Podcasts about prec

Few legal decisions in British Columbia have unsettled homeowners, investors, and policymakers quite like the recent Cowichan land claim ruling. What began as a courtroom examination of Aboriginal title in Richmond has quickly evolved into a province-wide conversation about property rights, constitutional law, and the future of land ownership in Canada.In this episode, we move beyond the headlines and into substance, joined by one of the country's leading voices in Aboriginal law, Anita Boscariol, Associate Counsel at Watson Goepel. With deep expertise in UNDRIP and British Columbia's DRIPA legislation, Anita brings clarity to a topic that has generated more heat than light.At the center of the discussion is a question many British Columbians never expected to ask: can Aboriginal title and private fee simple ownership legally coexist?Anita begins by unpacking the legal architecture that led us here. Section 35 of Canada's Constitution recognizes and affirms existing Aboriginal and treaty rights. UNDRIP, adopted federally and provincially through DRIPA, did not create new rights but reframed how governments must approach decision-making — shifting from simple consultation toward alignment with Indigenous rights and title. In effect, the legal environment has matured. Courts are now applying principles that have existed constitutionally for decades with greater rigor.The Cowichan ruling raised eyebrows because it discussed Aboriginal title over lands currently held in private fee simple. The court described Aboriginal title as a “prior and senior right” — language that sparked anxiety among homeowners. Anita explains that this does not automatically invalidate private ownership, nor does it signal immediate land transfers. Rather, it forces courts and governments to confront how overlapping legal interests can be reconciled.The episode explores whether historical use — such as fishing or seasonal occupation — could support future claims, and whether 95% of British Columbia being unceded territory places the entire province at risk. Anita clarifies that while most of BC lacks historic treaties, successful title claims require strict legal tests, including exclusive occupation at the time of Crown sovereignty. The bar remains high.For homeowners, the message is measured: avoid panic-driven decisions. Stay informed. Understand the distinction between legal theory and practical outcome. The Cowichan case signals a continued evolution in Indigenous-Crown relations — not the erasure of private ownership.As British Columbia navigates reconciliation within a modern economic framework, the balance between constitutional recognition and property certainty will define the next chapter.And in a province where real estate underpins both household wealth and public finance, that chapter matters profoundly.To reach us with inquiries, email marketing@watsongoepel.com https://www.youtube.com/@WatsonGoepelLLP https://www.instagram.com/watsongoepel/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/watson-goepel-llp https://www.watsongoepel.com/ _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

COMO VENDER VALOR E NÃO PREÇO?

É uma das mulheres de armas que ajudaram a deitar abaixo o antigo regime. Participou nas revoltas estudantis de 62 e, em 1970, fundou as Brigadas Revolucionárias com o companheiro Carlos Antunes. Viveu na clandestinidade, esteve presa duas vezes antes do 25 de Abril e, na fase do PREC, esteve 4 anos em prisão preventiva, o que a levou a fazer uma longa greve de fome. Em 2004, recebeu das mãos do Presidente Jorge Sampaio o grau de grande oficial da Ordem da Liberdade. Isabel do Carmo, que é também uma das mais notáveis médicas especialistas na área de “endocrinologia, diabetes e nutrição”, revela-se optimista, mas preocupada com o futuro e considera que a ideia de liberdade ainda não serve a uma boa parte da população. Ouçam-na nesta conversa em podcast com Bernardo Mendonça..See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Affordability in Vancouver has improved by roughly 37% from its 2023 peak. Monthly mortgage payments on an average home have fallen by about $1,500, dropping from roughly $5,600 to $4,100. That's a material shift, bringing affordability back to early-2022 levels. Historically, when affordability sat here, transaction volumes were meaningfully higher. While payments remain well above pre-pandemic norms, the direction of travel matters—and for buyers watching the market closely, this is the most constructive affordability backdrop in years.But beneath that surface improvement, cracks are forming. Developers—arguably the most forward-looking participants in housing—are pulling back sharply. Land sales, an early indicator of future housing supply, have collapsed well below historical norms. When developers stop buying land, it's rarely about today's headlines; it's a judgment call on whether prices, financing, and demand will justify risk years down the road. The implication is uncomfortable: fewer projects today guarantees tighter supply later, particularly as population growth and confidence eventually normalize.Employment data adds another layer of complexity. Canada's labor market is cooling, but not in the way past downturns looked. Job losses are emerging in traditional sectors, yet unemployment hasn't spiked because the workforce itself is shrinking—driven by retirements and slower population growth. That structural shift matters. Slower labor growth caps wage growth, which in turn limits housing demand over the long run. At the same time, uneven job creation across provinces may quietly redirect housing and rental demand to where employment is strongest.On the rental front, the story is finally turning for tenants. Asking rents have fallen for more than a year and recently hit multi-year lows, with Vancouver among the steepest declines. Yet even here, the rate of decline is slowing—hinting that rental markets may be approaching stabilization.Governments, facing slowing activity, are stepping in with incentives. Programs like Nova Scotia's ultra-low down payment initiative underscore a key theme of the episode: these policies are less a sign of strength than a response to economic fragility. They don't solve affordability at its root; they increase leverage in an already indebted system.Add rising home insurance costs—driven by aging housing stock and extreme weather—and the cost pressures on ownership and rental housing continue to build, even as headline prices soften.The takeaway is clear: today's market is defined by contradictions. Affordability is improving, but demand remains hesitant. Supply is being quietly choked off. Costs are shifting rather than disappearing. And interest rates, once the dominant force, may now be the least volatile variable.This episode isn't about calling a top or a bottom. It's about understanding where the next pressure points are forming—and why the decisions being made today may shape Canada's housing landscape for the next decade. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

January delivered a sobering wake-up call for Greater Vancouver real estate. Sales volumes collapsed 29% year over year—on top of 2025 already being the weakest sales year in a quarter century. That makes this not just a slow start to the year, but one of the most severe demand contractions the market has faced in decades. Against that backdrop, this episode dives into the newly released February data to answer the question on everyone's mind: how close are we to the bottom—and could 2026 actually be worse than 2025?The discussion begins with a critical stabilizing metric: mortgage arrears. Despite mounting pressure elsewhere, Canada's arrears rate remains flat at 0.25%, with just over 12,000 mortgages delinquent out of nearly five million. By global standards, this is extraordinarily low—especially compared to the U.S., where arrears sit more than six times higher. Historically, Canada has never experienced sustained spikes in this metric, suggesting that while prices are falling, systemic mortgage distress has not yet materialized.From there, attention shifts to a growing concern for long-term growth: British Columbia's rising perception as “uninvestable.” Recent legal developments surrounding the Prince Rupert Port Authority underscore a broader risk narrative—projects approved at every level can still face years of legal uncertainty. As foreign capital grows more cautious, the downstream consequences become clear: fewer housing starts, tighter supply down the road, and higher costs borne by everyday Canadians.The episode then tackles a powerful and timely issue—seller psychology. In one of the most competitive markets in over a decade, many sellers are attempting to cut commissions in an effort to preserve net proceeds. The irony is stark. With inventory at multi-year highs, days on market stretching to seven-year peaks, and price cuts routinely reaching $100,000–$150,000, execution matters more than ever. In a 9% sales-to-active ratio environment—the lowest in 13 years—pricing mistakes aren't corrected, they're punished. The takeaway is clear: this is the kind of market where experience, exposure, and strategy matter most.Zooming out, Toronto provides a cautionary parallel. GTA prices are now down 27% from their 2022 peak, sales are at post-financial-crisis lows, and inventory has surged to record January levels. Vancouver's February data shows similar stress. Sales fell to just 1,104 transactions—down 38% month over month and 29% year over year—ranking among the weakest months in two decades. Inventory now sits 38% above long-term averages, while prices continue their steady descent. The benchmark HPI has dropped for ten consecutive months, pulling values back to late-2021 levels.The episode closes with a crucial reminder: housing downturns don't stay contained within housing. Falling prices ripple outward—reducing government revenues, slowing construction, tightening credit, and ultimately weighing on employment and consumer spending. Some price correction is healthy. Prolonged, disorderly declines are not. The risk ahead isn't that the market is adjusting—but that we underestimate how deeply housing is embedded in Canada's entire economic system.This episode offers a clear, data-driven look at where we stand, why the bottom isn't in yet, and why the next phase of this cycle will demand far more discipline. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Oficiālā atklāšanas ceremonija vēl tikai šovakar, bet ziemas olimpiskās spēles Itālijā jau ir sākušās. Trešdien un ceturtdien kalnu slēpotāji, kērlinga meistari, snovbordisti un hokejistes sāka savus startus. Pulksten 21:00 sāksies spēļu atklāšanas ceremonija. Tiešraidē to, protams, raidīs arī Latvijas TV. Gaidot atklāšanas ceremoniju, uzklausām, ko no tās cer sagaidīt mūsu delegācija. Stāsta Harijs Vitoliņš, Latvijas hokeja izlases galvenais treneris un karognesējs 2002. gadā, kā arī olimpisko spēļu debitants, hokejists Kristiāns Rubīns. Sazināmies arī ar Jāni Ķipuru, kurš bija karognesējs 1992. gadā Albervilā, Francijā. Kopā atmināmies to laiku un iezīmējam arī to, kas gaidāms šajās spēlēs. Spēļu atkāšanas ceremonija notiks leģendārajā San Siro stadionā Milānā, kur ikdienā spēlē futbolu, un tas ir viens no leģendārākajiem futbola stadioniem pasaulē. Lai gan nekas vēl nav oficiāli paziņots, gaidāms, ka atklāšanas ceremonija savā ziņā būs arī veltījums stadiona vēsture. Stadionā ir vietas aptuveni 80 tūkstošiem līdzjutēju, un tas tika atvērts tieši pirms 100 gadiem. 2025. gada rudenī Milānas pilsēta nobalsoja par stadiona nojaukšanu, un tā vietā pēc kāda laika sliesies jauns stadions. Kā to nosaka Olimpiskā harta, pasākuma programmā būs mākslinieciskie priekšnesumi, kas atspoguļos rīkotājvalsts, tātad Itālijas, un rīkotājpilsētu – Milānas un Kortīnas – kultūru, būs sportistu parāde un olimpiskās uguns iedegšana. Spēles oficiāli atklās Itālijas prezidents Serdžo Matarella. Šīs būs pirmās ziemas olimpiskās spēles, kuru atklāšanas ceremonija notiks Starptautiskās Olimpiskās komitejas prezidentes Kērsijas Koventrijas prezidentūras laikā.  Atklāšanas ceremonijas scenārijs, kā allaž, tiek turēts noslēpumā, bet naskākie mediju izlūki pasaulē ir snieguši savus minējumus. Pastāv uzskats, ka mūzika būs ceremonijas centrālais elements, lai gan līdz šim ir apstiprināti tikai daži mākslinieki. Ceremonijas koncepcija paredzot izcelt vairākas sacensību norises vietas. 25. ziemas olimpiskajās spēlēs kopumā plāno startēt 2871 sportists un sportiste no 92 valstīm, bet Latviju pārstāvēs 68 sportisti. Šī ir lielākā delegācija, ar kādu Latvija jebkad piedalījusies ziemas spēlēs. Mums būs atlēti biatlonā, bobslejā, kamaniņās, skeletonā, daiļslidošanā, distanču slēpošanā, kalnu slēpošanā, šorttrekā un, protams, arī hokejā - mūsu vīru hokeja valstsvienība 7. reizi piedalīsies olimpiskajās spēlēs, ja ieskaitām arī vienu reizi pirms padomju okupācijas laika.  Tieši hokeja izlases kapteinis, Triju zvaigžņu ordeņa kavalieris Kaspars Daugaviņš būs viens no mūsu karognesējiem atklāšanas ceremonijā. Viņš to darīs līdzās mūsu kalnu slēpotājai Dženiferai Ģērmanei.  Hokejisti visbiežāk nesuši mūsu karogu - sākot ar Leonīdu Jāni Vedēju 1936. gadā Bavārijā, bet pēc neatkarības atgūšanas to darījuši vīri, kuri tagad jau ir izlases treneru štābā - Harijs Vītoliņš, Artūrs Irbe, Sandis Ozoliņš un Lauris Dārziņš. Gandrīz tikpat bieži arī bobslejisti bijuši mūsu karognesēji. Mūsu sportistiem pirmie starti rītdien, 7. februārī. Rīta pusē Elvis Opmanis aizvadīs nobraucienu kalnu slēpošanā, vēlāk skiatlonā sacensības sāks mūsu slēpotājas Patrīcija Eiduka, Kitija Auziņa, Linda Kaparkalēja un Samanta Krampe, bet vakarpusē pirmie divi braucieni mūsu kamaniņiekiem Kristeram Aparjodam un Gintam Bērziņam.  Precīzāka informācija par starta laikiem meklējama portālā lsm.lv un pašas sacensības varat skatīties kanālā LTV7.

