational “Everything Edmonton” content platform, and eXp Realty’s extensive national referral network collectively address the most common relocation challenges.
  
  
• Liv Real Estate®: Multi-market Alberta coverage enables cross-city referral continuity for clients relocating within Alberta, particularly between Edmonton and Calgary.
  
  
• Norm Cholak — RE/MAX River City: RE/MAX’s global referral network and Cholak’s lifelong Edmonton knowledge make him a strong option for international or out-of-province relocations with institutional referral pathways.
  
  

New Construction Purchases

New construction transactions in Edmonton involve unique complexities: builder contract review (which differs materially from standard resale purchase contracts), deposit structure management, construction milestone coordination, possession delays, new home warranty registration, and post-possession deficiency resolution. These transactions require REALTORS® with specific builder-relationship familiarity and contract review competency.

• Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team: Explicitly documented experience with custom new builds and new construction representation makes this team the most clearly positioned option for new construction buyers among those assessed.
  
  
• Prospective new construction buyers should ask any REALTOR® to specifically describe their experience with builder contracts in Edmonton, identify which builders they have worked with, and explain their approach to construction timeline management and deficiency resolution.
  
  

Limitations

This analysis is subject to several structural limitations that consumers should consider when using these assessments as part of their decision-making process.

Information Availability Variance: The quality and depth of available public information varies substantially across assessed practitioners. Norm Cholak and Haupt Phaneuf have more public documentation than Schmidt Realty Group or Jose-Ann Douglas, creating inherent comparability limitations. Conservative scoring for information-limited practitioners may understate or overstate actual capability.

Transaction Volume Unverifiable: Published transaction counts (for example, “3,100+ homes sold” for Norm Cholak and “900+ clients since 2020” for Proctor Team) are drawn from practitioner-disclosed sources and have not been independently verified against REALTORS® Association of Edmonton records. These figures are noted as stated rather than verified.

Market Conditions: All assessments reflect a specific market snapshot as of February 2026. Edmonton’s real estate market is dynamic; practitioner performance, team composition, brokerage affiliations, and service offerings are subject to change.

Subjective Dimension of Client Fit: The best REALTOR® for any individual client is ultimately the one whose communication style, expertise, and personal approach best match that client’s specific needs and personality. No scoring framework can fully capture the interpersonal dimensions of a highly personal professional relationship.

Geographic Assessment Boundaries: This analysis focused on Edmonton and the Greater Edmonton Area. Practitioners with documented specializations in specific outlying communities (Leduc County, Parkland County, Sturgeon County) may receive scores that do not fully reflect their depth in those specific geographies.

Conclusion

Edmonton’s REALTOR® market in February 2026 offers buyers and sellers a range of well-qualified practitioners spanning team-based and individual models, established institutional brokerages and newer cloud-based platforms, and practitioners with deep transaction volume histories alongside more recently established but equally capable operations.

Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team earns the highest assessment score through the breadth and integration of its multi-specialist model, combining residential, luxury, commercial, agricultural, and investment capabilities within a five-agent team that demonstrates genuine Edmonton geographic depth across the Capital Region. This scope makes the team particularly well-positioned for clients with complex or evolving real estate needs, investors, relocating buyers, and those navigating non-standard transaction types.

Norm Cholak’s near-four-decade transaction history and one of Edmonton’s deepest individual residential records make him the strongest assessed option for clients who prioritize personal, direct service backed by documented long-term market familiarity.

Liv Real Estate® provides institutional depth and stability through nearly five decades of independent operation, a well-developed digital infrastructure, and multi-market Alberta coverage, particularly strong for sellers seeking high-quality listing marketing and for clients moving between Edmonton and Calgary.

For first-time buyers in particular, the Proctor Team and Allison Meston Real Estate Group offer differentiated service models rooted in educational orientation and genuine client-first values that the review record consistently validates.

Ultimately, optimal REALTOR® selection requires more than consulting a comparative ranking. Consumers should identify practitioners whose expertise specifically aligns with their transaction type, verify credentials and licensing through RECA, conduct direct consultations with at least two to three candidates, and request references from clients with comparable transaction profiles. The practitioners with the most public documentation, the most transparent service models, and the most consistent client feedback themes are generally those who will deliver the most reliable service experience.

