Vancouver Real Estate Podcast

Austin Yeh is 25 years old and has 20 rental properties. Yes, you read that correctly. And get this: he still lives at home and his first property was purchased only two years ago! In this week’s action-inspiring episode, Adam & Matt sit down with Austin to unpack his investing philosophy, discuss market opportunities and buying strategies, and offer a step-by-step guide to how you, too, can find financial freedom through real estate. Get out your notepad and start taking action. This episode will motivate you!

The majority of people in the 1920s thought cars were a passing fad. So perhaps it's surprising that today we think cars will be here forever. They will not and what replaces them will have a huge impact on where you want to live and where you should invest. Transportation Expert, Carlton Reid, joins Adam & Matt to talk about the pending revolution and what that means for urban mobility and cities like Vancouver. What replaces the car? How will cities change? And how should this impact your investment decisions? The pace and scope of this revolution might surprise you... and it may even be televised depending if TV's are still a thing. TBD. 

Institutional money has pivoted during Covid-19, but is it towards or away from Vancouver real estate? Wendy Waters, Vice President, Research Services & Strategy at GWL Realty Advisors (with $15 billion under management in Canada!), joins Adam & Matt to talk pandemic strategy with hard numbers and deep expertise. Tune in for a candid ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at how a top multidisciplinary researcher & real estate investment strategist analyzes Canadian markets and asset classes for high performing pension funds and institutional clients. And, find out where and what GWLRA is buying during these uncertain times and why. The answers might surprise you... and help grow your portfolio.

What is happening in the Vancouver real estate market? Covid-19 cases are rising, the NDP just won a majority in BC, the US Election is around the corner... and everyone is nervously awaiting to see what Justin Trudeau dresses up as for Halloween. Professor Tom Davidoff, Associate Professor and Director of the UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate at Sauder School of Business, joins Adam & Matt to cover all things Vancouver real estate. Does the current market make sense? What new buying trends are here to stay? How will municipal, provincial, federal and politics beyond impact our market? And what is Tom's prediction for the Vancouver real estate market for the last quarter of 2020, 2021, and the foreseeable future. This is an info-packed episode that is a must listen for any real estate enthusiast. Grab a handful of snack-sized chocolate bars and listen up! 

Did you know much of Vancouver used to be swamp land? Perhaps that accounts for a couple of things: first, our city's brutal rat problem which rivals New York City on a per capita basis and, second, the uneven streets, sidewalks and even homes that form part of our neighbourhoods. This week, expert builder and co-owner of JDL Homes Vancouver, Jeff Langford joins Adam and Matt to cover all things Vancouver peat bog. And sinking foundations, crowned sidewalks, and shifting rooflines may be the least of your worries if you do not listen up! What do buyers need to know about potentially purchasing on the peat bog? Are there steps existing homeowners can take to mitigate risk? And how - and at what cost - can you build your dream home in one of Vancouver's best neighborhoods that doubles as a wetland? Stay dry out there folks!

Does the global pandemic signal the death knell for global cities like Vancouver? The short answer is that may be the wrong question. The CEO of Remix, Tiffany Chu, sits down with Adam & Matt to discuss why the death of the city has been greatly exaggerated and instead outlines a decidedly positive take on the impact of Covid-19: the rise of the neighborhood centre. The re-focus on neighborhoods, with "slow streets," "streateries," and bike and pedestrian networks has supercharged the somewhat stalled desire for change among planners looking to make urban spaces more livable and resilient. The future is here if you know how to look! 

We’re so sick of post-covid terms like ‘new normal’, mostly because our current pandemic living no longer feels new or, for that matter, normal. So, is it surprising then that buyers seem to be making long term, major financial and lifestyle decisions based on the past six months alone? Maybe not. Today, Adam & Matt discuss current buying trends that seem to be here to stay - for at least the foreseeable future. Then, Emily Hamilton, Director of the Urbanity Project at Mercatus Center at George Mason University, joins us to cover the pain points that accompany blanket rezoning and how to troubleshoot density issues in major metropolitan cities. Increasing density in cities? Now that’s a ‘new normal’ we can get used to! Zone it up!

Back in May of this year, CMHC surprised many by predicting home prices would fall 9-18% and warned that Canadians were teetering on a debt-deferral cliff. Since then, amidst uncertainty, we have seen quite the opposite: home prices are up and debt-deferral, for many analysts, appears to be less of a concern. But despite the surprising activity in the housing market, President and CEO of CMHC, Evan Siddall, continues to sound the alarm, doubling down, even as many other risk managers appear to disagree. Today’s guest, David Larock, joins Adam & Matt to discuss why Siddall and CMHC seem to be taking such a strong stance against the analysis of other mortgage insurers, many in the real estate industry, and the personal assessments of many home buyers since Covid-19. Is Siddall’s ‘father knows best’ stance justified? Are there other factors potentially at play for Siddall? And should the President & CEO of a Crown Corporation be engaging in late night Twitter wars and calling out an entire industry? We know Evan Siddall may be mad as hell, but it is David Larock who is not taking it anymore on today’s episode! Now off to delete our Twitter account!

We hope this interview inspires you; it definitely inspired us. On this episode, Jason Turcotte, VP of Development at Cressey, and Craig Stanghetta, Principal and Founder of Ste. Marie and celebrated restauranteur, join Adam & Matt to unpack the market, the up-and-coming areas, and Cressey’s latest and entirely unique offering: “Format.” For several years, Jason and Craig have worked continuously on an innovative housing concept inspired by East Vancouver - a blank slate floor plan that buyers can actually control! Their “kit of parts” idea enables purchasers to pick and choose the functions of their home. In short, what works for you, the homeowner? And... who better than Craig Stanghetta, the man behind Vancouver’s trendiest restaurants (Pepino’s & Savio Volpe) to help guide you there! You always thought you were good at design. Now you will be (with Craig’s help).

In this VREP ‘exclusive’ episode, Adam & Matt sit down with developer, Derek DiMartile, & Project Marketer, Ehsan Sharenejad (Propel Project Marketing Group), to talk about their exciting new 6-storey, 81-unit project Popolo! Located steps from Commercial Drive & the Commercial-Broadway Skytrain Station, Popolo is one of the first new developments after the Grandview-Woodland Official Community Plan. Derek & Ehsan talk the future of ‘The Drive,’ the best opportunities in Vancouver & why Covid could potentially lead to even higher property prices in our region and beyond. You heard it here first & the VREP community is first in line. Get in touch if you want the earliest access to this project. From two good Popolo to a community full of good Popolo!