Vancouver Commercial Real Estate Podcast

Don't have the millions and millions of dollars needed to enter the self storage asset class in BC? Don't worry! This week, Adam and Cory welcome Nationwide Self Storage Trust co-founder and Chairman, Hugh Cartwright, whose company offers investment opportunities into their self storage developments for as little as $10,000. Our listeners have spoken and the boys have listened. After Partick Wood from WWC Victoria joined the guys for a previous episode, outlining the self storage asset class and how profitable the business model can be, VCREP was inundated with requests on how listeners can invest in the booming self storage industry. Fast forward a few months, Hugh Cartwright breaks down the investment opportunity and when the next Nationwide opportunity will be upon us. If you have always wanted to take part in self storage, but don't have $20 million in the bank, make sure you sit back and take notes!

They say hindsight is 20/20 and looking back over the past 20 years and seeing the amazing run up in value the Vancouver real estate market has had, it's fair to say we all wish we would have bought more. Some people would even say if you buy in now, you might have missed the boat...but don't worry! If this is you, we might have found the next Vancouver real estate market and it's only a short "boat" ride away. This week, Matt and Cory welcome Chard Development's President and CEO Byron Chard to talk about the booming Victoria real estate market. Byron discusses everything Victoria and some of the exciting projects Chard has in the pipeline and shares with us some of his thoughts on where the Victoria market is headed and some of the stats he shares might surprise you and sound familiar to Vancouverites. If you're looking for that next real estate market to invest in and want to get in before it's too late, you'll want to make sure to grab a pen and notepad and listen to this episode!

North America's best industrial market just keeps getting better and better as Strand looks to add 1,000,000 SQFT to Vancouver Island's industrial driving force Langford, BC. This week, Adam and Cory welcome Strand Development's President Mike Mackay to talk about everything Langford and the exciting projects in Strand's pipeline. With the recent acquisition of the former Langford Speedway, which encompasses over 80 acres of prime development land, the growth and excitement of the Greater Vancouver Island industrial market just keeps growing. A multi-phase project set to launch this year, Strand (in partnership with Bastion Developments) will add to one of North America's most desired industrial markets, further attracting local, national and international tenants to Vancouver Island. Investors alike have been buying up Victoria, Colwood, Esquimalt and Langford for the better part of the last three years, so don't miss your chance to hear about the future of one of the best marketplaces on the planet. 

Is there a real estate market, whether it be residential or commercial, that has attracted more hype during the pandemic than Kelowna? This week, Cory and Matt welcome Jeff Brown, Team Leader of William Wright Commercial's Kelowna office, to the show. They  discuss the readily growing Kelowna real estate market; what, if any, impact the BC wildfires have had on this booming city; and how does Kelowna top the recent growth heading into the fall season and beyond. Could you imagine tripling your investment in under 36 months? Jeff tells you what asset class in Kelowna has experienced this and what that asset class will do so in the future. Kelowna was recently named the 4th fastest growing city in Canada with a population growth of over 2% in 2020 but, can Kelowna maintain this pace into the later part of 2021 and into 2022?? If you're looking for an attractive commercial real estate investment that ticks all the boxes on the professional's investment checklist, then look no further than Kelowna. This is a must listen to episode for all commercial real estate investors!

Ever wish you could go back in time and buy as much Vancouver real estate as you could in 2003? It may not be too late....to buy into what could be BC's next real estate market set to boom: Kamloops. This week, Cory and Matt welcome Bryan Pilbeam, Vice President of Invictus Properties, to discuss everything Kamloops including Bryan's latest commercial project set to regenerate downtown Kamloops, The Hive. COVID19 has made working remotely the norm and has allowed both employers and employees to relook at where they call home and cities like Kamloops are right ready to boom. Learn what industries are thriving and what's next for one of BC's largest Okanagan towns. Plus, Bryan breaks down the difference between Kelowna and Kamloops and you would be surprised with how much they differ. Enjoy the first of a four-part mini series highlighting some of BC's best investment opportunities outside of the Lower Mainland.

Are you a successful business owner? Or maybe a business owner who has been able to provide a living for your family but hasn't yet  found financial freedom through your business? This week, Cory and Matt welcome Jon Switzer, an owner occupier financial specialist, who shows business owners how to unlock their revenues enabling them to become their own landlord and in some cases with as little as 0% down including closing costs. Most businesses in Canada are small businesses, 50 employees or less, and you would be surprised to hear how a lot of these businesses have the financial ability to buy their real estate vs leasing it. Jon highlights how banks view your business, the do's and don'ts when you're looking to purchase real estate for your business, and simple mistakes business owners make that could cost you an opportunity to become your own landlord. This is a must-listen episode for all business owners or those inspiring to be business owners one day!

Have you ever wondered how a property goes from an old house into a new multi level condo building? This week, Cory and Matt welcome Fabric Living CEO Jordan MacDonald who pulls back the sheets and explains the developing process in detail plus discusses some of his hugely successful East Vancouver projects. From the years of approval and planning that takes place to the "not so big" profit margins developers work off of, Jordan breaks down everything for our listeners giving everyone a first hand look at the development process in the City of Vancouver. If you have ever driven by a development site and wondered how it transformed from a couple of single family homes into the forthcoming condo building, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

Over the past year and a half, the world has seen many changes...but is the office space one of them? According to Drew Ratcliffe it is. This week, Cory welcomes Drew Ratcliffe of And Co, a new all-in-one, multi level, office community completed with a wellness studio, restaurant & event space. Drew shares his vision of what he feels the future of office space in Vancouver will look like while introducing his latest venture And Co. More than just another shared office space, Drew believes he will be able to offer potential tenants a world class experience. Whether you're a business looking for new space or you have outgrown your home office, this could be the episode you have been waiting for!

There is no question the hospitality sector has been hit the hardest by the COVID pandemic. One of Vancouver's most prominent restaurant CEOs joins Cory this week to discuss the challenges the industry has had to overcome to survive and what the future of the business looks like. The Glowbal Group operates 10 locations that are some of the premiere restaurants in the Greater Vancouver area; their CEO Emad Yacoub discusses how they survived losing more than $110,000 per day, managed a payroll of over 900 employees when the COVID shutdown hit, and what the Glowbal Group has in store for the future. The former Restaurateur of the Year provides his insight of what is next for the industry and what challenges still lie ahead while shedding some light on when he expects sales to get back to pre pandemic levels. This is a must-listen episode, as the hospitality sector is one of the largest employers in the province and the lifeblood of the downtown Vancouver scene!

Ever wonder about that 5' x 5' self storage unit that you rented for $110/month to store all that crap you never use? This week Cory and Adam welcome Pat Wood, formerly one of the, if not THE authority in self storage appraisals and consulting to discuss why this asset class has seen a huge run in the past couple of years. Pat breaks down what the self storage asset class is, why there seems to be so many popping up as of late, and what investment angles exist if you wanted to partake in the success of this booming industry. He sheds some light on the science behind the self storage business and why some locations work much better than others, plus what other types of business are now being paired up with self storage to offer a diversified investment option. Anyone want a cash wash before you drop off your items to your self storage unit?? After this episode, you will never look at that overpriced storage locker the same way ever again!