by VRBA | Aug 17, 2017 | Building Code
A perfect storm for housing is on the horizon. In addition to new mortgage qualifying rules and rising interest rates, BC’s upcoming Step Code will adds thousands of dollars to the cost of home building. Green washing politicians and bureaucrats are driving the agenda... read more
by VRBA | Jul 26, 2017 | Blog, Building Code, Housing data
CMHC reports strong evidence of overvaluation in the Victoria market due to a lack of supply. “Active listings have drawn down to par with the level of new listings, which is unprecedented. The total existing home supply recorded at the end of June roughly... read more
by VRBA | Jul 7, 2017 | Blog, Building Code
The Grenfell Tower fire in Britain underlines the importance of diligence to avoid unintended consequences when reviewing materials and building codes. The cladding and insulation, intended to improve energy efficiency, caught fire, turned into an inferno and released... read more
by VRBA | Jun 6, 2017 | Blog, Building Code, Housing data
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario says up to 30% of Toronto’s new housing price is from govt charges. They say govts increasingly look to new housing for revenue because the charges are not transparent to consumers, unlike property tax increases. CRD... read more
by VRBA | May 30, 2017 | Blog, Building Code, Hiring a Contractor
Home construction is an innovative industry with annual improvements in products and applications. For example, seven years ago Energuide80 homes were a challenge in terms of affordability. Today, Built Green builders are able to build these energy efficient homes... read more
by VRBA | May 17, 2017 | Blog, Building Code
VRBA has outlined how BC’s upcoming Step Code (Dec 2017) undermines housing affordability and consumer protection by fast-tracking higher energy efficiency in new homes that are already energy efficient. The Step Code adds tens of thousands of dollars in... read more
