Housing

Oak Bay in Greater Victoria became the latest community to legalize secondary suites and a provincial pilot project plans to create more through incentives for home-owners to build them for long-term renters. (Black Press Media file photo)

As B.C. eyes housing solutions, UBCM prez says secondary suites ‘critical’ for rental supply

UBCM President Jen Ford says secondary suites are an important part of housing continuum

 

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces march in Calgary on July 8, 2016. The Canadian Armed Forces is rolling out a new housing benefit to help troops posted to expensive communities.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Military expecting to save $30M per year with targeted housing benefit for troops

New housing benefit will be tied to salary to help those who need it most

 

In New Brunswick, the high interest rates made 29-year-old Lauren Fitzgerald, shown in a handout photo, dramatically alter her home-buying plans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Lauren Fitzgerald

‘How are you going to compete?’: Canadians grapple with tight housing market

People entering the housing market share stories from across the country

 

The dormitory to be built at the Salmon Arm campus of Okanagan College will sit in the northeast corner of the parcel, adjacent to the lawn bowling facility. (Google Maps image)

Student housing at Salmon Arm’s Okanagan College campus takes step forward

Council to vote on height variance for 49-unit, 60-bed project

The dormitory to be built at the Salmon Arm campus of Okanagan College will sit in the northeast corner of the parcel, adjacent to the lawn bowling facility. (Google Maps image)
This conceptual rendering of a housing project proposed for Drysdale Boulevard in Glenmore is an example of the growing densification direction of development in the city. (City of Kelowna graphic)

Development outlook still bullish for Kelowna

Current economic uncertainties won’t hold back the Okanagan

This conceptual rendering of a housing project proposed for Drysdale Boulevard in Glenmore is an example of the growing densification direction of development in the city. (City of Kelowna graphic)
Letter writer says tiny houses could solve some housing shortages in Salmon Arm. (Contributed)

Secondary suites promoted in Salmon Arm for years, maybe tiny houses next

Letter writer suggests tiny houses could solve housing troubles for those without homes, seniors

Letter writer says tiny houses could solve some housing shortages in Salmon Arm. (Contributed)
Union of BC Municipalities at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Sicamous council discussed sending members to the UBCM Housing Summit, April 4-6, at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver. (UBCM photo)

Housing summit in Vancouver on Sicamous council’s radar

Trip would cost $1,700 per person from travel budget

Union of BC Municipalities at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Sicamous council discussed sending members to the UBCM Housing Summit, April 4-6, at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver. (UBCM photo)
Vancouver is the least affordable city according to a new report from Royal Bank of Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Vancouver is the least affordable city according to a new report from Royal Bank of Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

$7 out of every $10 earned goes towards mortgage payments in Victoria: report

B.C. Liberals pounced on the report, while NDP said help is underway

Vancouver is the least affordable city according to a new report from Royal Bank of Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Vancouver is the least affordable city according to a new report from Royal Bank of Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Nineteen-unit development proposed for 1481 10th Street SW in Salmon Arm. (City of Salmon Arm image)

19-unit housing project proposed for 10th Street SW in Salmon Arm

Public hearing March 13 for plan which includes triplexes, fourplexes and a fiveplex

Nineteen-unit development proposed for 1481 10th Street SW in Salmon Arm. (City of Salmon Arm image)
Houses are covered with snow as the downtown skyline is seen in the distance, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. The British Columbia Real Estate Association says the chill across the province’s real estate sector will drag on through 2023, but it calls for a strong rebound next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Gloomy economic outlook, elevated mortgages drag down 2023 B.C. housing market: BCREA

Conditions are expected to rebound in 2024

Houses are covered with snow as the downtown skyline is seen in the distance, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. The British Columbia Real Estate Association says the chill across the province’s real estate sector will drag on through 2023, but it calls for a strong rebound next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
From left to right: Chris Wilson (Eagle Valley Road Rescue chief), Suzie Cameron (Eagle Valley Senior Citizens Housing Society secretary), Kelly Hesleton (EVSCHS president and EVRS secretary/treasurer), Judy Moore (EVSCHS vice president), Geoff Kroeker (EVRS), Brenda Dalzell (EVSCHS director), Jeff Msallmes (EVSCHS director) and Jeff VanDooyeweert (EVRS deputy chief). The road rescue volunteers donated time and energy Saturday, Feb. 4 to strip a unit of The Haven seniors’ living complex in Sicamous to prepare it for a new occupant. The EVSCHS is moving forward with a developer, the district, BC Housing and CMHC to build a new seniors’ housing solution on district-donated land behind The Haven. (Rebecca Willson/Eagle Valley News)