The Canadian real estate market is currently trapped in a fascinating, if not harrowing, contradiction. On one hand, we are witnessing a 35-year high in completed but unsold inventory, with 19,000 units sitting vacant as of last month—a staggering 52% above the long-term average. On the other, the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) is sounding the alarm on a 27% price surge by 2032. To the casual observer, this looks like a market in collapse; to the seasoned analyst, it looks like a massive supply-side vacuum in the making. The reality is that developers have effectively "penciled down," with virtually zero new projects slated for completion in 2029 or 2030. We are currently gorging on a surplus of "tiny condos" that the modern Canadian family cannot—or will not—occupy, while the pipeline for functional, family-sized housing has run dry.This paralysis is being compounded by a Bank of Canada (BoC) that has opted for a "wait and see" approach, holding rates at 2.25% for the second consecutive meeting. The Governor's pivot toward "uncertainty" suggests that growth concerns are finally outweighing inflation fears. However, this lack of forward guidance is a double-edged sword. When a central bank claims the climate is "too uncertain," it is a tacit admission that they no longer trust their own data models. This caution is reflected in the mortgage market: while 43% of new borrowers are still gambling on variable rates, the smart money is beginning to eye five-year fixed products. With projections suggesting the overnight rate could climb another 100 basis points to 3.25% by 2031, the era of "cheap money" is not coming back, making "locking in" a prudent defensive maneuver for the household balance sheet.The human cost of this economic friction is becoming impossible to ignore. In 2025, Canada saw a record 120,016 people emigrate—the fourth consecutive year of growth in departures. Most alarming is that 54% of those leaving are aged 25 to 49. This is not just a "brain drain"; it is an "equity drain." When your core tax base and household-forming demographic flee for more affordable jurisdictions, it signals a systemic failure in the Canadian dream. This exodus is mirrored by a collapse in homeownership rates across every age group under 75. For the first time in modern history, young Canadians are being forced into long-term tenancy, not by choice, but by a market that has prioritized 500-square-foot investment vehicles over livable family homes.Looking ahead to the remainder of 2026, the labor market may be the catalyst for the next shift. With 21% of businesses planning staff cuts—the highest level since 2016—and EI recipients up 16% year-over-year, the pressure on the BoC to cut rates may become irresistible. Yet, retail sales paradoxically hit all-time highs last month, driven by spending on "self-care" items like clothing and jewelry rather than building materials. This suggests a consumer base that has given up on the "big" dreams of renovation and ownership, choosing instead to spend their dwindling disposable income on immediate gratification. We are in a volatile transition period where sentiment is negative, but the underlying data suggests that once today's inventory is absorbed, we will wake up to a market with no new supply to meet the next cycle of demand. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

The Canadian real estate landscape in early 2026 has officially entered a period of historic structural decoupling. As we analyze the data from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to Vancouver, the "demise of the pre-sale condo" is no longer a hyperbolic headline—it is a statistical reality. In the GTA, new condo sales have plummeted a staggering 95% from their 2021 peak, reaching a quarterly volume not seen since the third quarter of 1990. This 35-year low has triggered a wave of "capital flight" from traditional development; a record 28 active projects were cancelled in 2025 alone, representing over 7,200 units that will never hit the skyline.This inventory vacuum creates a "supply cliff" that market participants must brace for. While current completions remain high due to the lag in construction cycles—nearly matching the 2024 record—starts have cratered by 88% over the last three years. By 2029, the industry is projecting a "zero-delivery" year for new condos. However, as the pre-sale model falters, a new titan is emerging: purpose-built rentals. Driven by federal tax incentives and a desperate need for stable housing stock, rental starts hit a multi-decade high in 2025. Yet, there is a paradox in the West; Vancouver is simultaneously grappling with a 30-year high vacancy rate of 3.7%, proving that even in a supply-starved nation, price and demand have a ceiling.The macro-economic backdrop further complicates the recovery. Canada's GDP shrank by 0.3% in late 2025, the sharpest non-pandemic decline in nearly a decade. While headline inflation has seen a "ghost" uptick to 2.4%—largely due to year-over-year tax distortions—core inflation is actually cooling. This puts the Bank of Canada in a delicate holding pattern. As they head into the January 28th meeting, the consensus is a rate hold at 2.25%. For investors, the era of "easy gains" through pre-sale appreciation is over; the new game is "gentle density."North Vancouver's recent adoption of Zoning Amendment Bylaw 9137 is the "first-mover" opportunity of 2026. By legalizing multiplexes across nearly 4,900 lots, the city has fired the starting gun for small-scale developers to convert single-family lots into three-to-six unit "AAA" assets.  _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

The real estate landscape heading into 2026 may be the most uncertain we've seen in decades. Rising unemployment, declining population growth, global trade tensions, expanding land claims, the risk of renewed rate hikes, falling prices, and record levels of completed but unsold inventory have created a fog over Canadian housing—especially in British Columbia. This episode sets out to unpack the economic forces now shaping the year ahead and offer clear-eyed predictions for what lies ahead in 2026. It's a rare moment where even seasoned market observers admit that forecasting feels unusually difficult. That's precisely why this conversation matters—and why we invite viewers to leave their own predictions, so we can revisit them in a year and see who truly had a crystal ball. National sales slipped 2.7% month-over-month, with 2025 closing down 1.9% overall, while Greater Vancouver posted its weakest sales volume year in 25 years. Active inventory fell for a fourth consecutive month, now sitting 10% below the long-term average and roughly half of what it was in 2015. Prices edged down again, with Canada's HPI falling 4% in 2025 and BC's average home price dropping below $1 million for the first time in years. Provincial dollar volume fell more than 8%, unit sales declined, and affordability remains strained. Overlay this with rising unemployment—now at 6.8%, experiencing the second-largest monthly spike since 2020—and a labor market increasingly concentrated in essential services while private-sector industries contract. Youth unemployment has surged past 13%, underscoring a generation facing diminished economic momentum. Add to that the growing presence of land claims across BC, including new frameworks for “Land Back” initiatives, and the result is a market shadowed by questions around long-term confidence and property rights.At the same time, a global shift in capital allocation is underway. In the United States, equities have overtaken real estate as the dominant driver of household wealth for only the second time since the 1980s. Canada remains more heavily concentrated in property—real estate still represents nearly 42% of household assets—but that imbalance raises important questions about diversification, productivity, and long-term resilience. Against this backdrop, the episode moves into bold 2026 forecasts: Will Canada technically enter a recession? Where will population growth land? How high will unemployment rise before stabilizing? Will inflation remain contained? Where will the Bank of Canada take rates—and what will that mean for fixed and variable mortgages? How far will mortgage arrears climb? What new government policies could reshape the housing landscape? And finally, what does all this mean for sales volumes, inventory, absorption rates, rental prices, luxury transactions, and home values across detached homes, townhomes, and condos? This is a year defined by crosscurrents—economic contraction colliding with structural housing shortages, policy ambition clashing with affordability realities. 2026 may not deliver clarity, but it will deliver consequence. And for those watching closely, it may also deliver opportunity—if you understand the cycle you're standing in. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Hay una región clave en nuestro cerebro que nos otorga un poder único en la evolución: la consciencia, nuestra percepción corporal, y, en definitiva, la construcción de nuestro “yo” individual y único. Hablamos del precúneo, y un estudio reciente desvela que se define en la etapa prenatal y termina su crecimiento antes de los 5 años.También otro estudio desvela que es una región compleja vulnerable que se ve afectada en la neurodegeneración y el Alzheimer. Las consecuencias y elementos a investigar y debatir son fascinantes como vas a comprobar… Son dos publicaciones (la primera en Cerebral Cortex, y la segunda en Journal of Anatomy) en las que está implicado uno de nuestros invitados, el Doctor en Biología e investigador del Museo de Ciencias Naturales Emiliano Bruner. Y también nos acompaña el Dr. Pascual Sánchez-Juan, quien lidera en Madrid un modelo científico único que integra una residencia de mayores con el centro de investigación CIEN y donde los datos recogidos pre y post mortem están dando resultados muy valiosos para investigar y diagnosticar precozmente el Alzheimer. Con Don Víctor desde el Planeta Segovia activaremos el conectoma neuronal con buenos cómics, como siempre…Escuchar audio

Vancouver enters 2026 at a rare crossroads. Home prices have slipped to a three-year low, annual sales volumes have fallen to levels not seen in a quarter century, and yet Canadians brought a record number of homes to market in 2025. The disconnect between supply and demand is no longer theoretical—it's visible across prices, borrowing behaviour, and broader economic indicators.Beneath the surface, household balance sheets are doing more of the heavy lifting. While transaction activity remains subdued, borrowing against housing has accelerated. Recent national data shows home equity line of credit (HELOC) balances climbing to nearly $180 billion, the highest level in six years, after a decade-long pullback. Credit itself isn't inherently problematic—many homeowners use it productively to renovate or reinvest—but the concern today is why borrowing is rising while sales slow. When leverage grows to cover higher living costs or to refinance other debt, risk accumulates quietly. The current pattern bears uncomfortable similarities to 2017, when investor-led borrowing rose amid soft resale activity and a wave of new supply.Commercial real estate tells a parallel story of recalibration. Downtown Vancouver office vacancy rose to 12.8% by the end of 2025—the highest level in over twenty years—driven largely by oversupply from recent project deliveries and a continued “flight to quality.” Older Class B and C buildings now sit near 18% vacancy, while top-tier space remains comparatively resilient. Construction has slowed sharply, signalling that the market is adjusting, not collapsing. Even so, Vancouver remains one of Canada's most structurally resilient office markets, with vacancy still below Toronto and Ottawa.Early warning signs are also emerging in household stress metrics. Mortgage arrears in Canada reached a five-year high late last year. British Columbia remains below the national average, but at its highest level in six years. With more than one million mortgages set to renew in 2026—many at higher payments—this pressure is unlikely to ease quickly.A comparison with Toronto underscores Vancouver's uniqueness. GTA sales also fell to a 25-year low, but inventory there has surged to record highs and prices are now down roughly 27% from the 2022 peak. Vancouver's correction has been more measured—but persistent.Locally, December data reinforces the theme. Sales volumes remain well below historical norms, inventory is at a 12-year high for this time of year, and days on market have stretched to levels last seen in 2019. Prices continue to drift lower: the benchmark index is down for the ninth consecutive month, returning values to early-2023 levels, with detached, townhomes, and condos all sharing similar declines.Looking back, 2025 closed with the fewest home sales since 2000—yet also the highest number of listings on record. That imbalance sets the table for 2026: a market with abundant choice for buyers and intensified competition for sellers. What happens next will hinge on confidence—both in household finances and in the broader economic outlook. Next week, we'll outline what this means for sales, supply, and pricing as the year unfolds. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Uz precīzijas medicīnu tiek liktas lielas cerības nākotnē, īpaši onkoloģijā, kur šāda veida terapijas nozīmētu veiksmīgi izārstētu vēzi bez smagām blaknēm veselajām organisma šūnām. Kā dažādas medicīnas procedūras, terapijas metodes un medikamentus ietekmē mūsu katra gēni, vides un dzīvesveida apstākļi? Kādām slimībām jau šobrīd palīdz precīzijas medicīna un ko tā īsti nozīmē? Raidījumā Zināmais nezināmajā skaidro Inese Čakstiņa-Dzērve, bioloģijas doktore, Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Mikrobioloģijas un virusoloģijas institūta vadošā pētniece, docente Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Medicīnas fakultātē, un Egija Berga-Švītiņa, Bērnu klīniskās universitātes slimnīcas ģenētiķe. Raidījuma noslēgumā Zinātnes ziņas Kas vieno un atšķir optimistus un pesimistus? Optimistiski cilvēki savā starpā esot līdzīgi – tā pagājušajā gadā publicētā pētījumā žurnālā “PNAS” apgalvojuši zinātnieki no Japānas un Austrālijas. “Zināmais nezināmajā” viedokli par publikāciju vaicājam pašmāju pētniekam, un šoreiz tā ir psiholoģe, kā arī lektore un pētniece Rīgas Tehniskajā universitātē Anete Hofmane. Viņa norāda, ka pēdējo desmit gadu laikā ir ienākusi tendence runāt par pozitīvo psiholoģiju un līdz ar to – arī par optimismu. Saruna par optimismu kā cerību saglabāšanu attiecībā uz nākotni un kā psiholoģisku resursu.

