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  1. The average salary for a real estate agent is $58,400

    Soaring house prices in recent years and the onslaught of high-roller realtor shows (we see you, Selling Sunset) have left many of us wondering about real estate agents’ salaries. After all, a five per cent commission on a million-dollar home is an impressive $50,000. If a realtor helps clients buy and sell just two homes at that price a year, that’s an easy $100,000 salary, right?

    According to the government of Canada’s Job Bank, realtor salaries varied wildly in 2023. On the low end, a realtor made $30,847. The average salary was $58,400. And those who had the best year pulled in $178,000. This is all before taxes.

  2. Toronto condo parking can add 6 figures to a home

    In Toronto’s competitive real estate market, having a parking space with a condominium can significantly increase the property’s value — sometimes by as much as six figures. A recent analysis by Wahi sheds light on just how much this coveted amenity can cost, depending on location in the city.

    The study looked at the median price differences between one-bedroom condominiums with and without parking across Toronto’s six former pre-amalgamation cities: East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Toronto and York.

  3. Why do home staging costs differ so much from one stager to another?

    When it comes to selling a home, staging has become a crucial element in making a property more appealing to potential buyers. Home staging involves preparing a property to be shown in the best possible light, often by arranging furniture, decorating and sometimes even renovating certain aspects of the home.

    However, one question that frequently arises among homeowners and real estate agents is why staging costs differ so much from one stager to another. Several factors impact staging costs, which we’ll get into below.

  4. At least 700 homes will be built near the Surrey Langley SkyTrain project

    Transportation Minister Rob Fleming announced the move, explaining it’s the first time the province has made a purchase like this.

    This project is going to be tremendous for Surrey and Langley, and this project, for once, is going to align the development of our number one need in this community and across British Columbia — affordable housing with a world-class SkyTrain system,” Fleming said. The development will be completed over the next decade, Fleming explained. While historically barred from buying land for the purpose of building housing, the minister shared that the ability to do this changed with the introduction of Bill 16.

  5. Low Tide Properties seeks to build two 35-storey rental towers, 19-storey office building

    A real estate company co-founded by the man who created Lululemon is behind a massive development proposal for the False Creek Flats area of Vancouver that features two 35-storey rental towers and a 19-storey office building.

    Low Tide Properties is working with PCI Developments and architecture firm Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership to redevelop a two-storey warehouse site currently occupied by Shaw Communications at 1155 East 6th Ave.

    The City of Vancouver received a rezoning application in July for the property, which is near the VCC-Clark SkyTrain Station on a strip that has seen a lot of development in recent years as the area gets built out.

  6. A severe lack of housing for post-secondary students persists across Canada

    “Insufficient student accommodations should worry all Canadians,” wrote Desjardins economists Kari Norman and Randall Bartlett. As the demand for higher education in Canada continues to surge, the availability of student housing has not kept pace, the authors said.

    With a lack of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in Canada, many students end up living in off-campus housing, which is often more expensive and increases their debt load. The influx of students into the surrounding community in turn reduces housing availability and drives up rental prices for everyone, particularly affecting low-income families and young adults.

    Desjardins estimates that 1.2 million students rent in the neighbourhoods around their post-secondary institutions.

    “Increased demand from students means fewer rental units available for other residents,” the report said, particularly when purpose-built rental housing construction has lagged population growth for decades in some cities.

     

  7. Vancouver's AI surge a boon for real estate, says CBRE report

    Although it fell in this year’s rankings, Vancouver remains a popular destination for tech talent, including artificial intelligence (AI) specialists, which will continue to support real estate market fundamentals, according to a new report from commercial real estate services firm CBRE.

    Total tech occupations in Vancouver grew 30.7 per cent from 2018-23, with the local tech sector now employing 98,700 workers at an average wage of $109,990, CBRE said in itsScoring Tech Talent 2024report released Wednesday.

  8. he agent got the maximum allowed penalty for misconduct committed by an individua

    British Columbia's real estate regulator has suspended the licence of an agent for six months after he admitted to forging signatures on a land assembly deal in Richmond, B.C., nearly a decade ago.

    The B.C. Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) said Ramandeep Singh Kooner has also agreed to pay a $10,000 penalty and $5,000 in enforcement expenses based on a consent order proposed by the agent and accepted by the regulator in July. 

    "Licensees have a duty to act honestly, with reasonable care and skill and these actions undermine the integrity of the real estate industry and constitute wrongful or deceptive dealing," Raheel Humayun, BCFSA's director of investigations, said in an Aug. 30
    

  9. Tower development on 295 Terminal land to house 3 tower development

    A proposal has been submitted to build three towers next to a future SkyTrain station on the False Creek flats in East Vancouver.

    The development beside the Great Northern Way-Emily Carr station includes two 35-storey rental housing towers and a 20-storey office tower. There will also be retail and restaurant space and a daycare. The project will be 877,000 sq. ft.

    The rental towers include 548 rental units, with 20 per cent set aside for below market rentals. Thirty-five per cent of the overall units would be two or three bedrooms, 65 per cent will be studios and one bedrooms.

     

    The project is a partnership between PCI Developments and Chip Wilson’s Low Tide Properties. Ryan Bragg of Perkins & Will is the architect for the development, which is open for public input on the city’s Shape Your City web page.

     

  10. Everything you should do during an inspection.

    What is a home inspection?

    The Home Inspectors Association BC states that “A home inspection is a limited, non-invasive, visual examination of the current condition of a residential building… designed to report observed deficiencies within specific systems and components of a home. A home inspection provides a description of the condition of the home based on the... visible and apparent condition of the structure….”

    Sometimes, when we’re looking for a new home, we tend to get a superficial glance at all the beautiful aspects of it. Maybe the stunning maple tree out front caught your eye or the wood-burning fireplace gives you “let’s roast chestnuts at Christmas” kind of vibes.

    While a quick glance might make you feel warm and fuzzy, you won’t always get the full picture from the person selling the house, whether that’s the homeowner or the agent in charge of the property. That tree might be about to drop a branch on your 18-year-old roof and that fireplace might be less warm and cozy and more of a fire hazard.

    Buying a home is a massive investment and one of the biggest decisions a person can make in their lifetime. That’s why a proper home inspection is always recommended before you move in.