The Vancouver Life Real Estate Podcast

Consumer confidence in the Real Estate market is a vital economic barometer and has taken a worrisome downturn. In September, confidence plummeted to levels nearly as low as during the peak of the pandemic and the Global Financial Crisis, setting off alarms that a recession may be looming. A significant red flag emerged as respondents expressed a high degree of pessimism, with 70.5% feeling that i...

In this week’s episode, we're diving into the current state of the Fall real estate market with the September Stats and it's not looking very (pumpkin)spicy. With falling prices, low sales volumes, high mortgage rates, and a significant lack of inventory to choose from, it's shaping up to be quite a challenging season for both buyers and sellers. Let’s look at the numbers - We saw a...

In this podcast episode, we delve into the pressing housing crisis in Canada, particularly focusing on British Columbia and Vancouver with the release of the much anticipated multiplex plan. There’s a number of challenges faced by local councils when it comes  to enacting new by-laws for any kind of real estate but particularly when it comes to an initiative of this magnitude. With city council lo...

On September 14th, Vancouver City Council greenlit the MultiPlex Plan, a sweeping rezoning strategy aimed at introducing more flexibility into residential development within Vancouver. This ambitious plan consolidates nine residential zones into a single R1-1 Residential Inclusive zone, affecting the majority of single family lots in the Vancouver East and Vancouver West areas. There are also some...

This week is a jam packed episode that really underscores the housing crisis in Canada is hitting unprecedented levels. With projections from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) indicating a severe shortage of up to 4 million housing units by the year 2030, this crisis is expected to have far-reaching consequences, including a staggering 89% increase in housing prices over the next...

This week we sat down with Ethan Astaneh from Nicola Wealth, an independent wealth management firm dedicated to serving the complex needs of high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions. The firm services clients across Canada and has amassed a $14 Billion dollar portfolio - a considerable portion of which is invested in real estate.  In this  episode, we discuss the Canadian residential...

This week we unpack the recent Bank of Canada decision to hold interest rates steady at 5% and we review the latest stats for the month of August from the REBGV. With respect to interest rates the market got the hold it was hoping for and considering our recent history of 10 rate hikes and 3 holds, this decision came at a crucial juncture for Canada's economic landscape.  The central bank&apo...

This week we took a look at how the month of August was rounding out as well as providing our predictions for the Fall Market and the highly anticipated interest rate announcement next week.  There have been 2,300 sales with a 20% year-on-year increase. However, these numbers are still below long-term averages. The inventory has remained consistently below 10,000 properties for the ninth consecuti...

In recent times, the global economy has witnessed unexpected shifts in inflation rates, interest rates, and various economic indicators that have significant ramifications for the housing market. This synopsis delves into the multifaceted implications of these changes and how they are shaping the present and future landscape of real estate in Vancouver and Canada. The August Inflation print has ta...

In the ever-evolving landscape of the Vancouver real estate market, homebuyers find themselves grappling with a compelling question: How long will they be forced to navigate the challenges imposed by elevated interest rates?  In this insightful episode, we engage in a candid conversation with Mychal Ferrera, the No. 1 BMO Mortgage Specialist in the country, to gain a comprehensive understanding of...

Introducing Lendlord: Revolutionizing Real Estate Investment Analysis and Management Attention investors and realtors! Are you tired of spending endless hours analyzing investment properties? Imagine a platform that not only stores and tracks your entire portfolio but also provides real-time ROI insights. What if obtaining financing for your next project was as simple as clicking a button? Today,...

The Vancouver real estate market, is facing a persistent and thorny challenge with low inventory that shows no signs of abating. This week week we delve into the factors contributing to the prolonged shortage of housing in Vancouver, exploring the implications for potential buyers in the marketplace. Currently, the Vancouver market requires an influx of approximately 60% more inventory to achieve...

