Reports & News

News & Updates  

City house prices continue to ascent - January 04, 2012
B.C. real-estate values are still rising - with double-digit jumps in parts of Metro Vancouver - but recreational properties continue to drop in price. more>>

Buying a house? Buy a batch! - November 21, 2011
Multiple-family dwellings are being targeted as long-term, cash-flow vehicles more>>

Foreign buying a huge issue we must address - November 13, 2011
Should we be dampening the foreign demand for residential real estate in Vancouver? That's a question that everyone in the city is asking - except people running for office. more>>

Things to do to restore your good credit rating - October 17, 2011
Q: I've had trouble finding steady work these last few years and my credit rating went down because of all my late and missed payments. Things are better now, so I'd like to build a good credit rating again but don't know where to start. more>>

Heat boss aiming to ignite support - October 14, 2011
AHL team president is taking on the task of building up the franchise in 'enemy' territory more>>

House sales, prices to stay steady, as economy slows - October 03, 2011
Housing sales and prices should remain fairly steady into next year, as a slowing economy is balanced by low mortgage rates and relatively low unemployment, a BMO Capital Markets report suggests. more>>

'Living wage,' or road to higher unemployment? - September 23, 2011
With municipal elections coming to a community near you in November, expect to hear some really silly policy proposals. Some will sound too good to be true. more>>

Grow-ops go online - September 22, 2011
As part of an initiative to combat marijuana grow operations, the RCMP will post online the addresses of all drug grow-ops and clandestine labs that police dismantle. more>>

Mark Carney signals long pause on rate hikes - September 08, 2011
Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney held his benchmark interest rate at 1 per cent Wednesday and suggested his year-long pause will last much longer as a bleaker outlook for the global economy quashes any urgency to make it harder to borrow and spend. more>>

Canadian Ownership of U.S. Real Property - September 06, 2011
The increase in value of the Canadian dollar, along with the depressed housing prices south of the border, has led to more Canadians considering the purchase of a U.S. vacation property. more>>

HST vote highlights how we love to say no in B.C - August 29, 2011
What do I think of last week's vote to kill the harmonized sales tax? Well, it may make us feel good now, but will ultimately prove to be a job killer. more>>

House sales stay on rise - August 17, 2011
But hike for 2011 slight more>>

Congratulations and Thank You! - July 28, 2011
more>>

No matter how you feel about it, HST is cheaper - July 20, 2011
After two years of heated debate, many British Columbians are still confused about how to vote in the current mail-in referendum on the HST. The choice before them is to either keep the HST - which the government has promised to reduce to 10 from 12 per cent - or restore the old PST/ GST system at a total rate of 12 per cent. more>>

Better Brace for a Shock - June 16, 2011
More households deeper in debt and highly vulnerable. more>>

House Prices in Vancouver Rank Highest - June 16, 2011
Vancouver is Canada's most expensive housing market, with average prices for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home coming in at over $1.546 million, according to the Coldwell Banker Real Estate Home Listing Report. more>>

Economics: Appearances Can Be Deceiving - May 31, 2011
British Columbia is comprised of many regional housing markets, none of which perform in perfect unison. Cyclical economic conditions impact regions differently. more>>

Housing will return to era of Waltons, analyst predicts - May 18, 2011
Two or three generations under one roof more>>

First-time buyers fuel housing market - May 17, 2011
Higher prices, mortgage insurance criteria to have impact on affordability Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/business/First+time+buyers+fuel+housing+market/4786408/story.html#ixzz1Mebq0Neb more>>

A little staging goes a long way - May 16, 2011
Q: Our realtor tells us that we should spend $4,000 to $5,000 dollars to stage our home. She feels that we would get it back tenfold. Is it really necessary to take out all our furniture, rent new replacements, rent paintings, repaint, get laminate flooring etc.? more>>

No rate hikes imminent - BoC - April 13, 2011
The Bank of Canada kept its key interest rate unchanged at one per cent on Tuesday and offered no clues as to when increases might be in the offing. more>>

