Home Buying
Monday, April 8, 2024
If you plan to buy a strata property, check out the strata council minutes, contingency fund, and more.
Legislation & Regulations
Monday, February 26, 2024
The government's proposed land-sharing agreement with First Nations groups will undergo further consultation. (2 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Monday, February 26, 2024
Here's a summary of the new housing measures in the BC budget announced on February 22, 2024.
Taxes
Friday, January 26, 2024
Detailed information about BC's SVT and property exemptions. (4 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Monday, December 18, 2023
Metro Vancouver is reducing pollution by regulating wood burning appliances. Does this affect you? (3 minute read)
Home Buying
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Since June 22, 2022 chartered banks have repeatedly raised their posted mortgage rates in response to higher bond yields. (1 minute read)
Home Buying
Monday, November 20, 2023
Since July 1, 2020, it has become increasingly more difficult for first-time home buyers to buy a home. (2 minute read)
Home Buying
Monday, November 20, 2023
Home buyers with less than a 20 per cent down payment applying for a high-ratio mortgage with a regulated financial institution are typically offered a contract mortgage interest rate.
Home Buying
Friday, November 17, 2023
Check how the stress test may affect you, with examples of buying an apartment, an attached home, and a detached home. (3 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Thursday, November 16, 2023
The new rules as of June 1, 2021 will dampen mortgage credit growth, but should have a modest effect on home sales and prices. ( 1 minute read)
Home Buying
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Private insurers have not been required to follow CMHC's lead and tighten lending standards. (2 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Friday, October 6, 2023
If your clients are deferring their property taxes, interest rates and fees will increase the amount they owe. (2 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
The change aims to address the housing crisis and simplify zoning regulations. (2 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Monday, September 25, 2023
This policy is for projects beginning construction from Sept 14, 2023, to Dec 31, 2030, completing construction by Dec 31, 2035. (2 minute read)
Market Trends
Monday, September 18, 2023
Slower activity marked the second quarter of the commercial real estate market in the Lower Mainland. (1 minute read)
Taxes
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Read about the conditions required for paying capital gains, and what you need to do even if you don't have to pay. (2 minute read)
Taxes
Friday, September 1, 2023
Property taxes in BC are due the first business day after July 1. If you buy a home at another time, you may have to pay a share of the year to avoid a penalty.
Legislation & Regulations
Monday, August 28, 2023
Declining homeownership rates spark investment in purpose-built rentals as solution. (2 minute read)
Taxes
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Affordable housing projects in Vancouver received grants worth over $8.7 million, partially from Vancouver’s EHT. (1 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Sean Fraser is now the minister of housing, infrastructure, and communities. (2 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Read about the three tax-related recommendations REBGV made to the provincial government to ease housing. (3 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
The new exemptions include future children, dependents, and spouses/partners. (1 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Friday, March 31, 2023
The federal government’s ban on new foreign ownership of residential property becomes law on January 1, 2023. Here's what you need to know. (3 minute read)
Home Buying
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
When you decide to buy a property, your Realtor will prepare what is known as an Offer to Purchase.
Legislation & Regulations
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Floodplain mapping can help assess risk and better understand a home's value. (3 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Friday, February 3, 2023
Amendments to the Strata Property Act that increase contingency reserve fund minimums are coming November 1, 2023. (2 minute read)
Home Buying
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Search listings from the MLS® systems operated by the Greater Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Chilliwack, BC Northern, and Vancouver Island real estate boards.
Legislation & Regulations
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Starting January 1, 2023, home buyers can back out of a residential purchase up to three business days after signing a contract. (3 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
A recent decision has clarified the test for constructive taking and expropriation by regulation. (5 minute read)
Market Trends
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Activity in the commercial real estate market edged down from the brisker pace experienced at the start of the year. (2 minute read)
Home Buying
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
If you’ve decided to buy a home, it’s important you understand all the costs involved in addition to the price you're paying for the property.
Home Buying
Friday, April 8, 2022
The Federal Budget 2022 was housing-focused, with a significant amount of funding going towards quickly creating new, and diverse housing. (5 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Thursday, March 31, 2022
The BC Real Estate Association, with support of BC’s real estate boards, has 30 policy recommendations for the provincial government.
