BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax 2026: The Unsold Listing Trap
Is Your Unsold Listing Safe? The Truth About the BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax in 2026 If you currently have a vacant residential property listed for sale or for rent in British Columbia, you could be sitting on a massive financial time bomb. There is a widespread, incredibly dangerous myth in the BC real estate […]
Income-Based Tenancies: The New B.C. Regulatory Reality
Income-Based Tenancies: The New B.C. Regulatory Realit For years, B.C.’s rental market had a major legal loophole regarding income-based tenancies. Landlords could require a specific income level when a tenant moved into a below-market unit. However, they had almost no legal power to end the lease if that tenant’s income later spiked. On April 7, […]
Security Deposits in 2026: Why You Owe 0% Interest
Security Deposits in 2026: The “Interest-Free” Window Understanding the interest rules for security and pet deposits is critical for avoiding the dreaded “Double Deposit Penalty.” In British Columbia, landlords are legally required to pay interest on deposits they hold, and the amount is tied to annual rates set by regulation. For the 2026 calendar year, […]
Budget 2026: A Triple Threat to BC’s Real Estate Sector
As the owner of 88West Realty, a leading property management and sales firm in BC, I’m deeply concerned about the proposed Budget 2026 measures. These changes impose significant new pressures on our industry, threatening affordability and investment. Here’s why this is a critical issue from multiple angles: 1. Impact on Property Management: Eroding Thin Margins […]
Greater Vancouver Real Estate Market Update
Greater Vancouver Real Estate Market Update At 88WestRealty, we believe real estate statistics should do more than present numbers—they should tell a clear and meaningful story. Regularly, one of our experienced agents reviews current data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver to help buyers and sellers better understand market conditions and what to […]
Ban or Build? When Protection Backfires: How Canada’s Foreign Buyer Ban May Be Deepening the Housing Crisis!
By Shirin Saleh, Managing Broker | 88West Realty When I meet with developers, investors, and homeowners across Greater Vancouver, a single question keeps rising above the noise: Has Canada’s “foreign buyer ban” truly helped make homes more affordable? Or just slowed down the people building them? A Policy Driven by Frustration In 2023, Canada introduced the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by […]
Disconnected and Drained: How Iran’s Internet Blackout is Cutting Iranian Families in Canada Off from Lifelines – And a Path Forward
Imagine waking to a message from your aging parents in Tehran: “We can’t buy groceries. The card doesn’t work. No word from the bank.” Or staring at your phone, unable to wire the monthly support for your siblings. For Iranian Canadians, the Rial’s plunge was a financial earthquake; now, Iran’s near-total internet blackout since January […]