Vancouver Real Estate Podcast

Getting fired during the 2008 market slowdown taught Caliber Projects CEO Justin Bontkes how to spot opportunity in tough times - and he sees them everywhere today.Justin sits down with Adam & Matt this week to reveal why more challenging real estate markets create compelling opportunities & provides a blueprint for exactly how he & his team are taking advantage of this moment. From maximizing efficiencies to a renewed focus on team culture, this conversation cuts to the heart of a smart growth strategy in today's marketplace.Is fortune finally starting to favor the bold? How can today's actions lead to explosive growth tomorrow? And in a market that rewards careful planning, what separates the winners from the pretenders? Don't miss this one!

With the largest US-Canada bond yield spread in 70 years & unprecedented trade threats looming, Moody's Analytics Director and Lead Canadian Economic Forecaster Brendan Lacerda sits down with Adam & Matt to unpack what Trump's tariff threats mean for our market.From Moody's baseline 5% tariff forecast to worst-case scenarios of 25%, Lacerda explores how these economic headwinds and diverging interest rates could reshape Vancouver real estate in 2025.Will the Bank of Canada's projected rate cuts spark market momentum? What do outsized tariffs mean for our local real estate market? And with Canada and US economies heading in opposite directions, what does this rare economic divergence mean for all Canadians? Don't miss this market update!

With interest rates, housing inventory, and sales all seeming to stabilize, could 2025 finally bring a return to "normal" in the Metro Vancouver real estate market?Not so fast. BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson sits down with Adam & Matt this week to decode the mixed market signals ahead and reveals why Vancouver's real estate landscape could be on the verge of its biggest shake-up yet. With the potential Trump tariff of 25% on Canadian exports looming and impacts that could trigger emergency rate cuts or spiraling inflation, this is definitely not your typical market forecast.What geopolitical event could send Canadian interest rates ratcheting back up? Where will home prices be at the end of 2025? And with the Canadian dollar potentially facing historic lows, is now the time to buy? Don't miss this essential market forecast!

A groundbreaking partnership is reimagining how we experience real estate. Marcon Executive VP Nic Paolella and Nemesis Coffee Founder Jess Reno sit down with Adam & Matt to reveal how they're teaming up to revolutionize development marketing & sales through an innovative fusion of hospitality and elevated experiences that takes more from the Apple Store than traditional home sales.From their ambitious vision for The Pavilion at Surrey City Centre to revamping the real estate sales experience, this inspiring conversation explores how intentional community-building and an obsession with quality are set to reshape buyer expectations - and this is just the beginning.Is this community-centred approach the blueprint for successful development in 2025 and beyond? Could this elevated buying experience transform how we think about real estate sales? And what does their focus on authentic community engagement mean for the future of Metro Vancouver development? Not to be missed!

When does waiting for the perfect market moment become a costly mistake? Adam & Matt sit down to ponder that question and unpack the 2024 real estate market - a year where inventory surged 46% while sales volumes remained stubbornly low.From downtown's struggles to a transformative shift in the investment landscape, this episode tackles the trends that defined 2024 and shapes what's coming in 2025. Have today's buyers missed the bottom? Is 2025 the year investors fall back in love with real estate? And where are the hidden opportunities emerging for the coming year?  

Interest rate forecasts, shifting investment strategies, and signs of market momentum have investors eyeing 2025 with renewed interest after a lackluster year.Founder of the Green Mortgage Team Kyle Green sits down this week with Adam & Matt to unpack the year's defining moments & dissect the recent seismic shifts in real estate investing with an eye to the future. From the impact of government policies on mom-and-pop investors to the potential 25% Trump Tariff, this wide-ranging conversation cuts to the heart of where smart money is moving in Vancouver real estate as we look to the new year.Will 2025 mark a true turning point for the market? What & where are Kyle's savviest clients buying right now? And with interest rates expected to drop, is now the time to lock in fixed or ride the variable rate wave down? Don't miss this one!