Home Buying
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
BC government introduced legislation to help create a cooling off period for buyers to back out of a purchase after signing the contract. (2 minute read)
Home Buying
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Mortgage expert Angela Calla discusses trends, rate increases, and reverse mortgages. (2 minute read)
Home Buying
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Kevin Falcon plans to address zoning, red tape, and taxes he believes contribute to higher housing costs. (4 minute read)
Home Buying
Monday, March 21, 2022
Before buying a vacation property, be aware of tax implications and other vital considerations. (4 minute read)
Market Trends
Thursday, March 3, 2022
REBGV Economist Keith Stewart projects what home sale, listing, and price activity you can expect in 2022. (1 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
BC Budget 2022 was released on February 22, 2022 with a focus on funding for climate change, infrastructure, and homelessness. (2 minute read)
Taxes
Friday, February 18, 2022
Owners of strata property in buildings with rental restrictions are no longer exempt from the BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax. (1 minute read)
Home Buying
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
To increase your chances of qualifying as a self-employed borrower, you’ll need to be familiar with what lenders require and what questions they’ll ask.
Legislation & Regulations
Friday, December 10, 2021
Read how much tax was generated from this tax in Greater Vancouver municipalities.
Home Buying
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Read about the new programs the federal government has proposed to help first-time home buyers.
Legislation & Regulations
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Metro Vancouver is facing a housing affordability crisis. Home prices continue to rise, and the inventory of homes for sale is insufficient to meet today’s demand.
Legislation & Regulations
Friday, September 24, 2021
Read about the federal government’s plans to implement a national, annual one-per-cent tax on non-resident, non-Canadian owned residential vacant or underused real estate.
Market Trends
Friday, April 16, 2021
In an active market, seeking professional advice from a Realtor is more important than ever.
Taxes
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Before building a laneway home or buying a property with one, you should understand the tax implications of doing so.
Legislation & Regulations
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
To help stop the hidden ownership of real estate and prevent money laundering and tax evasion, the BC government has introduced legislation and an owner registry.
Market Trends
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
The five areas in our region with the largest year-over-year price increases might surprise you.
Fact Sheets
Monday, March 22, 2021
Cannabis is regulated at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels. Here’s a summary of how it’s dealt with in Greater Vancouver municipalities.
Fact Sheets
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
If a home is more than 60 years old, home owners may refer to it as having character merit or as “heritage”, regardless of how well it has been preserved or how much it has been altered over the years.
Legislation & Regulations
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Check the details of the BC government's proposed legislation to extend the residential rent freeze, and other related items.
Market Trends
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
In a busy real estate market, homes are bought and sold at a faster pace than usual. This can create a sense of urgency that causes home prices to rise.
Home Buying
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
A combination of historically high demand, limited housing supply, and COVID-19 restrictions is changing the way buyers and sellers are operating in Metro Vancouver’s housing market.
Fact Sheets
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Many local governments in Greater Vancouver have a bylaw or policy addressing tree removal, retention, pruning and damage on private property. This fact sheet is an overview.
Market Trends
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
This is what Metro Vancouver's strong housing market looked like in 2020.
Market Trends
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Economic spin-off activity and creating an estimated 14,728 jobs resulted from real estate sales in 2020.
Market Trends
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Demand is typically seasonal in the metro Vancouver housing market. Activity tends to peak in the spring and fall.
Legislation & Regulations
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
When a title change is registered in the land titles office, the transferee must file a transparency declaration disclosing interest holders.
Home Buying
Thursday, October 8, 2020
When looking for an eco-friendly home, here are some things to look for or put in place yourself.
Legislation & Regulations
Monday, September 21, 2020
BC landlords can raise rental apartment rents a maximum of 1.4 per cent as of January 2021 according to new rules set by the province.
Legislation & Regulations
Thursday, September 17, 2020
The provincial government has lifted the ban on issuing evictions for non-payment of rent. Here's what to do if you're affected.
Legislation & Regulations
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Read an update on how the Insurance Bureau of Canada has responded to unusually high insurance premiums faced by strata corporations.
Legislation & Regulations
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
In today’s Throne Speech, the BC government, building on it’s housing plan, promises to continue working to fix the housing crisis by building housing for people of all incomes, from people experiencing homelessness to middle-income families.
Market Trends
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Demand is beginning to outpace the supply of new homes coming on to the market in Metro Vancouver.
Market Trends
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
While Metro Vancouver’s housing market experienced an uptick in sales to end the year, despite below-average sales activity in 2019, the number of homes available for sale in the region is declining.
Market Trends
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
REBGV President Ashley Smith recently joined CTV Morning Live to share her insights on what to expect in Metro Vancouver's housing market in 2020.
Legislation & Regulations
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
A strata depreciation report is an important document which provides valuable information to strata owners, buyers, mortgage providers and insurers.
Market Trends
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
The MLS® HPI is a measure of real estate prices that provides a clearer picture of market trends over traditional tools such as mean or median average prices.