The recent developments in the Canadian housing market paint a daunting picture, especially in light of the ambitious promises made in Budget 2024. The government's pledge to construct an additional 2 million homes over the next 7 years appears increasingly improbable when examined against the current realities across various industries. Consider h…

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March revealed a 2.9% year-on-year increase, slightly up from February's 2.8%, primarily driven by surging gasoline prices. However, the report unveiled a concerning trend in the Bank of Canada's preferred measures of core inflation. Both CPI median and CPI trim not only declined on a 12-month basis but also fell …

In a landscape of economic uncertainty and shifting market expectations, the Bank of Canada's decision to maintain its overnight rate at 5% on Wednesday marks the sixth consecutive hold. This is solidifying a rate that has remained unchanged since July, now spanning nine months. With the next announcement slated for June 5th, Canadians are hoping t…

In March 2024, the Canadian housing market experienced another notable increase in home prices, particularly in the condominium segment, which reached a new all-time high. This surge in prices reflects ongoing trends in the housing market, characterized by persistent demand and limited supply. The condominium market's resilience, despite broader ec…

The recent announcement by the Immigration Minister to cap growth targets in Canada underscores the profound impact of immigration on the nation's demographic landscape. Over the past two years, Canada has experienced significant population growth, largely attributed to the influx of temporary workers and foreign students, which has exerted immense…

This week's economic and real estate roundup unveils a surprising twist in inflation rates, dipping to 2.8% from the previous month's 2.9%, and landing well below the anticipated 3.1%. This unexpected shift marks a pivotal moment, with grocery prices rising a modest 2.4%—the smallest increment since July 2021, signaling a potential easing of living…

Today's episode is a little different as we decided to take opposing views of the current economic landscape and we discussed both the positive and the negative elements that are currently affecting the real estate market in Canada. We touch on 5 broad subjects and dive into the current economic climate that has presented a world of challenges incl…

In this episode, we unpack the latest developments in Vancouver's real estate market and the broader economic landscape. Home prices in Vancouver have experienced an unexpected surge, breaking a six-month downward trend. Despite this, the Bank of Canada (BOC) has maintained its interest rates at 5%, leading to alarming trends such as increased mort…

The latest episode of the Vancouver Life Podcast provides an analytical overview of the pressing issues affecting the Vancouver real estate market. The episode covers a wide array of topics, including the anticipation of interest rate cuts, the introduction of a new flipping tax, the dramatic decrease in building permits, and the numerous obstacles…

In this comprehensive economic update, we delve into the key factors shaping Canada's financial landscape. Join us as we explore the recent developments in inflation, corporate bankruptcies, the rental market, sentiment, and mortgages, providing you with a nuanced understanding of the current economic climate. Canada's annual inflation rate unexpec…

In this episode of the Vancouver Life Podcast we dive into the innovative realm of real estate investment with our guest, Jonathan Fireman. Jonathan shares his vision behind Investium, a platform aimed at democratizing real estate investments by facilitating collective property purchases. This approach aims to make real estate investment more inclu…

In the insightful episode of the Vancouver Life Podcast we tackle the groundbreaking rezoning legislation poised to reshape the British Columbia real estate landscape. This legislation, referred to as the Plex Plan, is described as the single largest rezoning initiative in the province's history, impacting hundreds of thousands of properties and ai…

In January, the real estate market exhibited notable trends, providing insights into the trajectory of 2024. Total sales reached 1,427, marking a 39% increase from January 2023 and a 7% rise from December. However, this figure fell 20% below the 10-year seasonal average, signaling a slow start akin to the latter half of 2023. New listings surged to…

In today’s episode, we're diving deep into the world of economics and financial forecasting with none other than Doug Porter, a luminary with over three decades of experience in analyzing global economies and financial markets. As the Chief Economist at BMO Financial Group and the mastermind behind the influential publication 'Talking Points', Doug…

In this insightful episode we engage in an in-depth discussion about the complexities and challenges of the Vancouver real estate rental market. The episode features a compelling narrative from Jeannie Ball, a landlord who recounts her tumultuous journey dealing with a rental property. This journey, fraught with challenges, leads her from confronta…

Join us on this episode as we dive into an insightful discussion with Patrick Francey, CEO of the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), renowned Canadian real estate investor, business owner, educator, and coach. With over 40 years of experience, Patrick is a luminary in real estate investment education and personal and professional development. H…

In this exclusive interview, we delve into the wealth of experience and expertise of Kyle Green, a renowned mortgage broker and investment property specialist. Since 2006, Kyle has been a pivotal figure in the real estate finance sector, especially known for his work with the Real Estate Action Group and numerous other investors. His accomplishment…

