I currently live in delta BC but thinking of moving out of BC, cause of cost of living even thought I dont want to i love BC and Vancouver i was born and raised here, ive never been outside of BC as well but, is there any where else in Canada thats a little bit affordable i only work part time i know there is no such thing as cheap rent everything in here is expensive but I just trying to find a place decent with cost roof over my head is most important to me.

Hey everyone,

I'm a developer building custom CRMs, websites, and property scrapers for the real estate niche in Ukraine.

I'm looking to adapt my work for the Canadian market and want to understand local bottlenecks.

For those running teams, brokerages, or property management companies — what are the biggest technical or manual pain points in your workflow right now?

I just genuinely trying to understand what’s outdated in the local workflow so I know what’s actually worth solving. Appreciate any feedback!

Need advice if this is common issue and not major risk while taking a condo in Vancouver lower mainland BC Canada’Seller had recessed lighting added without obtaining a permit.’

Sorry if this is a very beginner question.

I’m planning to buy my first house around October 2027, looking mainly in the NS (HRM, Truro, or Greenwood areas).

For those who have gone through the process, where should I start?

• Should I get a mortgage pre-approval first?
• How do I find a good mortgage broker/realtor?
• How do I realistically analyze the total cost of owning a home (mortgage, property tax, insurance, maintenance, etc.)?
• When is an appraisal needed?
• Any other things a first-time buyer should know or prepare for?

I’d really appreciate any advice on what I should be doing now vs. closer to 2027.

Thanks!

You will own nothing and you will be happy, serfs. - Elected Politicians

We’re considering purchasing a front garage quick possession home from Bedrock Homes in Heartwood and would really appreciate feedback from anyone who has purchased from Bedrock recently, especially in Calgary/Heartwood.

We really like the house, layout, and community, but before moving forward I’d like to hear about the actual build quality and after-possession experience.

A few things I’m particularly curious about:

- Overall construction/build quality

- Foundation, framing, drywall and finishing quality

- Flooring, cabinets, countertops, doors, etc.

- Insulation, heating and soundproofing

- Any major deficiencies you discovered after possession

- How responsive Bedrock was during the walkthrough and warranty period

- Experience with their customer service/service technicians

- Anything you wish you had checked before buying

Since this is a quick possession home, a lot of the construction is already completed, so I’d also appreciate any recommendations on what we should inspect carefully before removing conditions/taking possession.

Would you buy from Bedrock again? Any good or bad experiences are welcome.

Thanks!

NEW FROM JUAN SUAREZ

Working Canadians squeezed by high rents, unstable employment, and inadequate public supports are increasingly turning to food banks. The growing crisis is fuelling calls for permanent EI reform.

Right now my family/friend anchor points are a Father and his side of the family in Montreal, a mother in REALLY rural Ontario (like 500 people and a truck stop sort of rural) and my best friend and their partner in the Port of Vancouver.

With the way things are going in Montreal I'm considering moving to some place a bit more affordable, but I don't think anywhere near Vancouver is going to be more affordable than Montreal, and living in the woods with no car probably isn't a great option either.

EDIT: Mostly looking for a place with decent public transit (no car currently, license expired over COVID), ideally not constantly at threat from climate change/forest fire, decent internet options and I am mostly a WFH person but I do like being able to go out and do some nerd stuff or enjoy local foods/events/movies.

Alright I sort of always assumed I was just permanently priced out of the housing market until some guy at my work told me he just got a house by himself while making the same as me. I get paid hourly and take home roughly 4300$ a month. I'm single and sort of tired of living in my 910$ / month basement bachelor apartment. I've been here for about 6 years now and starting to think of the future. I was looking online at a bunch of Condos, mainly the cheaper ones. In my area there are a few 1 bedroom Condos for around 250k. I got preapproved on the TD website when I asked about a condo that cost that much. But the condo fees are kind of scaring me off here. I looked at the monthly cost of like a small 350k, 3 bedroom house with a full backyard and it was only like a 200$ a month difference between the two. I'd honestly rather just buy the house but also not sure if I'd get approved for that big of a mortgage even though the monthly cost is fairly similar for myself. I definitely don't want to stretch myself too thin to the point where I'm pinching pennies. I have roughly 50k in savings but 10k of that is physical metals and another 19k is in a TFSA that I don't really want to touch.

