RECA releases information to the media and the public when we have announcements, issue a consumer alert, suspend a licensee, or when licensees take a lifetime withdrawal. Media should contact communications@reca.ca for more information.
RECA’s consumer protection mandate means RECA must use every means at its disposal to communicate important information to consumers. Browse the 2021 news releases below or select another year from the archives menu:
Calgary, Alberta – Consumers and licensees should be aware of real estate and mortgage brokerage services being offered without a licence in Calgary.
Dreamland Homes, which formerly operated as Nawab Homes, is an unlicensed brokerage operated by two unlicensed individuals: Azher Haleem Chaudhary (Chaudhary) and Syed Hassan-Nawab (Nawab).
In 2017, Nawab Homes was issued a $25,000 administrative penalty by the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) for unauthorized dealing in mortgages. Since then, RECA has received several complaints about continued unlicensed dealings in both mortgages and real estate by Dreamland Homes, Chaudhary, and Nawab. RECA issued a previous public alert about Dreamland Homes on June 30, 2021 after the Residential Real Estate Broker and Mortgage Broker industry councils issued orders under s.10 of the Real Estate Act for Dreamland Homes to cease their unlicensed activity.
On November 19, 2021, RECA’s Registrar issued additional administrative penalties to these same individuals and companies, totaling $225,000 for offering mortgage and real estate services without a licence.
Using licensed brokerages and individual licensees protects consumers under the consumer protection fund in case of fraud or breach of trust. Licensed individuals have the education and accountability necessary to provide competent service to the public, and are required to carry errors and omissions insurance.
Consumers and licensees should verify the licence status of brokerages and individuals on RECA’s website by following these steps:
Chaudhary and Nawab have many aliases in their dealings with consumers and licensees:
Chaudhary is also known as:
Nawab is also known as:
Dreamland Homes is located at 406-4656 Westwinds Drive NE, Calgary.
If you have concerns regarding Dreamland Homes, Nawab Homes, or the individuals mentioned, contact us at info@reca.ca.
Calgary, Alberta—Starting today, condominium management companies (brokerages) and individual condominium managers must hold a licence with the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) to provide condominium management services.
Individuals and companies that have not obtained their licence with RECA must immediately cease all condominium management activities.
“Today is the culmination of over six years of work between RECA, condominium managers and associations, and the Alberta Government,” said Don Newell, Chair of RECA’s Residential Property Manager Industry Council. “I want to thank Service Alberta, RECA’s administration, and Alberta’s condominium managers and associations for their dedication to consumer protection.”
Licensing means individuals meet the education and experience requirements to provide condominium management services in accordance with current legislation, and that they must abide by the standards of practice that detail the responsibilities, prohibitions, and practices of condominium managers in Alberta. Condominium boards can trust that the condominium manager they hire for their complex will be competent and accountable to the standards of practice.
“Consumer protection is at the heart of RECA’s mandate and is the main purpose behind this licensing initiative,” explains Newell. “Though many condominium management companies have operated professionally and successfully in Alberta for years, their clients now have the added protection of a regulated environment.”
Licensed brokerages are operated by a licensed broker and meet operating and reporting requirements set by RECA and the Residential Property Manager Industry Council.
Condominium boards that do not use a condominium management company and manage their own complex do not require a licence from RECA.
More information on which activities require a licence can be found in the Real Estate Act s.1(1)(e.2).
Consumers can also perform a quick search to see if your condo manager is licensed using the Find a Licensee tool on reca.ca.
Calgary, Alberta—on November 10, 2021, the Chair of the Residential Real Estate Broker Industry Council of the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) suspended the real estate licence of Michael Emmanuel Francis. Francis is not licensed to trade in real estate.
The Chair determined it is in the public interest to temporarily suspend Francis pending the outcome of conduct proceedings under the Real Estate Act.
Allegations against Francis include, breaching of:
Real Estate Act Rules s.41 Licensee must:
Real Estate Act Rules s.42 Licensee must not:
Francis was most recently registered as a real estate associate with Diamond Realty & Associates Ltd.
Calgary, Alberta – On October 5, 2021, the Chair of the Residential Real Estate Broker Industry Council of the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) suspended the real estate licence of Justin James Fraser.