Owning home less strain, RBC reports - February 25, 2011
Canadians experienced less financial strain to own a home in the final months of 2010, according to a report from Royal Bank of Canada. more>>

Who wants to retire a millionaire? - February 17, 2011
Becoming a millionaire in time for retirement is a more attainable goal than most young Canadians think, according to a major Canadian bank. more>>

Commercial real estate up - February 15, 2011
Commercial real-estate investment grew 48 per cent in 2010, as a stronger economy and surging investor confidence drove investment levels close to their pre-recession highs. more>>

House price run-up loses steam - February 09, 2011
Economist sees mortgage rates rising and amortization periods shrinking more>>

Building-permit value rises across country - February 08, 2011
The value of building permits rose in December for the first time in three months, Statistics Canada said Monday, but at a ­slightly slower pace than ­expected. more>>

Tories to toughen mortgage rules - January 17, 2011
The federal Conservative government is expected today to introduce new rules that are aimed at toughening up mortgage lending in a bid to curb record household debt levels. more>>

How Canada ducked the housing bubble - January 05, 2011
Despite alarmist headlines, Canadian real-estate market survived 2010 more>>

Higher rates lurk ahead, Carney warns - December 16, 2010
'Brutal reckoning' could hit homeowners, businesses more>>

Lucky number eight helps boost real-estate prices - December 01, 2010
But the number four in an address hurts price more>>

Home Prices flatten out - November 16, 2010
Sales expected to pick up with the economy in late 2011 more>>

New houses get pricier - November 10, 2010
Bigger-than-expected hike for September, mainly in Calgary, Montreal more>>

New mortgage plan unveiled - November 10, 2010
Surrey-based Coast Capital Savings unveiled a new mortgage product Tuesday that blends features of fixed and variable rates and includes what is said to be the country's highest level of extra payments. more>>

Saving and debt reduction reign - November 05, 2010
ECONOMY: Lessons learned from 1990s resonate during this slow growth period more>>

Sales slowdown blamed on HST misinformation - October 28, 2010
Real-estate agents in Ontario fear their business is being hurt largely by the mistaken belief a new sales tax applies to previously-owned homes. more>>

Buyers' market in Abbotsford - October 19, 2010
After a slow summer, real estate in Abbotsford showed some signs of recovery in September. more>>

Carney backs off rate hikes - October 01, 2010
Economy: Bank chief changes course citing months of modest growth more>>

Cool, yes, but far from freefall - September 09, 2010
Analyst believes drastic price declines unlikely more>>

Rate hike sends ambiguous signals - September 09, 2010
Quarter-point increase allows Bank of Canada's Carney to maintain flexibility more>>

Expo 86 McBarge could dock in Mission - August 22, 2010
Supporters claim city council dragging its feet on plan for restaurants, pub, float planes more>>

Rate hikes could go on hold - August 19, 2010
Weakness in U.S. puts pressure on Bank of Canada to rethink policy more>>

Rich to lighten moneybags - August 19, 2010
40 billionaires vow to give away half their fortunes more>>

Home sweet home: What to do about falling real estate values - August 09, 2010
I penned this editorial to calm fears that the real estate market in Vancouver was collapsing and I've added some brief comments at the end. more>>

HST chilling home sales - August 06, 2010
Survey shows tax -- not interest hikes -- blamed for decline more>>

Shifting soil for massive mall - August 06, 2010
Honourary shovels turned honourary dirt Thursday to mark the start of construction of a massive shopping centre in Abbotsford. more>>

Prices Highest in Vancouver - July 29, 2010
Rest of Canada trails on year-over-year basis more>>

Rate-hike future clouded - July 23, 2010
Bank of canada: Analyst sees 'bias to tighten' in latest outlook more>>

First-time homebuyers in B.C. more likely to buy condos - July 05, 2010
First-time homebuyers in British Columbia are opting for condominiums, not houses, unlike their counterparts in much of the rest of the country, according to a report by TD Canada Trust. more>>

Robson a bargain for retail - June 08, 2010
Lease Survey: Square-foot cost on shopping street 'surprisingly' low more>>

