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Legislation & Regulations
Land Act amendments on hold
Monday, February 26, 2024
The government's proposed land-sharing agreement with First Nations groups will undergo further consultation. (2 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
BC government announces PTT changes, flipping tax in new budget
Monday, February 26, 2024
Here's a summary of the new housing measures in the BC budget announced on February 22, 2024.
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)
Legislation & Regulations
Metro Vancouver regulates wood burning fireplaces and stoves
Monday, December 18, 2023
Metro Vancouver is reducing pollution by regulating wood burning appliances. Does this affect you? (3 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
How will the 2021 mortgage stress test rules impact Metro Vancouver real estate?
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)
Legislation & Regulations
Interest, fees increase amount owed for property tax deferment
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
BC caps maximum rent increase to 3.5 per cent
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
The change aims to address the housing crisis and simplify zoning regulations. (2 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Government removes GST on new rental housing
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)
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.
Legislation & Regulations
Homeownership rates decline – purpose-built rentals can help
Monday, August 28, 2023
Declining homeownership rates spark investment in purpose-built rentals as solution. (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)
Legislation & Regulations
PM shuffles cabinet, new federal housing minister
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Sean Fraser is now the minister of housing, infrastructure, and communities. (2 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
REBGV recommends policy changes to improve housing affordability and availability in BC
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Read about the three tax-related recommendations REBGV made to the provincial government to ease housing. (3 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)
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)
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)
Legislation & Regulations
New exemptions to strata age restriction bylaws
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
The new exemptions include future children, dependents, and spouses/partners. (1 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)
Legislation & Regulations
Federal foreign buyer ban coming in January 2023
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)
Legislation & Regulations
The effect of flood mapping and floods on housing prices
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Floodplain mapping can help assess risk and better understand a home's value. (3 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
Better protection for strata property owners coming in November
Friday, February 3, 2023
Amendments to the Strata Property Act that increase contingency reserve fund minimums are coming November 1, 2023. (2 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
BC government introduces “cooling off” period for home sales
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
Supreme Court of Canada clarifies, expands principles of expropriation
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
A recent decision has clarified the test for constructive taking and expropriation by regulation. (5 minute read)
Legislation & Regulations
BC REALTORS® offer 30 policy recommendations to province to improve BC real estate
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.
Legislation & Regulations
What’s in BC Budget 2022 for homebuyers and owners?
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
No SVT exemption for owners of vacant stratas
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)
Legislation & Regulations
How many homes paid BC Vacancy and Speculation Tax in your community?
Friday, December 10, 2021
Read how much tax was generated from this tax in Greater Vancouver municipalities.
Legislation & Regulations
REBGV makes three recommendations to BC government to help make homes more affordable
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
Federal government plans unused housing tax
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.
Legislation & Regulations
Speculation and vacancy tax relief for non-existent homes
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
The provincial speculation and vacancy tax applies to airspace above buildings classed as residential. The government will temporarily remove this tax for one year.
Taxes
What are the tax implications of building a laneway house?
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
The Land Owner Transparency Registry – what you need to know
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.
Fact Sheets
Cannabis fact sheet
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
Heritage Homes fact sheet
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
Rent freeze extended; renovictions, disputes addressed in proposed legislation
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Check the details of the BC government's proposed legislation to extend the residential rent freeze, and other related items.
Fact Sheets
Tree protection bylaws and policies for private property owners
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.
Working with a REALTOR®
What is the MLS® and how does it benefit you?
Monday, December 28, 2020
The Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), owned and operated by REALTORS®, is the most powerful real estate marketing system in the country.
Legislation & Regulations
Vancouver’s Empty Homes Tax increases to three per cent
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Mayor Kennedy Stewart has followed through on a 2018 election campaign promise and has tripled the Empty Homes Tax rate to three per cent.
Legislation & Regulations
BC's Land Owner Transparency Registry now in force: what you need to know
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.
Legislation & Regulations
Maximum allowable rent increase is 1.4 per cent for 2021
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
Rent due, evictions allowed, rent repayment plan
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
Provincial government changes strata insurance regulations
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
These changes are intended to address rising strata insurance costs that have affected strata owners throughout the province.
Legislation & Regulations
Strata insurance – where are we at?
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
Secondary suites now allowed in ground-oriented, multi-family buildings
Friday, August 7, 2020
New updates to the BC Building Code allow secondary suites in duplexes, townhouses, and detached row houses throughout the province.
Legislation & Regulations
Government begins regulating strata insurance
Monday, July 13, 2020
To help return the strata insurance market to balance, the Ministry of Finance announced amendments to the Strata Property Act .
Legislation & Regulations
BC government extends rental supplement and moratorium on rent increases, relaxes eviction ban 
Thursday, June 25, 2020
The BC government announced plans to extend its rental supplement program and moratorium on rent increases, while relaxing some of the rules around the eviction ban. 
Legislation & Regulations
What’s happening in BC’s strata insurance market?
Thursday, June 18, 2020
The BC Financial Services Authority found strata insurance premiums rose by about 40 per cent, with deductibles seeing triple digit increases.
Legislation & Regulations
Stratas must allow pets in some circumstances
Thursday, May 14, 2020
If a strata property owner, or one of their family members, requires a support pet, a strata corporation must accommodate them.
Legislation & Regulations
Affordable housing a priority in Throne speech
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.
Legislation & Regulations
REALTORS® across Canada urge governments to reduce costs and remove barriers to home ownership
Thursday, September 12, 2019
REALTOR® associations from Canada’s largest real estate markets are calling on all levels of government to take meaningful action to make home ownership more accessible.
Legislation & Regulations
What is the beneficial ownership registry and how will it work?
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Property owners can no longer anonymously list companies, trusts, and partnerships. New provincial legislation establishes Canada’s first public registry of beneficial owners of BC property, and has new disclosure requirements.
Legislation & Regulations
Federal budget 2019 – new initiatives for home buyers
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Federal Budget 2019 includes initiatives for first-time buyers, renters and measures to prevent tax non-compliance and money laundering.
Legislation & Regulations
BC launches first-of-a kind pre-sale condo registry
Thursday, March 7, 2019
A new Condo and Strata Assignment Integrity Register (CSAIR) has been introduced by the BC Ministry of Finance to track condominium pre-sales throughout the province.