Vancouver Real Estate Podcast

If this podcast was a movie, Mark Ting would be played by Jason Statham. Granted, a version of Statham that could spot real estate opportunities, crunch numbers under pressure, fill spreadsheets, and offer top-notch investment advice. Come to think of it, Mark looks nothing like Statham, but he's still a fearless male lead in this box office draw, complete with 3 Star Generals, prison time, shady money launderers, and all against the backdrop of a lifetime opportunity! This week we finally cover one of the most story-worthy real estate deals we've ever had on the show. What makes a good investment? How much risk is too much risk? And at what point do you accept defeat? Trust us: this is no holiday in Cambodia! Yippee-ki-yay, muh friends!

Anne McMullin is President & CEO of Urban Development Institute (Pacific Region), a national non-profit association representing thousands of professionals throughout all facets of land development and planning. Robert Macdonald is one of the biggest developers Vancouver has ever produced and is now turning his business interests away from a city and province characterized by red tape, anti-business sentiment and exceedingly high building costs. Adam & Matt took 45 minutes to find UDI HQ and Adam took another 15 minutes to parallel park. Level up!

Vancouver is changing dramatically and so is the way we work, play & live in the city. And who better to advise on the most exciting future transformations than the owners of MGBA Architecture + Interior Design. These guys cut their teeth in ultra hip hot spots like Mount Pleasant and Railtown and now Principals PJ Mallen & Chris Gowing sit down with Adam & Matt to discuss how zoning changes in industrial, tech, and hospitality spaces relate to investing in residential real estate. How do firms like MGBA reinvigorate neighborhoods? Which areas are going to be great investments? And what can the world’s oldest profession tell us about changing land values? Huzzah! Turn it up!

The game has changed and sales volume is at its lowest in 30+ years. Potential buyers demand tomorrow’s predicted price drops while wannabe sellers are largely stuck in the past. And you must sell. You have two choices: you can hire the cheerleader or the coach. One will pump you up and cheer you on for the inevitably long and painful ride. The other will study the game, come up with creative strategies, and take you to victory. This week it’s just Adam & Matt as they continue their two-part series on how to prepare and price your home for sale in a falling market. Okay, huddle up, and together on three: Think like a buyer, set yourself apart from the pack, and get your home sold fast and for top dollar!

Having trouble selling your home? You are definitely not alone in Vancouver’s cooling housing market but that does not mean you should just sit back on your hands. Adam & Matt sit down this week to discuss the growing problem of stagnant listings and outline seven pro-tips that will re-invigorate any property type sitting on the market. There are ways to course correct and it is not too late. Adam & Matt have you covered!

Which market has outperformed Vancouver by over 30% in the past five years and still has massive potential for an upswing? We'll give you a hint: there's a $3.5 billion dollar ski hill proposed with chairs to be running by 2025. Still don't know? It's a bedroom community 45 mins from Vancouver with a scenic commute that rivals the Pacific Coast Highway? Still not sure? You may need this episode more than anyone. Squamish Municipal Councillor, John French, sits down with Adam and Matt to discuss all things Squamish, from detailing what makes Squamish an incredible place to live to outlining all the exciting things to come. Oh, and the rents are not bad either! Head west young man/woman! North-West!

What is stopping you? This is THE question for so many of us and one that plagued Rick Hoogendoorn for years. Whether it was his uncompleted manuscript, “The Bachelors Guide to Success,” or his movie scripts, “Divine Wind” & “Eternal Magic,” Rick would fizzle before the finish. And this carried through to his real estate goals as well. This predicament led Rick to look inward and some would say the results of his deep meditation were almost as epic as “Divine Wind”! He now has built and holds multiple apartment complexes in Victoria, has a thriving development company and real estate business, and writes books on the regular. Oh, and he also does a mean Al Pacino! Hoowaa!

The 2019 Federal Budget was just released and who better than fan favorite and newly appointed President of Mortgage Architects, Dustan Woodhouse, to unpack exactly what it means for you as a homeowner and a homebuyer. Hint: he does not pull punches! Dustan also gives his thoughts on the current state of the Metro Vancouver real estate market, whether 2019 is the right time to buy, as well as advice for those considering fixed or variable rate mortgages at this somewhat unique moment in our market’s history. In Dustan’s words: level up!

Professor Tom Davidoff is back! For new listeners, Tom wears many hats - the architect of the Speculation Tax, a leading go-to real estate economist, an Associate Professor at Sauder, the Director at UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate, and a VREP fan favorite, to name a few. And to Vancouverites, depending on your politics, he could be a villain or a hero. But for our more seasoned listener, Tom is an unfiltered voice on the market, a check-in point, and someone who is never afraid to share his predictions or his concerns. This week is no different. How's the market? What has caused the slowdown? Which policies, if any, got it right and what will be the repercussions? Will we see prices continue to drop? These are just some of the questions that drive our conversation. This one is not to be missed!

Real estate takes visionaries: people who can look at 130 acres of industrial land on the bank of the Fraser River and envision a community with 15,000+ residents, a town centre with over 250,000 square feet of retail space, 25 acres of green space, and 1.5 kilometers of bike and hiking paths. This type of large-scale community – Southeast Vancouver’s River District – does not just appear over night but rather takes decades of careful planning, major infrastructure, and negotiations with multiple stakeholders over time. And perhaps more surprising than the daily building challenges is what the process tells us about ourselves - as consumers, as urban dwellers, and as a city and culture in constant flux. Wesgroup’s VP of Development Brad Jones sits down with Adam and Matt to discuss the half way point of this 40-year endeavor, a career-defining labour of love, and the intricacies that go into planning a community so many will call home.