Over the past two years, Canada has witnessed an unprecedented surge in its population which has recently garnished a lot of attention due to its significant consequences on various aspects in the country. This surge has been fueled by headlines surrounding escalating home prices and rising rents, leading to a further exploration of its implication…

The real estate market in 2024 has seen a surge in activity since January 1st marked by increased optimism not witnessed in almost a year. In this episode we look at several factors that are contributing to this shift, with a primary focus on the Bank of Canada's anticipated actions, fixed mortgage rates, Toronto's unique market dynamics, the renta…

In our first episode of 2024, we dive into the December stats to wrap up 2023 and present our predictions for the year ahead. This podcast episode covers two exciting topics: the year-end Vancouver Housing statistics and our predictions for 2024, focusing on economic drivers and real estate trends. Starting with the December stats, noting that tota…

In our latest episode, we ventured back in time to the start of 2023 to review the predications we made about how Real Estate in 2023 would unfold. Beginning with Marco economic drivers, global trends and then backing down into the local economic real estate market. We made bold predictions and share insights on various economic fronts some with gr…

In Canada, the third-quarter population growth has reached historic levels, with a quarterly increase of 431,000 people! This marks a 1.1% growth rate, the highest since 1957. The annual growth rate is 1.25 million people, or 3.2%! However, this growth contrasts with a 22% decrease in housing starts from the previous year, posing a significant chal…

The Federal Reserve's recent decision to maintain interest rates during their final meeting of the year has ignited discussions in financial circles. While the decision itself was expected, the surprise came with the central bankers' projections for 2024. The Fed now anticipates a total of 75 basis points in rate cuts next year, indicating a depart…

This week's podcast has us looking into a number of pretty big changes taking place in our economy this month, along with a close examination of both the November Real Estate Stats for Vancouver and the impact of the decision by the BOC, to further hold rates. With the BoC having maintained interest rates at 5%, in line with expectations due to a s…

This week we dive deep into the real estate landscapes of Toronto and Vancouver, Canada's largest real estate cities with Merete Lewis, an Agent with Chestnut Peak Real Estate out of Toronto. We dissect the recent trends and statistics that are shaping both property markets and we look at which city is fairing better under the current economic clim…

In a recent article, Doug Porter, Chief Economist for BMO, revealed a startling reality: rents in Canada have surged by 8.2% year over year, marking the fastest pace since 1983! Moreover, for the first time in 60 years of records, income growth has trailed behind rents by a significant margin. These figures set the stage for a profound discussion w…

In a significant move to boost housing supply, the federal government has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative following six months of record-high rental rates. A substantial $1.2 billion in low-interest loans is earmarked for the construction of 2,644 rental homes across seven new projects in Toronto. This aligns with Toronto's ambitious plan to b…

In this week's episode, we delve into the very challenging landscape faced by developers across major Canadian cities, a slowing national economy, more job losses and slowing GDP all the while we see some of the highest rental rates on record. We start with the gripping tale of a Toronto-based developer embroiled in a receivership debacle, owing cr…

This week in real estate, the landscape has been bustling with significant developments that are set to impact the Canadian market extensively over time. First off, the announcement made by David Eby regarding the sweeping rezoning legislation across the entire province has stirred things up. The legislation now permits the construction of multifam…

In this week's podcast, we delve into the implications of the latest interest rate announcement, rising (and in some cases surging) levels of inventory, consumer sentiment and the all-important mortgage space. The Bank of Canada's cautious tone was underscored by their acknowledgment of the mounting impacts of past rate increases on economic activi…

Today's recent announcement that The Bank of Canada has opted to maintain interest rates at 5% marks the fourth instance of holding rates during the ongoing rate hike cycle. The decision comes in the wake of a press release highlighting several concerns, including the weakening global economy, the surge in oil prices, ongoing geopolitical uncertain…

The provincial government is creating even more restrictions around Air bnb operators with a recent announcement made by Premier David Eby and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon regarding a proposed ban on short-term rentals in British Columbia. There are however, some exceptions for smaller municipalities and specific resort but their intent here is ste…

Consumer confidence in the Real Estate market is a vital economic barometer and has taken a worrisome downturn. In September, confidence plummeted to levels nearly as low as during the peak of the pandemic and the Global Financial Crisis, setting off alarms that a recession may be looming. A significant red flag emerged as respondents expressed a h…

