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.
Real Estate News
RioCan To Sell 50% Stake In 592-Unit 'FourFifty The Well' Rental Tower
RioCan REIT continues to sell its RioCan Living rental portfolio; sales have also been secured for Bellevue Phase One and Two in Montreal.
Development Projects
Cressey Advances Burquitlam Condo Tower And Rental Build After 2024, 2025 Fires
Cressey Development first submitted an application for 727 North Road in 2023. The existing rental building was made uninhabitable by a fire in 2024, and caught fire again in 2025.
Development Projects
StreetSide Proposing 35-Storey Condo Tower, 6-Storey Rental In Burquitlam
The 400-unit project is set for 602, 606, 610 Tyndall Street and 605, 611, 615 Claremont Street in Coquitlam, and consists of 339 strata units and 61 rental units.
Affordable Housing
Demand-Side Interventions Can Reduce Housing Affordability: CMHC
Governments have good intentions, but analysis shows demand-side interventions can actually make housing less affordable in the long-term.
Development Projects
Pinnacle Ups Lougheed Towers To 77 Storeys And 87 Storeys, Swaps Office For Hotel
The towers being proposed by Pinnacle International are set to be two of the tallest in British Columbia.
Real Estate News
How A Downsizing Slowdown Could Affect Young Homebuyers
Research conducted by REMAX has found that among those considering downsizing, 73% expressed concerns about their options. That could have a wide impact.
REITs & Institutions
KingSett Capital, Choice Properties REIT To Buy First Capital REIT In $9.4B Deal
KingSett Capital will be acquiring around $4.4 billion of First Capital REIT's assets, while Choice Properties REIT will be acquiring the remaining $5.0 billion in assets.
Renting
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.
Affordable Housing
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.
Development Projects
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.
Development Projects
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.
Real Estate News
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.
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