Is the commercial real estate market finally turning a corner? The latter half of 2024 provides compelling clues. Founder & Managing Broker of William Wright Commercial Cory Wright sits down with Adam and Matt this week to dive deep into BC's ever-evolving commercial real estate landscape.From surprising activity levels across multiple asset classes to emerging opportunities, Cory breaks down how the market has transformed through recent interest rate challenges and what changing pricing & returns mean for investors in different markets across the province.Which BC markets offer the best investment opportunities right now? Are there deals to be found in new construction? And which major market might investors want to avoid in 2025? A critical take at a critical moment.

The push for affordability and the growing connection between market and non-profit housing is dramatically reshaping development across Metro Vancouver.Principal at CitySpaces Noha Sedky sits down with Adam and Matt this week to explore how municipalities are engaging the non-profit housing sector & requiring affordable housing components in new developments.Who does non-profit housing serve & what value does it bring to Metro Vancouver? What do we actually mean by affordable housing or non-profit housing? And how can early partnerships between developers and non-profits create more viable projects in today's challenging real estate market? Listen up to understand the forces shaping our region's housing future!

There's a widespread belief that high-density living somehow leads to social isolation - that towers create vertical suburbs where neighbors never interact. But thoughtful planning tells a different story. This week Century Group’s VP of Development Bob Ransford sits down with Adam & Matt to discuss smart strategies for community building near Skytrains as Surrey transforms into Metro Vancouver's second downtown. Drawing from 36 years of development experience, Bob shows how thoughtful design can strengthen community bonds while still accommodating Surrey’s transformative growth. With Surrey's population set to surpass Vancouver's by 2029, this vision of vibrant, transit-oriented communities could reshape how we think about density and connection in our growing region.

Is the elusive real estate bottom in the presale world finally here? This industry insider - armed with visibility into almost all new construction contracts written in BC - says all signs point to yes.President & CEO of Avesdo Ben Smith sits down with Adam & Matt this week to share exclusive insights from his unique vantage point in the presale world.What are the telltale signs that the new construction market has bottomed? What should all potential buyers know about the flow of contracts coming across his desk this fall? And why are the next few months potentially the best buying opportunity in Ben's more than 20 year career? It's time to take action! 

Ever wish you could hit pause on a great conversation? Today we're doing just that - exploring some of the unique, interesting, and counterintuitive ideas that emerged from our most recent podcast episodes.Adam & Matt sit down this week to unpack the most compelling insights from their recent discussions. From Brian Yu's analysis of Vancouver's self-selecting housing market to Milan Mann's observations about shifting buyer preferences to Todd Talbot's new take on real estate investing, the hosts connect insights across conversations, uncovering the deeper trends shaping the market as we move towards the end of 2024.

Ever wanted to be in the room when Western Canada's largest developers, REITs & policy makers parse the data behind their multimillion-dollar decisions?Us too. And today is our lucky day. Ryan Berlin, Vice President of Intelligence and Head Economist at Rennie, sits down with Adam & Matt to break down today's complex market landscape. With insights typically reserved for the biggest players, Metro Vancouver's data guru unpacks what's actually happening behind the numbers - from plummeting employment to the great investor exodus to quickly falling interest rates.We are in confusing times. Want to know where the smart money's headed? This is your direct line to the metrics that matter - don't miss it!

In the near decade of the Vancouver Real Estate Podcast, we have never been in a moment where this question even made sense to ask: are rents actually going down in Vancouver?Founder of the Vancouver Rental Group, Seva Roberts, has answers - and they come from managing 300+ rentals day in & day out across the lower Mainland. Seva sits down with Adam & Matt this week to unpack the region’s rental market in the fall of 2024.Where did the seemingly insatiable demand go? Is rental inventory growing as we head into the traditionally slower winter months? And which submarkets are the most immune to market downturns? This is a deep dive into the other side of our housing market. Listen up!

The British Columbia provincial election is upon us & the choices for premier & party are stark. This October 19th election will shape our province in profound ways for years to come. So how do the candidates stack up in regards to arguably the most important issue facing British Columbians - housing?This week BCREA's Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Research, Marketing and Communications Trevor Hargreaves sits down with Adam & Matt to discuss how the parties stack up on critical housing issues.From affordability measures to zoning reforms, residential tenancy changes to the crackdown on short term rentals, we grade the major parties' platforms and predict how their proposed policies - or lack thereof - might impact BC's real estate landscape. Don't miss this essential pre-election breakdown that could help inform your vote and your future in British Columbia.

