We thank Hafez Panju for his continued support to kidney patients across BC & the Yukon. Since 2008, Hafez has donated $37,700 to the Kidney Foundation, through contributing a percentage of his sales commission, very generously to the BC & Yukon Branch.

Kidney disease is a complex and life‐altering condition that continues to grow at an alarming rate, with no cure. 1 in 10 Canadians (4 million people) now have kidney disease and millions more are at risk with leading causes such as diabetes and heart disease also on the rise.

It is thanks to dedicated supporters like Hafez, who make it possible...

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 3,047 residential unit sales were recorded in Multiple Listing Service® (MLS® ) systems in January 2023, a decrease of 50.3 per cent from January 2022. The average MLS® residential price in BC in 2023 has seen a dip to $872,934, down 16.1% compared to the average price of over $1 million in January 2022, which was recorded near the peak of the market. The total sales dollar volume was $2.7 billion, representing a 58.3% decrease from the same time in the previous year.

“Provincial sales are off to a slow...

Buyers now face a severe lack of choice as falling prices deter some sellers from listing their property

A lot can change in a year. It's a hard lesson homebuyers and sellers are learning as they navigate an upheaval in the housing and mortgage markets that virtually no one saw coming.

While some might have the luxury to wait until the market stabilizes, certain life events and changes in one's financial situation, known in the real estate industry as the "Four D's" - death, divorce, debt and downsizing – mean the pressure is on for some buyers and sellers who need to relocate.

"Those four...

The once bright outlook for the economy, with visions of a second “roaring 20s” fueled by pent-up demand and accumulated savings, has given way to uncertainty and the gloom of a potential recession this year. The shift in outlook was brought on by the monetary policy response to multi-decade high inflation as the Bank of Canada tightened its policy rate at its fastest pace since the 1990s. While we are still waiting on a broader economic downturn, the housing market immediately felt the impact of elevated interest rates.

Although the annual level of home sales in 2022 was near its long-term...

– Inventory remains low in Metro Vancouver* while home sales dipped well below monthly historical averages in January.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 1,022 in January 2023, a 55.3 per cent decrease from the 2,285 sales recorded in January 2022, and a 21.1 per cent decrease from the 1,295 homes sold in December 2022.

Last month’s sales were 42.9 per cent below the 10-year January sales average.

“Due to seasonality, market activity is quieter in January. With mortgage rates having risen so rapidly over...