Fraser is not licensed to trade in real estate.
The Chair determined it is in the public interest to temporarily suspend Fraser.
Allegations against Fraser include:
Fraser was most recently registered as a real estate associate with Century 21 Leading.
Calgary, Alberta – On August 16, 2021, the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) suspended the real estate licence of Lalit Bhatla.
Bhatla failed to comply with the term placed on their licence by the Registrar. As a result of this suspension, Bhatla may not trade in real estate in Alberta.
Bhatla was most recently registered as a real estate associate with 2336721 Alberta Inc. o/a Save Max Avitos Real Estate Brokerage in Calgary.
Share this story: August 16, 2021 – Lalit Bhatla Real Estate Licence Suspended
Calgary, Alberta—the RECA Board of Directors is pleased to announce Russ Morrow as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RECA. Morrow will officially assume the role on August 9, 2021.
Hailing from Edmonton, Morrow comes to RECA with extensive experience in the banking industry both as a participant in a regulated industry, and as part of the regulator. Morrow spent 13 years in the credit union industry as a senior executive and CEO at River City Credit Union, ABCU Credit Union, and as a senior manager at ATB Financial. He also served as an assistant vice president at the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation, the regulatory body for credit unions in Alberta. Morrow also holds an M.B.A. from McGill University.
“On behalf of the Board, I welcome Russ Morrow to RECA and to this important leadership role,” said Board Chair Patricia McLeod, “With his extensive experience in leading organizations, and his experience on both sides of a regulated industry, the Board has full confidence in Russ and his ability to lead RECA into this new era of regulation in the real estate industry.”
The CEO is a role appointed by, and responsible to, the Board of Directors. The CEO acts as the chief administrative officer of RECA, and will be the Board’s sole employee relationship with RECA staff.
“I appreciate the confidence of the Board, and I look forward to hitting the ground running as CEO,” said Morrow. “One of my first acts in the role will be to plan meetings with all major stakeholder groups, and to get to know everyone I can in the industry to best prepare myself, and RECA, for success.”
The position of CEO was previously called the Executive Director. Through a resolution by the Board, the CEO will take over all powers and responsibilities from the Real Estate Act that are prescribed to the Executive Director.
“Filling the CEO position has been one of the most important tasks for the Board since our forming in December 2020,” continued McLeod. “I look forward to working closely with Russ as we guide RECA in ensuring it fulfills its consumer protection mandate and remains focused on licensing and enforcement.”
Share this story: July 20, 2021 – Announcing RECA’s New CEO
Calgary, Alberta—On July 14, 2021, Warren Phipps, previously a real estate broker in Calgary, applied to permanently withdraw from industry membership.
At the time of his application, Phipps was the subject of an investigation under the Real Estate Act. The issues under investigation regarding Mr. Phipps were with respect to:
At the time of Phipps’ application, the matter had not been heard by a RECA Hearing Panel and no finding of conduct deserving of sanction has been made.
Under the Real Estate Act, Phipps’ withdrawal application has been approved, resulting in conduct proceedings discontinuance and voluntary lifetime prohibition from industry membership.
For more information, please see the approval letter issued by the Chair of the Residential Property Manager Industry Council.
Calgary, Alberta – The Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) is warning consumers about Dreamland Homes, which has been offering real estate and mortgage services without a licence in the Calgary area.
Dreamland Homes, formerly operating as Nawab Homes, is an unlicensed brokerage operated by two unlicensed individuals: Azher Haleem Chaudhary (Chaudhary) and Syed Hassan-Nawab (Nawab).
In 2017, RECA issued a $25,000 administrative penalty to Nawab Homes for unauthorized dealing in mortgages.
Since then, RECA has received several complaints about unlicensed dealings in real estate and mortgages by Dreamland Homes, Chaudhary, and Nawab.
Using licensed brokerages and individual licensees protects you as a consumer. It ensures the licensee has the necessary education and experience to best provide you services and protects you under the consumer protection fund in case of fraud or breach of trust.
RECA urges consumers and licensees to verify the licence status of brokerages and individuals on RECA’s website by following these steps:
Chaudhary and Nawab have many aliases in their dealings with consumers and licensees:
Chaudhary is also known as:
Nawab is also known as:
Dreamland Homes is located at 406, 4656 Westwinds Drive NE, Calgary.
