Howard Chai

Howard is a freelance real estate reporter based in Vancouver who covers the development industry, housing policy, and commercial real estate. He was previously Western lead at STOREYS, where his work was nominated for a Jack Webster award. He is also a contributor at Western Investor, RENX, The Tyee, and The Globe and Mail, as well as Founder of The Realist.

Howard Chai

Vancouver Seeks To Fast-Track Low-Rise Rentals And Hotels With New Zoning District

According to a map provided by staff, most of the parcels to be rezoned are located in east Vancouver, and specifically along Main Street, Fraser Street, Victoria Drive, and Kingsway, although there are some within the Broadway Corridor as well.

Vancouver Eases Affordability Requirements For 9 Rental Projects Under New Development Relief Program

The City of Vancouver approved the Rental Development Relief Program in December to help improve the viability of projects with below-market rental units.

Surrey And TransLink Unveil 41-Acre Newton Centre Master Development Plan

The Surrey City Development Corporation (SCDC) and TransLink are planning between 2.2 million and 3.6 million sq. ft of development, depending on market conditions.

Maskeen Faces Receivership On Multi-Phase Surrey Project, 39-Storey Langley Tower

MCAP Financial is the lender on the Victory project in Surrey, and National Bank on the unnamed 39-storey Langley project.

Metro Vancouver Regional District To Invest $150M Towards Expanding Housing Portfolio

The Metro Vancouver Regional District currently has a portfolio of 3,400 units, and is looking to add 2,000 more across the next 10 years.

Ross McCredie On: Douglas Elliman Canada, Sutton Group, And The Luxury Market

After growing Sotheby's International Realty Canada, Ross McCredie took over Sutton Group, and will now be bringing Douglas Elliman to Canada.

OREA Pushes For Development Charge Reform, Makes Several Recommendations

The Ontario Real Estate Association called development charges "one of the most direct levers available to reduce costs and accelerate construction" of new housing.

How Lenders See Canada's 2026 Commercial Real Estate Market

For the first time in a decade, Vancouver is now the top market in terms of lender sentiment. The sentiment around office is also rebounding.

Construction Costs Stabilized In 2025, Expected To Align With Inflation In 2026

For 2026, BTY Group is projecting real GDP growth of 1.5% (after growing 1.7% in 2025), an unemployment rate of 6.9%, and 250,000 housing starts, but emphasizes that there continues to be a “high degree of uncertainty around economic relationships with the United States.”

Chartwell To Sell Waterloo Asset To Resolve Competition Bureau Concerns

Last year, Chartwell announced that it was acquiring six properties in Ontario from Sifton Properties, prompting the Competition Bureau review.

New $1.3B Fund Launched To Buy Unsold GTA Condos, Convert To Rental

The "GTA Rental and Affordable Housing Initiative" is a partnership between High Art Capital and the Building Ontario Fund.

Manulife Sells Downtown Ottawa's EDC HQ To Regional Group For $143.5M

Regional Group announced their acquisition of 150 Slater Street — a landmark office building near Parliament Hill — in late-February, but did not disclose the price.

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Howard Chai

According to a map provided by staff, most of the parcels to be rezoned are located in east Vancouver, and specifically along Main Street, Fraser Street, Victoria Drive, and Kingsway, although there are some within the Broadway Corridor as well.

​The City of Vancouver approved the Rental Development Relief Program in December to help improve the viability of projects with below-market rental units.

The Surrey City Development Corporation (SCDC) and TransLink are planning between 2.2 million and 3.6 million sq. ft of development, depending on market conditions.

MCAP Financial is the lender on the Victory project in Surrey, and National Bank on the unnamed 39-storey Langley project.

​The Metro Vancouver Regional District currently has a portfolio of 3,400 units, and is looking to add 2,000 more across the next 10 years.

After growing Sotheby's International Realty Canada, Ross McCredie took over Sutton Group, and will now be bringing Douglas Elliman to Canada.

​The Ontario Real Estate Association called development charges "one of the most direct levers available to reduce costs and accelerate construction" of new housing.

For the first time in a decade, Vancouver is now the top market in terms of lender sentiment. The sentiment around office is also rebounding.

For 2026, BTY Group is projecting real GDP growth of 1.5% (after growing 1.7% in 2025), an unemployment rate of 6.9%, and 250,000 housing starts, but emphasizes that there continues to be a “high degree of uncertainty around economic relationships with the United States.”

Last year, Chartwell announced that it was acquiring six properties in Ontario from Sifton Properties, prompting the Competition Bureau review.

​The "GTA Rental and Affordable Housing Initiative" is a partnership between High Art Capital and the Building Ontario Fund.

Regional Group announced their acquisition of 150 Slater Street — a landmark office building near Parliament Hill — in late-February, but did not disclose the price.

All rights reserved SiteMedia © 2026.

The City of Vancouver approved the Rental Development Relief Program in December to help improve the viability of projects with below-market rental units.

The Metro Vancouver Regional District currently has a portfolio of 3,400 units, and is looking to add 2,000 more across the next 10 years.

The Ontario Real Estate Association called development charges "one of the most direct levers available to reduce costs and accelerate construction" of new housing.

The "GTA Rental and Affordable Housing Initiative" is a partnership between High Art Capital and the Building Ontario Fund.