The Squamish Chief
After a large provincial investment, student housing will be available this fall at Capilano University’s Squamish campus.
In a news release on May 29, CapU announced that alongside the B.C. government, it purchased three student housing buildings on the Squamish campus for a total of $55 million. The province invested $48 million into the purchase. Read more…
The Squamish Chief
The District of Squamish council remains undecided about FortisBC’s temporary use permit, which would allow the establishment of a workers’ accommodation lodge near the new Capilano University campus.
Concerns over the proposed facility’s close proximity to the university campus and dormitories sparked significant conversations about safety at the committee of the whole meeting on July 2. Read more…
The Squamish Chief
A plan for a rural housing development, which has been in the works since 2008 in the Upper Paradise Valley, has been shelved after the land was rezoned by the Squamish council.
The proposed Paradise Trails at Squamish, spearheaded by Vancouver-based developer Michael Goodman, included 82 single-family homes—each 4,000 to 5,500 square feet in size—and amenities, including a North Squamish Volunteer Fire Brigade Society to protect the development and Paradise Valley, an equestrian centre and 6.8 kilometres of public horse-riding trails. Read more…
The Squamish Chief
Update: July 3, 2024: these bylaw amendments were adopted by council at its regular meeting on July 2.
A new land use zone has been created to protect agricultural practices on Squamish Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) properties.
Council members unanimously passed three readings of the bylaw amendments at its regular meeting on June 18th. Read more…
The Pique News Magazine
The B.C. government says a new online portal launching this month will combat bad-faith evictions made by landlords who falsely claim to be putting a property to “personal use,” only to increase rent on the unit.
The Ministry of Housing says the Landlord Use Web Portal will go live on July 18, and will require landlords to generate eviction notices under the Residential Tenancy Act’s provision allowing tenants to be evicted from a unit if a family member or caretaker intends to move in. Read more…
The Pique News Magazine
Rental housing construction in Canada has picked up significantly and is expected to keep growing this year, according to a new RBC report.
However, the report says more supply is needed to fill the backlog of demand.
RBC economist Rachel Battaglia said rental housing starts reached their highest levels in decades in 2022 and 2023, with more than 80,000 new units started each year. Read more…
The Pique News Magazine
Rent or buy? There’s no easy answer. While buying a home in Canada was once considered an essential milestone in the life of the average Canadian, times have changed. These days, inventory is low, and prices are high even though sales have slumped. Add in the higher cost of taking on a mortgage, and homeownership becomes all the more difficult — and challenges the oft-repeated notion that real estate is a solid investment.
But renting isn’t always better. There’s a sense of instability among renters, and with a surge in renovictions to match recent hikes in average rental prices, this unease continues to grow. The dilemma has left many Canadians unsure how to answer the rent vs. buy debate. Read more…
The Pique News Magazine
RICHMOND, B.C. — British Columbia’s public power utility says for the first time it will provide rebates for the installation of rooftop solar and battery storage systems for residents and businesses.
BC Hydro says in a news release that eligible homeowners can receive rebates up to $10,000 for installing a qualified solar and battery storage system, while apartment buildings, schools, businesses and others could get from $50,000 to $150,000 back. Read more…
The Pique News Magazine
OTTAWA — The annual pace of housing starts in May climbed 10 per cent compared with April, helped by gains in Montreal and Toronto, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said.
The housing agency said Monday the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts in May amounted to 264,506 units, up from 241,111 in April.
BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic said it was a solid level of output given tougher market conditions. Read more…
The Pique News Magazine
Whistler is taking a tiny, 0.391-hectare nibble out of an Alta Lake Road property to make way for plans to close gaps in the Valley Trail and link Function Junction to Creekside.
According to public notices posted at the Tamarisk property at 1400 Alta Lake Road, and in letters sent to property owners, the municipality will expropriate a 0.391-hectare parcel of common property from the Tamarisk strata. Read more…
The Pique News Magazine
The Whistler Valley Housing Society (WVHS) officially cut the ribbon on its new rental property in Cheakamus Crossing last week.
The Nest—previously known as 1400 Mount Fee Road—is home to 30 units and (almost) 30 tenants as of move-in in early July.
Speaking over the sound of construction just up the road, WVHS board member and Whistler Councillor Cathy Jewett listed off the people and organizations that made the new build possible, and timely. Read more…
The Pique News Magazine
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) board of directors has given second reading to potentially rezoning portions of the Brandywine Creek and Callaghan Valley areas permanently to allow local operator, Blackcomb Snowmobile, to continue operating on Crown land as an adventure tourism operator.
Currently, Blackcomb Snowmobile has license to operate on the Crown lands through to the end of 2036, but had to abide by municipal bylaws which required it hold a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) with the SLRD. Read more…
The Pique News Magazine
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has increased the maximum rental amount for future employee housing at 5298 Alta Lake Road following a lengthy discussion on how much to raise it by.
Under the initial housing agreement signed off on by the municipality, future owners of the 21 employee houses to be built could charge up to $800 per room. That number was questioned by councillors at the May 28 council meeting when staff recommended increasing the maximum amount the developer could sell the units for at the developer’s request, but without a parallel increase to rental amounts, and the issue was set to come back before council with changes. Read more…
The Pique News Magazine
VANCOUVER — Greater Vancouver’s real estate board says the number of homes sold in June tumbled 19.1 per cent from the previous year as inventory continued accumulating to levels not seen since the spring of 2019.
Greater Vancouver Realtors said there were 2,418 home sales in the region last month, 23.6 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average for June and down from 2,988 sales recorded in June 2023. Read more
Remax Blog
In today’s real estate market, maximizing your profits as a seller or securing the best deal as a buyer requires a strategic approach. Partnering with a real estate agent who utilizes the multiple listing service (MLS) is key. MLS ensures your property gains maximum visibility to attract serious buyers, helping you achieve top dollar while also providing buyers with detailed market insights to find the best deals. Read more…
Remax Blog
The Canadian government announced in April that Ottawa would relax the rules on mortgages to allow first-time homebuyers to take out 30-year mortgages when they buy newly constructed homes. The adjustment will go into effect as of Aug. 1. The verdict is still out on whether this will benefit young homebuyers. Read more…
Remax Blog
When it comes to getting a mortgage, deciding between a mortgage broker vs bank can make a big difference in both the time you spend and the amount you pay. Knowing the key differences between these two options can help you make a smarter choice, potentially saving you both time and money in the process.
In Canada, banks are a popular choice for securing a mortgage due to their established reputation, stability and wide range of financial services. When you choose to get a mortgage from a bank, you are dealing directly with the institution that will be lending you the money. Banks offer a variety of mortgage products, each with specific terms, interest rates and conditions tailored to their clientele. Read more…
Remax Blog
In today’s ever-changing real estate market, a future-proof home has become a very important concept and consideration for families looking to make a lasting investment. With changing family dynamics, lifestyle preferences, and technological advancements, investing in a property that can adapt and grow with your family is essential for long-term stability and satisfaction.
Let’s look into some of the most significant key elements of future-proofing and how they contribute to making sure your family’s future is secure with a home that stands the test of time. A professional real estate agent will help to define your needs by asking questions about your family’s lifestyle and how you see yourself living in the years to come. Read more…
Real Estate News in The Sea To Sky Corridor; BC for the Week of: July 15th –...
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