Real Estate News & Articles

Interest rates on new mortgages increasing, despite Bank of Canada rate drop

2020-03-20

Advertised interest rates for new mortgage applications have been climbing Joannah Connolly Western Investor With the Bank of Canada dropping its overnight rate by a full percentage point this month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it …

COVID-19: How real estate agents can keep safe during the outbreak

2020-03-20

Real estate agents are making the best of a bad situation Steve Randall Canadian Real Estate Wealth We should now be heading towards a peak in the Canadian housing market; instead we are in the midst of an unprecedented public health and ec…

Canada's Six Big Banks Delay Mortgage Payments Due to COVID-19

2020-03-20

Here's the latest update on what the big banks of Canada are doing amid COVID-19 outbreak Justin Kerby REW In an unprecedented display of coordinated assistance, Canada’s six largest banks will begin offering customers more relief opt…

Some buyers plan to be big fish in a smaller pool of competition

2020-03-19

With less competition some buyers are looking for advantages Steve Randall REP With disruption to the Canadian real estate market due to the coronavirus crisis, some buyers are seeing an opportunity. An expected slowdown in activity means l…

Canadian consumer confidence takes unprecedented slump

2020-03-19

Index of Consumer Confidence slumped 32 points Steve Randall REP A measure of Canada’s consumer confidence has reported its biggest drop ever amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Conference Board of Canada’s Index of Consumer Confide…

Investor demand for apartments heightens in Vancouver

2020-03-19

Multi-family homes on investor radar Gerv Tacadena The Vancouver Sun The investor demand for multi-family homes in Metro Vancouver appears to have surged after the recent lending-rate cuts, according to Western Investor . The sudden interes…

Open houses in the time of COVID-19

2020-03-19

Online transactions and a "no open house" policy will be in effect until the end of the pandemic Duffie Osental Mortgage Broker News As new cases of COVID-19 increase across Canada, health officials are urging people to practice “soci…

RE/MAX to continue working with mortgage brokers during COVID-19 pandemic

2020-03-19

Real estate agents will be limiting contact with mortgage brokers Duffie Osental Mortgage Broker News RE/MAX has announced that it will, as of now, remain open for business during the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to work with mortgag…

CIBC: Central bank's medicine is a salve for credit markets

2020-03-19

BoC makes sure banks can still lend money Mortgage Broker News The Bank of Canada has escalated its efforts to make sure the country’s banks can still lend during the coronavirus crisis. It’s working, according to a CIBC strateg…

Trudeau unveils $82 billion COVID-19 stimulus

2020-03-19

Prime Minister announces initiative to help during COVID-19 crisis Phil Hall Mortgage Broker News Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced an $82 billion initiative to help individuals and businesses weather the economic tumult created b…

February home prices up 0.4%

2020-03-19

The composite house price index saw a 0.4% increase in February home prices Phil Hall Mortgage Broker News The latest data from the Teranet-National Bank Composite House Price Index found home prices in February were up 0.4%, which is doubl…

Managing through a crisis

2020-03-19

Large gatherings are prohibited, how do we make decisions? Tony Gioventu The Province Dear Tony: Our strata corporation is 125 units and we have an upcoming annual general meeting that is going to be critical as we need to approve a signifi…

Video: The impact of COVID-19 on business and employees

2020-03-19

B.C. business experts discuss the federal emergency financial aid package, massive business closures, innovative solutions and much more in this virtual panel event Western Investor With Canadian and global economic activity paralyzed by th…

Vancouver home sales posted 59% increase in first half of March

2020-03-19

Coronavirus threw real estate market into uncertainty Sean MacKay Livabl Where was Vancouver home sales activity heading in March before coronavirus-inspired fear and panic threw the market into uncertainty? The data was looking promising, …

How to reinforce the real estate market to withstand the fallout from COVID-19

2020-03-19

Almost 33% of Canadian households rent their homes. Who is going to help them in the coronavirus crisis? Haider-Moranis The Vancouver Sun Governments and businesses all over are adapting fast to the restrictions imposed to cope with COVID-1…

Tips for Media Relations as Coronavirus Dominates, be human when pitching your product or service

2020-03-18

In media relations, do no harm Matt House other The global focus on COVID-19 is changing the way nearly all of us live, communicate and consume media. Much of the world finds itself at home, following news about one thing. As a result, comm…

The real estate market is poised for a strong recovery

2020-03-18

Home sales poised to moderate Gerv Tacadena REP The COVID-19 outbreak will likely moderate house sales in the near term, according to an economist. Brian DePratto, senior economist at TD Bank, said the current market conditions due to the i…

A discussion with OREA's new president, Sean Morrison

2020-03-18

On February 25, Sean Morrison was named the new president of the Ontario Real Estate Association Clayton Jarvis REP On February 25, Sean Morrison was named the new president of the Ontario Real Estate Association. Prior to his election as p…

Canada's big banks, credit union announce mortgage payment deferrals

2020-03-18

Big Six and Vancity offering up to six months payment free for mortgage holders unable to make payments due to pandemic Joannah Connolly Western Investor Canada’s big six banks are offering mortgage payment deferrals for up …

Ottawa to roll out $82BN economic stimulus package

2020-03-18

Federal government to offer $27 billion in direct support to struggling Canadians, plus $55 billion in tax deferrals Tyler Orton Western Investor The federal government will offer $27 billion in direct support to Canadians hit hard by the C…

'Big Six' banks to allow 6-month mortgage payment deferral

2020-03-18

Canada's big banks, credit union announce mortgage payment deferrals Steve Randall Canadian Real Estate Wealth Canada’s largest banks are coordinating their approach to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak to protect their employees and …

Real estate investors should prepare for a snowbird market rebound

2020-03-18

US housing market open up opportunity for Canadian real estate investors Steve Randall Canadian Real Estate Wealth The expectation of disruption to the US housing market caused by the coronavirus crisis may open up a window of opportunity f…

COVID-19: Government announces new mortgage buying program

2020-03-17

Ottawa will launch a revised insured Mortgage Purchase Program Steve Randall Canadian Real Estate Wealth The Canadian government has announced a further measure to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and to help maintain stability in…

Province looking at impact of COVID-19 on renters and landlords

2020-03-17

Vancouver West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert gathering info and feedback on rental issues Naoibh O'Connor Western Investor Vancouver West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, the premier’s advisor on rental housing, has been tasked with…