Randy Book, Grand Central Realty

10/06/2026

Who really controls real estate pricing? Hint: It’s usually not the developer.
A fascinating legal standoff in British Columbia highlights a critical reality in commercial real estate finance: developers do not have the unilateral right to slash prices to offload inventory.
A BC developer recently agreed to sell a block of 23 condominium units at a discount to secure quick liquidity. The problem? Their lender used their veto power to block the bulk sale. AI GENERATED

09/24/2026

"We added 22 units without actually reducing the overall building area," he said. "It allowed us to change the unit mix to appeal to more first-time buyers."
Northstar narrowed the footprint and redesigned the building for 102 homes, making them smaller and forgoing parking stalls for 20 of the units. Cutting parking for those units allowed them to drop the prices for those homes by $40,000 to $50,000, Wylie said

There are sales to be made in the troubled Metro Vancouver condo market, but developers must design homes the right size, for the right price, in the right location, says one developer having apparent success in a Port Coquitlam pre-sale. 

09/22/2026

“The Trans Mountain expansion is really continuing to be a much more dominant commodity in the gateway than we have experienced historically,” Xotta said.

Meanwhile, bulk grain exports jumped 14% year-over-year to a record 17.4 million tonnes by the end of June.

Freight volumes at June 30 were up 3% year over year

09/15/2026

Phil Soper, chief executive of Royal LePage, said the company’s own surveys show the number one reason people are not jumping into the market is uncertainty.
“It had nothing to do with interest rates or the price of homes but the behaviour of Americans and specifically the president,” he said. “It has been a material and very big drag on the market. The fundamentals are there for a stronger (housing market).”

Markets may have bottomed in some regions, but job security and interest rates could trump other factors. Find out more

09/11/2026

“In the first quarter of 2026, 35.5% of new uninsured mortgages had variable rates, while 49.5% had fixed terms of less than five years, according to CMHC calculations based on Bank of Canada data”

More than 85% of new uninsured mortgages carried either a variable rate or a fixed term of less than five years in the first quarter, increasing borrowers’ exposure to future rate changes.

09/02/2026

“We think there could be hundreds of thousands of Canadians who put plans to buy a home on hold in the past several years due to sharp increases in ownership costs.”

Trade and geopolitical risks could undermine confidence, the bank warns

08/22/2026

“And there is a Canadian connection

This matters to you because if one is looking at retirement, investments and real estate in B.C.

U.S. 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields don't determine Canadian rates, but they are extremely important global benchmarks. A persistent rise in U.S. long-term yields can put upward pressure on Canadian bond yields and mortgage rates as well.”

Treasury Department to increase U.S. government bond buybacks to tamp down rising yields

08/13/2026

“Our house got built in two weeks. Basically, it’s like Lego,”

"It has an elegant, minimalist interior made entirely of Douglas fir plywood and is the first house in Vancouver to be built using a specific system of prefabricated modules".

Home was built using a system of prefabricated modules, which can be adapted, stacked and separated to create various options. See inside.

07/28/2026

I had the pleasure of touring a small-scale, four-home development this past weekend, and it left a positive impression.
What makes it unique is that all four homes are fully detached, with no shared walls—offering the privacy of a single-family home in a thoughtfully designed, higher-density community.
The quality of construction and finishings stood out throughout. At approximately 2,300 sq. ft., each home offers four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a double garage with EV charging capability, and, importantly, a well-designed floor plan where the rooms feel comfortable rather than squeezed in.
One detail that deserves recognition is the developer's decision to install underground electrical servicing. No overhead wires, no transformer dominating the streetscape, and no tangled utility lines. It's a small touch that makes a noticeable difference.
To me, this is a great example of the "missing middle" done well—providing family-sized homes at a higher density without sacrificing livability, privacy, or curb appeal.
Thoughtful design still matters, and projects like this show that increasing housing choice doesn't have to mean compromising on quality.
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/30062397/3-8483-16-avenue-burnaby