Housing prices, sales in decline - June 03, 2010
CREA points to interest-rate hike, new mortgage rules for expected drop more>>

Vancouver Numbers - May 25, 2010
All new statistics look very good when compared with April 2009 - prices are still up substantially. But when you look inside the numbers and compare them to March 2010 they tell a different story. A story that we have been forecasting or at least worrying about. So, the average prices in Vancouver are still higher over last year but declined from the March 2010 averages: more>>

HST should come with a fairness code - May 20, 2010
One of the first small-business issues that I got involved in had to do with a nasty provincial sales tax (PST) audit. more>>

Vancouver is 'place to be' - May 14, 2010
If you want to be in business in North America, you should be in Vancouver, Scotiabank chief economist Warren Jestin says. more>>

ALR Helps keep Vancouver land prices sky high - May 10, 2010
Vancouver politicians spend a huge amount of time these days debating ways to house the homeless. But I think they're ignoring another group that also badly needs housing help -- namely young people, especially those with families. more>>

RE/MAX® Receives Corporate Citizen Award - May 05, 2010
RE/MAX of Western Canada is a proud recipient of the 2009 Corporate Citizen Award presented by The BC Transplant Society. more>>

Bigger crowds would make them habby in Abby - May 04, 2010
What the interest level in the Heat is, exactly, is still being measured and defined. Everyone is curious. more>>

This month’s feature: Fixed Rates Finally Move Up. - May 03, 2010
For many months we have been receiving reports that fixed rates were going to start their push upwards with no action from the major lenders across the country. Well April was a different story. Fixed rates moved up 3 times during the month for a total increase of almost 1.00% onthe 5 year fixed rate. more>>

Re/Max Recognized as the Most Trusted Real Estate Brand in Canada - April 28, 2010
The survey conducted for the annual awards revealed that the majority of Canadians trust RE/MAX for all their residential real estate needs more>>

Sales of luxury homes skyrocket - April 27, 2010
Buyers from Mainland China driving region's record high-end sales more>>

Inflation eases, allowing Bank rate-hike delay - April 25, 2010
Canada's annual rate of inflation eased unexpectedly last month, possibly delaying an interest-rate hike by the Bank of Canada and knocking the loonie below parity with the U.S. dollar. more>>

Rental limit rule a worry for tenant - April 25, 2010
Several exemptions under Strata Property Act, including grandfathering of existing residents more>>

Bank boosts loonie beyond buck - April 21, 2010
The dollar surged above parity with the U.S. greenback again Tuesday after the Bank of Canada opened the door to a June rate hike and the possibility that Canada will become the first G7 country to begin unwinding emergency-lending rates. more>>

Little angst over interest rates rising - April 20, 2010
Mortgage interest rates may be on the rise, but a new poll shows little worry about this among Canadians holding mortgages. more>>

Olympics boosts tourism - April 20, 2010
Influx to B.C. in February mainly from U.S. motorists more>>

Analysts agree: Interest rates to rise by July - April 16, 2010
Economy expected to grow 3.3% this year, inflation creeping up more>>

10 Staging Tips to Help Your Home Sell - April 15, 2010
Want to sell your home? Get out the bucket, mop and Mr. Clean. The key to making a positive first impression is simple, said Sandra Rinomato, host of HGTV’s popular “Property Virgins” show. “Get it clean, clean, clean,” said Rinomato. more>>

House hunters in rush to beat rate, tax hikes - April 15, 2010
Banks begin second round of interest raising more>>

Home prices up by 19% - April 14, 2010
The average house price in B.C. climbed 19 per cent to $504,312 in the first quarter of this year from the same period in 2009, the B.C. Real Estate Association said. Residential sales across the province on the Multiple Listing Service system rose 64 per cent to 18,284 units during this period, it said Tuesday. more>>

Sound advice for property investors - April 13, 2010
Think long-term instead of speculating; look for a future, not a past more>>

The house party's over - April 13, 2010
Rate increases hinted at as economy rebounds more>>

He's thinking inside the box - March 30, 2010
Nanaimo man's micro-house concept rewires definition of compact, affordable living -- and three levels of government are starting to pay attention more>>