Every year, we make real estate predictions knowing full well they're as much a reflection of the moment as they are a guess about the future—and 2025 proved just how quickly the ground can move beneath your feet. In this episode, we hold ourselves accountable and revisit the bold calls we made last January: what we nailed, what we completely missed, and what actually unfolded in Canada's economy and housing market along the way. We start with the big economic drivers that were supposed to shape the year. We debated recession risk, population growth, unemployment, inflation, interest rates, mortgages, arrears, and government policy. Some calls landed squarely—like inflation finishing near 2.2% and the Bank of Canada settling close to where we thought. Others, like population forecasts and recession timing, were blown apart by an unexpected demographic reversal, stronger-than-anticipated labour resilience, and policy shifts few saw coming. The population story alone flipped every expectation: instead of adding hundreds of thousands, Canada actually started shrinking by Q3—something unprecedented in modern history—and that shock flowed straight into housing demand, pricing power, and sentiment.From there, we turn to housing fundamentals, where reality humbled just about everyone. We recap how sales volumes fell instead of rising, how inventory surged far beyond expectations, how the pre-sale market nearly froze, and how price performance told a very different story than most forecast. Rental markets softened, luxury retreated, and Greater Vancouver's “winner” markets were fewer and far more nuanced than anyone predicted. We didn't shy away from calling our misses what they were—some wildly optimistic, others too conservative—but each reveals something important: this market continues to behave in ways that challenge even the most experienced economists, analysts, and practitioners. Along the way, we contrast our calls with prominent bank forecasts, highlight the global and political developments that no one had on their radar a year ago, and show how quickly “consensus” can turn to fiction.This episode isn't about pretending foresight; it's about learning in hindsight. It's a candid, data-driven reflection on a year where expectations collided with reality, where economic resilience defied narrative, where policy failed to align with planning, and where Canada's housing story took another unexpected turn. If you enjoy a mix of humility, humour, uncomfortable truth, and meaningful takeaways, this is one of those episodes that reminds everyone—industry pros included—that predicting real estate is far from easy.  _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

As we head into 2026, population is no longer just another economic talking point — it has become one of the single most powerful forces reshaping Canadian real estate & the economy. For the first time in modern history, Canada's population is shrinking, and the effects are immediate and profound. Ontario and British Columbia — the country's largest and most expensive markets — are now posting negative annual population growth for the first time ever. After years of record inflows, the pendulum has swung sharply in the opposite direction. Non-permanent residents are leaving in record numbers, permanent residents are quietly exiting the country at near-historic highs, and government targets suggest this outflow may continue for the next two years. The last time Canada experienced a demographic shock, it was driven by rapid population acceleration — and it rewrote housing dynamics overnight. Now we are watching the same type of historic shift, only in reverse, and the consequences are every bit as significant.Those consequences are already showing up in the housing market. Canada is delivering the largest volume of purpose-built rental construction in history at the exact moment demand is softening. Rental inventory is surging, vacancy rates are climbing, incentives are returning, and the national market is clearly moving toward cheaper, more competitive rents. That may temporarily make renting feel like the smarter financial move, but history is unequivocal: the long-term wealth gap between renters and owners remains enormous, and demographic shifts don't change that reality. Nowhere is this more evident than in Toronto, where the condo market has all but stalled — sales have collapsed from record highs to generational lows, new project launches have effectively halted, and completed but unsold units are stacking up at levels never recorded before. It is the clearest example of what happens when the wrong kind of supply finally outruns broad market demand in an economy built on perpetual growth assumptions. Currently, dwellings under construction is running at 500% more than the population growth rate when the historical average is 50%.And yet, the broader economy still sends mixed signals. Mortgage growth has recently ticked up, supported largely by first-time buyers stepping in where investors and move-up purchasers have stepped back. Retail spending shows households remain cautious. Sentiment readings are improving - considerably in the business sector but insolvencies in places like B.C. are quietly hitting new records. At the same time, household net worth is sitting at all-time highs, driven by financial markets that reward those already positioned at the top. 20% of Canadians own 70% of Canadian Assets! Affordability, meanwhile, has “improved” — but only relative to a crisis peak. Even after seven quarters of easing, ownership costs are still near the worst levels Canada has ever seen, and with rates likely holding into 2026, further progress may need to come from unpopular but necessary price declines rather than overall policy relief. In this weeks podcast, we break down this critical demographic turning point — what a shrinking population truly means for housing demand, pricing power, rental markets, developers, mortgage holders, and anyone trying to make a disciplined real estate decision in the year ahead. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Nupat klajā nākusi Zanes Zustas jaunākā grāmata „Precēto sieviešu (grēk)sūdzes”. Stāstos apkopotas 13 grēksūdzes, kas tapušas pēc sieviešu patiesiem dzīves motīviem. Tāpēc būtiska šķiet autores piebilde tūlīt aiz virsraksta: „visi stāsti šajā pasaulē ir patiesi”. Savukārt grāmatas redaktore Anda Ogriņa uzsver, ka šajos stāstos mājo romantiski sapņi, satraucošas alkas, bailes un greizsirdība. Košs izvērtīsies stāsts jeb situācija ap grāmatas vāka attēlu.  Grāmatas „Precēto sieviešu (grēk)sūdzes” atvēršanas pasākumu atklāj pati autore, nepiespiesti sarunājoties ar publiku. "Man ir ļoti liels prieks jūs redzēt, katru no jums, jo visus esmu ielūgusi un savā sirdī gaidījusi. Jā, šis vakars ir ļoti īpašs, jo šodien tiek atvērtas veselas divas grāmatas - grāmata bērniem un grāmata pieaugušajiem" tā Zane Zusta. Grāmatas "Slepenais ceļojums pie Zobmošķa" adresēta bērniem, un tā ir autores 14. grāmata. Starp citu, Zane Zusta savas literārās gaitas aizsāka 2015. gadā ar bērnu grāmatām par Pūcīti Ucipuci. Bet mēs šoreiz pievēršam uzmanību pieaugušo literatūrai un vakara turpinājumā atklātajam stāstu krājumam „Precēto sieviešu (grēk)sūdzes”. "Šie ir stāsti par patiesiem cilvēkiem, par patiesām sievietēm, kas ir mums blakus. Tieši tāpēc jau tie ir tik interesanti. Par sievietēm, kas ir mums blakus, par sievietēm, kuras tiek krāptas, par sievietēm, kuras ir vienas, kuras pašas krāpj, par sievietēm, kurām mājās vairs nevedas sarunas un nav strīdu, bet ne tāpēc, ka viss būtu labi, bet tāpēc, ka vairs sarunu nav," atklāj Zane Zusta. "(..)Mani stāsti ir par to, kas notiek  sievietes iekšējā pasaulē, kad tā nolemj - man pietiek! Bet šī grāmata nav pret attiecībām, tā ir par attiecībām, jo attiecībās ir divi cilvēki, un tā kalpos kā saruna, kā iespēja paskatīties uz otru, iespēja atcerēties par otru sev blakus."  

As we close out 2025, the data coming across the wire is some of the most consequential Canada has seen in decades—and it is quietly rewriting the playbook for real estate in 2026. For the first time in modern history, Canada's population is shrinking, not growing. At the same time, rental vacancy rates are climbing to multi-decade highs, rents are falling, developers are pulling back, and interest rates are no longer clearly on a path down. And yet, in what feels like a contradiction, headline employment, GDP, and inflation continue to beat expectations. In this episode, we unpack how these cross-currents collide—and what they mean for housing prices, investors, homeowners, and anyone facing a buy, sell, or mortgage renewal decision in the year ahead.The most important shift begins with population. Canada's population fell by roughly 76,000 people in Q3, a 0.2% quarterly decline and the largest contraction on record outside of pandemic border closures. Annual population growth has slowed to just 0.2%, the lowest level ever recorded. This reversal is almost entirely driven by non-permanent residents—foreign students and temporary workers—who accounted for nearly all population growth between 2022 and 2024. That trend has now flipped. Canada lost 176,000 non-permanent residents in a single quarter, bringing their share of the population down to 6.8%, with federal policy targeting closer to 5% by 2027. For housing, this is seismic. The demand tailwind that drove rents, prices, and pre-sales for years has disappeared just as housing completions and rental construction approach record levels. The result is straightforward: softer rents, rising developer inventory, and growing caution among investors—a dynamic that may not fully bottom out until 2027.Rental data confirms the shift. Vancouver one-bedroom rents are down 8% year-over-year, national rents have fallen to their lowest level since mid-2023, and vacancy rates have surged. Vancouver's purpose-built vacancy rate reached 3.7%, the highest since 1988, while Toronto hit 3% for the first time since the pandemic. Importantly, the largest wave of rental completions is still ahead. While falling rents offer short-term relief, they also widen the monthly gap between renting and owning—pushing some Canadians toward renting longer. Yet the long-term wealth divide remains stark when comparing long term outcomes between homeowners' median net worth (on average 10 to 19 times higher than renters') - depending on age group. Short-term affordability and long-term wealth creation are moving in opposite directions.Housing supply tells a similar story of imbalance. National housing starts are uneven, single-family construction is shrinking, and major B.C. markets—including Vancouver—continue to slow. National home prices have fallen 21% from their 2022 peak, returning to 2017 levels in real terms. In Greater Vancouver, benchmark prices are set to fall for a tenth straight month, ending the year near three-year lows.Taken together, this is not a crisis—but it is a reset. 2026 is shaping up to be a year defined less by momentum and more by discipline, selectivity, and long-term strategy. And for those paying attention, the data isn't just noise—it's a market signal.Join the webinar:  www.laidlercapital.com/emptynesters?ref=thevancouverlife   _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

It has been just 18 months since British Columbia launched Bill 44—the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) initiative—and already the landscape of urban development in the province has shifted in ways few could have predicted. Hundreds of multiplex permit applications have been submitted across B.C., the first wave of completed projects is beginning to emerge, and municipalities that once resisted density are now formally adopting the provincial framework. Just this week, the City of North Vancouver officially passed its zoning amendments, opening the door to multiplex development across one of the most land-constrained communities in the region.On paper, this all signals momentum. But in practice, the path to delivering “Missing Middle” housing has proven far more complex.Nowhere is that tension clearer than in Burnaby—one of the earliest and most enthusiastic adopters of Bill 44, and now one of the loudest voices pushing back. Residents have raised concerns about scale, height, setbacks, and parking. And in response, the city has revised its bylaws, reducing allowable height, shrinking lot coverage, expanding setbacks, and increasing parking requirements. These changes may soothe neighbourhood discomfort, but they also directly affect the number of new homes that can realistically be built. We also get into a new, one of a kind single family project launch in Burnaby that is uniquely suited for downsizers and/or growing families.To help us understand what all of this means—not just for Burnaby, but for housing supply across the entire Lower Mainland—we're joined by someone at the forefront of multiplex development: Bill Laidler. Bill is a leader in the Missing Middle space, with more than 400 homes in development. He is a developer, educator, and one of the most articulate advocates for creating generational housing—helping grandparents live near their grandkids, while unlocking attainable ownership for young families. His previous two appearances on this channel are among our most viewed ever.Today, Bill walks us through the real impacts of Bill 44 so far: what's working, what isn't, and how recent municipal pushback could reshape the next decade of housing supply. We discuss the political friction between provincial goals and municipal authority, examine the Burnaby bylaw changes in detail, and explore whether multiplexes can meaningfully improve affordability—or risk becoming another high-priced, low-yield form of stratified ownership.We also dive into the biggest challenges affecting feasibility today: high construction costs, stricter parking requirements, and the difficulty builders face securing financing for small-scale multi-unit projects. Bill offers candid insight into which barriers matter most—and what practical solutions could unlock real progress.Finally, Bill shares a behind-the-scenes look at some of Laidler's upcoming multiplex communities and how they aim to set a new standard for livability, design, and family-oriented density.If you're wondering where the future of multi-family real estate investment is going and you want to understand where Missing Middle housing is truly headed—this is a conversation you won't want to miss. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Vancouver home prices have fallen for the 8th consecutive month, hitting their lowest level in 33 months. The December data confirms what many have felt for weeks: the market is cooling faster than most anticipated. Sales are slowing, inventory remains elevated, and both developers and institutional investors are feeling the strain. In this week's report, we break down what's driving this latest leg down — from stalled projects and falling rents to REIT dividend cuts, mortgage renewal pressure, and what to expect from the Bank of Canada next week.Let's start with development. One of Vancouver's biggest stories comes from Landa Global Properties, whose two-tower West End project was approved seven years ago but still hasn't broken ground. Originally slated for 129 market rental units and $75 million in community amenity contributions — about $169,000 per home — the proposal has since been reworked to include 51 social housing units, fewer market rentals, and no Passive House certification, in an effort to make the project financially viable. Despite its prime location, the developer says rising costs, high interest rates, and market softness have made the numbers impossible to pencil. It's a stark example of what's happening city-wide: pro-formas no longer work, lenders are pulling back, and the result will be fewer new homes hitting the market in the years ahead.The arrears rate, however, remains surprisingly stable. At 0.24%, it's unchanged month-over-month — meaning 99.76% of mortgages are still being paid on time. Ontario saw a small uptick to 0.25%, but B.C. held steady at 0.21%. Despite six months into the “renewal wall,” Canadians are holding up better than expected. The real stress test arrives in 2026, when nearly one-third of all mortgages will reset at higher rates. Still, arrears remain 32% below their 30-year average, suggesting that for now, borrowers are managing the pressure.An intriguing shift is showing up in the banking data: for the first time in 35 years, the total number of active mortgages is falling — down nearly 2% year-over-year. Normally that number rises 2–5% annually. Some of the decline may stem from mortgage payoffs during the pandemic's liquidity boom, a slowdown in purchases, and the movement of lending to credit unions (which aren't included in the national data). It's another sign that both buyers and lenders are becoming increasingly cautious.Turning to the data, Toronto's prices are down 25% from the 2022 peak, and Vancouver's aren't far behind. December sales in Greater Vancouver fell 22% month-over-month to 1,844 units — the slowest pace in 25 years — and remain 21% below the 10-year average. Inventory dropped 12% from November but still sits 36% above the decade norm. The sales-to-active ratio fell to 13% (9% for detached, 14% for townhomes, 15% for condos).Prices followed suit. The HPI benchmark slipped another 0.3% to $1,123,700 — down 5.5% from  March's annual high — bringing values back to February 2023 levels. Median and average prices also declined, to $950,000 and $1.24 million respectively. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

"I made a number of live jams over a couple of weeks, each around an hour long, all manipulating a snippet of the recording, with some added synths; the final piece is an edit and amalgamation of two of these. A selection of others can be found at https://dtyb.bandcamp.com/album/warsaw. St. Martin's church, Warsaw reimagined by dtyb.