Two Sicamous nonprofits work together to improve affordable seniors’ living situation

Road Rescuers volunteer time and tools to revamp Haven unit; seniors’ housing plans moving forward

From left to right: Chris Wilson (Eagle Valley Road Rescue chief), Suzie Cameron (Eagle Valley Senior Citizens Housing Society secretary), Kelly Hesleton (EVSCHS president and EVRS secretary/treasurer), Judy Moore (EVSCHS vice president), Geoff Kroeker (EVRS), Brenda Dalzell (EVSCHS director), Jeff Msallmes (EVSCHS director) and Jeff VanDooyeweert (EVRS deputy chief). The road rescue volunteers donated time and energy Saturday, Feb. 4 to strip a unit of The Haven seniors’ living complex in Sicamous to prepare it for a new occupant. The EVSCHS is moving forward with a developer, the district, BC Housing and CMHC to build a new seniors’ housing solution on district-donated land behind The Haven. (Rebecca Willson/Eagle Valley News)
Penticton City Hall. (Western News - File)

Penticton wants province to match municipal funding efforts for affordable housing

Mayor Julius Bloomfield requests council to endorse resolution for provincial housing funding

Penticton City Hall. (Western News - File)
Sicamous council will discuss moving forward with early adoption of provincial energy efficiency codes. The province will require compliance at Level 3 of the BC Step Code sometime this year and there are benefits and costs to opting in early. (File photo)

Sicamous council to discuss opting in early to higher energy efficiency building requirements

Step 3 of the Energy Step Code requires 20% more efficiency

Sicamous council will discuss moving forward with early adoption of provincial energy efficiency codes. The province will require compliance at Level 3 of the BC Step Code sometime this year and there are benefits and costs to opting in early. (File photo)
Mayor Lisa Helps speaks during a vigil in Victoria on January 31, 2017. Helps says she’s disappointed in the poor judgment exercised by a member of council who travelled outside of Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Appointment of former Victoria mayor as housing adviser draws wide range of reactions

Lisa Helps will help develop housing for middle income families

Mayor Lisa Helps speaks during a vigil in Victoria on January 31, 2017. Helps says she’s disappointed in the poor judgment exercised by a member of council who travelled outside of Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Victoria Fire Chief Paul Bruce and Mayor Lisa Helps tour the fire hall site. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)

Former Victoria mayor tapped to advise the premier on housing solutions

Lisa Helps appointed Premier David Eby’s housing solutions adviser

Victoria Fire Chief Paul Bruce and Mayor Lisa Helps tour the fire hall site. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)
Shelter costs in Kelowna only differ by $78/month between renters and owners. (@khzny/Twitter)

Under $80 difference between rent, mortgage prices in Kelowna the smallest in Canadian major cities

Shelter costs are just $78/month more as a homeowner

Shelter costs in Kelowna only differ by $78/month between renters and owners. (@khzny/Twitter)
Toni Russell holds up a copy of Bill 44, which removed the ability for stratas to ban rentals or use 19+ age restrictions. Now the strata at Cherry Lane Towers where she lives is trying to turn the condo complex into a 55+ community. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Okanagan senior fighting to keep condo strata from becoming 55+ only

Toni Russell is concerned about the impact to her financial future

Toni Russell holds up a copy of Bill 44, which removed the ability for stratas to ban rentals or use 19+ age restrictions. Now the strata at Cherry Lane Towers where she lives is trying to turn the condo complex into a 55+ community. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions is considering strengthening Canada’s mortgage stress test. (The Canadian Press)

Banking regulator launches consultations on mortgage rules, proposes additions

Possible changes to existing stress test would aim to reduce overstretched borrowers

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions is considering strengthening Canada’s mortgage stress test. (The Canadian Press)
FILE - B.C. announced a $500 million Rental Protection Fund on Jan. 12. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Eby following through on $500M promise to put more rentals in hands of B.C. non-profits

Funds aim to take control away from speculators looking to bump up prices or evict tenants

FILE - B.C. announced a $500 million Rental Protection Fund on Jan. 12. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
The Kelowna housing market went up 14 per cent according to the 2023 BC Assessment (@khzny/Twitter)

EDITORIAL: Property tax rates separate from latest assessments

Local governments in British Columbia have not yet completed their budgets for 2023

  • Jan 10, 2023
The Kelowna housing market went up 14 per cent according to the 2023 BC Assessment (@khzny/Twitter)