Housing

The rapid pace of growth in B.C. urban centres like Langford, seen here in 2021 along the Peatt Road corridor, has prompted B.C.’s Urban Mayors Caucus to ask the federal government to consider releasing funds sooner that target projects that improve housing affordability and transportation. (Google Street View)

B.C. urban mayors ask feds to expand housing affordability, transportation funding

Caucus co-chair Lisa Helps of Victoria outlines list of B.C. requests in letter

 

Less than one percent of houses listed in B.C. cities as of the first week of May 2022 are priced below $200,000, according to real estate search portal Point2. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Needle in a haystack: Less than 1% of homes in B.C. cities listed below $200,000

Zero homes under $200,000 exist in nine B.C. cities, international real estate portal finds

 

Homes are pictured in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. Councillors in Vancouver have unanimously backed a motion from Mayor Kennedy Stewart to hike the city’s empty homes tax to five per cent of a property’s assessed value, effective next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Vancouver council hiking empty homes tax to 5 per cent of assessed value in 2023

City hiking empty homes tax to five per cent of a property’s assessed value, effective next year

 

A tradesperson stands atop a condo tower under construction, in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Census shows apartment growth, but supply remains the main issue in B.C.: experts

Apartments in buildings with 5 or more storeys, make up 10.9 per cent of all dwellings in B.C.

A tradesperson stands atop a condo tower under construction, in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Cat rescue organizations are “drowning in cats” that have been surrendered by owners because they can’t find pet-friendly housing, said Christy Moschopedis of FCM Community Cat Trappers. (Darren McDonald)

Fraser Valley rescue organizations ‘drowning in cats’ due to lack of pet-friendly housing

Nearly 80% of cats in 4 Chilliwack shelters are owner surrenders, says cat rescuer

Cat rescue organizations are “drowning in cats” that have been surrendered by owners because they can’t find pet-friendly housing, said Christy Moschopedis of FCM Community Cat Trappers. (Darren McDonald)
Nearly 8,500 homes were declared vacant or underused in Vancouver after the submission deadline passed for the debut of the city’s empty homes tax. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver mayor aims to increase empty homes tax to fund affordable housing

Decision to triple the empty homes tax rate in 2020 has brought in about $32 million

Nearly 8,500 homes were declared vacant or underused in Vancouver after the submission deadline passed for the debut of the city’s empty homes tax. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A firefighter on a ladder truck directs water on a four-alarm fire burning at a single room occupancy (SRO) hotel, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 11, 2022. Vancouver’s fire chief says some people remained unaccounted for as crews fought a fire inside a four-storey residential building in the city’s Gastown neighbourhood. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Officials working to find housing for 144 people displaced by fire in Vancouver

Buildings included housing for some of the city’s lowest-income residents

A firefighter on a ladder truck directs water on a four-alarm fire burning at a single room occupancy (SRO) hotel, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 11, 2022. Vancouver’s fire chief says some people remained unaccounted for as crews fought a fire inside a four-storey residential building in the city’s Gastown neighbourhood. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp says the annual pace of construction on new homes picked up in July. A worker is seen working on a construction project at UBC in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Budget 2022: Feds add measures to curb speculation as housing supply gets $10B boost

Plans rely heavily on cooperation with other levels of government and on the private sector

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp says the annual pace of construction on new homes picked up in July. A worker is seen working on a construction project at UBC in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Copies of the 2022 federal budget are seen in the media lockup, ahead of the tabling of the federal budget, in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Budget 2022: Liberals devote $4.3 billion to Indigenous housing needs

Budget also addresses ongoing search for unmarked graves at the former sites of residential schools

Copies of the 2022 federal budget are seen in the media lockup, ahead of the tabling of the federal budget, in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Newly developed housing on Eagle Dr. was completed in January by Pacific Aurora Construction with more planned for Drake Cres., property developer Kevin Stunder said. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)

Hundreds of Prince Rupert city-owned land lots proposed for transfer to Legacy Inc.

