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Economics
Find reports, housing data, and more on GVR’s new Economics Web App
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Using this app, you can find everything the GVR Economics team produces all in one place. (1 minute read)
Taxes
What you need to know about BC's Speculation and Vacancy Tax
Friday, January 26, 2024
Detailed information about BC's SVT and property exemptions. (4 minute read)
Economics
What will Greater Vancouver's commercial property market look like in 2024?
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Our latest commercial forecast shows an optimistic look at 2024. (2 minute read)
Economics
What will home sales look like in the first half of 2024?
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Our latest forecast looks at last year to help to predict what the housing market will look like in the first half of 2024. (2 minute read)
Urban Planning
Building homes faster and cheaper with ready-made designs
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
The BC government plans to create up to 10 standardized home designs inspired by the Vancouver Special. (2 minute read)
Home Buying
How rising mortgage rates affect insured mortgages
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
CMHC tightens lending standards, making homes less affordable
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
A closer look at bank rates
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
How mortgage stress test changes affects home buyers
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)
Home Buying
Private insurers offer options
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Private insurers have not been required to follow CMHC's lead and tighten lending standards. (2 minute read)
Economics
The Lede: Does the perfect price metric exist?
Thursday, October 26, 2023
How do we actually know what property values are doing at any given point in time? (5 minute read)
Economics
2023 Market Forecast Review: Looking Back, Looking Ahead | REBGV event
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
REBGV Director, economics and data analytics presented his updated market outlook to REALTORS® at an online event in September. (1:23:52 video)
Urban Planning
Vancouver allows up to eight units on single family lots
Monday, September 25, 2023
The change aims to address the housing crisis and simplify zoning regulations. (2 minute read)
Market Trends
Increased costs contribute to reduced sales, dollar values across commercial market
Monday, September 18, 2023
Slower activity marked the second quarter of the commercial real estate market in the Lower Mainland. (1 minute read)
Economics
Will home sales stay resilient in the face of high interest rates?
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Our forecast checks market trends and economic factors to predict what the housing market will look like in the rest of 2023. (2 minute read)
Taxes
Will I have to pay capital gains when I sell my house?
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
Why do I have to pay property taxes on the house I’m buying?
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.
Home Buying
Choosing the right home starts with choosing the right REALTOR®
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Buying or selling a home is a significant financial decision. That’s why it’s important to take your time to choose the right Realtor for you. (2 minute read)
Taxes
Empty Homes Tax put to good use – Vancouver creates affordable housing
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Affordable housing projects in Vancouver received grants worth over $8.7 million, partially from Vancouver’s EHT. (1 minute read)
Home Buying
Lower Mainland REALTORS® to enhance transparency for buyers involved in a multiple offer situation
Thursday, July 6, 2023
Home buyers in a multiple offer situation will soon receive additional information about other competing offers.
Economics
The Lede: The Million Dollar Wall
Thursday, July 6, 2023
The property ladder is broken. In the latest Lede, Andrew Lis gives his take, and how it can be fixed. (9:33 video, 10 minute read)
Taxes
Putting Property Transfer Tax revenue to work
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Our recommendations to the provincial government on how the PTT can be used to help build more affordable homes. (2 minute read)
Urban Planning
What well-designed density looks like: Southlands in Tsawwassen
Monday, June 19, 2023
This area demonstrates a new model of well-designed density through innovative practices. (2 minute read)
Taxes
BC speculation and vacancy tax expanded to Lions Bay, Squamish
Monday, June 12, 2023
Home owners in these newly taxable areas will need to declare in 2024. (2 minute read)
Urban Planning
BC government identifies 47 municipalities that must densify
Friday, June 9, 2023
The identified municipalities must address local barriers to construction and update zoning bylaws. (2 minute read)
Taxes
Property taxes 101
Monday, June 5, 2023
Save money on your prooperty taxes with the Home Owner Grant. The threshold has recently increased. (3 minute read)
Economics
The Lede: What’s (not) happening with new listings in Metro Vancouver?
