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  1. Analisis of the rise and fall of amenities in new builds

    Condo living in 2024 is about more than just space; it’s about the carefully curated amenities that turn buildings into communities.

    Gone are the days of a gym, party room, and concierge being most-appreciated amenities – today, they’re considered must-haves. And they’re now joined by things we once may have never imagined in our condo-dwelling lives, like remote offices, wellness spas, pet washes, and cold plunges.

    The common denominator is modern-day convenience: amenities that remove the need for residents to leave the building for everyday routines and rhythms. But, as life evolves, so do the types of amenities today’s (and tomorrow’s) condo dwellers desire. While plentiful, not every one of today’s condo amenities are created equal.

  2. The project is set for 3200 E Broadway, 3270 E Broadway, and 2625 Rupert Street

    On Wednesday, the City of Vancouver revealed the two concept options that are being explored for the large-scale redevelopment next to Rupert Station, ahead of a formal rezoning application submission by the developers.

    The project is being led by the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil‑Waututh) nations through their joint development firm, MST Development Corporation, in partnership with Aquilini Development, which is owned and operated by the Aquilini family that also owns the Vancouver Canucks.

    The site of the project is the former BC Liquor Distribution Branch adjacent to the Millennium Line SkyTrain's Rupert Station, on the southwest corner of Rupert Street and East Broadway. It consists of 3200 E Broadway (legally known as 3150 E Broadway), 3270 E Broadway, and 2625 Rupert Street, which BC Assessment values at $132,538,000, $5,873,900, and $30,513,000, respectively, for a total valuation of $168,924,900.

  3. Stress test requirement changes comeing November 21

    The national banking regulator says it will no longer require borrowers with uninsured mortgages to undergo a stress test when switching providers.

    The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions says it will end the policy for lenders to apply the minimum qualifying rate to straight switches — when uninsured mortgages are renewed at a different institution under the mortgagor’s current amortization schedule and loan amount.

    OSFI says the change comes after feedback from the industry and Canadians “about the imbalance between insured and uninsured mortgagors at the time of mortgage renewal.” It also says data shows the risks that the requirement had been intended to address “have not significantly materialized.”

  4. Canada’s banking regulator is set to relax mortgage rules for homeowners

    The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) will no longer require banks to apply the mortgage stress test on borrowers who switch lenders if they are simply renewing their loan, the regulator told The Globe and Mail on Wednesday.

    The change will make it easier for borrowers with uninsured mortgages to move to a different bank at renewal. It is also expected to motivate banks to offer cheaper mortgage rates in order to retain their current borrowers and attract new customers. The move is set to go into effect Nov. 21, according to OSFI, and will be in place as the federal government relaxes other mortgage policies.

  5. The average salary for a real estate agent is $58,400

    Soaring house prices in recent years and the onslaught of high-roller realtor shows (we see you, Selling Sunset) have left many of us wondering about real estate agents’ salaries. After all, a five per cent commission on a million-dollar home is an impressive $50,000. If a realtor helps clients buy and sell just two homes at that price a year, that’s an easy $100,000 salary, right?

    According to the government of Canada’s Job Bank, realtor salaries varied wildly in 2023. On the low end, a realtor made $30,847. The average salary was $58,400. And those who had the best year pulled in $178,000. This is all before taxes.

  6. Toronto condo parking can add 6 figures to a home

    In Toronto’s competitive real estate market, having a parking space with a condominium can significantly increase the property’s value — sometimes by as much as six figures. A recent analysis by Wahi sheds light on just how much this coveted amenity can cost, depending on location in the city.

    The study looked at the median price differences between one-bedroom condominiums with and without parking across Toronto’s six former pre-amalgamation cities: East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Toronto and York.

  7. Why do home staging costs differ so much from one stager to another?

    When it comes to selling a home, staging has become a crucial element in making a property more appealing to potential buyers. Home staging involves preparing a property to be shown in the best possible light, often by arranging furniture, decorating and sometimes even renovating certain aspects of the home.

    However, one question that frequently arises among homeowners and real estate agents is why staging costs differ so much from one stager to another. Several factors impact staging costs, which we’ll get into below.

  8. At least 700 homes will be built near the Surrey Langley SkyTrain project

    Transportation Minister Rob Fleming announced the move, explaining it’s the first time the province has made a purchase like this.

    This project is going to be tremendous for Surrey and Langley, and this project, for once, is going to align the development of our number one need in this community and across British Columbia — affordable housing with a world-class SkyTrain system,” Fleming said. The development will be completed over the next decade, Fleming explained. While historically barred from buying land for the purpose of building housing, the minister shared that the ability to do this changed with the introduction of Bill 16.

  9. Low Tide Properties seeks to build two 35-storey rental towers, 19-storey office building

    A real estate company co-founded by the man who created Lululemon is behind a massive development proposal for the False Creek Flats area of Vancouver that features two 35-storey rental towers and a 19-storey office building.

    Low Tide Properties is working with PCI Developments and architecture firm Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership to redevelop a two-storey warehouse site currently occupied by Shaw Communications at 1155 East 6th Ave.

    The City of Vancouver received a rezoning application in July for the property, which is near the VCC-Clark SkyTrain Station on a strip that has seen a lot of development in recent years as the area gets built out.

  10. A severe lack of housing for post-secondary students persists across Canada

    “Insufficient student accommodations should worry all Canadians,” wrote Desjardins economists Kari Norman and Randall Bartlett. As the demand for higher education in Canada continues to surge, the availability of student housing has not kept pace, the authors said.

    With a lack of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in Canada, many students end up living in off-campus housing, which is often more expensive and increases their debt load. The influx of students into the surrounding community in turn reduces housing availability and drives up rental prices for everyone, particularly affecting low-income families and young adults.

    Desjardins estimates that 1.2 million students rent in the neighbourhoods around their post-secondary institutions.

    “Increased demand from students means fewer rental units available for other residents,” the report said, particularly when purpose-built rental housing construction has lagged population growth for decades in some cities.