Journal Category
50 articles on market insights from Rain City Properties.
The Bank of Canada held at 2.25% again on July 15, 2026 — the fourth straight hold — as inflation climbed to 3.2% on energy prices. Here is what the extended pause means for Vancouver mortgage rates, fixed vs variable, and whether this is the right time to buy.
FIFA group stage games ran in Vancouver from June 14 to July 4. Many sellers held listings back, expecting a price spike. The spike didn't happen. Here's what the data shows and what buyers should do now.
For the first time in years, detached, townhouse, and condo sales all climbed year-over-year in the same month — detached led at +13.7%. Yet the composite benchmark barely moved. Here's why demand came back but prices didn't, and what it means if you're buying or selling this summer.
I built the side-by-side most rent-vs-buy articles skip: the full monthly cost of owning a $697,800 condo versus renting the same unit and investing the gap. Here's where the math actually lands in 2026 — and where it doesn't.
Think your BC Assessment is too high? Here's how the July 1 valuation date works, why an above-average increase raises your tax bill, and the exact appeal path through PARP and the Appeal Board.
Three different vacancy taxes can hit one empty Vancouver condo, and two of them stack. Here's who pays the BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax and the City's Empty Homes Tax, the rates, the declaration deadlines, the exemptions that actually save you money, and why the federal Underused Housing Tax is now gone.
Metro Vancouver logged 2,150 sales in May — the first month above 2,000 all year — yet the apartment benchmark fell again and detached barely moved. Here's what the divergence actually means if you're buying or selling this summer.
The Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the Wolastoqey appeal, leaving intact a New Brunswick ruling that courts can't declare Aboriginal title over private land. Here's why that matters for anyone who owns, lends against, or develops property in BC — and for the live Cowichan appeal.
The Vancouver market has been quiet since January. Five concrete events between now and September could change that — for better or worse. Here's what's on my calendar and what to watch for.
Detached sales jumped 14% year-over-year in April. Apartment sales fell 10.7%. The Vancouver market is splitting in two — here's what that means if you're buying or selling this spring.
Spring was supposed to bring the market back. It didn't. Here's what the March numbers tell us, what I'm seeing on the ground, and what to expect as we head into May.
March 2026 Metro Vancouver stats show 2,032 sales and a $1.10M composite benchmark. The market isn't slow — it's selective. Here's what's actually moving, where, and why.
CMHC confirms international migration to BC is declining in 2026 as non-permanent resident flows slow. With immigration historically driving roughly 60% of Metro Vancouver's population growth, the ripple effects on rental demand, condo investor returns, and housing prices are becoming impossible to ignore.
Vancouver has separate rules for live-work units and home-based businesses — and confusing them can cost you a business licence, a tax bill, or a strata fine. Here's the difference.
CMHC projects marginal price growth, declining construction starts, and rising unabsorbed inventory for Metro Vancouver in 2026. I break down the forecast and translate it into practical advice for real decisions.
The new wave of tariffs on lumber, steel, and appliances is adding thousands to new home construction costs in Vancouver. Here's what the numbers actually say and what it means for buyers and builders.
Metro Vancouver recorded 1,648 home sales in February 2026 — down 9.8% from last year and 28.7% below the 10-year average. With 13,545 active listings and prices down across all property types, here is what the numbers actually tell us about where this market is headed.
Vancouver is hosting 7 FIFA World Cup matches at BC Place in June and July 2026, with roughly 350,000 visitors expected. Here is what that means for short-term rentals, property values near the stadium, and whether the event creates real investment opportunities — or just noise.
Spring listings are arriving into a market with 13,545 active homes for sale — 37% above the 10-year average. With sales still running nearly 29% below normal and benchmark prices down 6.8% year-over-year, here is what the early data says about the season ahead.
Canada went from record population growth to near-zero in under two years. The impact on Vancouver's rental and purchase markets is already measurable, from a 30-year high in vacancy rates to softening condo prices. Here's what the data says and what it means for buyers, sellers, and investors.
The federal government just introduced legislation to turn Build Canada Homes into a permanent Crown corporation with $13 billion and the power to build directly on public land. Here's what it actually means for Vancouver's housing pipeline — and what the track record suggests about delivery.
Inventory is at multi-year highs, prices are falling, and rates have dropped 275 basis points. So where are all the buyers? A look at the psychology, economics, and math behind the paradox.
Metro Vancouver recorded 2,128 residential transactions in February — a 46% increase from January. But sales remain below last year and well below the 10-year average. Here is why it is too early to call this a recovery.
Metro Vancouver's rental vacancy rate has hit 3.7% -- the highest since 1988. Rents are falling across the region, landlords are offering free months, and the rental market has flipped in favour of tenants. Here's what's driving the shift and what it means for renters, landlords, and condo investors.
