Real Estate News & Articles

Building permits drop in January

2009-03-06

Sun Building permits fell in January for the fourth consecutive month in Canada , led by a drop in residential activity as the sector continued to cool amid a deep economic downturn. Statistics Canada said yesterday the value of permits fel…

Most foreclosures pack into a few counties

2009-03-06

Brad Heath USA Today A sign hangs outside of a foreclosed home on Nov. 13 in North Las Vegas, Nevada. A USA TODAY analysis of a report by RealtyTrac shows most of the 35 counties leading the foreclosure boom are clustered in places such as …

Buyers ready to spend big

2009-03-05

B.C. residents see ownership benefits, but most will wait a year Province Seventy-eight per cent of B.C. residents -- the highest percentage in Canada -- believe they're in the midst of a buyer's market, according to a new Royal Bank of Can…

All buttered up and lovin' it

2009-03-05

And sumptuous sauces so toothsome and tangy Mark Laba Province Roy of Atithi restaurant with Mumbai Bhel and the Rack of Lamb, a veritable morass of satisfying flavours. Photograph by: Nick Procaylo, The Province Atithi Where: 2445 Burrard …

It's a buyer's market, Canadians tell pollster

2009-03-05

Derrick Penner Sun Falling home prices have a growing number of Canadians thinking about buying a home, according to a new poll done for RBC by Ipsos Reid. The 16th annual RBC/ Ipsos Reid housing poll, released Wednesday, found 27 per cent …

Jameson House condo project at 838 West Hastings tries to dig itself out of a hole

2009-03-05

Court gives Jameson House developers two months to raise more money Derrick Penner Sun A view of the financially strapped Jameson House condo development at 838 West Hastings in Vancouver shows the back of the Ceperley Rounsfell building su…

Hakkasan is restaurant family's latest serving

2009-03-05

Publicity-shy owner develops another unique dining experience in Richmond Mia Stainsby Sun Yvonne (left) and Stephanie Wong with food from Hakkasan Restaurant in Richmond. On the small plate is Curried Seafood stuffed whelk, on the rectangu…

Scammers strike Telus customers 809" Caribbean Area Codes

2009-03-05

Province Anyone phoning or e-mailing Telus customers for personal information should raise a red flag. Telus spokesman Shawn Hall said yesterday the company has recently received 100 customer complaints about scams, a "fourfold increase" in…

Scammers strike Telus customers 809" Caribbean Area Codes

2009-03-05

Province Anyone phoning or e-mailing Telus customers for personal information should raise a red flag. Telus spokesman Shawn Hall said yesterday the company has recently received 100 customer complaints about scams, a "fourfold increase" in…

Real estate sales numbers take a trip to the 1980s

2009-03-04

A few more buyers are dipping into the market, but analyst predicts continued slide in prices Derrick Penner Sun As of February, Lower Mainland housing prices were about halfway to the bottom of their expected down-cycle, a Canada Mortgage …

Developers still not willing to build rentals

2009-03-04

Vacancy rates are low, but builders say rents aren't high enough to cover costs Fiona Anderson Sun Few developers want to build rental buildings because rents haven’t gone up as quickly as housing prices. VANCOUVER SUN FILES The numbe…

Housing rescue plan requires homeowners to put up proof

2009-03-04

Stephanie Armour USA Today A foreclosure sale sign sits in front of a house in Miami Beach. A White House plan hopes to keep homeowners in their homes. By Carlos Barria, Reuters WASHINGTON — The Obama Administration on Wednesday outli…

Bank of Canada lowers overnight rate target by 1/2 percentage point to 1/2 per cent

2009-03-03

KEVIN CARMICHAEL Other Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press OTTAWA - The Bank of Canada cut its benchmark lending rate to within spitting distance of zero, and signalled that it is prepared to increase the mon…

Housing and the homeless

2009-03-03

Where top dollar buys squalor Lora Grindlay Province You'd pay $3.90 per sq. ft. to rent a room like this on the Downtown Eastside. Photograph by: Handout, BC Housing You'd pay $2.90 per sq. ft. to rent this luxurious penthouse. Photograph …

Here's how to clean up problem SROs

2009-03-03

Jon Ferry Province BC Housing photos of the terrible state of SRO hotels after they were purchased from private owners. Photograph by: Handout, BC Housing I never thought I'd say this, but I think what we need to tackle the slum-housing pro…

Martin Wirick & Tarsem Gill appear in court accused of a $38.4M real estate fraud

2009-03-03

David Baines Sun Tarsem Gill Photograph by: Ward Perrin, Vancouver Sun Martin Wirick Photograph by: Ward Perrin, Vancouver Sun Former Vancouver lawyer Martin Wirick and real estate developer Tarsem Gill have elected to be tried by judge and…

Martin Wirick & Tarsem Gill appear in court accused of a $38.4M real estate fraud

2009-03-03

David Baines Sun Martin Wirick Photograph by: Ward Perrin, Vancouver Sun Tarsem Gill Photograph by: Ward Perrin, Vancouver Sun Former Vancouver lawyer Martin Wirick and real estate developer Tarsem Gill have elected to be tried by judge and…

'Todays market spells opportunity for the sharp researcher

2009-03-02

Ozzie Jurrock Other Download Document

Hightech Homes

2009-03-02

Jodie Warren Other Download Document

Insurance can be complicated

2009-03-01

Tony Gioventu Province Dear Condo Smarts: I took our strata corporation policy to the company that provides our homeowner insurance. The broker told me that it was irrelevant, returned it to me and processed our annual renewal. Well, our ne…

Park your excuses at the door: The days of getting a break in traffic court are over

2009-02-28

Take the 50-per-cent discount instead of hoping for leniency Chad Skelton, with files from Denise Ryan Sun Dragan Milovanovic successfully fought and beat a parking ticket in Vancouver court. Photograph by: Steve Bosch, Vancouver Sun For ye…

January building permits down 54% in Vancouver from 2008

2009-02-28

Continuing trend may cost city $12m: councillor Catherine Rolfsen and Derrick Penner Sun Cancelled Ritz-Carlton downtown project is another casualty of the economic slump. Photograph by: Steve Bosch, Vancouver Sun The value of building perm…

Poisoned sites lure Web surfers

2009-02-28

Search for snow conditions drew virus attack Gillian Shaw Sun Web surfers checking the snow report for Cypress Mountain are the latest target of Google poisoning in which fraud artists get their malicious Web site close to the top of search…

What happens if you don't pay your parking tickets?

2009-02-28

Chad Skelton Sun Most people who get a parking ticket in Vancouver -- 73 per cent, in fact -- pay it, usually early to take advantage of the lower fine. Others decide to fight their tickets in court, convinced either that they're not guilty…