This is not your usual Vancouver Real Estate Podcast episode. Long time listeners will remember Love It or List It Vancouver star Todd Talbot on the show nearly 3 years ago discussing his Okanagan “Eh” Frame project. This net zero, passive house, passion project was set to ultimately be the subject of a TV series when fully built. But then disaster struck.The 2023 McDougall Creek Wildfire ripped through the area and burnt down the nearly complete “Eh” Frame along with many homes nearby. Now Todd sits down with Adam & Matt to detail the harrowing story as his docu-series is set to air. What lessons can we all learn from Todd’s terrible experience? Are there ways to better mitigate against future climate-related threats in the Okanagan and Vancouver? And what can this story ultimately tell us about the future of our province? You couldn’t write this story.

The local economy is the backdrop for every conversation we have about our real estate market. And yet we rarely get a chance to focus specifically on the economy of Metro Vancouver.How are we actually doing as a region? Should we be uneasy or optimistic about the future? Are you richer or poorer than you think?Central 1 Credit Union’s Chief Economist Bryan Yu sits down with Adam & Matt this week to tackle all these questions and more. What are the most significant local factors for our housing market? Why are rents dropping right now in Vancouver? And what does this all mean for the real estate market for the last months of 2024 & well into 2025. This is a must listen!

Supply chain disruptions, rising construction costs & tepid buyer demand have all been watchwords in Metro Vancouver development for the last few years.But are these highly challenging days finally behind us? BM Group’s President of Real Estate Development and Construction, Milan Mann, knows both sides of this equation intimately.Milan joins Adam & Matt this week to discuss all facets of delivering homes in today’s difficult marketplace - from the cost of concrete & labour all the way through to sales strategies at the display suite.What are the biggest pain points in the construction process today? Will new home buyers benefit from the taming of construction inflation? And where does BM Group see the biggest opportunities for savvy real estate investors in a declining interest rate environment? Listen in to hear an insider’s take!

“Sellers Await Buyers’ Return” was the headline that marked the end of the summer 2024. And the same could be said for the spring. And 2023. And most of 2022. As goes interest rates, so goes Canadian real estate apparently.But are high interest rates the total story? Former President of Mortgage Architects Dustan Woodhouse has spent a lot of time thinking about the Canadian lending environment & has come to a different conclusion.Dustan sits down with Adam and Matt this week to discuss the seismic shifts in Canada's lending landscape that began well before the meteoric rise of interest rates. How have multiple regulatory changes over the past 15 years dramatically reshaped the borrowing power of middle-class Canadians? Who wins and who loses with all the behind-the-scenes tampering with borrowing requirements? And what will it actually take to bring our real estate market out of its deep freeze?This episode is a master class!  

The BC provincial government stunned observers late last year when it legislated all BC municipalities change zoning regulations to permit multiplexes on single family lots by June 30, 2024. The provincial order was clear. But implementation has been another thing altogether. Architect Tara Gronlund joins Adam & Matt to discuss how different municipalities around Metro Vancouver have responded to this directive from on high. Which municipalities have dramatically upped what can be built on single family lots? Where has the directive had basically no impact? And how will these municipal zoning changes potentially change the course of the region for decades to come? The devil, as they say, is in the details, so listen up!

The Fraser Valley's real estate landscape is evolving rapidly & few know its contours better than Zenterra’s VP of Marketing & Sales, Derek Fenton.Derek sits down with Adam and Matt this week to discuss the Fraser Valley on the cusp of the 2024 fall market, a conversation that ranges from regional market conditions to in depth analysis of certain neighborhoods in the valley street by street. What were the key factors that led Zenterra to bet big on the Fraser Valley nearly 15 years ago? Where are the best pockets of opportunity that still have considerable runway? And why is Zenterra all-in when t comes to betting on the Fraser Valley moving forward? This episode is a primer for anyone interested in one of the fastest growing regions in Canada. Listen up!