Canada's housing crisis demands better buildings — here are the changes that could improve apartment and condo life

May 25, 2023 14:31 pm UTC| Insights & Views Real Estate

As Canada grapples with an ongoing housing crisis, the need for more housing particularly in cities is becoming increasingly apparent. To effectively address this challenge, Canada needs to focus on constructing more...

Why rental properties are more likely to be mouldy and what's needed to stop people getting sick

May 16, 2023 13:13 pm UTC| Insights & Views Real Estate

Rental properties are more likely be mouldy than other homes. This is a concern as excessive mould growth is known to harm human health. Once buildings are infested with mould, the difficult and costly issue of...

We need a 'lemon law' to make all the homes we buy and rent more energy-efficient

Apr 27, 2023 08:17 am UTC| Insights & Views Real Estate

A long-awaited increase in energy-efficiency requirements for new homes is part of revised Australian construction standards taking effect on May 1. All new homes must achieve a minimum 7-star whole-of-home energy rating...

3 sales tactics rife in the real estate industry, and why they work

Apr 25, 2023 16:13 pm UTC| Economy Real Estate

Buying a home is likely to be the biggest financial transaction you will ever make, and youre at a distinct disadvantage. Youre an amateur up against professionals real estate agents versed in psychological tricks to get...

Cities must take immediate action against 'renovictions' to address housing crisis

Apr 23, 2023 12:37 pm UTC| Insights & Views Real Estate

Amid all the discussions about constructing new housing, existing affordable housing is being overlooked. A recent study found that 322,000 affordable homes were lost across Canada between 2011 and 2016 compared to the...

What made rents soar? It might have been COVID, and pairing off

Apr 11, 2023 11:21 am UTC| Economy Real Estate

So, you think you know why rents climbed. You probably think was skyrocketing interest rates and a tsunami of migration. Its true that interest rates have jumped more over the past year than at any time on record,...

Renters have stepped up efforts to address the housing crisis ⁠— it's time for property managers to do the same

Apr 05, 2023 13:46 pm UTC| Economy Real Estate

Three years ago, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I published an article on what it means to prioritize needs over wants in times of economic crisis. Maslows hierarchy of needs shows that the most fundamental...