Canada is building homes at a record pace, but a closer look reveals a growing disconnect between what's being constructed and what Canadians actually need, want, or can afford. While total units under construction sit at all-time highs, homeowner-oriented housing tells a very different story. Single-family home starts have fallen to levels not seen since 2009, even dipping below those of 25 years ago when adjusted for population growth. Over just three months, single-family starts are down more than 9%, condo starts are down over 11%, and yet purpose-built rental construction is up more than 30%. Building permits, the clearest leading indicator show Ontario and British Columbia at a 40-year low for single-family approvals, all but guaranteeing a future shortage of that housing type. The trajectory is clear: fewer Canadians will live in single-family homes, not by choice, but by supply design.That supply shift is already reshaping the rental market. Canada now has roughly 180,000 purpose-built rental units in the pipeline, including an extraordinary 16% of British Columbia's entire rental stock currently under construction. Contrast that with 2012, when fewer than 2,000 rentals were being built nationwide. Today, that number exceeds 35,000 annually. Vacancy rates, which hit a historic low near 1.5% in 2024, have already climbed to roughly 2.5%, with growing evidence they could push into the 4% range over the coming years. Rents are responding quickly. In Metro Vancouver, average one-bedroom rents fell in November to roughly $2,164 — down 9% year-over-year — with similar declines now seen across 17 of Canada's largest metro areas. For investors, particularly institutions that piled aggressively into rental housing, this is an inflection point worth watching closely.Against this backdrop, Ottawa has rolled out its latest housing intervention: Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency aimed almost entirely at affordable rental and social housing. The program brings long-awaited clarity around income-based definitions of affordability and outlines a three-pillar strategy focused on financing, building, and industrializing housing production. But it also exposes critical blind spots. The program does not target market-rate ownership or middle-class housing. Its standardized design catalogue emphasizes low-rise, low-density buildings, often with small unit sizes, at a time when cities are short family-sized homes and need density. Innovation is championed rhetorically, yet without a clear plan to reconcile higher upfront costs with housing volume or to modernize zoning and building codes that frequently block new construction methods before they scale.Absorbing this supply would normally rely on strong population growth. That engine is stalling. Telecom data tracking mobile phone additions shows population growth slowing sharply, with 2025 on track for one of the weakest increases in over 70 years — and federal policy aimed at slowing it further.Taken together, the picture is sobering. Canada is producing housing but increasingly rentals instead of ownership, volume instead of suitability, optics instead of outcomes. Until supply aligns with real demand, regulations match ambition, and confidence is restored, the housing crisis is unlikely to ease. The question isn't just what Canada is building it's who it's being built for, and whether that answer still works. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Fala-se muito de liberdade por estes dias. A todos os propósitos, celebra-se essa estafada ideia de que se gozam hoje conquistas feitas a grande custo pelas gerações que nos antecederam, mas talvez fosse importante colocar a mesma pergunta certa vez feita por Foucault: “Qual é o campo actual das experiências possíveis?” Se a liberdade se tornou meramente hipotética, uma espécie de abstracção, algo que partimos do princípio que gozamos, podemos ser levados a prescindir de testar essa convicção. Talvez nunca tantos se tenham saciado dessas promessas, sendo isso o suficiente para não irem mais longe nem testarem a sua disposição moral divergindo desse grande quadro de inércia que nos serve de referência.  Que potência exercemos diariamente, nem que seja numa condição virtual, questionando o enredo a que estamos submetidos? Talvez a liberdade se tenha tornado uma noção demasiado abstracta, sendo esse o principal elemento de dissuasão, quando tudo se processa num nível hipotético. De facto, somos todos muitíssimo livres. Mas talvez fôssemos menos se realmente passássemos dos princípios aos actos. No entender de Kant a liberdade “é a autorização para não se obedecer a nenhuma outra lei exterior que não sejam aquelas às quais pude dar o meu assentimento”. Se partirmos daqui podemos reconhecer que a tal liberdade potencial contrasta com a falta de ânimo para oferecer resistência às orientações que nos vão seduzindo, convertendo, coagindo. Talvez Gramsci fosse mais livre na prisão do que a maioria de nós o somos no nosso dia-a-dia. Leia-se o que Italo Calvino escreveu a propósito da edição das "Cartas da Prisão" do fundador do Partido Comunista de Itália: "[As Cartas] têm as características do livro de memórias e do grande romance: a sua amplitude e o cruzamento de mundos e de temáticas. O prisioneiro revolucionário analisa minuciosamente todas as pequenas manifestações da vida que consegue captar a partir do sepulcro da sua cela: os pardais amestrados, as flores da chicória, as fotografias das suas crianças. Ele analisa qualquer fenómeno cultural, do idealismo crociano aos romances policiais, formulando interpretações novas e úteis, utilizando também todo o seu património de memórias regionais, as lendas, os costumes, os dialectos da sua Sardenha, que revive com um gosto só aparentemente anedótico.” A liberdade está longe de ser um estado natural, e daqui decorre que esta tenda a esboroar-se assim que não haja um constante esforço de a levar a efeito. A lógica do poder passa sempre por produzir a timidez daqueles que lhe estão submetidos, e é evidente que, à medida que a revolução começa a desvanecer-se, a cair na rotina, deixa de vigorar como um acontecimento, atestando uma virtualidade que não pode ser esquecida. Hoje, todos os esforços no sentido de celebrar “as conquistas de Abril” fazem por substituir os cravos por rosas brancas, limitar o alcance da revolução e moderar o seu ímpeto, retirando-lhe toda a actualidade e força anunciadora de um desejo que está ainda por cumprir-se. O signo que tem vindo a afirmar-se cada vez mais e que pretende fazer-nos renunciar às experiências que foram possíveis durante o período de dezoito meses do processo revolucionário é o do 25 de Novembro, que, como assinala Ricardo Noronha, “assumiu a forma de um evento fantasmagórico porque os seus actores – os vencedores como os vencidos – projectaram sobre os acontecimentos tantas camadas discursivas que a sua interpretação se tornou impossível sem um laborioso trabalho filológico e arqueológico”. E acrescenta que este é também um evento fantasmagórico “porque a sua evocação quebra a ténue membrana que separa o passado do presente, transportando em si um juízo sobre tudo o que antecedeu e se sucedeu àquelas horas tão saturadas de ocorrências, condensando em si a história de todas as revoluções e contrarrevoluções”. Para Noronha a evocação desta data “assombra ainda os cérebros dos vivos, servindo a um tempo enquanto fábula moral e mito fundador, efeméride comemorativa e epígrafe fúnebre”. Na verdade, e contrariamente ao que diz a direita, não foi a possibilidade de uma ditadura de sinal contrário ao do Estado Novo que foi afastada, mas a própria construção de um repertório de acção política, num raro momento na nossa história em que ganhou expressão o poder popular através de inúmeras acções de democracia directa. Durante aquele período que, de um golpe de Estado militar, fez uma verdadeira revolução, o que se viu ganhar corpo foi “uma vaga tumultuosa de contestação, insubordinação, auto-organização e radicalização, que não só empurrou o Movimento das Forças Armadas para lá dos seus propósitos iniciais como abalou profundamente os alicerces do capitalismo português”, escreve Noronha em “A Ordem Reina sobre Lisboa”. “Durante dezoito meses, as ordens foram desobedecidas, as proibições desafiadas e as leis permaneceram no papel, enquanto inúmeras herdades eram ocupadas e várias empresas eram nacionalizadas ou entravam em autogestão. Tudo isto não pode ser menos do que inaceitável visto a partir deste presente caracterizado por uma crescente resignação e apatia, desde logo porque permite vislumbrar a possibilidade de um outro mundo e de uma outra vida. Comemorar o 25 de Novembro é também uma maneira de esconjurar a possibilidade de se voltar a repetir semelhante cenário, fazendo o luto pelo trauma que tantos conservadores ainda associam ao PREC.”

Canada's housing market is being pulled in more directions than ever. Court cases, collapsing construction, political battles, and rising costs are all converging at once — and the result is a level of uncertainty we haven't seen in years. This week, we're breaking down what's making headlines, what's just noise, and what could materially reshape housing across B.C.We start in Port Coquitlam, where a decade-long Kwikwetlem land claim has resurfaced, putting major institutional sites from the Riverview lands to Gates Park, back into the legal spotlight. The case is currently paused while provincial negotiations take place, but after the recent Richmond ruling and new cases in Kamloops and Sun Peaks, municipalities are bracing for more challenges. With 95% of B.C. land unceded, these decisions could set the tone for years of litigation.Cross-border tensions are rising too. Several Alaska tribal nations have now petitioned the B.C. Supreme Court, arguing they should have a legal voice in Canadian resource projects including the Red Chris Mine, a federally fast-tracked, nation-building development. Their claim builds on the 2021 Desautel ruling, which recognized U.S.-based tribes as Aboriginal peoples of Canada. If the courts agree again, the implications for Canadian sovereignty, consultation rights, and investor confidence could be enormous.Meanwhile, housing supply is weakening. Starts are falling across B.C., with multi-family projects in larger centres down sharply. Calgary is considering reversing its citywide rezoning, Burnaby has scaled back Bill 44, and pre-sale markets continue to collapse — all of which point to even lower starts ahead. But there is one major outlier: the Heather Lands proposal has returned with towers as tall as 46 storeys, driven by a massive attainable-housing initiative involving the Province and the MST Partnership. If approved, 85% of the 4,200 homes on site would be below-market — a scale almost unprecedented in Vancouver.Demographics are shifting too. The median homebuyer age is rising rapidly, especially in the U.S., where it has surged to 59. Wealthier, older buyers are dominating the market, while first-time buyers shrink to record lows. Canada hasn't seen the same extreme jump yet, but affordability constraints suggest we're heading in that direction.On the financial side, the fallout from “Condo Day” continues as the Belvedere project in Surrey enters creditor protection, revealing just how fragile pre-sale economics have become. Nationally, CREA reports modest price increases and slightly higher sales, but Ontario's downturn continues to drag the national average lower.And finally, inflation cooled to 2.2%, but not for the reasons that matter most to homebuyers. Gas prices did the heavy lifting, while shelter costs — rent, insurance, and mortgage interest — continue pushing inflation higher. Core measures remain sticky, meaning cheaper mortgages aren't coming anytime soon.Policies, courts, construction, demographics, and financing are all colliding at once. Understanding which forces are temporary and which are structural has never been more important. This week, we break it all down — and what it means for your next move in B.C.'s housing market. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

