Long approval timelines, inefficient construction methods, marketing costs all contribute to high cost of housing

By Bob Ransford, Special to The Vancouver Sun April 28, 2012

Much of the effort that is being expended to try to conquer the housing affordability challenge in Metro Vancouver is focused on assisting buyers or renters in one way or another, or on providing more subsidized housing in different forms. Mean-while, not enough effort is focused on lowering costs of traditional market...

They include an enormous 28-hectare destination shopping centre adjacent to the River Rock Casino

Richmond's population is expected to increase 40 per cent within the next 30 years as an almost unprecedented wave of developments are slated for the city, including an enormous 28-hectare destination shopping centre adjacent to the River Rock Casino, Mayor Malcolm Brodie announced Tuesday.

Details of the development were sparse, but Brodie said Jingon International Development Group's vision...

Mayor makes case for rapid transit expansion in city

The Canada Line is proving to be a boon to Richmond, with a $4-billion-dollar development bonanza riding the rapid transit corridor through its city centre.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie delivered a strong argument in favour of rapid transit at a gathering of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce this week, showing dozens of developments under construction or in the planning stage around the four current Canada Line stations.

“That $4-billion...

The cost of two-storey homes and detached bungalows in Vancouver has risen considerably over the past year, but prices of standard condominiums remained flat, according to a RoyalLePage survey.

Standard two-storey homes rose in price 9.1% to $1,182,250 in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same quarter a year ago. Detached bungalows posted a similar 9% jump to $1,068,500 during the same period.

Standard condominiums, however, rose a modest 0.5% year-over-year to $510,000 in...

Ever wonder what happens when a condo building reaches the end of its life or when maintenance costs become too much to afford?  That’s what’s happening now in North Van and it will be an interesting study of end-of-life procedure for strata owners.

VANCOUVER— From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

The complicated fight over Cypress Gardens in North Vancouver is like a bad divorce, but with 135 spouses scrapping.

In what could be a glimpse of the future for the province’s thousands of condo...