Real Estate News

B.C. Premier John Horgan announced this week the provincial government will be launching a task force to improve tenancy laws, but for renters in Metrotown, increased protections for tenants may not be enough.

The number of homes for sale across the province are at or near a 12-year low, pushing prices ever upwards, according to the B.C. Real Estate Association’s monthly statistical report released April 12.

The skyline at Metrotown could continue to rise should three new high rise buildings be approved, removing four three-storey walk-ups and 211 units of housing in the process.

Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert will head up a new Rental Housing Task Force. Premier John Horgan made the announcement April 10.

It started with a “Stop the Speculation Tax” petition that was launched last month by disgruntled home owners opposing the province's proposed annual tax on underused second homes in areas across B.C.

Now that a huge North Vancouver estate, listed for a record $36.

March is often the hottest month of the year – at least in terms of real estate sales. But compared with March activity of the past few years, last month was a bit of a wet blanket.

The new B.C. speculation tax has the purported aim to push empty homes onto the long-term rental market, finance minister Carole James has said.

Chinese consumers can now buy Canadian homes online through a deal inked with Juwai.com, China’s largest real estate website selling international properties, and JD.com, which is China’s largest retailer, both online and offline.

The head of LandlordBC expects some homeowners will start renting out their properties to avoid the province’s new speculation tax, but says it’s too soon to estimate the extent of its impact.