Throughout the housing crisis Canadians have been given a list to blame: foreign buyers, home flippers, construction costs, immigrants, short term rental owners and now developers while less attention has been given to fees, delays, restrictive zoning rules, high risk to home builders and large costs to build in the first place. Canada faces one of the largest fees and taxation before a home is built in the developed world. These large costs can amount to 40% of the home value; on a $550,000 condo, $220,000 amounts to government fees such as developer fees, delays, taxes, levies and financing costs while $330,000 to cover land, construction, labor and materials. In many areas costs have reached a point where projects are no longer financially viable.

Nearly three out of four Canadians live in the areas where housing has become an issue. Not all cities face the same housing problems but the ones that do, become greatly dependent on these revenues and have grown their budgets around them. Existing owners get subsidized at the expense of new owners, or when the federal government reimburses cities for reducing development charges at the expense of all taxpayers. Home prices remain high and property taxes low. $8.8B Canada and Ontario Open Applications for New Development Charge Reduction Program - Canada.ca, Carney and Eby step in with $3.2B home development subsidy, $1.45B The Vancouver condo bailout props up a failed housing model, these programs suggest that the government is beginning to recognize the problem however it only subsidizes the problem.

These fees are a fixed cost. If home prices fall, developer fees and delays stay the same eventually leading to a point where developers make little to no money for the level of risk they are taking, it becomes more expensive to build than what the market is willing to pay, further reducing home starts. If building homes remained profitable and the risk justified, more would be built, not less.

What are developer charges and what are they used for?

They are used for growth related infrastructure "growth to pay for growth" such as roads, sewage, parks and transit and not for the construction of the project itself, paid by new home buyers rather than existing homeowners. In most countries these fees are much lower, often $10,000 and approvals of only a few months. For example in Toronto, developer fees were at $13,000 in 2013 for a 2-bedroom condo, increasing by 600% to $80,000 to its current levels or $140,000 for a single or detached home.

How are the city's projects and upgrades normally funded?

Funded over many years and across the tax base through property taxes, usage fees, loans, or other sources of income.

The domino effect:

-Developer fees are paid upfront. The developer takes out loans and the interest they accrue increases costs

-Delays increase carrying costs, interest continues to accrue each month the project is delayed

-Developers may build 100 units instead of 150 due to higher carrying costs and less available capital

-Risk is increased, housing starts decline and there is a "lost opportunity cost" where investment may be directed elsewhere

-Banks respond with less favorable financing conditions and higher equity requirements for developers due to the riskier environment

-Supply shortages and higher home prices cause increased rents

-As population grows, city costs increase faster than the property tax revenue due to fewer homes providing property taxes. Ironically, the tax revenue lost from housing that was never built may exceed development fees collected in the first place

-Higher rents make it longer to save for a down payment, many buyers purchase for less than 20%, adding $10-15,000 in CMHC costs

-If a homeowner absorbs additional $150,000 costs towards the mortgage, over 25 years they will pay roughly another $150,000 in interest over the life of the mortgage

-Commercial rents are higher, goods and services prices increase, people have less money to spend in the economy as the mortgage consumes more of their income

Placing a dollar figure for a 2-bed condo in Toronto (BC with a similar structure)

- $80,000 in development charges before construction begins ($140,000 for a family home)

-CMHC states that 36% of the home cost are due to fees and delays and up to 40% in many places of BC, every dollar in development fees also increases home prices by around $1.50 of all homes due to the economic effect.

- $15,000 in interest per unit as the developer finances the development charges

- Extra delays add another $50,000 cost per unit (Toronto has an average of 23 months of delays for permits, some running up to 30 months, while in 2013 they were around 10 months)

- Developer pays interest charges, property tax, salaries while waiting for permits to push through

- Fewer home starts reducing supply, increasing all home prices

- Many homeowners may not reach the 20% down payment so CMHC fees can be an additional $15,000
- The homeowner now absorbs all these costs into the mortgage paying interest of $150,000 over the course of a standard 25 year mortgage (Assuming current rates and a 25 year mortgage)

What can be done?