For years, one of the driving narratives in Canadian real estate was deceptively simple: population growth equals home-price growth. Between 2021-2023, that tailwind was unmistakable — massive immigration, booming temporary residents, and a swelling demand for housing fueled price rises across the country. But that story is now changing. The latest federal budget from Ottawa projects zero population growth for the first time in modern history — a signal that the era of “Demographic Alpha” may be over.In British Columbia, the October numbers underscore the shifting landscape. Home sales across the province dropped by 10% year-over-year, with only 6,370 units sold, yet the average price ticked up to $987,600 (a modest 0.8 % increase). At first glance, that may seem counter-intuitive—especially given the drop in the Greater Vancouver region, where prices actually fell 3.4%. What it reveals is a province where local dynamics are diverging: outside the Lower Mainland some markets are still inching up.Nationally, every province except Ontario is showing year-over-year price increases. Ontario is down about 2.9%, even though pockets within have seen drops of 30 % or more. Two regions — Newfoundland and the Northwest Territories — are up more than 10%. So while the broader narrative remains “prices rising,” it's the hyper-local story that matters.Let's go back to population. For decades, Canadian real estate bulls pointed to one immutable fact: we kept growing. New people meant new renters, new buyers, new demand — the structural scarcity argument. But Ottawa's policy shift is turning the page. Between 2020 and 2024, population growth was arguably the strongest single driver of housing returns: it boosted rentals, shortened vacancy, supported pre-construction profits. Now the federal government's reduced intake of permanent and temporary residents is removing that force. Growth dropping from 3% to near zero rewrites the math of valuations.The consequences are broader than real estate: GDP growth in recent years has largely been powered by population expansion. With shrinking labour-force growth and rising youth and newcomer unemployment already flagged by the Bank of Canada, housing demand will be impacted. In effect, immigration policy is now acting as a rate hike — cooling demand without touching interest rates. For investors and developers, the easy “demographic premium” is gone.Condo starts continue to collapse. New sales of condo units have tanked, and about 18 months later condo starts follow that trajectory. We're seeing new-home construction at 15-year lows, fewer jobs in building trades, fewer units coming to market. And then there's the demographic domino effect.So what does this all mean for you—or for anyone who's betting on real estate? The thesis of perpetual population-driven housing demand is under threat. Scarcity is no longer guaranteed. The fundamentals are shifting: slower growth means slower demand, longer lease-ups, muted appreciation. For developers, investors and agents alike: adaptation is key. The era of demographic tailwinds is fading. The question now is: who will stay ahead in the new chapter? _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Vancouver home prices just dropped for the seventh straight month,  and the November stats paint a clear picture: momentum is fading, listings remain high, and the winter slowdown is now colliding with a wave of economic and policy turbulence. In this week's episode, we break down everything from the federal budget fallout to land title uncertainty in B.C., and what all of it means for prices heading into 2026.Let's start with Ottawa. The latest federal budget was pitched as a housing plan, but for many Canadians dreaming of ownership, it landed more like a broken promise. Funding for the Build Canada Homes program was cut nearly in half, the MURB tax incentive was quietly shelved, and the much-hyped “development charge relief” was watered down. Instead, the lion's share of new spending targets rentals and supportive housing — not ownership. Worse, the government has committed to running the largest deficit in Canadian history over the next five years. With Ottawa already paying $55 billion annually just in interest, that figure could easily double if rates stay higher for longer. For context, in the 1990s, when interest payments hit 33% of total revenue, the government faced a full-blown fiscal crisis. Today we're at 10%, but trending up — and if that number hits 20% or more, markets, rating agencies, and mortgage rates will all start reacting. The key takeaway: Canada isn't in crisis yet, but it's walking a thinner line than most realize.Meanwhile, jobs data surprised to the upside, with 67,000 positions added in October — nearly all of them part-time. Private sector hiring picked up for the first time in months, but construction jobs fell again, particularly in B.C., where the slowdown in new builds is clearly visible. In Metro Vancouver, employment dipped 0.3%, and the unemployment rate edged up to 6.3%. Economists now expect the Bank of Canada to hold rates steady into the new year. It's a signal of cautious stability — the economy isn't collapsing, but it's far from thriving.And then there's the land claim shock. A recent B.C. Supreme Court ruling recognized Aboriginal title for the Cowichan Tribes over a section of southeast Richmond — an area including roughly 150 private parcels — and struck down parts of the law that made land titles “indefeasible.” The decision, now on appeal, effectively allows two forms of ownership to co-exist on the same land — something that no lender or insurer can practically underwrite. And finally, the November housing stats. Sales rose 21% month-over-month to 2,257 — the second-strongest month of 2025 — but still sit 14% below last year and 14.5% under the 10-year average. Inventory, at 15,797 active listings, is up 13% year-over-year and sits 36% above the decade norm. The sales-to-active ratio now rests at 14%. Detached homes sit at 11%, townhomes at 19%, and condos at 16%. The HPI benchmark price dropped again, down 0.8% month-over-month and 5.1% from the March peak to $1,132,500 — the lowest level since March 2023.By the end of this episode, you'll understand where prices are heading next, how the budget's deficit math could affect mortgage rates, and why land titles — not just listings — are suddenly the biggest wildcard in B.C. real estate.Foreclosures Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feD5v2ByQQc&t=5s   _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

This week on The Vancouver Life Real Estate Podcast — the Bank of Canada cuts rates again. But are we at the bottom of this cycle, or is another surprise still coming? As Ottawa gears up to unveil its massive 2026 federal budget, we break down how an $80 billion deficit could completely reshape Canada's interest rate path and keep borrowing costs higher for longer. What does that mean for homebuyers, investors, and renters? We'll unpack it all — from a slowing economy to a shifting housing pipeline that's seeing record rental construction, collapsing building permits, and an alarming wave of cancelled condo projects.The Bank's latest 25-basis-point cut brings the overnight rate to 2.25%, right at the bottom of its neutral range. While that offers a small reprieve for variable-rate holders, economists warn we're nearing the end of this easing cycle. With GDP growth projected at just over 1% for the next two years, and the Bank declaring that U.S. trade tariffs are “fundamentally reshaping Canada's economy,” we're entering an adjustment phase — not a boom. At the same time, the government's expected fiscal stimulus could actually push rates higher over time, as bond markets demand more to finance record-level deficits.Meanwhile, Canada's housing pipeline is starting to fracture. New single-family and condo starts are plunging while rental construction surges to all-time highs. Over 110,000 rental units are now underway — half of all new housing starts in the country — even as student demand collapses and rent incentives pile up. In contrast, homeowner-driven construction is at its lowest since 2009, setting the stage for tighter resale supply in the years ahead. The collapse in new condo sales, record cancellations, and vanishing launches in the GTA only reinforce what's coming — a short-term freeze that could sow the seeds for the next supply crunch.Mortgage renewals continue to bite, with payments rising roughly $105 per $100,000 borrowed — the steepest increase since the early '90s. Most borrowers are opting for three- to four-year fixed terms, betting that rates will be lower by mid-decade but perhaps discounting the inflationary pressures that could come with a massive budget. But with consumer confidence now at levels last seen during the financial crisis, Canadians are hesitant to make big moves — even as mortgage affordability improves to its best point since 2021.And while October's housing data shows signs of life — with sales volumes and prices at their highest levels of 2025 — the real question is whether this marks a turning point or just a temporary blip. Between fiscal stimulus, trade uncertainty, and a fragile job market, Canada's housing story is once again at a crossroads. By the end of this week's episode, you'll know exactly where this market is heading next — and how to position yourself before the next cycle begins. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

According to the latest data from the Canadian Real Estate Association, national home sales declined by 1.7% month-over-month in September, ending a string of steady gains that began in the spring. Even so, this was still the strongest September for sales since 2021. On a year-over-year basis, transactions were up 5.2%, while both new listings and total active listings fell 0.8%. That left just 4.4 months of inventory available nationwide — the lowest level since January, and below the long-term average of five months.The Home Price Index dropped 0.1% month-over-month and is now down 3.4% year-over-year. Average prices, meanwhile, rose a modest 0.7% compared to last year. Regionally, B.C. and Ontario are the only provinces still showing price declines, while every other province posted gains. Yukon led the pack with a 13.4% annual price increase.But when you adjust for inflation and measure from the February 2022 peak, the story changes dramatically. Real home prices in Canada are now down roughly 29%. In nominal terms, they're down 18%. Hamilton has taken the biggest hit—down about 40% after inflation—followed by the GTA and then Vancouver, which is sitting around a 20% real decline. On the flip side, Greater Moncton and Saskatoon are actually up roughly 19% nominal, or about 8% in real terms, since that same peak.The widening gap between new listings and completed sales continues to point toward more downward pressure on prices ahead. And even though affordability has “improved” from the record-breaking lows of 2024, it remains completely out of reach for most Canadians. In Vancouver, the monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home still eats up about 87% of the median household income — a figure that's almost comically unsustainable.So where does that leave us heading into the final stretch of 2025? Will collapsing affordability finally force the next rate cut — or will the Bank hold the line, freezing the market even further? We break it all down — from record-level mortgage exposure to the cities where prices have quietly crashed 40%.This episode also marks a huge milestone — Episode 300 of The Vancouver Life Real Estate Podcast. Since launching on June 22nd, 2020, the team has released a new episode every single Saturday without missing a week. Now with over 7,000 subscribers and 70,000+ monthly views, The Vancouver Life remains one of Canada's most consistent and data-driven real estate channels.To celebrate, we're giving away our exclusive Home Seller's Manual — the guide we use to help clients sell for top dollar. It includes prep strategies, curb-appeal tips, organization hacks, and a 100-point checklist showing which areas matter most. To get your copy make sure you watch the episode and comment TOP DOLLAR.We also unpack Vancouver's sweeping new rezoning — a city-initiated move affecting over 4,000 properties across the Broadway Plan and Cambie Corridor. Projects that meet the new criteria can skip rezoning entirely, shaving up to 12 months off approval times. It's a bold step toward faster housing — but with costs high and demand soft, will developers take advantage?Episode 300 of The Vancouver Life Real Estate Podcast — available now and join the discussion about where Canada's housing market is heading next. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Henrique Eduardo Passaláqua de Gouveia e Melo. Será este o nome que aparecerá no boletim de voto, a 18 de janeiro de 2026. Retornado, mas sem contas a ajustar com o fim do Império, sobrinho de um comunista e de um homem do Estado Novo, filho de um opositor moderado ao salazarismo e amigo de Almeida Santos que fugiu do PREC para o Brasil. Tudo na biografia de Gouveia e Melo parece fadado a agradar a gregos e a troianos. E, no entanto, esteve longe de ser uma figura consensual entre os camaradas de armas. Para uns será vaidoso e ambicioso; para outros confiante e corajoso. O seu sonho era ser Chefe de do Estado Maior da Armada, mas os portugueses ficaram a conhecê-lo antes de lá chegar, quando António Costa, para se livrar do cerco da oposição ao processo de vacinação, escolheu um militar que supostamente não tinha ambições políticas e seria deixado em paz. Uns dirão que foi a sua competência, outros que foi a farda, mas a sua autoridade foi aceite. E o PS criou o monstro (salvo seja) que não desejava. Já na chefia militar, deu muitas entrevistas e manteve a visibilidade, preparando o caminho para uma candidatura que já todos previam. As sondagens dão-no como favorito, baralhando as contas habituais dos partidos. Mas quando começou a ter de falar de política, a ser realmente um político, começou também a cair. Não há consenso que sempre dure quando se tem de clarificar posições. Os adversários apontam-lhe a inexperiência como principal problema. Uma folha em branco e só depois de tomar posse perceberemos que contrato assinámos. Os apoiantes a independência e a neutralidade partidária, que lhe darão equidistância em tempos difíceis. E a autoridade. Ajudada por uma farda que já não veste e também é vista como um problema.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

125. epizóda Vertiga bude opäť bohatá na predstavenie noviniek z kín a online priestoru. Kiná zastúpia výborné filmy a každý z inej krajiny. Ameriku – príbeh Brucea Springsteena s podnázvom Vyveď ma z ničoty, Španielsko – skvelý titul Počuješ ma? a Nemecko – psychologická dráma Čo vie Marielle. Zo streamov toho bude opäť veľmi veľa. Precízny dokument o Martinovi Scorsesem, mimoriadny politický triler Bojovníčka v tieni, ale aj seriály o Dynastii Murdaughových, či šialenom sériovom vrahovi Johnovi Wayne Gacym. Pridáme aj nový český seriál Ratolesti, ktorý rozhodne stojí za pozornosť. Zoznam filmov a seriálov z epizódy: Springsteen: Vyveď ma z ničoty / Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere Počuješ ma? / Deaf / Sorda Čo vie Marielle / Was Marielle weiß Mr. Scorsese (AppleTV+) Bojovníčka v tieni / She Walks in Darkness (Netflix) Dynastia Murdaughových: Smrť v rodine / Murdaugh: Death in the Family (Disney+) 27 nocí / 27 Nights (Netflix) Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Skyshowtime) Ratolesti (ČT) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltijas stipendija sievietēm zinātnē šogad piešķirta trīs latviešu zinātniecēm, kuras darbojas kvantu fizikā, precīzijas medicīnā onkoloģijā un laikmetīgās mākslas pētniecībā. No laboratorijām līdz mākslas galerijām - saruna ar pētniecēm studijā. Raidījumā Zināmais nezināmajā sarunājas Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Sociālo zinātņu fakultātes vadošā pētniece Jana Kukaine, Latvijas Universitātes fizikas doktorante Elīna Pavlovska un Latvijas Biomedicīnas pētījumu un studiju centra pētniece Monta Brīvība. Bioloģijas zinātņu doktorei Montai Brīvībai 2025. gada Baltijas valstu stipendija sievietēm zinātnē piešķirta par pētījumu “Precīzijas medicīna onkoloģijā”. Humanitāro zinātņu doktorei Janai Kukainei 2025. gada Baltijas valstu stipendija sievietēm zinātnē piešķirta par pētījumu “Augu estētika Baltijas laikmetīgajā mākslā: sieviešu stāsti un pieredze”. Doktora grāda kandidātei Elīnai Pavlovskai 2025. gada Baltijas valstu stipendija sievietēm zinātnē piešķirta par pētījumu “No divdaļiņu sadursmēm līdz kolektīviem stāvokļiem: elektronu korelāciju analīze mezoskopiskos kolaideros”. Un vēl zinātnes ziņas Šoreiz zinātnes ziņās, skatot mazliet vairāk nekā tikai virsrakstu līmenī, mūsu uzmanības lokā nonākusi publikācija vietnē “Science Daily”. Tajā vēstīts par nanotehnoloģiju, kas pārveido etiķi par dzīvību glābjošu superbaktēriju iznīcinātāju.  Precīzāk - zinātnieku komanda no Norvēģijas un Austrālijas ir uzlabojuši etiķa antibakteriālās īpašības, pievienojot tam kobalta un oglekļa nanodaļiņas. Šis ar nanodaļiņām pastiprinātais šķīdums iznīcina kaitīgās baktērijas gan šūnu iekšienē, gan ārpus tām, vienlaikus saglabājot drošību cilvēkiem. Testi ar pelēm parādīja, ka šķīdums efektīvi dziedē inficētas brūces, un šis atklājums varētu būt izrāviens cīņā pret antibiotikām rezistentām baktērijām, kas izraisa infekcijas visā pasaulē. Komentāru par šo sniedz Latvijas Universitātes Medicīnas un dzīvības zinātņu fakultātes asociētais profesors, vadošais pētnieks Latvijas Universitātes Mikrobioloģijas un biotehnoloģijas institūtā Jānis Liepiņš. Vai viņam, lasot šo publikāciju, ir prieks par šādiem jaunumiem vai varbūt par kaut ko ir šaubas un piesardzība? 