You can lose sleep trying to choose - March 30, 2010
It boils down to how you want to live your life, but get expert help if you're dogged by doubt By Denise Deveau, For Canwest News ServiceMarch 30, 2010 There are certain things that keep Karen Blomquist up at night. Nervous customers with variable-rate mortgages are among them. more>>

Lock in those rates now! - March 15, 2010
the fallout: Flaherty's 'gentle storm' could become a taxing hurricane more>>

Hearts still glowing after games - March 14, 2010
until the financial figures roll in, world media weigh in on all things olympic more>>

Region's housing starts surge over '09 period - March 09, 2010
But HST, new mortgage rules credited more>>

2010 Olympics - March 01, 2010
Flag waving, chest thumping, wearing the colours, bursting into spontaneous choruses of Oh Canada. That’s different. If nothing else, the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler have provided an excuse for the most visible expression of national pride, perhaps outside of wartime. more>>

Faster, higher, stronger? - February 18, 2010
A look at what the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics may mean for the market more>>

Games to give B.C. 'short-term' boost But long-term positives possible - February 09, 2010
Anyone who wants to calculate the impact of the Olympics on B.C. had better acquire some halo-measuring mojo, two bank economists said Monday. more>>

Canada: "V" shaped recovery? - February 06, 2010
....it couldn't have been that easy, could it? Yet charting out the month over month GDP looks an awful lot like a "V" shaped recovery....well perhaps sharing some of the traits associated with its cousin the "U". more>>

10 Financial Resolutions for 2010 - January 28, 2010
Make a plan. Create a straightforward budget for the year and monitor it monthly or weekly. Each month, review your progress and revise where necessary. more>>

10 Tips for Staying Organized in 2010 - January 27, 2010
If you’re like most people, one thing that always makes your New Year’s resolution list is, “Get more organized.” more>>

World-class in 'unaffordability' - January 26, 2010
Vancouver is the least affordable housing market in nearly 300 metropolitan markets worldwide, according to a study released Monday. more>>

Good news on all fronts in housing - January 13, 2010
Average house prices in B.C. rose two per cent in 2009 as the province's housing market began with a whimper and went out with a bang. more>>

Real-estate prices rising rapidly - January 10, 2010
Not the best time to invest in the market as economy begins rebuilding more>>

House prices set to surge - January 08, 2010
Surge of activity expected after Olympics slowdown more>>

Success stories: Real estate bounces back - January 06, 2010
First-time homebuyers help boost sales by substantial numbers more>>

Prepare for coming mortgage-rate rise - January 04, 2010
Many people are tempted to take advantage of low mortgage rates before they start rising again, and before housing prices recover completely from the slide they took in 2009. more>>

CMHC sees home prices ready to rise - December 03, 2009
Housing markets across the Lower Mainland are headed higher next year, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. predicts more>>

Home bargains on way out - November 26, 2009
Mortgage rates and prices rising, fewer homes to buy more>>

Real estate's recovery to come in 2010 - November 17, 2009
Housing looks good, but other areas have excess capacity more>>

Bathroom spending gathers steam - November 10, 2009
a room to relax in: Flush Canadians are investing more time and money on high-end features and modern designs more>>

Get your roof in shape! - November 09, 2009
act now: By winter, it may be too late and too tricky more>>

Harmonize your house, mend your life - October 16, 2009
Purge your home of junk and you'll get a handle on your life more>>

Study those intereste rates - October 15, 2009
take your lead from the key central banks more>>

Pay attention to the state of your attic by Mike Holmes - October 14, 2009
insufficient insulation, ventilation are all too common more>>

Be sure to inspect your home inspector - October 05, 2009
Mike Holmes: Inspect the inspector more>>

Housing prices show signs of stabilizing - October 02, 2009
world trend: Buyer confidence increases more>>

Home buyers happy to fork out more green for greening - September 30, 2009
Smart owners would pay up for enviro-certification more>>

Housing market rebounds - September 26, 2009
Recession 'one of the shortest on record,' report says more>>