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Listings are low so far this year, but why? REBGV's Director Economics and Data Analytics Andrew Lis has a theory. (6:38 video, 8 minute read)
Urban Planning
Disaster funding for flooding makes local communities safer
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Learn more about initiatives to mitigate flood damage and assess flood risks around Greater Vancouver. (3 minute read)
Working with a REALTOR®
What’s the Disclosure form that REALTORS® are asking you to sign?
Friday, April 28, 2023
When buying or selling a home, Realtors have to inform you, up front, about your representation options. This is what the DORTS form is for. (3 minute read)
Economics
The Lede: Rate hikes part II - the damage done
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
What can we learn about the current market by looking at previous tightening cycles? (5:16 video, 12 minute read)
Home Buying
What is an Offer to Purchase?
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
When you decide to buy a property, your Realtor will prepare what is known as an Offer to Purchase.
Economics
The Lede blog: Rate hikes part I - where to from here?
Friday, February 17, 2023
What is the Bank of Canada considering when it comes to interest rates - and how will this help us understand what's going to happen to rates in the future? (5 minute read)
Economics
The Lede blog: StatsCan population growth projections
Monday, February 6, 2023
REBGV's Director of Statistics and Data Analytics looks at what the latest StatsCan projections could mean for our housing market. (7 minute read)
Home Buying
Use Realtylink.org to help find your next home
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.
Economics
Will Metro Vancouver housing prices increase in 2023?
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
REBGV’s Economics team released their latest housing forecast for 2023. Will home prices increase? Read the full report to find out. (8 minute read)
Economics
The Lede blog: Mega trends and micro trends
Monday, January 30, 2023
What makes a trend? Andrew Lis, Director of Economics and Data Analytics explains in the first of his new blog series. (8 minute read)
Economics
Dysfunction by Design: 2023 Market Outlook | REBGV event
Thursday, January 26, 2023
REBGV Director, economics and data analytics presented his market outlook to REALTORS® at an exclusive online event in January. (1:48:22 video)
Economics
The Lede video blog: StatsCan population growth projections
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Births, deaths, migration – what do these have to do with the housing market? Andrew Lis explains in the latest episode of The Lede. (2:54 minute video)
Economics
The Lede video blog: Mega trends and micro trends
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Andrew Lis, REBGV's economist and data analyst, looks at what makes a statistical trend in this video blog. (4:41 minute video)
Market Trends
Lower Mainland’s commercial real estate sees fewer transactions in Q2
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)
Urban Planning
Council passes Vancouver Plan
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
The plan promises new densification to accommodate 260,000 new residents and 210,000 new jobs. (1 minute read)
Editorial
REBGV brings on Andrew Lis as new economist
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Andrew is an applied economist and data scientist specializing in real estate and urban land economics with experience in the public and private sectors. (1 minute read)
Market Trends
CMHC estimates 3.5 million new affordable homes needed
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
A CMHC report estimates BC needs 3.5 million new homes by 2030 to make homes affordable, 1.2 million short of current projections. (2 minute read)
Urban Planning
Broadway Plan approved: 30,000 new homes coming
Thursday, June 30, 2022
The approved Broadway plan will include a significant number of new homes, increase tenant protection, new space for more jobs, and more. (3 minute read)
Market Trends
Lower Mainland’s commercial real estate market begins 2022 with steady sales and higher prices
Thursday, June 23, 2022
A steady start to the 2022 commercial real estate market. (2 minute read)
Home Buying
BCFSA's recommendations for cooling-off period and other measures
Friday, May 27, 2022
Read what the BCFSA recommended to the provincial government on how to enact their proposed measures, including the cooling-off period. (5 minute read)
Home Buying
Questions for a mortgage broker: Interest rates, stress test, mortgage options
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Check out what local mortgage broker Angela Calla said about what’s happening in the mortgage market today. (3 minute read)
Market Trends
CMHC report finds lack of supply main cause of unaffordable housing
Friday, May 13, 2022
A recent CMHC report determined housing supply is the main factor behind unaffordability in Canada. (1 minute read)