-Increasing awareness of the costs of development

-Add pressure to the city and provincial governments, join groups or support groups already fighting it

-These decisions are made at a municipal level, the ones showing up to the ballot box are usually the ones isolated from the housing crisis and to their benefit having lower property taxes and higher home prices. Cities need to rely on other sources of income rather than developer charges, vote city councilors who understand this issue and are willing to reduce these costs and delays

-Reducing delays drastically so there is less risk to developers reducing prices overall for all homes, more competition and a driver for lowering home prices

How long can it take to lower home prices?

Unfortunately, many economists believe that fees need to be decreased but only gradually, down to 2013 levels. Home prices could remain high for 5-10 years or longer until delays and fees are reduced to a more manageable state.

Details of the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build | Ontario Newsroom

Cost of Site Plan Delays A Report for the Ontario Association of Architects

Growing Pains: Rethinking Development Charges in Canadian Municipalities – C.D. Howe Institute

Improving housing affordability: OECD Economic Surveys: Canada 2025 | OECD

I’m a 68 year old woman who has a decent income and I’m looking for a nice apartment or townhouse in a very safe and quiet area at an affordable rent. I have a small, clean, quiet dog (she’s 16), and there must be ensuite laundry and air conditioning. I cannot deal with a huge amount of stairs because I have to carry my dog in and out. I would preferably like to be about $1700./mo.

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to buy a new-build townhouse in Calgary, with an expected move-in/possession date around summer 2027. This would be my first time buying a home in Canada, so I'm trying to understand the risks before I commit.

One thing I'm particularly concerned about is job security between signing the purchase agreement and getting the final mortgage approval.

For example, let's say:

• I sign the purchase agreement in 2026.
• I pay the required deposits to the builder.
• The townhouse is expected to be ready in summer 2027.
• I get pre-approved for a mortgage based on my current income.
• Then, a few months before possession, I unexpectedly lose my job.

What happens in that situation?

My understanding is that a mortgage pre-approval isn't necessarily a guarantee, and the lender may verify employment/income again before the mortgage is finalized. If I'm unemployed at that point and no longer qualify, am I still legally obligated to complete the purchase?

Specifically, I'm wondering:

1. Can the builder cancel the purchase if I can't obtain financing?
2. Could I lose my deposits?
3. Could I be responsible for additional losses or damages?
4. Are financing conditions normally included in Calgary new-build contracts, or do builders generally require you to proceed regardless?
5. Is there any type of mortgage protection/insurance that would help in this situation?
6. How much emergency savings would you personally want to keep aside before committing to a pre-construction townhouse?
7. Are there any other "gotchas" that first-time buyers should know about when buying a new-build townhouse in Calgary?

I'm planning to have a real-estate lawyer review the purchase agreement before signing, but I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have actually gone through the process.

Thanks in advance for helping this home-buying newbie.

As the cost of everything increases, and wages stay stagnant, people are increasingly becoming less able to simply live, and work, and eat, and have shelter… To survive.

If employers aren’t willing to compensate workers fairly given the current conditions, then something has to give. If a full time employee makes 30$+ /hr can barely afford a one bedroom apartment, let alone getting into a mortgage, that’s a serious problem.

So if employers won’t increase wages, then property owners who rent to people who can’t afford to buy, need to take a bath.

It’s a battle of the ownership class, will property owners who rent to whoever demand increased pay for workers, so they can charge more for their rental unit…

Or, will employers tell property owners to go fuck themselves, and not increase wages so no one can afford to even rent, let alone buy.

It feels like a race to the bottom.

The only solution that seems sustainable, is rent geared to income. If the employer only pays you so much a month, 30% of that amount is what you can pay your landlord.

Point final.

I would like to start a respectful healthy debate amongst the community, curious as to what the Reddit hive mind thinks…

Hello everyone, Im a first time buyer with a question or two about home viewings. Im just wondering what sort of things should I be bringing with me and what are some essential questions I should be asking the realtor?

Stuff like home inspection and septic inspections? would these things already done by the home owner/realtor for a potential buyer to view? I feel maybe im overthinking whats probably the most straight-forward part of the whole process but that is why I wanted to make sure and ask people who have already gone through the steps. Thank you

Been advocating for this for years. Austria is an excellent example of how co-op housing works and thrives.