I hope you are flourishing in your real estate career. But if you are like many people right now, things may have slowed down for you.
Perhaps so slow that it has left you feeling a little tight in the chest and wondering what to do next.
During these economically slow times, we have to be a little more resourceful. Perhaps shift gears or pivot directions.
If you have a plan to get through these times, I wish you the very best of luck and success.
If you don’t have a plan, if you are not sure what directions to go or even what options there might be out there, I would like to propose this possible path.
Get your Rental Property Manager or Strata Manager license.
If you are already a licensed real estate agent in British Columbia, you’ve already invested time, money, and effort to build a solid foundation of property knowledge. Knowledge that puts you more than a step ahead in getting your property or strata manager license.
But what makes becoming a property or strata manager more stable or even appealing as a possible new career path?
Let me address both the opportunity that property and strata management currently offer, why they are a stable choice, and what kind of money you can look to make on these paths.
BC Property Managers: A Growing Shortage — and an Expanding Industry
The province is in the midst of a major shift in how and where people live. Driven by rapid urban development, population growth, and a strong push toward multi-unit housing, demand for qualified property and strata managers is surging — and the gap between supply and demand is widening.
According to the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA):
- The number of Rental Property Management licensees has stayed nearly flat since 2019, sitting around 4,600 in 2024.
- The number of Strata Management licensees has grown slowly — up about 13% since 2018, to roughly 1,500 in 2024.
Meanwhile, rental housing construction is at record highs.
BC Housing reports that in just the first five months of 2025, 25,029 new homes were registered in the province — including 22,379 multi-unit homes, up nearly 40% year-over-year.
In May 2025 alone, 4,660 purpose-built rental units were registered, more than double the number from May 2024, representing over half of all multi-unit registrations.
This massive expansion in both rental housing and strata developments means more properties to manage, more regulations to navigate, and more need for trained professionals to keep the system running smoothly.
Rising Complexity Increases Demand
As the number of managed buildings grows, so does the complexity of managing them.
- Regulatory changes under the Strata Property Act, Residential Tenancy Act, and evolving municipal bylaws continue to increase administrative and compliance requirements.
- Strata corporations, if they are paying to have the strata managed, are required to have licensed strata managers, and the number of strata corporations across BC continues to climb.
- New building codes, energy-efficiency standards, and sustainability measures are increasing the technical knowledge required of managers.
The result? Each strata corporation or property portfolio now requires more administrative hours per manager, making the existing workforce even more stretched.
BCFSA’s recent statistics show declining course enrolments for both Rental Property and Strata Management licensing programs — signaling that the pipeline of new professionals entering the industry is shrinking just as demand is peaking.
What This Means for Real Estate Agents
This gap spells opportunity — especially for licensed real estate professionals.
As you already understand contracts, negotiations, and property law, you’re well on your way to become a BC property manager.
Much of the foundational material from your Trading Services education overlaps directly with the content in the Property or Strata Management courses.
In fact, as a licensed agent, you may even qualify to take the supplementary version of these UBC programs, meaning:
- Shorter study time
- Lower tuition fees
- Shorter exam
Stability, Growth, and Strong Earning Potential
Aside from stability, these fields are financially rewarding. Typical salary ranges in British Columbia are:
- Property Manager: $60,000 – $90,000 per year (with senior or large-portfolio roles exceeding $120,000).
- Strata Manager: $55,000 – $90,000 per year (with experienced managers reaching $100,000 +).
- Dual-licensed (PM + ST): $90,000 – $120,000 +, with high-earning potential for those managing complex or high-rise portfolios.
While these yearly salaries might be less than what you were making during the market at its peak, the earnings are higher than the general average full time salary in BC (approximately ~ $53,042/year in BC or ~ $62,250/year in Vancouver) and offer more stability and salaried income rather than purely commission.
With consistent employment demand, predictable income, and long-term growth opportunities — it’s easy to see the benefits of making the switch.
And because Property and Strata Management provide consistent monthly income, you can also look at managing portfolios part-time while continuing your real estate sales business — creating two income streams under one professional umbrella.
A Future-Proof Career Path
Between record new construction, aging managers nearing retirement, and increased government oversight, BC faces a looming shortfall in qualified Rental Property Managers and Strata Managers.
Training capacity has not yet caught up — but for real estate agents ready to expand their skillset, that’s excellent news.
You already have the foundation.
Now, it’s time to build on it — and step into one of the most stable, in-demand, and future-focused roles in the housing industry.
The need is real. The opportunity is now. And your real estate background is the perfect launchpad.
Ready to Pivot Your Real Estate Career?
If you’re a past GOBC student and are considering expanding your career into Property Management or Strata Management, we’d love to help you make that transition.
GOBC is offering special discounts and support to help you build on your real estate foundation and step confidently into one of BC’s most in-demand professions.
👉 [Click here to learn more and start your next chapter.]
Help Shape the Future of BC’s Property & Strata Management Industry
We’re conducting a short survey to better understand the growing workforce challenges facing BC’s property and strata management sector — from staffing shortages and training gaps to rising administrative costs.
Your input will directly inform an upcoming GOBC Workforce Report designed to support decision-makers, improve training programs, and strengthen industry collaboration.
👉 [Take the 5-Minute Survey Now]
Let’s Work Together to Support BC’s Housing Industry
The demand for skilled Strata and Property Managers is growing fast — and GOBC is helping bridge the gap.
If your company would like to connect with qualified new licensees and support ongoing professional development in the industry, we’d love to hear from you.
📨 Get in touch with us to discuss partnership options. +1 (604) 239-3575
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