A hard-fought and lengthy battle between the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) and the Competition Bureau ended in late August with a Supreme Court of Canada decision that will permit TREB’s 50,000 Ontario agents to publish home sales data on their websites.

The country’s top court refused to hear an appeal from TREB, Canada’s largest real estate board, which wanted to put an end to members posting sales numbers on websites. But the court dismissed TREB’s application.

The board wanted to keep the data in the hands of realtors as it believed publishing the numbers violated consumer privacy. However, critics say TREB was not concerned with issues of privacy but rather market control and ensuring that only realtors with access to the MLS would know the full story behind home sale prices.

What this decision means for consumers is that they will be able to have greater access to information, such as finding out the selling price of homes in certain neighbourhoods or on specific streets, the history of a house and property market trends. This will only serve to make decisions about buying and selling real estate much easier.

Before the only way to access sales data was through real agent requests. And those requests had to be made via fax, email or in person. Others would also look to online property value services or local land registry offices, which charge a fee.

Those who supported removing the restrictions say this has been the case for some time in the U.S. and rather than hinder the real estate market, some say it has actually fueled home sales there and enhanced transparency.

“Today’s decision will allow greater competition and innovation in the real estate services market in the Greater Toronto Area, and concludes seven years of litigation in the bureau’s case against TREB,” the Competition Bureau said in a news release.

“The order requires TREB to remove restrictions on its members’ access and use of real estate data – including restrictions on the display of historical listings and sale prices online through virtual office websites.”

Sources: CBC.ca, Financialpost.com