In this week’s episode, we're diving into the current state of the Fall real estate market with the September Stats and it's not looking very (pumpkin)spicy. With falling prices, low sales volumes, high mortgage rates, and a significant lack of inventory to choose from, it's shaping up to be quite a challenging season for both buyers and sellers. L…

In this podcast episode, we delve into the pressing housing crisis in Canada, particularly focusing on British Columbia and Vancouver with the release of the much anticipated multiplex plan. There’s a number of challenges faced by local councils when it comes to enacting new by-laws for any kind of real estate but particularly when it comes to an i…

On September 14th, Vancouver City Council greenlit the MultiPlex Plan, a sweeping rezoning strategy aimed at introducing more flexibility into residential development within Vancouver. This ambitious plan consolidates nine residential zones into a single R1-1 Residential Inclusive zone, affecting the majority of single family lots in the Vancouver …

This week is a jam packed episode that really underscores the housing crisis in Canada is hitting unprecedented levels. With projections from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) indicating a severe shortage of up to 4 million housing units by the year 2030, this crisis is expected to have far-reaching consequences, including a stagge…

This week we sat down with Ethan Astaneh from Nicola Wealth, an independent wealth management firm dedicated to serving the complex needs of high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions. The firm services clients across Canada and has amassed a $14 Billion dollar portfolio - a considerable portion of which is invested in real estate. In t…

This week we unpack the recent Bank of Canada decision to hold interest rates steady at 5% and we review the latest stats for the month of August from the REBGV. With respect to interest rates the market got the hold it was hoping for and considering our recent history of 10 rate hikes and 3 holds, this decision came at a crucial juncture for Canad…

This week we took a look at how the month of August was rounding out as well as providing our predictions for the Fall Market and the highly anticipated interest rate announcement next week. There have been 2,300 sales with a 20% year-on-year increase. However, these numbers are still below long-term averages. The inventory has remained consistentl…

In recent times, the global economy has witnessed unexpected shifts in inflation rates, interest rates, and various economic indicators that have significant ramifications for the housing market. This synopsis delves into the multifaceted implications of these changes and how they are shaping the present and future landscape of real estate in Vanco…

In the ever-evolving landscape of the Vancouver real estate market, homebuyers find themselves grappling with a compelling question: How long will they be forced to navigate the challenges imposed by elevated interest rates? In this insightful episode, we engage in a candid conversation with Mychal Ferrera, the No. 1 BMO Mortgage Specialist in the …

Introducing Lendlord: Revolutionizing Real Estate Investment Analysis and Management Attention investors and realtors! Are you tired of spending endless hours analyzing investment properties? Imagine a platform that not only stores and tracks your entire portfolio but also provides real-time ROI insights. What if obtaining financing for your next p…

The Vancouver real estate market, is facing a persistent and thorny challenge with low inventory that shows no signs of abating. This week week we delve into the factors contributing to the prolonged shortage of housing in Vancouver, exploring the implications for potential buyers in the marketplace. Currently, the Vancouver market requires an infl…

In July 2023, the Vancouver real estate market underwent significant changes, presenting a complex landscape for buyers and sellers. The month saw 2,455 properties sold, marking an impressive 29% increase from the previous year. However, this apparent surge in sales volume masked an underlying trend of consecutive declines in summer months, suggest…

The current economic landscape is a complicated story and this week we focus in on several key areas, including the recent Federal Reserve (Fed) rate announcement, challenges posed by inflation, a cabinet shuffle in Canada, housing market trends, national updates, affordability concerns, credit trends, and the potential signs of a looming recession…

Thinking about selling your home and want to know when is the best time? Well knowing when not to sell is equally as important. I’m going to give you 5 compelling reasons why you shouldn’t sell your home in 2023. Selling your home is a big decision, you only get 1 chance to maximize the sale price and walk with as much capital as possible. This vid…

Inflation in Canada has been easing, with the current rate standing at 2.8%, the slowest since March 2021 and down from 3.4%. The largest factor contributing to this decline was lower gasoline prices compared to the same period last year, showing a decrease of 21.6%. However, shelter costs have risen by 4.8% year over year, driven by significantly …

The Bank of Canada (BOC) announced a 0.25% interest rate hike, marking the 10th increase since March 2022 and bringing the overnight rate to 5%, the highest in 22 years! The move comes as the Canadian economy, which has been stronger than expected, is expected to slow down due to the impact of higher interest rates. Although recent inflation rates …

The real estate market experienced notable trends and shifts in June 2023. This episode focuses on key metrics for the month of June. We take a look at total sales, new listings, inventory, the current sales-to-active ratio, and pricing trends. By examining these factors, we gain insights into the current state of the market and can make informed p…