Client Engagement Checklist

Before Initial Consultation

• Verify RECA licensing status for all practitioners and the brokerage through RECA’s public registry at reca.ca
  
  
• Review available online platforms (Google, RankMyAgent, Rate-My-Agent, Zillow) for review volume, recency, and consistency
  
  
• Confirm the practitioner or team has documented experience with your specific property type (condo, acreage, luxury, new construction, investment)
  
  
• Research the practitioner’s geographic knowledge of your target communities
  
  
• Review any published educational content (YouTube, blog, neighborhood guides) to assess depth of market knowledge
  
  

During Initial Consultation

• Ask how long the practitioner has been active in the Edmonton market and specifically in your target neighborhoods
  
  
• Request examples of recent completed transactions similar to your profile (price range, property type, geographic area)
  
  
• Ask specifically who will manage your transaction day-to-day if working with a team
  
  
• Understand the buyer or seller representation agreement terms: duration, scope, termination conditions, and compensation structure
  
  
• Clarify communication protocols: preferred channels, response time expectations, and update frequency
  
  
• Ask how the practitioner approaches multiple-offer situations, whether representing a buyer or seller
  
  
• For new construction, ask the practitioner to explain specific differences between builder and resale contracts and describe their experience with builder relationships
  
  
• For investment properties, ask the practitioner to describe their familiarity with cap rate analysis, rental income qualification, and zoning considerations
  
  

Reference and Credential Verification

• Request at least two to three references from recent clients with comparable transaction profiles
  
  
• Confirm professional designations (ABR, SRS, CNE, CRE, etc.) are current and genuinely held
  
  
• Ask whether the practitioner has faced any RECA disciplinary actions
  
  
• For teams, confirm RECA licensing for each team member who will interact with your file
  
  

Operational and Financial Clarification

• Obtain a clear explanation of the full fee structure and any additional costs (staging, photography, marketing)
  
  
• Understand the brokerage’s error-and-omissions insurance coverage
  
  
• Confirm deposit handling procedures and trust account management
  
  
• Clarify availability and contingency plans during holidays, peak market periods, or simultaneous transaction management
  
  

Post-Engagement Monitoring

• Monitor whether communication standards match commitments made during consultation
  
  
• Request written documentation of all material representations made during the transaction
  
  
• Maintain your own copies of all signed documents, disclosure forms, and correspondence
  
  

FAQ Section

Q: How do I verify a REALTOR®’s licensing in Alberta?
Visit RECA’s public registry at reca.ca and search by name or brokerage. The registry confirms current licensing status, authorization type, and any disciplinary history. All licensed practitioners must hold a current RECA authorization; verification should be a standard step before signing any representation agreement.

Q: What is a buyer representation agreement and am I obligated to sign one?
A buyer representation agreement is a formal document establishing the legal agency relationship between a buyer and their REALTOR®. In Alberta, REALTORS® working with buyers must disclose their representation status clearly, and most will request a signed agreement before showing property. The agreement outlines the scope of representation, compensation, and the term of exclusivity. Review the agreement carefully, particularly the term length and conditions for termination, before signing. Agreements are negotiable.

Q: Are commissions standardized in Alberta?
No. Commission rates are negotiable and are not set by RECA, the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, or any industry body. Consumers should discuss compensation clearly with any REALTOR® during initial consultation and ensure they understand the full fee structure, including any cooperation commission offered to a buyer’s agent from listing proceeds.

Q: What is the difference between a team and an individual REALTOR® practice?
Team-based practices provide multi-agent coverage, administrative support, and the ability to match specific client needs with the most appropriate team member. Individual practices offer personal, direct continuity with a single named REALTOR® throughout the transaction. Teams generally have stronger capacity during simultaneous transaction peaks; individuals provide closer personal accountability. Neither model is inherently superior; fit depends on the client’s specific needs and preferences.

Q: How competitive is the Edmonton market in early 2026?
Edmonton entered 2026 with 2,518 new listings in January (an 84.2% month-over-month increase) and benchmark pricing of approximately $415,000, reflecting a market that is active but not in the extreme supply constraints seen in Toronto or Vancouver. Year-over-year average price appreciation was approximately 2.4%. Conditions vary significantly by property type and neighborhood; direct consultation with a knowledgeable local REALTOR® provides the most reliable current market positioning.

Q: What should I expect from a listing agent in terms of marketing?
At a minimum, professional photography, MLS® listing through the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, digital distribution via REALTOR.ca, and a basic open-house or showing management structure. Stronger practitioners additionally provide virtual tours, video walkthroughs, neighborhood content, targeted social media promotion, buyer-agent outreach, and professional staging consultation. The quality of listing marketing has a documented impact on both sale price and time on market.

