Whether you’re selling a Brossard bungalow or buying your first condo near the REM, a home sale is usually the biggest transaction of your life. Choosing the right real estate broker in Brossard means working with a licensed professional, understanding what you sign and knowing who actually protects your interests at each step.
What the OACIQ does
Residential real estate brokerage in Quebec is governed by the Real Estate Brokerage Act. The Organisme d’autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec (OACIQ) issues licences to brokers and agencies, oversees their practice, handles requests for assistance from the public and can lead to disciplinary action. Its Info OACIQ service answers questions from buyers and sellers before, during and after a transaction.
The OACIQ also manages the Real Estate Indemnity Fund (FICI), a free protection for consumers who suffer fraud, fraudulent tactics or misappropriation of funds by a licence holder, such as a misused deposit. According to the OACIQ, a claim must be filed within two years of becoming aware of the facts. If the person you deal with has no valid licence, you can’t turn to the Fund.
Check the broker’s licence
Before signing anything, look the broker up in the register of licence holders on the OACIQ website. It shows whether the licence is valid, which agency the broker works for and any disciplinary measures.
- Write down the broker’s full name and agency.
- Confirm the licence is active and covers residential brokerage.
- Look for recent disciplinary decisions.
- Be wary of anyone calling themselves an agent who can’t show a licence.
Choosing a real estate broker in Brossard: questions to ask
Meet two or three brokers. Brossard is a varied market, from established single-family sectors to new condos near Quartier DIX30 and the REM stations, plus plexes and townhouses.
- How many similar sales have you closed in this area recently?
- How do you set the asking or offer price, and which comparable sales do you use?
- Who handles visits, follow-ups and negotiation?
- What services are included, from marketing to the notary?
- What fee do you propose, and when is it payable?
To get a feel for prices first, see our guide to Brossard house and condo prices.
The brokerage contract
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Exclusivity | An exclusive contract gives the listing to one agency. If you want to keep the right to sell yourself, it must be clearly written into the contract. |
| Term | Start and end dates are written in the contract. A shorter term gives you more flexibility. |
| Fee | The rate or amount is not set by law or by the OACIQ: it’s negotiable and must be agreed at signing. |
| Ending the contract | According to the OACIQ, you can end it early unless it’s marked irrevocable. Even then, you have three days after receiving a signed copy to cancel, with no fee owed. |
For buyers, the Quebec government notes that a broker who wants to represent you must sign the mandatory purchase brokerage contract with you; a verbal agreement isn’t enough. Without one, the broker showing you a property is working for the seller.
No more dual representation
Since June 10, 2022, a broker can no longer represent both buyer and seller in the same residential transaction (a building with fewer than five dwellings, a condo unit or a residential lot). The Quebec government lists two exceptions: no other broker has an office within 50 km, or two different brokers from the same agency each represent one party. An unrepresented buyer is owed fair treatment and objective information, but the seller’s broker doesn’t protect the buyer’s interests.
Seller’s declarations
For a residential sale through a broker, the seller must complete and sign the Declarations by the seller of the immovable form; the OACIQ says a broker can’t enter into a brokerage contract if the seller refuses. It covers known problems, past work and water infiltration, among other things. Sellers should be thorough and honest. Buyers should read it closely and ask about every vague answer.
Pre-purchase inspection
An inspection isn’t mandatory, but it’s strongly recommended. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec has issued certificates to residential building inspectors since October 1, 2024, and according to the RBQ, the certificate becomes mandatory on October 1, 2027. Until then, check whether your inspector is in the RBQ register, make the inspection a condition of your offer, and get repair quotes before lifting it. Our renovation quotes guide can help.
Promise to purchase and the notary
A promise to purchase is a binding commitment once accepted. It sets the price, deposit, conditions (financing, inspection, sale of another property), deadlines, inclusions and the dates for signing the deed and taking possession. In Quebec, the deed of sale is signed before a notary, who checks the titles, handles the funds securely and publishes the deed in the land register. Estimate your transfer duties ahead of time with our Brossard welcome tax calculator.
Buyer protection habits
- Never hand over a cash deposit; ask which trust account it goes into.
- Keep a copy of every signed document.
- Get advice before accepting a sale without legal warranty.
- If there’s a problem with a broker, contact Info OACIQ.
FAQ
Is a broker’s commission fixed?
No. According to the OACIQ, neither the law nor the OACIQ sets it. It’s negotiated and written into the brokerage contract.
How do I check a broker’s licence?
Use the register of licence holders on the OACIQ website.
Can the seller’s broker represent me as the buyer?
In residential transactions, no, except for the exceptions allowed by law since June 2022.
Sources: OACIQ, Government of Quebec, Régie du bâtiment du Québec. Information checked in November 2026.
brossard.city is an independent guide, not affiliated with the City of Brossard. Information is provided for general guidance only; check with official sources before making any decision. Spotted an error? Let us know.