In July 2023, the Vancouver real estate market underwent significant changes, presenting a complex landscape for buyers and sellers. The month saw 2,455 properties sold, marking an impressive 29% increase from the previous year. However, this apparent surge in sales volume masked an underlying trend of consecutive declines in summer months, suggesting a slowdown in overall market activity. In fact...

The current economic landscape is a complicated story and this week we focus in on several key areas, including the recent Federal Reserve (Fed) rate announcement, challenges posed by inflation, a cabinet shuffle in Canada, housing market trends, national updates, affordability concerns, credit trends, and the potential signs of a looming recession. This podcast offers our unique perspectives on t...

Thinking about selling your home and want to know when is the best time? Well knowing when not to sell is equally as important. I’m going to give you 5 compelling reasons why you shouldn’t sell your home in 2023. Selling your home is a big decision, you only get 1 chance to maximize the sale price and walk with as much capital as possible. This video was created to offer some insights into how hol...

Inflation in Canada has been easing, with the current rate standing at 2.8%, the slowest since March 2021 and down from 3.4%. The largest factor contributing to this decline was lower gasoline prices compared to the same period last year, showing a decrease of 21.6%. However, shelter costs have risen by 4.8% year over year, driven by significantly higher mortgage interest costs (up 30.1% from the...

The Bank of Canada (BOC) announced a 0.25% interest rate hike, marking the 10th increase since March 2022 and bringing the overnight rate to 5%, the highest in 22 years!  The move comes as the Canadian economy, which has been stronger than expected, is expected to slow down due to the impact of higher interest rates. Although recent inflation rates have eased to 3.4% in Canada and 3% in the United...

The real estate market experienced notable trends and shifts in June 2023. This episode focuses on key metrics for the month of June. We take a look at total sales, new listings, inventory, the current sales-to-active ratio, and pricing trends. By examining these factors, we gain insights into the current state of the market and can make informed projections for the future. In June, the total sale...

In recent months, inflation in Canada has shown a downward trend, with the rate dropping from 4.4% to 3.4%, the lowest it has been since June 2021! The decrease can be attributed primarily to a significant drop in gas prices, which have declined by an average of 18%.  However, despite this overall decline, several items in the consumer price index (CPI) basket have registered higher prices. Grocer...

This week we look at how the Canadian economy is grappling with a series of troubling indicators that raise concerns about a potential recession. Our podcast discussion explores the key factors contributing to the heightened risks, including skyrocketing household debt, surging mortgage payments, escalating rental rates, declining mortgage growth, mounting credit card debt, plummeting housing star...

This week we explore the inflation and interest rate factors affecting the United States and how they are impacting us here Vancouver. We take a close look at inflation, interest rates, new mortgage originations, rental rates, and the affordability index - all of which have changed significantly in the last few months. The Federal Reserve (Fed) in the United States decided to hold interest rates f...

The Canadian economy has experienced a significant shift in monetary policy again this week as the Bank of Canada (BOC) raised its policy rate by 0.25% to 4.75% on June 7th. This move marks the largest cumulative interest rate hiking cycle since the 1980s, and there are indications that more rate hikes may be on the horizon. The current interest rates are now the highest they have been in 22 years...

The May 2023 Vancouver Real Estate numbers are in and in this episode I’m going to share the most important data, give my feedback on why I believe prices are doing what they’re doing, and offer my predictions into what you can expect to see happen in the upcoming months.  Home sales reached an impressive 3,411 homes sold. This marks a significant 16% increase compared to May 2022, making it the f...

On May 18, the City of Vancouver released an updated Multiplex Proposal aimed at increasing the availability of "the missing middle" housing types, including duplexes, multiplexes, townhomes, and low-rise apartments. The proposal seeks to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis in the city by introducing more diverse housing options. Today we look at the key aspects of the...

In this episode, we dive deep into the various aspects of the Canadian economy, providing insights and analysis on recent developments. We discuss the unexpected rise in inflation in April, speculate on the Bank of Canada's next move, explore RBC's prediction of a housing market turnaround in spring 2023, analyze the Q1 population growth data, and examine the national housing market tren...