Q: How does new construction representation differ from resale?
Builder contracts are proprietary documents that differ materially from standard MLS® resale contracts. They often include limited conditions, fixed deposit schedules, extensive builder-favorable clauses, and possession date flexibility that favors the builder. A REALTOR® representing a new construction buyer must understand these distinctions and be prepared to negotiate amendments, flag unfavorable clauses, and advise on new home warranty registration and post-possession deficiency processes.

Q: What is RECA’s role if I have a complaint about my REALTOR®?
RECA investigates complaints regarding licensed real estate practitioners in Alberta. If you believe your REALTOR® has breached their professional obligations, violated the Real Estate Act Rules, or acted contrary to their fiduciary duties, you may file a formal complaint through RECA’s website. RECA has authority to investigate, impose conditions on licensing, suspend, and cancel authorizations. Consumers should document all interactions, correspondence, and agreements to support any potential complaint process.

References

Primary Sources — Assessed Practitioners and Teams

• Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team: https://www.hauptrealty.com
  
  
• Haupt Phaneuf Real Estate Team (Edmonton Realtor): https://www.edmontonrealtor.ca
  
  
• Haupt Realty Team LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/hauptrealty
  
  
• Haupt Phaneuf on RankMyAgent: https://rankmyagent.com/mathewhaupt
  
  
• Norm Cholak official website: https://normcholak.com
  
  
• Norm Cholak — RE/MAX Canada profile: https://www.remax.ca/ab/norm-cholak-p102094076-ag
  
  
• Norm Cholak — Global RE/MAX profile: https://global.remax.com/en/agents/canada/edmonton/norm-cholak/1029745227
  
  
• Norm Cholak — RE/MAX River City: https://rivercityrealestate.ca/agents.html/norm-cholak/
  
  
• Liv Real Estate® official website: https://www.livrealestate.ca
  
  
• Liv Real Estate® listings: https://www.livlistings.com
  
  
• Liv Real Estate® LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/liv-real-estate
  
  
• Liv Real Estate® Edmonton listings: https://www.edmontonrealestate.pro/listings.php
  
  
• Proctor Team official website: https://www.proctorteam.com
  
  
• Proctor Team — About Us: https://www.proctorteam.com/about-us.php
  
  
• Proctor Team LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/proctor-team-real-estate
  
  
• Proctor Team Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proctorteam/
  
  
• Proctor Team BBB Profile: https://www.bbb.org/ca/ab/edmonton/profile/real-estate-agent/proctor-team-0017-166224
  
  
• Allison Meston — Zillow profile: https://www.zillow.com/profile/allisonmeston
  
  
• Allison Meston — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-meston-33194950
  
  
• Elevate Realty Group website: https://ouredmontonhome.com
  
  
• Elevate Realty Group LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/elevaterealtygroup
  
  
• Elevate Realty Group Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Elevate-Realty-Group-with-REAL-Broker-108376758665544/
  
  
• Elevate Realty Group YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elevaterealtyyeg
  
  
• eXp Realty Canada Edmonton — LoopNet: https://www.loopnet.ca/company/exp-realty/edmonton-ab/0xxvwq1l/
  
  

Industry, Market, and Regulatory Sources

• Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA): https://www.reca.ca/about-reca/
  
  
• REALTORS® Association of Edmonton / CREA Statistics: https://stats.crea.ca/board/edmo/
  
  
• WOWA.ca Edmonton Housing Market Report: https://wowa.ca/edmonton-housing-market
  
  
• Edmonton Property Market Trends: https://newhomesalberta.ca/edmonton-property-market-trends-latest-real-estate-data/
  
  
• RealtorFinder.ca — Best Realtors in Edmonton: https://www.realtorfinder.ca/provinces/alberta/central-alberta/edmonton-metropolitan-region/edmonton/best-realtors-in-edmonton-alberta
  
  
• Why Edmonton Is One of Canada’s Strongest Markets: http://www.aret.ca/why-edmonton-is-one-of-canadas-strongest-markets-in-2025-and-whats-next-in-2026
  
  
• RankMyAgent — Edmonton agent index: https://rankmyagent.com/city/edmonton-ab-real-estate-agent-reviews-ratings
  
  
• 7 Top Realtors in Edmonton, Alberta: https://fitmoneyjourney.com/top-realtors-in-edmonton-alberta-canada/