Minneapolis is at an inflection point. With off-year municipal elections just days away, Andrew sits down with Minneapolis property owner and community voice Jim Rubin, a featured contributor in the new documentary “Precarious State.” They trace how policy shifts since 2017 and decisions in 2020 reshaped public safety, downtown vitality, and neighborhood life—and what a course correction could look like.You'll hear:• The on-the-ground view from affordable housing in the urban core• How policing, prosecution, and city policy interact on everyday crime• Why low-turnout municipal races will set the city's trajectory for four years• A practical voter's frame: common-sense leadership vs. ideological agendas• Where to watch “Precarious State” (find it on our Resources page)If you care about Minneapolis—its parks and lakes, small businesses, safety, and future—this conversation is a must-listen. Subscribe on YouTube, follow the show, and share with a neighbor.Special thanks to our sponsors: Parker Daniels Kibort, True North Private Investments and A La Carte Creative Group.Support the showThe Andrew Parker Show - Politics, Israel & The Law. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and X. Subscribe to our email list at www.theandrewparkershow.com Copyright © 2025 The Andrew Parker Show - All Rights Reserved.

Canada's housing market is undergoing a fundamental transformation—not just in prices, but in the types of homes being built. From Toronto to Vancouver to Calgary, developers are hitting pause, construction starts are slowing, and the mix of housing completions over the next 3 to 5 years is shifting dramatically. Single-family homes and condos, the traditional pillars of Canadian homeownership, are seeing major declines in new construction, while purpose-built rentals are quietly surging to record levels.Toronto, often viewed as a leading indicator, has seen residential units under construction fall by 2.3% in just the last month and nearly 11% year-over-year. The most significant drop is in condo construction, which is down 16.4%, alongside a 17.1% decline in single-family homes. Meanwhile, purpose-built rentals have jumped 15.5% year-over-year. Vancouver and Calgary mirror this trend to varying degrees. Calgary, in particular, stands out with purpose-built rentals up nearly 55% year-over-year.This shift signals a fundamental reorientation in Canada's housing pipeline. Fewer condos and detached homes are on the horizon, while rental supply is set to expand significantly. The likely outcome is continued downward pressure on rental rates, declining returns for individual condo investors, and increased resale activity as holding becomes less attractive. At the same time, the construction of new single-family homes is virtually non-existent outside of legacy luxury pockets like Shaughnessy, West Vancouver, or Point Grey.Compounding this trend, the future pipeline is showing further weakness. Building permits have fallen 2.4% year-over-year, and when adjusted for inflation, the value of those permits has dropped by nearly 8%, representing over $560 million in reduced residential development. Single-family home permits are down over 10%, and even the more resilient multifamily sector is beginning to slow. Since peaking in December 2024, multifamily permits have declined nearly 29%.These trends suggest that despite aggressive government incentives to stimulate new housing, developers are losing confidence. Rising costs, softening demand, and bureaucratic friction are now overpowering policy carrots. This disconnect between government ambition and market risk tolerance is emerging as a critical obstacle to new supply.Nowhere is this more visible than in Burnaby. As one of the first cities to aggressively implement British Columbia's multiplex zoning legislation, Burnaby fast-tracked significant densification across formerly single-family zones. But as those projects break ground, residents are pushing back. From 4-storey laneway houses to high-density builds with zero parking, public backlash has prompted the city to reconsider.Together, these data points paint a picture of a housing market that is not just cooling, but reshaping. The supply mix is being rewritten, urban policy is facing backlash, and economic signals are increasingly bifurcated between headline strength and structural weakness. For homeowners, investors, and policymakers alike, the next chapter in Canada's housing story won't just be about prices—it will be about purpose. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Em Portugal, os preços de venda ultrapassam em 35% o real valor das casas.

This week on The Vancouver Life Real Estate Podcast, the question hanging over the entire country's housing market finally takes center stage: How long will this downturn last?BMO Capital Markets has drawn a striking parallel between today's Canadian correction and the U.S. housing crash of 2007 — a comparison that has rattled even the most seasoned market watchers. Senior Economist Robert Kavcic doesn't mince words: Canada's housing bubble is now in the slow-motion phase of its deflation. Prices, he notes, have been falling for more than three years despite record population growth — a pattern eerily reminiscent of the U.S. trajectory nearly two decades ago.The difference this time? Canada's decline is unfolding more gradually, and that could make recovery slower, too. BMO's data suggest it could take another five years before prices claw their way back to prior peaks, placing today's correction somewhere between the U.S. Great Recession cycle and Ontario's prolonged 1990s slump — a potential 12-year arc from top to trough and back again. The bank calls the last decade's explosive price growth a “perfect storm” unlikely to repeat: cheap credit, pandemic migration, millennial peak demand, and speculative fervor all hitting at once. Those conditions, they argue, are gone for good.Meanwhile, Canada's rental market is flashing its own warning signs. Asking rents have fallen for a full year straight — down 3.2% nationally and more than 5% in B.C. and Alberta — with two-thirds of all purpose-built projects now dangling incentives just to fill units. Institutional landlords may weather the storm, but smaller investors are bailing out, adding even more supply to a fragile market. The slowdown is visible upstream, too. Architecture billings — a leading indicator of future construction — have fallen for 18 consecutive months across North America, the longest slide on record. In B.C., developers are pausing or cancelling projects, from downtown high-rises to suburban townhomes. The stalled Tsawwassen Town Centre redevelopment has become a case study in the friction between city councils, community character, local residents and development economics.And yet, amid the austerity, Vancouver's City Council just took an unprecedented step: approving a 0% property-tax increase for 2026. After years of back-to-back hikes totalling more than 30%, Mayor Ken Sim's administration says the city will instead “find efficiencies” to ease the strain on families and small businesses. Supporters call it relief. Critics call it unsustainable. But not all the headlines are grim. In False Creek, a shimmering symbol of Vancouver's high-end resilience emerged: the Tesoro Penthouse, a 5,000-square-foot full-floor residence with panoramic views, listed for $1,5,500,000  just sold for a record-breaking price — the most expensive sale ever recorded in the area. The transaction, closed by The Vancouver Life team, stands as a reminder that even in a cooling market, the city's top tier still commands global attention.From the deep freeze of development to the fragile thaw in rentals, this episode dissects what these parallel shifts mean for Canada's broader housing future — and whether patience, not policy, will be the only real cure for a market learning how to land. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Canada's housing market is shifting faster than the headlines suggest—and not in one direction. On paper, “affordability” is improving as prices slip and the overnight rate eases to 2.5%, taking ownership costs back toward late-2021 levels. But the market isn't responding like 2021 because confidence has fractured. Job openings fell 4.2% month-over-month, construction vacancies plunged 14.3% in a single month, and there are now more Canadians on EI (~550k) than there are job postings (~460k). That backdrop makes a million-dollar decision a hard sell. Meanwhile, the presale engine that funds future supply is sputtering: the GTA's August logged just 300 new-home sales—down 42% year-over-year and 81% below the 10-year norm—with Vancouver operating at roughly a third of typical activity. Builders are finishing what's already in the ground, but not launching new projects, setting up a delayed-impact shortage later this decade even as today's prices grind lower.Policy is tightening, too. OSFI's 2026 capital rules will stop investors from “re-using” the same rental income to qualify for multiple mortgages and will push more loans into income-producing buckets that carry higher capital charges. Combined-loan products will be treated as defaulted across the bundle if one piece fails. Translation: leverage gets harder for small investors just as institutions—REITs, pensions, private equity—face fewer practical constraints and can buy at scale. The likely result is a further professionalization of the rental market and a harder path to wealth-building via real estate for the middle class. At the same time, the long-standing premium of new-build over resale is wobbling. In the U.S., resale has flipped to price above new for the first time in decades—a signal of builder discounting, smaller product mixes, and the powerful “rate-lock” effect that traps owners in ultra-low mortgages and starves resale supply. Canada is different (shorter mortgage terms), but presale discounts and “more reasonable” launch pricing are appearing here, too.Macro currents aren't providing much lift. Housing starts fell 16.3% month-over-month to a 246k pace, with rentals (≈102k) almost matching all single-family plus condo starts—unsustainable without firmer demand and cheaper capital. BC's single-family permits have collapsed to ~45-year lows, underscoring just how thin end-user appetite is at current price points. Households remain stretched: the debt-service ratio ticked up to 14.4%, near 15-year highs for interest costs, and yet arrears improved modestly and net worth rose with equity markets—an uneasy equilibrium that doesn't restore confidence. On the ground, October stats still read “slow grind”: sales in Greater Vancouver hovered ~20% below the 10-year average, months of supply kept the market balanced, days-on-market rose for a sixth straight month, and the HPI slipped again—down ~4% from March's high and back to early-2023 levels. Add it up and you get a market in reset: prices easing, presales anaemic, credit tighter for small landlords, and starts rolling over. In this episode, we unpack what that means for buyers eyeing value, sellers recalibrating expectations, and policymakers deciding whether to intervene—or let the reset run its course. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Canada's housing market is being battered from every angle, and the cracks are widening into a full-blown crisis. Population growth, the single biggest driver of housing demand, has nearly stalled. Statistics Canada reported Q2 growth of just 47,000 people — a 0.1% increase and the second-slowest pace since 1946, excluding the pandemic. For a country that has leaned heavily on immigration to fuel housing, GDP, and tax revenues, this 80-year low is seismic. Developers who banked on endless inflows are now sitting on record inventories, while Vancouver and Toronto — the markets most dependent on population surges — are already showing demand erosion and softening rents.At the same time, supply battles are intensifying. Century Group's Tsawwassen redevelopment was slashed from 1,433 homes to just 600 after NIMBY pushback, despite meeting planning requirements. In Burnaby, petitions against densification threaten to stall family housing. This kind of resistance highlights how hard it will be for cities to meet ambitious housing targets.Meanwhile, renters are gaining some leverage. Vancouver rents are falling, down 9.3% year-over-year to $2,825, and rental starts have surged to record highs. Landlords are offering concessions, a sharp reversal from the bidding wars of recent years.Toronto, however, is flashing red. Power-of-sale listings — Ontario's faster foreclosure alternative — have exploded 14-fold since 2021, now averaging 140 a month and hitting a record 1,200 active listings. Distressed sales are growing while resale volumes remain stuck near generational lows.National home prices reveal a market split in two. The benchmark fell 20% from the 2022 peak to $686,800, but this correction is almost entirely in Ontario and B.C. Ontario prices are down 26%, B.C. 12% — yet eight of ten provinces hit new record highs this year, with Newfoundland leading.Zooming in, Vancouver's inventory has soared to 18,100 homes — the highest in 12 years — while the benchmark price fell for the fifth straight month. Toronto's market is drowning in inventory, with prices down $312,000 from peak. Together, these metros are dragging national averages while the rest of Canada continues to climb.This isn't just a cooling cycle — it's a structural reckoning. Population growth is slowing, supply is stalling under community resistance, rents are correcting, and distressed sales are rising. The fundamentals that fuelled Canada's boom — immigration, cheap credit, and confidence — are eroding. The fight for affordability and stability is only just beginning. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Safra brasileira de 2025 do arábica ficou aquém do esperado, e clima traz preocupação para o potencial produtivo da próxima temporada