If you have concerns regarding Dreamland Homes or the individuals mentioned, contact us at info@reca.ca.
Share this story: June 30, 2021 – Consumer Alert: Dreamland Homes – Unlicensed Brokerage
Calgary, Alberta—The Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) is warning consumers about Warren Phipps, a former real estate broker, and Mountain Park Real Estate Ltd., a former brokerage in the Calgary area.
Phipps was offering property management services through Mountain Park Real Estate Ltd. without holding a real estate licence from RECA.
On March 26, 2020, RECA suspended Phipps’ real estate licence. On May 20, 2020, RECA also cancelled Mountain Park Real Estate Ltd.’s brokerage licence.
If a consumer is using Phipps’ services, or any services of Mountain Park Real Estate Ltd., they may not be protected by the consumer protection fund or covered under the professional’s errors and omissions insurance. These are only available if a consumer is using a licensed brokerage.
RECA urges consumers to verify the licence status of brokerages and the authorized practice areas of licensees on RECA’s website by following these steps:
Real estate licensees who are licensed in property management will have “P.M.” listed in the “Real Estate Sectors” column.
Using licensed brokerages and individual licensees protects you as a consumer. It ensures the licensee has the necessary education and experience to best provide you services and you are protected under the consumer protection fund in case of fraud or breach of trust.
If you have concerns regarding a licensee, contact us at info@reca.ca.
Share this story: June 25, 2021 – Consumer Alert: Warren Phipps and Mountain Park Real Estate – Unauthorized Property Management
Calgary, Alberta – On June 15, 2021, the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) suspended the real estate licence of Pargat Pnag.
Pnag failed to comply with the term placed on their licence by the Registrar. As a result of this suspension, Pnag may not trade in real estate in Alberta.
Pnag was most recently registered as a real estate associate with Urban-Realty.ca in Calgary.
Calgary, Alberta—On May 14, 2021, a Hearing Panel of the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) cancelled the real estate broker licence of Thomas Darrol Cowley for one year.
On March 25, 2021 the Hearing Panel found that Cowley had engaged in the following conduct deserving of sanction:
Cowley may reapply for a real estate licence after May 15, 2022, but only as an Associate. Cowley is banned from holding a real estate broker licence in Alberta. In addition to the cancellation, Cowley is required to pay $37,500 in fines and $8,020 in costs.
Cowley was most recently registered as broker for Residential One Real Estate, which is currently unregistered.
Share this story: May 20, 2021 – Thomas Darrol Cowley Real Estate Broker Licence Cancelled
Calgary, Alberta—On May 7, 2021, the Commercial Real Estate Broker and Commercial Property Manager Industry Council of the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) suspended the real estate licence of Sameer Kalia. Mr. Kalia is not licensed to trade in real estate or provide property management services.
The Commercial Real Estate Broker and Commercial Property Manager Industry Council determined it is in the public interest to temporarily suspend Mr. Kalia.
Allegations against Mr. Kalia include:
Mr. Kalia’s licence will remain suspended until the current proceedings under Part 3 of the Real Estate Act concerning his conduct are completed.
Mr. Kalia was most recently registered as a real estate associate with Lampas Holdings Ltd. o/a Re/Max River City.
Share the story on social media: May 10, 2021—Sameer Kalia Real Estate Licence Suspended
NOTE: David Lawrence Bauer’s suspension ended on June 2, 2020, as they have fulfilled all the requirements to reinstate their licence.
Calgary, Alberta – On March 8, 2021, the Residential Property Manager Industry Council of the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) suspended the real estate licence of David Lawrence Bauer. Mr. Bauer is not licensed to trade in real estate.
RECA determined it is in the public interest to temporarily suspend Mr. Bauer.
Allegations against Mr. Bauer include:
Mr. Bauer’s licence will remain suspended until the Registrar is satisfied that he has cooperated with all requests relating to the investigation in question.
Mr. Bauer was most recently registered as a real estate broker with Maxwell Direct Realty. Maxwell Direct Realty remains open at this time.
Share this story on social media: March 8, 2021- David Lawrence Bauer Real Estate Licence Suspension
