by VRBA | Jul 19, 2024 | Blog, Hiring a Contractor, news, Renovating
By July 1, municipalities were required to update their bylaws to accommodate the provincial legislation enabling moderate housing density (townhomes, duplexes, fourplexes, etc) in single family zones. In municipalities of more than 5,000 people, this will allow:... read more
by VRBA | Jul 16, 2024 | Blog, Building Code, news, Renovating
A swarm of earthquakes, one with a magnitude up to 6.4, recently struck off the coast of Vancouver Island. Thirteen earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more have occurred so far in July. Natural Resources Canada reports there are plates sliding past each other due to three... read more
by VRBA | Jul 16, 2024 | Blog, Housing data, news
Greater Victoria’s year-to-date housing starts are still up 5% according to CMHC. While, housing starts increased from 150 in May to 334 in June, the June 2024 number is less than June 2023 (502). This means the year-to-date increase of 20% in housing starts from... read more
by VRBA | Jul 9, 2024 | Blog, Housing data, news
The federal government may be again considering a tax on the sale of Canadians’ primary homes. The media report Prime Minister Trudeau held a private meeting just before Canada Day with an organization called Generation Squeeze, advocates of such a tax. A 2022 report... read more
by VRBA | Jul 2, 2024 | Blog, Housing data, news
BC’s Best Practice Guide for Development Cost Charges (DCCs) lacks the enforcement necessary to promote housing affordability. DCC’s are fees charged by local governments to upgrade sewer and water, sidewalks, roads and parks adjacent to new developments. However, the... read more
by VRBA | Jun 26, 2024 | Blog, Housing data, news
A new Demographia Housing Affordability report ranks Vancouver the 3rd least affordable housing market, after Hong Kong (1) and Sydney (2). The report says, “impossibly unaffordable housing in the Vancouver market has also spread to smaller BC markets” including... read more
