VREP #479 | Weaponizing Housing Anxiety In Canada's Biggest Markets With Ben Myers

With a tsunami of mortgage renewals hitting this fall and wild swings in rate predictions, borrowers are scrambling to navigate unprecedented volatility in the mortgage market. Mortgage broker Kyle Green sits down with Adam & Matt this week to decode the chaos as his team sees a 50% spike in inquiries while Bank of Canada rate cut odds swing from 15% to 90% in a single week. From the Trump tariff impact that flipped variable versus fixed strategies to banks pushing aggressive year-end specials before October deadlines, this conversation cuts through the noise to reveal what actually drives your mortgage rate and when timing might save you serious money. Will September finally bring the rate relief borrowers are banking on? What's behind the disconnect between falling rates and flat market activity? And when the spread between three-year and five-year terms is only 20 basis points, how do you calculate which option actually saves you money over time? Don't miss this essential fall mortgage guide!   

Fall 2025 represents a critical inflection point for Vancouver real estate after a brutal first half of the year marked by tariff uncertainty and sluggish sales. This week, British Columbia Real Estate Association Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson sits down with Adam & Matt to unpack whether now is the time we climb out of what he calls "the pit of despair" to return to normal activity levels. From analyzing why Metro Vancouver lags behind rebounding markets like Toronto to exploring the complex relationship between potential Bank of Canada rate cuts and sticky bond yields, this conversation examines the forces shaping the critical fall selling season. What role will the 20,000 units of total inventory play in shaping prices over the coming months? Why isn't fading economic uncertainty translating to increased sales volumes like in other regions around the country? And will September rate cuts provide the stimulus needed or is Vancouver's recovery getting pushed into 2026? Don't miss this essential market outlook for fall 2025!

As summer winds down and inventory has crested, the Scalena brothers believe the second half of 2025 could provide an historic buying opportunity in Vancouver. Adam and Matt sit down this week to share 8 strategic buyer tips for capitalizing on current market conditions this fall. From using market history to identify undervalued areas to targeting stale listings and poorly marketed properties, this tactical episode cuts through the noise with actionable strategies. The brothers discuss leveraging new construction standing inventory, negotiating on multiple points beyond price, and how using hot market strategies in soft markets can save buyers substantial money. Will the post-Labour Day market bring the activity shift everyone's anticipating? How can buyers find and capitalize on seller motivation? And why should you learn to love properties with no photos? Don't miss this strategy-packed episode for fall 2025 buyers!

While Vancouver basks in August sunshine, its housing market remains stuck in a long December that developers fear may never end. (And yes, the Counting Crows at the PNE were fantastic.) This week, Townline President Daryl Simpson sits down with Adam & Matt to take stock of this moment & dissect whether Vancouver faces a further reckoning or an early recovery after years of policy whiplash and investor exodus. From government extractions to the collapse of mom-and-pop investing, Daryl argues this downturn feels more challenging than anything in his three-decade career. And yet he sees hope in the new federal leadership and institutional capital eyeing Vancouver as Toronto continues to struggle. What will it take to rebuild investor confidence in Vancouver? Should mom & pop investors be following the lead of institutional capital? And just how long do major development players think we will be riddled with record-high levels of supply? Don't miss this unflinching look at Vancouver's moment of truth. 

Ever wonder why some Vancouver properties sit on the market while similar homes sell quickly? Adam & Matt dive into the latest research revealing the eight critical mistakes that are silently killing real estate deals across Metro Vancouver before buyers even consider making offers. From the surprising factor that trumps price and location in buyer decision-making to how many listings oversell on marketing and then underdeliver, this conversation uncovers which deal-killing mistakes you can fix as a seller and what to avoid as a buyer looking for a smooth exit in the future. Which of these eight factors can you control to maximize your sale price? How can savvy buyers spot these red flags and use them to negotiate better deals or avoid costly mistakes? And what's the real psychology behind why buyers reject properties within seconds of arrival? Don't miss these critical insights that could save or cost you thousands in your next Vancouver real estate transaction.