Public feedback is invited on land disposition intended to promote housing development

Newly developed housing on Eagle Dr. was completed in January by Pacific Aurora Construction with more planned for Drake Cres., property developer Kevin Stunder said. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)
A tradesperson works on a balcony at a condo tower under construction, in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The organization representing British Columbia’s municipal governments says resolving the province’s affordable housing crisis is more complex than just building more homes.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Housing minister, municipal governments at odds over B.C. housing supply report

UBCM report enough homes are being built to match the B.C. growing population raises Eby’s eyebrows

A tradesperson works on a balcony at a condo tower under construction, in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The organization representing British Columbia’s municipal governments says resolving the province’s affordable housing crisis is more complex than just building more homes.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Homelessness supports will remain for those sheltered during the pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Budget: Renter rebate off the table, but $600 rent supplements coming for vulnerable groups

Long-awaited renters rebate left out of 2022 budget

Homelessness supports will remain for those sheltered during the pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Canadian Real Estate Association reported that the national average home price hit $713,500 in December, up almost 18 per cent from the same month one year earlier. File photo

Canada’s housing ministers meet as MPs ready for more hearings on pace of price gains

Low mortgage rates and consumer demand for larger spaces outstripping supply

The Canadian Real Estate Association reported that the national average home price hit $713,500 in December, up almost 18 per cent from the same month one year earlier. File photo
Langford developers have contributed to the city’s affordable housing fund with every rezoning request over the last five years. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. city promising select new homeowners up to 75% of their down payment

The city has earmarked $3 million in grants to help 250 families buy homes

Langford developers have contributed to the city’s affordable housing fund with every rezoning request over the last five years. (Black Press Media file photo)
The downtown Vancouver skyline is seen at sunset, as houses line a hillside in Burnaby, B.C., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Home sales across Metro Vancouver remained well above the 10-year average in September, but the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says prices haven’t climbed as sharply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Home demand still outstrips supply in Metro Vancouver but price hikes slow: report

Composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver just under $1.2 million

The downtown Vancouver skyline is seen at sunset, as houses line a hillside in Burnaby, B.C., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Home sales across Metro Vancouver remained well above the 10-year average in September, but the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says prices haven’t climbed as sharply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau makes a campaign stop in Hamilton, Ont., on Tuesday, Aug 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Real estate industry worried Liberal housing plan won’t alleviate supply issues

‘It’s like saying, ‘come on in my store it’s 100 per cent off, but I don’t have any inventory’

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau makes a campaign stop in Hamilton, Ont., on Tuesday, Aug 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
New homes are built in a housing construction development in the west end of Ottawa on Thursday, May 6, 2021. Parliament’s budget watchdog says the government is falling short of its aim of vastly expanding Canada’s affordable housing stock despite a spending ramp-up in the hundreds of millions of dollars. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada’s housing strategy having ‘limited’ impact on housing need, watchdog says

Government is falling short of its aim to vastly expand Canada’s affordable housing stock

New homes are built in a housing construction development in the west end of Ottawa on Thursday, May 6, 2021. Parliament’s budget watchdog says the government is falling short of its aim of vastly expanding Canada’s affordable housing stock despite a spending ramp-up in the hundreds of millions of dollars. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Students make a “tiny home” sign with their hands as part of the Tiny Home Challenge at John Paul II Catholic School. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Vancouver Island school gets visit from Netflix show hosts for tiny home competition

Pilot Tiny Home elective was offered for Grades 4-7

Students make a “tiny home” sign with their hands as part of the Tiny Home Challenge at John Paul II Catholic School. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
The Nanaimo skyline. (Black Press Media files)

Looking for a new city to call home? Here are B.C.’s top 5 most affordable urban centres

Ranking considered affordability, economies and growing power for the cities

The Nanaimo skyline. (Black Press Media files)
John Anjo, founder/ director of Dwelltech, poses in front of his newest creation. The YOCTO is a 72 square foot tiny home with all the fixings. (Ronan O’Doherty/ The News)

VIDEO: Maple Ridge company builds remarkably tiny home

Dwelltech founder constructs 72 square foot home as passion project

John Anjo, founder/ director of Dwelltech, poses in front of his newest creation. The YOCTO is a 72 square foot tiny home with all the fixings. (Ronan O’Doherty/ The News)