Legislating density: Government intervention can’t command market reaction
While the government cannot necessarily intervene to make a project viable, it can do a lot to take viability away.
Category: 2023 newsletter
The sun will come out tomorrow
Trading in a higher interest rate environment
Feds’ long-delayed GST waiver on rental housing a welcome relief
The federal government has finally confirmed its intention to remove GST charges on new rental housing, an excellent but critically delayed measure.
Capping rental rates – billion-dollar decisions impact rental housing in B.C.
On September 11th, 2023, the B.C. government moved for the fifth time in six years to limit the maximum allowable rent increase below the level set out in the government’s own standard.
2023 Mid-Year Review
Metro Vancouver’s multifamily market remains challenging, but it’s showing new life despite persistent inflation, interest rate hikes, and rising expenses for developers and landlords.
Will courage trump politics? It’s time to return to predictable annual allowable rent increases
In BC, the increase is typically based on the 12-month average percentage change in the All-Items Consumer Price Index for the province, ending the previous July. Prior to 2019, this formula was CPI + 2%. This formula had been in place since 2000.
Non-profits and new players in the rental real estate market – the ultimate checklist
The main advice to anyone contemplating a move into this form of commercial real estate is the same as in any other major business undertaking: do your homework.
Vancouver review of Broadway ‘pace of change’ is a litmus test for new City Council
One of the City of Vancouver’s most important rental districts has a vacancy rate of just 0.5% – a negative result of our citywide crisis of housing affordability.