What happens when you pause to reflect on months of real estate conversations? Adam & Matt sit down to dissect six compelling ideas that emerged from their most recent podcast episodes. From the development industry’s organizational challenges to the power of social media narratives in real estate, the brothers connect insights across conversations, revealing systemic issues that shape Vancouver’s housing market. The conversation explores why today’s market downturn rivals the leaky condo crisis, how performative content distorts market perception, and why the pre-sale model deserves more credit than it gets. What lessons can the housing industry learn from how doctors organized against “quacks” a century ago? Why do negative real estate takes consistently outperform balanced analysis on social media and why is that a problem? And what makes certain SkyTrain stations the equivalent of waterfront property in today’s market? It’s a deep dive on some of the most interesting and unique takes over the last months. Listen up!

From fear-mongering content creators to social media experts peddling doom, Canada's housing market has become an anxiety-fueled echo chamber where clicks matter more than facts. Housing analyst Ben Myers sits down with Adam & Matt to dissect how social media has weaponized housing anxiety across Vancouver and Toronto, creating a toxic cycle where fear drives engagement and nuance gets drowned out by extremes. The conversation cuts deep into the psychology behind "performative real estate" content and how perma-bears profit from keeping Canadians angry and afraid. What makes "performative real estate" content so addictive to stressed Canadians? Why has being a real estate "doomer" become more popular than being accurate? And in a world where being negative sounds more honest than being balanced, how can buyers cut through the noise to make smart decisions? Don't miss this eye-opening conversation about the intersection of housing, media, and human psychology.

Beau Jarvis, President & CEO of Wesgroup Properties, is back for an exclusive, no-holds-barred conversation on the state of Vancouver real estate. As one of the largest private developers in Western Canada, Wesgroup has a front-row seat to the challenges—and opportunities—shaping our region. From the current state of the new construction market to the complex web of housing policy at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, Beau offers sharp insights into what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs to change. Where are the best opportunities for investors today? How can we reduce the cost of housing by 40% with the stroke of a pen? And what will it take to reinvigorate a market that’s been hit hard by interest rates, regulatory hurdles, and shifting consumer sentiment? Whether you’re a developer, investor, policymaker—or just trying to make sense of this ever-evolving market—you won’t want to miss this candid and informative chat. All that and more on this week’s episode of the Vancouver Real Estate Podcast.

Was the pandemic suburban boom a permanent shift - or just a blip on the urban timeline? The outgoing President of the Planning Institute of British Columbia Emilie K. Adin sits down with Adam & Matt this week to explore this important question as well as the ways that Metro Vancouver's unique planning approach positions the region for whatever comes next. From the agricultural land reserve's formative impact on urban containment to the challenges of making growth pay for growth, this conversation examines Vancouver through both its glory and growing pains. What are the telltale signs that planners look for to know if a community is thriving? What essential ingredients transform a development into a bona fide neighborhood? And how will the rapid technological disruptions underway reshape the future of the region? A unique perspective on our unique city. Don't miss this one!

Metro Vancouver real estate isn't being built on empty lots—it's rising from the parking lots of suburban shopping malls beside SkyTrain hubs. Shape Properties Executive VP and Founding Partner Darren Kwiatkowski sits down with Adam & Matt this week to unpack how his company has transformed aging retail centers like Brentwood and Lougheed into thriving mixed-use communities that have become regional energy hubs. From buying Brentwood Mall during the 2008 financial crisis to building multiple 60-storey towers at the same time, this conversation details the vision & the execution required to take on projects that require commitments measured in decades not years. What makes one SkyTrain station "lakefront property" while another lags? How can investors spot the difference? And what can you learn from a company that blocks out the noise to think in terms of generational change? Don't miss this insider's perspective on the future of Metro Vancouver's urban landscape.