February 2026 brought 1,648 home sales across Metro Vancouver, down 9.8% year-over-year, while the composite benchmark slipped to $1,100,300. With active listings sitting 37% above the 10-year average, here is what the numbers mean heading into spring.
The Musqueam Rights Recognition Agreement has sparked questions about Vancouver property ownership. Here's what the agreement actually says, what it doesn't change, and what real estate owners and investors should watch for.
Steel tariffs at 50%, softwood lumber duties near 45%, and a CMHC recession warning. Here's how the US-Canada trade war is hitting Vancouver construction costs, mortgage rate decisions, and buyer confidence heading into spring 2026.
The BC government dropped its 2026 budget with school tax hikes on $3M+ homes, a bumped-up speculation tax, costlier property tax deferments, and expanded PTT exemptions for rental builders. Here's a plain-language breakdown of what actually changes and what it costs you.
The Bank of Canada is almost certainly holding at 2.25% again on March 18. After seven cuts and now three straight pauses, here's what the rate plateau means for Vancouver mortgage rates, buying power, and your next move.
September 2025 benchmark prices dropped 3.2% year-over-year while active listings surged 36% above the 10-year average. With the sales-to-active ratio at 11.3%, Vancouver is firmly in buyer territory. Here is what the numbers actually mean for your next purchase.
October 2025 saw Metro Vancouver sales drop 14.3% year-over-year while inventory climbed to levels we haven't seen in years. Here's what the fall numbers tell us about where the market is heading.
Sales are down, listings are up, and presale condos are gathering dust. After years of seller dominance, Vancouver's housing market has tilted decisively toward balance. Here is what I am seeing on the ground and where I think it goes from here.
Prices are down 5% across the board, inventory is at a 12-year high, and sales have dropped to levels not seen in a generation. Vancouver is in the middle of a real price correction. Here is what the data actually says and how buyers should think about it.
After seven cuts brought the overnight rate from 5.0% to 2.25%, the Bank of Canada has hit pause twice in a row. Here's what the rate hold means for Vancouver buyers, sellers, and the presale market heading into spring 2026.
BC Assessment's 2026 notices show values declining across the Lower Mainland, with detached homes down 5% in Vancouver and condos softening everywhere. What the numbers mean for buyers ready to act.
With the fewest home sales in over two decades, record-high inventory, and prices down across every property type, Vancouver buyers have more leverage than they've had since 2019. Here's what the numbers say.
Vancouver's Broadway Plan is reshaping the corridor from Vine to Clark. With the subway extension nearing completion, here's what the density changes mean for homeowners and investors.
After the Bank of Canada's rate-cutting cycle, Vancouver's market is adjusting. Here's what current rates mean for your buying power, monthly payments, and the best strategy going forward.
After 20 years in Vancouver real estate, people ask me why I still get excited about this work. The honest answer involves architecture, puzzles, and a lot of other people's kitchen tables.
Two years after Bill 44 passed, Vancouver's first wave of multiplexes is hitting the ground. Here's what's actually been built, who's buying, and what living in one is really like.
The Vancouver market flipped to buyers' territory in early 2026. Here's what the data says about prices, rates, inventory, and where things go from here.
A data-driven comparison of Metro Vancouver's three largest cities for home buyers. Compare prices, transit access, schools, amenities, and investment potential to find your ideal location.
BC's home flipping tax significantly impacts multiplex development timelines and builder math. Learn the tax rates, exemptions, and strategies for developers and sellers navigating Vancouver's multiplex boom.
Vancouver has received 517 multiplex applications under Bill 44. Only 122 building permits have been issued. Where are the other 395 projects stuck—and what does this pipeline problem mean for homeowners waiting to sell or build?
BC Assessment just released 2026 numbers showing Vancouver single-family values down 5% on average. But for multiplex-eligible lots, the picture is more complex—and the deadline to file an assessment complaint is February 2, 2026.
Development cost levies, permit fees, and carrying costs add up to over $200,000 before construction even begins. As missing middle housing starts drop 56% from 2018 levels, here's where the money actually goes—and why 16 Metro mayors are demanding change.
An analysis of multiplex permit data reveals a stark geographic disparity in Bill 44 development. West side neighbourhoods are seeing three times more sixplex applications than the east side—and the reasons go deeper than lot sizes.
From Calgary's blanket upzoning repeal to Metro Vancouver mayors demanding changes, the backlash against 'boxy' multiplexes is growing. Here's what's driving the debate—and what it means for homeowners considering development.
Eighteen months after BC launched Bill 44, Burnaby's restrictive bylaw amendments reveal the tension between provincial housing goals and municipal control. An analysis of what's working, what isn't, and how recent changes could reshape the next decade of housing supply.
Navigating the 2026 Vancouver housing market requires a new strategy. From interest rate shifts to the impact of new zoning laws, here is your essential briefing for buying a home this year.