Yesterday, both the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada cut interest rates by a quarter point. On paper it may sound small, but in reality it was a major signal. Central banks rarely move in tandem unless the global economy is flashing warning signs. In this case, the cuts were not acts of strength, but indications of a weakening economy. The Fed acted on the back of softening labour and inflation data. The Bank of Canada responded to one of the worst employment reports the country has seen since the financial crisis, alongside a GDP contraction and a decade-long stagnation in productivity.Canada has shed 106,000 jobs in just two months, the steepest decline since 2009 outside of the pandemic years. The unemployment rate sits at 7.1%, though the reality is worse given the growing number of discouraged workers who are no longer counted in the labour force. GDP shrank 1.6% on an annualized basis in the second quarter, far worse than expected (0.6%), and per capita GDP has not grown since 2016. Productivity has declined in 15 of the past 18 quarters, leaving Canada stuck while the United States continues to pull ahead. Against that backdrop, rate cuts were inevitable. They are not preemptive adjustments - rather it feels like recession management.What holds the system together in moments like these is confidence. Confidence in the housing market, confidence in the stock market, confidence in government. Yet for many Canadians, that confidence has already been shaken. Housing prices have surged far faster than wages, eroding real purchasing power year after year. Families increasingly feel that elected officials have failed them, and the erosion of trust has become a slow leak. Rate cuts might offer a momentary reprieve for borrowers, but they cannot restore confidence on their own.Vancouver, by contrast, is experiencing a rental paradox. Sales ticked up slightly in August, but remain nearly 60% below peak levels. The sales-to-new listings ratio has fallen below 40%, a threshold that historically precedes price declines. Inventory continues to rise, months of supply sit at their highest since 2012, and the price index slipped again last month. At the same time, rental construction is surging. Metro Vancouver will see a 17% increase in rental supply over the next two years, while Kelowna is on track for a staggering 33% increase. With population growth slowing, this supply wave will inevitably push vacancies higher, something Vancouver has not experienced in years. Renters will see relief in the short term, but single-family permits are at record lows, which points to severe shortages by the late 2020s and a return to undersupply by the 2030s for both asset classes.The central bank cuts will ease borrowing costs slightly, and some buyers will return to the market. But rate cuts cannot create demand where none exists, nor can they resolve structural oversupply. In fact, by keeping weak projects alive longer, they may extend the correction rather than shorten it. What truly matters is confidence. Rate cuts feel like gifts, but they are really warning signals. They tell us that fragility is here, not ahead. The question is whether we treat this fragility as a chance to reset and rebuild trust, or whether we allow confidence to erode further. Because when confidence is restored—in our homes, in our markets, and in our leaders—the system doesn't just hold. It thrives. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Vancouver's rental market is undergoing substantial rental correction. For years, the story was one of relentless increases: month after month of record-high rents, bidding wars for apartments, and vacancy rates scraping along the bottom. But the tide has shifted. In fact, Vancouver has just recorded the sharpest annual drop in average asking rents among Canada's major markets. According to Rentals.ca, apartment listings in Vancouver fell nearly 10% year over year to around $2,820. One-bedroom units led the way down, declining more than 8% to an average of $2,515, while two-bedrooms also softened. The notable exception is three-bedroom units, which remain in scarce supply and saw rents climb more than 6% year over year.But while headline rents on newly listed apartments are retreating, the broader picture is more complicated. CMHC data shows that rents across the existing purpose-built rental stock in Vancouver continue to rise, up about 5.5% year over year, even as the vacancy rate nudged higher to 1.6%. That is the highest vacancy rate the region has seen in a decade, aside from the pandemic period, yet it is still well below what most economists would consider a balanced rental market. The discrepancy between falling asking rents and rising average stock rents highlights a fundamental dynamic: newcomers to the market may be finding more leverage, while existing tenants continue to see increases when they renew or adjust their leases.Another major factor reshaping the market is supply. For years, Vancouver was criticized for under-building purpose-built rental housing. That has changed. Metro Vancouver added roughly 2,467 new rental units in 2024 alone, with the City of Vancouver accounting for more than 500 of them. In fact, Vancouver represented nearly half of the region's new rental housing starts. Developers, facing more difficult financing conditions and slower condo absorption, are increasingly pivoting away from strata sales and delivering rental product instead. The result is a short-term bulge in completions that is giving renters more choice, while also forcing landlords of new projects to offer incentives like free months of rent or reduced parking fees to fill units.The question, then, is where does this market go next? The outlook is nuanced. On one hand, more supply is coming, immigration is expected to moderate, and the labour market is showing signs of strain. All of these factors point toward softer rent growth and potentially more incentives in the short term, especially in smaller, premium units that already face price resistance. On the other hand, family-sized rentals remain undersupplied, and demand for two- and three-bedroom units remains resilient. In this episode, we sit down with Keaton Bessy, owner of GVTPM, to break down what's really happening on the ground. We look at the contradictions in the data, the impact of new purpose-built supply, and the growing divide between small apartments and larger family homes. We also discuss the potential influence of interest rate cuts, the tactics landlords can use to stay competitive in a cooling market, and the kinds of concessions renters are now beginning to ask for. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Ricardo Pais acaba de cumprir 80 anos e garante nunca ter ambicionado ser um homem do seu tempo, embora considere como o comediante alemão Karl Valentin que “antigamente o futuro era habitado com mais esperança.” O seu percurso é marcado pela direção de grandes instituições teatrais, com uma fugaz passagem pelo Teatro Nacional D. Maria II, em Lisboa, e uma forte presença no Teatro Nacional São João, no Porto. Isto além dos seus múltiplos papéis artísticos, enquanto encenador, ator e professor. Ricardo afirma que, agora que vive mais fora de cena, está a tratar da sua cabeça e a dedicar-se ao novo tempo, depois das sobras, sem grandes saudosismos ou pretensões. Ouçam-no nesta primeira parte da conversa com Bernardo MendonçaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada has long lived off its mythology: a country of opportunity, stability, and growth. But 2025 is stripping away that veneer. For the first time in a generation, the country is experiencing a profound reversal of the very forces that powered its ascent — population, jobs, and GDP — and nowhere are the consequences clearer than in the housing market.Last year, more than 106,000 Canadians left the country — the largest exodus since the late 1960s. At the same time, Ontario and B.C., the twin engines of the national economy, have registered record-low population growth, a stark reversal for regions once defined by relentless inflows. This hollowing-out of the demographic base isn't just a number; it's the erosion of demand, the shrinking of ambition, and the quiet departure of the very people meant to sustain the future.The labour market tells a similar story of unraveling. Toronto's unemployment rate has breached 9% for the first time in 15 years. Construction jobs — the bedrock of Canada's housing-dependent economy — are vanishing by the tens of thousands. The irony is suffocating: even as cranes dot skylines, the hands that once built Canada's growth are being sidelined. EI claims are surging, unemployment benefits ballooning, and yet the only jobs being created are in government. Housing — once Canada's great safety blanket — now exposes the fragility. Toronto just suffered its worst July for new home sales in more than 40 years. Inventory has ballooned to nearly 60 months' supply. Sales volumes are lower than at any point in modern history, plunging beneath the brutal downturns of the 1990s. And in a historical first, more Canadians are signing leases than purchase agreements. Renting has become not just an economic choice, but an existential one: a sign that ownership, the foundation of middle-class identity, has slipped out of reach.Vancouver, long sheltered by its global allure, is not immune. September numbers reveal prices sliding for a fifth straight month, down to levels last seen in early 2023. Detached homes, once the city's crown jewel, are now weighed down by foreclosures, while days on market stretch longer with each passing month. Inventory sits well above the 10-year average, foreshadowing further declines.Meanwhile, the broader economy has hit an iceberg. GDP shrank in the second quarter, with exports collapsing nearly 8% and business investment plummeting. Machinery spending, non-residential construction, the very lifeblood of productivity, is bleeding out. What keeps the economy afloat? Government spending and consumer credit. Households dip into savings to buy cars, Ottawa borrows to mask deficits, and capital flees anything resembling long-term growth. The illusion of stability is preserved only through debt.The housing correction now unfolding is one of the sharpest on record. Real home prices are down 24% since 2022 — faster than the infamous crashes of the '80s and '90s. Affordability remains shattered, even as values fall, because incomes refuse to keep pace. What once felt like a bubble slowly deflating is beginning to look like a collapse.The story of 2025 is not just about numbers on a chart. It is about a country forced to reckon with its limits, its illusions, and its future. And the question hanging over it all: is Canada prepared for what comes after the myth of endless growth? _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

In this week's episode, we sit down with Canada's No. 1 BMO Mortgage Specialist, Mychal Ferrera, to break down what's really happening in the housing and lending markets as we head into the fall season. Historically, autumn has been one of the busiest times of year for Canadian real estate—but 2025 is shaping up to be anything but typical. Between lingering inflation pressures, a sluggish jobs market, and whispers of a U.S. rate cut, buyers and homeowners alike are wondering whether now is the moment to act—or wait on the sidelines.Mychal offers his perspective on where fixed and variable mortgage rates are likely to trend in the coming months. With the Bank of Canada holding steady since June, and speculation mounting that further easing may be required to stimulate growth, the conversation tackles whether locking in a fixed rate still makes sense—or if a variable product may offer more flexibility in an uncertain environment. We also explore the big picture: affordability. While home prices across Canada remain, on average, about $150,000 lower than their 2022 peak, affordability is still the No. 1 barrier for many would-be buyers. Mychal shares how clients are navigating tighter budgets and what strategies lenders are using to help people make the numbers work.We revisit one of the most stressful chapters in recent mortgage history: trigger rates and payment shocks. Last year, homeowners feared widespread defaults as record-low pandemic mortgages reset into a much higher-rate world. Mychal walks us through what actually happened, how most borrowers weathered the storm, and what he's seeing now as a massive 60% of all mortgages are set to renew in 2025–2026. With billions in household debt up for repricing, the stakes are enormous—and the way Canadians respond could define the housing market for the rest of the decade.But it's not all doom and gloom. Mychal also gives us an inside look at new mortgage originations heading into fall. Are buyers cautiously stepping back into the market, hoping to snag a deal? Are refinances stabilizing? Or is the wait-and-see mentality still dominating? His insights cut through the noise and provide actionable guidance for both buyers debating their next move and homeowners staring down a renewal.Finally, we look ahead: will there even be a fall market in 2025? Activity has been muted through much of the year, but history shows Canadians can't stay on the sidelines forever. Whether it's pent-up demand, lower rates, or simply buyers adjusting to the “new normal,” this season could surprise us.This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about where rates, affordability, and market activity are heading. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Canada's housing market just dropped a fresh set of numbers, and depending on your lens, the story looks like either the start of a recovery - or the next chapter in a much longer crisis. In this episode of The Vancouver Life Real Estate Podcast, we take a comprehensive look at the national sales figures, falling rental rates, long-term home price forecasts, softening inflation, and the controversial foreign buyer ban. The narrative forming around Canadian real estate is one of contradiction - where current data trends directly oppose the longer-term projections.Starting with national home sales, July marked the fourth straight month of gains, with sales rising 3.8% month-over-month and a cumulative 11.2% increase since March. The GTA led the rebound, surging 35.5% from spring lows. Year-over-year, sales rose 6.6%. However, new listings and inventory remained virtually flat, with total active listings up 10.1% from last year. Despite these gains, sales volumes remain historically low. Benchmark prices are still down 3.4% compared to last year, though average prices are up a modest 0.6%, painting a picture of a market in limbo — balanced, but directionless.On the rental front, data from Rentals.ca and Urbannation shows a surprising national decline of 3.7% in average rents, bringing the Canadian average to $2,121/month. Vancouver saw a notable 9% drop year-over-year, with tenants now spending 37.5% of their income on rent — well above the 30% affordability threshold. One-bedroom units in North Vancouver now average $2,630, the highest in the country. However, the GTA presents a dramatically different picture. A report shows that Toronto is on track for a 235,000-unit rental deficit over the next decade, driven by a collapse in condo presales and a 50% drop in housing starts. Meanwhile, a new long-term forecast from Concordia University suggests that Vancouver detached home prices, currently averaging $2.4 million, could reach $3 million by 2032. Even if housing completions double — a goal many doubt is achievable — prices are still projected to rise to $2.8 million. On paper, this equates to a manageable 3.2% annual increase, yet it underscores the structural imbalance in supply and demand that continues to define Vancouver's market.One of the most thought-provoking topics in this episode is the renewed conversation around Canada's foreign buyer ban. Developers are lobbying to lift the ban for pre-construction units to revive sales, but public sentiment remains firmly opposed. Yet few acknowledge the irony: Canadians are the second-largest group of foreign buyers in the U.S., purchasing $6.2 billion worth of real estate in the past year. While countries like New Zealand and Switzerland restrict foreign ownership, Canadians remain free to buy abroad without similar restrictions. The U.S. has not imposed any such ban — and Canadians continue to snap up property there, especially in Florida.Ultimately, this episode doesn't offer a clean conclusion because the data doesn't either. Sales are up, but from record lows. Prices are down, but future projections remain more bullish. Rents are falling in the West but threaten to explode in the GTA in the years to come.  _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

The Canadian real estate landscape is undergoing a tectonic shift. This week's episode dives deep into the fast-moving changes reshaping how Canadians think about buying, building, and even owning their homes. From pre-sale condo collapses to landmark legal rulings, the real estate rulebook is being rewritten in real time.Toronto's pre-construction condo market has plunged to its lowest sales levels in over 30 years. With 57 months of unsold inventory (5x the long-term average), developers are frozen. This isn't just a housing problem — it's a credit crisis. When developers can't sell, they can't refinance or start new projects, and that slowdown ripples through the economy, triggering job losses, GDP contraction, and shrinking tax revenues. Already, 22,000 construction jobs have been lost across Canada.One bold proposal gaining traction could dramatically lower the cost of new homes — without cutting a single development charge. It's called the Direct-to-Buyer Development Charge System, where instead of developers burying fees into the final home price (then layering taxes and financing costs), buyers would pay DCs directly to the city at closing. The result? On an $800,000 home, buyers could save up to $68,000. It's a rare win-win: cities keep their funding, developers lower their pricing, and buyers skip tax-on-tax penalties. But to work, all three levels of government would need to cooperate — and that's the biggest hurdle.Perhaps the most profound shift this week? The B.C. Supreme Court's decision to grant Aboriginal title over significant land in Richmond, including areas held under private and Crown ownership. For the first time, fee-simple title — the gold standard of ownership — was ruled “defective and invalid” in part. This ruling has massive implications for property law, title insurance, financing, and long-term investor confidence. An 18-month moratorium has been put in place for negotiation — but the uncertainty could put an even deeper freeze on real estate activity across B.C.From failing condo sales and falling land prices to new ownership models and legal ambiguity — the way Canadians perceive real estate is being reshaped at an unprecedented pace. Whether you're a buyer, seller, investor, or policy maker, this episode unpacks the trends, risks, and opportunities redefining the market.

