Vancouver Real Estate Podcast

Adam and Matt Scalena
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Aug 1, 2025 • 55min

VREP #479 | Weaponizing Housing Anxiety In Canada's Biggest Markets With Ben Myers

Ben Myers, President of Bullpen Research and Consulting, brings 25 years of housing analysis expertise to the table. In an enlightening discussion, he explores how social media is exploiting housing anxiety in major Canadian markets. The nuances of 'performative real estate' content are dissected, revealing how extreme narratives overshadow balanced insights. Myers also reflects on the challenges posed by rising interest rates and the necessity for a more nuanced understanding of the housing landscape. It's a compelling look at the intersection of media and market dynamics.
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Jul 25, 2025 • 1h 19min

VREP #478 | Building Into Crisis with Wesgroup’s Beau Jarvis

Beau Jarvis, President & CEO of Wesgroup Properties, is back for an exclusive, no-holds-barred conversation on the state of Vancouver real estate. As one of the largest private developers in Western Canada, Wesgroup has a front-row seat to the challenges—and opportunities—shaping our region. From the current state of the new construction market to the complex web of housing policy at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, Beau offers sharp insights into what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs to change. Where are the best opportunities for investors today? How can we reduce the cost of housing by 40% with the stroke of a pen? And what will it take to reinvigorate a market that’s been hit hard by interest rates, regulatory hurdles, and shifting consumer sentiment? Whether you’re a developer, investor, policymaker—or just trying to make sense of this ever-evolving market—you won’t want to miss this candid and informative chat. All that and more on this week’s episode of the Vancouver Real Estate Podcast.
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Jul 18, 2025 • 1h 8min

VREP #477 | COVID's Suburban And Ex-Urban Experiment Is Over With Emilie K. Adin

Was the pandemic suburban boom a permanent shift - or just a blip on the urban timeline? The outgoing President of the Planning Institute of British Columbia Emilie K. Adin sits down with Adam & Matt this week to explore this important question as well as the ways that Metro Vancouver's unique planning approach positions the region for whatever comes next. From the agricultural land reserve's formative impact on urban containment to the challenges of making growth pay for growth, this conversation examines Vancouver through both its glory and growing pains. What are the telltale signs that planners look for to know if a community is thriving? What essential ingredients transform a development into a bona fide neighborhood? And how will the rapid technological disruptions underway reshape the future of the region? A unique perspective on our unique city. Don't miss this one!
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Jul 11, 2025 • 1h 18min

VREP #476 | How SkyTrain Shopping Malls Became the Blueprint for Vancouver Urban Living with Darren Kwiatkowski

Darren Kwiatkowski, Executive VP at Shape Properties, shares his insights on transforming Vancouver's suburban shopping malls into vibrant mixed-use communities. He discusses the impact of SkyTrain connectivity on urban development and how projects like Brentwood and Lougheed Town Centre reshape local landscapes. Highlights include lessons from the 2008 financial crisis, strategies for investors to identify prime locations, and the importance of thinking long-term in real estate development. This engaging conversation offers a glimpse into the future of urban living in Metro Vancouver.
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Jul 4, 2025 • 1h 15min

VREP #475 | Vancouver Real Estate's 2025 Half Time Report with Clint Murphy

Clint Murphy, a partner at Frame Properties and expert in real estate development, dives deep into Vancouver's shifting real estate landscape. He discusses the dramatic changes since early 2025, including plummeting rental rates and stalled new construction projects. Murphy breaks down the impact of economic uncertainties and evolving buyer behaviors, while warning about future supply challenges. He also explores strategic adaptations by developers amidst market fluctuations, uncovering the intricate connections in Vancouver's housing market.
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Jun 27, 2025 • 1h 4min

VREP #474 | How a Family-First Investor Cracked RRSP Real Estate and Scaled a Multifamily Portfolio with Rodrigo Parada

Rodrigo Parada, a Montreal-based investor and founder of Triple Harbor Capital, specializes in multifamily real estate investments using registered retirement savings. He discusses how he transformed his family's RRSP into a multimillion-dollar portfolio, sharing insights on negotiating residential lending limits and building a mutual fund trust. Rodrigo delves into the difference between residential and commercial financing, and how a family-first mindset fueled his success. He offers practical strategies for Canadians looking to invest smarter in real estate.
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Jun 20, 2025 • 47min

VREP #473 | Cheaper Condos, Bigger Crisis: CMHC's Warning for Vancouver with Aled abIorwerth

Falling condo prices and declining rents might seem like good news forbuyers and renters today, but CMHC's Deputy Chief Economist warns this temporary relief issetting up an even worse housing crisis in the years to come. Aled ab Iorwerth sits down withAdam & Matt to reveal the alarming dynamics behind today's condo market in both Vancouverand Toronto, with project cancellations surging and the presale financing model under severestrain in both cities. As oversupply floods the market and individual investors flee, Canada'slargest metros face a critical question about their housing future. Will today's market stagnationdoom tomorrow's supply? Are we sacrificing long-term affordability for short-term relief? Andwith CMHC projecting Vancouver needs 7,200 additional homes annually over and abovecurrent construction levels, can the city actually ramp up production when developers areretreating? Don't miss this essential wake-up call about where Vancouver's housing market istruly headed.
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Jun 13, 2025 • 56min

VREP #472 | Vancouver Real Estate's Fight or Flight Moment with Tandem's Sunny Hahm

Sunny Hahm, founder of Tandem Strategies, shares valuable insights from the forefront of Vancouver's real estate market. He discusses the critical 'fight or flight' moment faced by buyers and developers, emphasizing the importance of clear messaging over expensive marketing. The conversation highlights successful townhome trends, shifting buyer psychology, and the necessity of reading sub-market signals. Sunny argues that hesitation may be more costly than action in today's uncertain landscape, making this discussion a must for industry players.
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Jun 6, 2025 • 1h 1min

VREP #471 | Four Decades of Market Wisdom with Polygon's President & CEO Neil Chrystal

After 38 years of building homes in Vancouver, Polygon President & CEO Neil Chrystal knows a thing or two about market cycles. Spoiler alert: he's finally seeing signs of recovery in a downturn he believes has been even more severe than the infamous leaky condo crisis of the late 1990s. Neil sits down with Adam & Matt this week to share battle-tested insights on navigating Vancouver's challenging housing market and reveal the reputation-building strategy that's helped Polygon weather every storm from the 80s to today.From the new GST relief for first-time buyers to why foreign buyer bans are backfiring, this conversation cuts through the doom and gloom to reveal where smart money is moving. Neil breaks down why townhomes are selling while towers sit empty, and explains why now might actually be a generational opportunity to buy.Is it always darkest before the dawn? Why have investors completely disappeared when they're usually bottom-fishing by now? And what's the one factor that makes any real estate investment a winner in Neil's eyes? Don't miss this veteran builder's take on surviving Vancouver's toughest housing market in 25 years.
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May 30, 2025 • 58min

VREP #470 | From Real Estate Outsider to Real Estate Insider with Howard Chai

Howard Chai, a staff writer at stories.com and a prominent voice in Vancouver real estate journalism, shares his journey from skeptical renter to industry insider. He discusses the shocking realities behind developer bankruptcies, the crushing impact of high-interest rates on builders, and how these issues reflect broader market concerns. Howard also explores the evolving conversation around real estate investors and the complex interplay of politics and policy in the housing crisis, offering listeners a compelling insider's perspective.

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