Author: admin

  • City of Vancouver’s new tool to build laneway homes, increase housing supply

    City of Vancouver’s new tool to build laneway homes, increase housing supply

    The City of Vancouver has released a new tool, the Project Requirements Exploration Tool (PRET), to quicken permitting times for laneway houses in an effort to address housing supply gaps. This tool is designed to help single-family residential lot owners apply for permits to build secondary rental suites and is part of the three-year Housing…

  • Mayor Ken Sim outlines seven “bold” strategies to grow Vancouver’s housing supply

    Mayor Ken Sim outlines seven “bold” strategies to grow Vancouver’s housing supply

    Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has announced a multi-faceted strategy to address the city's housing affordability and supply crisis. The strategy includes implementing 26 new Village Areas, exploring steps to harmonize and align the Vancouver Building Code with the BC Building Code, reviewing building height restrictions, and increasing the maximum floor. Sim hopes this strategy will…

  • Vancouver Considers 14% Reduction in Single-Family Home Sizes

    Vancouver Considers 14% Reduction in Single-Family Home Sizes

    Vancouver City Council considers allowing up to 6 strata or 8 rental units on single-family lots. The proposal aims to reduce the size of new detached houses, lowering the maximum floor area ratio (FAR) from 0.7 to 0.6, ↓ 14%. This reduction aims to discourage replacing detached houses with larger ones and promote building more…

  • New Listing: 707 651 NOOTKA WAY

    New Listing: 707 651 NOOTKA WAY

    This is a fantastic opportunity to own a bright and spacious 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home at "Sahalee" in Klahanie, built by Polygon. With 813 square ft of living space and an additional 40 square ft covered balcony, this home faces northeast, providing plenty of natural light. Residents have exclusive access to the 15,000 square ft "Canoe"…

  • Call for Fair Vancouver Fee Structure

    Call for Fair Vancouver Fee Structure

    Metro Vancouver's fee changes intensify housing affordability issues, impacting both current and new residents. The plan is to shift fees to new developments by 2026. Existing homeowners benefit with minimal fees, while new residents bear 99% of costs.

  • Average rent for a two-bedroom in Vancouver leaves most folks broke

    Average rent for a two-bedroom in Vancouver leaves most folks broke

    In October 2023, rent in Vancouver has increased significantly, with the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment reaching $3,908, a 0.7% increase month-over-month and 11.1% year-over-year. Combined with other expenses, the annual amount for a single person in BC is $63,240, leaving little to nothing for a single person with an average salary of $63,087.…

  • Vancouver Market: Late-Q3 Price Gains Ease

    Vancouver Market: Late-Q3 Price Gains Ease

    Metro Vancouver's housing market saw price fluctuations this year. Detached: ↑ 5.8% yearly, ↓0.1% MoM to $2M Apartment: ↑5.8% yearly, ↓0.2% MoM to $769K Attached: ↑5.3% yearly, ↓0.5% MoM to $1.1M Low inventory due to high mortgage rates drove up prices in spring and summer.

  • Established Vancouver renters pay a fraction of what those who’ve recently moved do

    Established Vancouver renters pay a fraction of what those who’ve recently moved do

    The rental market in Vancouver is competitive and expensive, with recent renters paying an average of $2,000 for a two-bedroom unit and existing renters paying $1,500. Renters, especially those under 34, are more likely to be living in unaffordable housing than owners. With rising interest rates, homeownership is becoming increasingly difficult to attain and competition…

  • Canada’s housing starts led by new apartments in Vancouver and Toronto

    Canada’s housing starts led by new apartments in Vancouver and Toronto

    The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) newly released data shows that the number of housing starts in Canada’s six largest metropolitan areas increased by only 1% over the first half of 2023 compared to the first half of 2022. Vancouver and Toronto dominated the housing starts, with 58% of the total being apartments, driven…

  • In Memory of Our Heroes

    In Memory of Our Heroes

    The “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918 that signaled the end of World War I. On this day we honour those who have sacrificed so much to keep our flag flying high. Remembrance Day Salute to all heroes, and thank you for your service.