Canada's Housing Market Is Hitting a Breaking Point — and the August 2025 numbers prove it.Vancouver home prices have slipped to their lowest level in over two years. Toronto prices? Wiped back to 2020 levels — erasing nearly all the gains from the pandemic boom. Inventory is piling up, sales are stagnant, and in some cases, sellers are watching hundreds of thousands in value disappear.Meanwhile, the rental market — long thought to be untouchable — is cracking. Landlords are offering months of free rent to lure tenants, vacancy rates are climbing, and incentive-adjusted rents are falling fast. Investors are quietly exiting, major developers are hitting pause, and Canada's construction pipeline is suddenly at risk.It's not just housing feeling the pinch. Job vacancies have plunged to an 8-year low, the labour market is weakening at a worrying pace, and more Canadians are putting off retirement entirely — not by choice, but because the rising cost of living has left them with little or nothing to save. The “Bank of Mom & Dad” is under strain, debt is rising among older Canadians, and an entire generation is staring down the possibility of working well into their 70s.In this episode, we break down:The August 2025 Vancouver housing stats — including the first-ever July sales increase over June in history.Why Toronto's home prices are in full reversal mode.How the rental market is shifting — and why that could mean less housing built in the years ahead.The growing economic pressures that are reshaping how Canadians live, work, and retire.The rise in foreclosures and what it signals for the months ahead.This isn't just another market update — it's a snapshot of a housing and economic system under pressure from all sides. Whether you're a homeowner, renter, investor, or simply trying to understand where Canada's economy is headed, this is an episode you can't afford to miss.Watch to the end, then let us know in the comments: Do you think this is the start of a slow decline — or a sharper correction waiting to happen? _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Canada's real estate industry is officially in crisis mode.In this week's episode, we break down why some of the country's most powerful developers — names like Polygon, Westbank, Beedie, and Mosaic — have joined forces to publicly plead for help. From record-breaking drops in pre-construction sales to massive project cancellations and widespread layoffs, the development industry is sounding the alarm louder than ever.Why now? Because new housing starts are collapsing. Because financing has dried up. And because if nothing changes, tens of thousands more jobs are on the line.So what are they asking for? A controversial — and potentially game-changing — solution: lifting the foreign buyer ban to unlock critical investment capital. Is this the lifeline the industry needs, or just another band-aid on a broken system?We explore both sides of this heated issue and propose alternative solutions, including government-backed construction financing to ensure new homes can still be built for Canadians — by Canadians.Plus:

Feeling like you're working harder and getting less? You're not alone — and the numbers prove it.This week's episode of The Vancouver Life Real Estate Podcast takes a hard look at how Canada's exploding tax burden, runaway deficits, and fleeing capital are colliding with the nation's housing market. We connect the dots between Ottawa's unchecked spending, falling investor confidence, and a real estate sector stuck in a high-stakes slowdown.Let's start with the core issue: Taxes. The average Canadian household earning $114,000 now pays over $48,000 in taxes — that's 42% of gross income, up 181% since 1961 after inflation. And yet, despite this massive government take, Canada is operating without a federal budget, projecting a $92 billion deficit — possibly rising to $147 billion — one of the largest in Canadian history outside of COVID spending.The result? Investors are running. A staggering $83.8 billion in capital has fled Canada since February, 90% of it heading to the U.S. It's the largest recorded outflow in recent memory and a clear vote of no confidence in Canada's fiscal policies. Canadians themselves are turning to U.S. markets, pouring $14.2 billion into U.S. stocks in May alone, more than 4x last year's volume.Real estate is taking a direct hit. In Toronto, the new condo market is oversaturated. Urbanation forecasts over 31,000 completions in 2025 — 74% higher than the long-term average. With 64,000+ units under construction, we're building faster than we're buying. The result? Rising inventory, few new launches, and a ticking time bomb for pricing — especially if rates remain elevated.In Vancouver, the BC government has stepped in with “relief” for developers by backstopping $250 million in DCC feesto keep projects alive. But make no mistake — this isn't a discount. It's a taxpayer-funded subsidy. You are footing the bill, even as housing remains out of reach for many.Rents are shifting, too. Vancouver's 1-bedroom unfurnished rents rose $9 to $2,232/month, though still lower than last year. West Van remains highest at $2,617. But in Burnaby, rents are falling fast, down 7.6% year-over-year, with some neighbourhoods like Central Burnaby dropping over 16%.Why hasn't the market crashed yet? Equity. The average Canadian homeowner has 74% equity in their home — that's $511K on a $691K home. In Vancouver, the average homeowner sits on $868K in equity. That's why we're not seeing widespread foreclosures or a true collapse. Homeowners still have leverage — for now. Mortgage dynamics are changing. Since 2022, mortgage debt is increasing for Canadians 55+ while decreasing among those under 35. Why? Older Canadians are taking on debt to help their children — or to cover rising living costs. The “Bank of Mom & Dad” is becoming the central lender of last resort.Real estate sentiment is weak. After a short-lived spring rebound, confidence is flatlining, echoing what we're seeing in sales volumes. Buyers are hesitant, sellers are holding back, and uncertainty is the only constant.Where are rates headed? With inflation lingering and capital fleeing, don't expect the Bank of Canada to cut anytime soon. Fixed mortgage rates remain in the mid 4% range, while the U.S. holds firm at nearly 7%. The result? A stagnant, supply-heavy, high-cost housing market — with no easy way out. _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

In this week's episode of The Vancouver Life Real Estate Podcast, we unpack a tidal wave of economic data that's painting a clear — and sobering — picture for Canada's housing and financial landscape. The big headline? There will be no rate cut in July. Inflation is ticking up again, job numbers came in scorching hot, and bond yields are surging — all of which are keeping fixed mortgage rates in the uncomfortable mid-4% range.— We begin with an announcement for homeowners: our team is hosting a live webinar that breaks down how Bill 44 (the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Initiative) is reshaping Vancouver's real estate game. With over 700 building permits already submitted between Vancouver and Burnaby and projects under construction right now, homeowners can now partner with developers, leverage new zoning allowances, and walk away with up to $1 million more than a traditional home sale. Curious? We'll show you real numbers, real case studies, and a clear step-by-step process on how to get involved. Register at www.thevancouverlife.com/multiplex Next, we highlight the launch of our latest project, Sarena, a new 7-unit boutique townhome development in Richmond. Each 3-bed, 3-bath home is priced under $1M, allowing first-time buyers to claim the GST rebate while enjoying private outdoor space, timeless design, and air conditioning. Visit SarenaLiving.com for details.— On the macro side, Canada's June jobs report beat expectations, adding 83,100 jobs instead of the predicted 3,000 loss. While impressive on paper, most were part-time roles. Youth unemployment remains stuck at 14.2%, and wage growth continues to outpace inflation. Speaking of inflation — it's back up to 1.9%, and core measures remain sticky. That's why bond markets are pricing in zero chance of a July rate cut.We then shift to the June housing data for Canada: home sales are up modestly month-over-month and year-over-year, especially in the GTA. Inventory is hovering just below long-term averages, and national home prices are down only 1.3% year-over-year. It's what we call a "flatline market" — stable, slow-moving, and possibly already past the bottom of this cycle.Toronto gets its own spotlight. While condo prices are down 22% from peak and back to March 2021 levels, cash flow metrics are improving. Negative carry is down from -$950/month to -$300, and factoring in mortgage pay down, investors are now in slightly positive territory. Still, sales are tepid and inventory is high — a tipping point is coming, but we're not there yet.Then comes the gut punch: Toronto's pre-sale condo market is collapsing. Q2 saw only 502 new condo sales — a shocking 91% below the 10-year average. Over 4,300 units have been cancelled since 2024, and inventory has ballooned to 60 months of unsold stock. Developers are pulling back, new launches are rare, and some are converting to rentals to stay afloat.This episode is a wake-up call and a roadmap — whether you're a homeowner, investor, or buyer, understanding what's happening beneath the headlines is critical to making informed real estate decisions in 2025.

Even with high interest rates, record-breaking mortgage renewals, a historic surge in pre-sale inventory, and the highest resale listings we've seen in over a decade, Vancouver real estate prices haven't crashed. Over the past 12 months, prices have only declined 2.8%, and though they're down 7% from the peak three years ago, they're still up 12% compared to five years ago.So, the obvious question is: Why?Why have home prices remained so stable—especially when consumer sentiment is low, lending standards are tighter than ever, and the economic outlook feels bleak? The answer lies in a series of critical financial indicators that reveal the underlying resilience of the Canadian housing market.Let's start with household net worth, which reached a record $17.7 trillion in Q1 2025, up 0.8% in the quarter and a staggering 82% over the last decade. Debt-to-disposable income has improved to 172%—a 10-year low—and the debt servicing ratio is down from last year's peak. Most significantly, Canada's asset-to-debt ratio now stands at $6.68 to $1, near all-time highs. This means Canadians, on average, hold six times more assets than they owe in debt.This growing wealth has profound implications. Over 50% of Vancouver homes are mortgage-free. And when sellers don't get their desired price, they're increasingly choosing to delist rather than drop their asking price. In May, delistings jumped 47% year-over-year. This is not a market where sellers are forced to capitulate—many are simply choosing to wait.That said, this resilience doesn't reflect the experience of younger Canadians. Homeownership remains elusive, and as Boomers eventually look to sell, there's real concern about whether younger buyers will have the purchasing power to step in—unless wealth starts being more evenly distributed.Even insolvency data suggests a market in transition. While consumer insolvencies fell 2.6% in May, they're still 7.6% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Business insolvencies are down 13.3% year-over-year, indicating stabilization, but we're far from robust economic health.And a deeper divide is growing. The Bank of Canada's latest vulnerability report shows the highest share of delinquent borrowers in a decade—now at 2.6%. People are skipping payments on retail installment loans, credit cards, and car loans before defaulting on their mortgage or HELOC. This reflects rising stress among middle-income Canadians, the group that drives the broader economy—and that stress is slowing GDP and pushing unemployment higher.Meanwhile, developers are facing their own struggles. But a recent win: the BC government now allows 75% of development fees to be deferred until occupancy, easing the upfront financial burden. In Burnaby, for example, that could mean deferring up to $375,000 on a sixplex—money that can be used to fund construction instead.This episode breaks it all down: the financial landscape, the market psychology, the policy shifts, and what it all means for buyers, sellers, renters, and developers. Whether you're navigating the market today or preparing for what's next—this is a must-watch.Subscribe for more Vancouver real estate insights, and don't forget to check the links in the description for how to connect with us directly! _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

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In this week's Vancouver real estate update, we dive into the latest data and indicators painting a complex picture of the market. We start with the Housing Affordability Index, a measure of median household income against mortgage payments, taxes, and utilities. According to this index, Canadian homes have never actually been considered affordable—not once in the last 40 years. The most affordable period came in the late 1990s, when the metric dipped to 34%, just shy of the “ideal” target of 33%. Today, affordability sits at 55%. While that's a meaningful improvement from the record high of 63.5% in Q4 2023, it still remains well above the threshold of sustainable home ownership.Interestingly, Canadian affordability is now at the same level it was in 1990—just before a decade-long improvement in affordability followed. Whether or not that trend repeats remains to be seen. RBC's latest forecast doesn't think so. They project affordability will bottom later this year around 52%, then begin worsening again in 2026.On the inflation front, May CPI came in at 1.7%, unchanged from April. This marks the 18th consecutive month within the Bank of Canada's 1–3% target range. Core inflation registered at 2.9%, the upper end of the band but still acceptable. Mortgage interest costs remain a key driver, adding 0.4% to the CPI. It's important to note that most other countries exclude mortgage interest from their inflation basket. Without it, Canada's inflation would have been closer to 1.3%. Rented accommodations contributed 0.3%, but StatsCan's data appears to lag. While they report rents up 4.3% annually, Rentals.ca shows a 3.3% decline in the last year. Turning to interest rate expectations: markets are only pricing in a 30% chance of a rate cut at the July 30th Bank of Canada meeting. And as of now, there is just one more rate cut expected for the remainder of 2025. That outlook has cooled considerably, given earlier projections of more aggressive easing.Now to the July 2025 housing stats. Total home sales in Greater Vancouver hit 2,186 units in June, down 9.5% from last year and a staggering 26% below the 10-year average. It was the second slowest June on record—worse than the Global Financial Crisis and COVID shutdowns. This follows what was already the slowest May on record. The spring market never materialized, and current indicators suggest a muted summer and fall ahead.New listings reached 6,301 in June, up 10% year-over-year but down 5% from May. Inventory sits at 16,852 active listings, down 1% month-over-month but still 19% higher than a year ago and 44% above the 10-year average. At the time of reporting, inventory has climbed to over 18,200 active listings. The Sales-to-Active-Listings ratio remains at 13%—signaling a balanced market—for the 13th straight month. Detached homes are at 10%, townhomes at 17%, and condos at 14%.Prices continue to slide. The Home Price Index (HPI) dropped for the third straight month in 2025, down 0.3% month-over-month to $1,173,100. That puts prices 2.8% lower than one year ago. The median price stayed flat at $985,000, but remains up $70,000 year-to-date. The average price rose $9,000 to $1,275,000, its highest point in 2025, and up $68,000 YTD.The Vancouver housing market remains stable but sluggish and perhaps increasingly so. Affordability is slowly improving but remains historically poor _________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation: