AND THE DECISION IS …
How did we get here? On July 13, 2016, Council approved the Zero Emissions Building Plan that was developed with industry and established a regulatory framework to set and progressively…
He’s Making A List and Checking it Twice…
Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice. In May 2023, the new Housing Supply Act and Housing Supply Regulation came into effect, giving the BC Government the authority to set…
BC GOVERNMENT ROLLS OUT THE MINISTRIES AND MINISTERS …
With apologies, that the Monday Morning Briefing didn’t get to your email this morning, we wanted to hold off and share the government announcements that took place earlier today. With…
HAVAN GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM: Working for You!
Research, Education, and Advocacy Focus: Trusted Advisors to Municipal Governments This past year has been a pivotal one for housing advocacy, with significant actions taken by government to expedite housing…
PROVINCIAL ELECTION UPDATE…Every Vote Counts!
Here we are, nine days post-election day, still waiting for final results in what is a razor-thin margin in which one riding change could mean the difference between a minority…
A LOOK AT NEW LEADERSHIP…
HAVAN’s 2024/2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COUNCIL CHAIRS ANNOUNCED Vancouver, BC – Members of the Homebuilders Association Vancouver (HAVAN) elected Alisa Aragon-Lloyd, founder and CEO, Bridgestone Financing Pros as their 2024/2025 Chair at…
ANALYZING BC’s PROVINCIAL ELECTION HOUSING PLATFORMS: THE STAKES FOR OUR INDUSTRY.
As we approach the provincial election, housing remains a critical issue for voters across BC. The ongoing housing crisis, characterized by limited supply, increased building costs, market uncertainty, and regulatory…
ADAPTABLE HOMES – 12 Tips to Help You Design Your Forever Home and Age-in-Place
As the saying goes – “your home is your castle”, it’s your safe place, a place you make memories, grow your family, enjoy friends old and new, meet new neighbours,…
Why Are Big-Name Developers Writing Letter to the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors?
Around this time last year, it was announced that the Metro Vancouver Regional District was planning to more than double — even triple, in some cases — its Water DCC…
Provincial and Local Government Elected Officials Meet Next Week….
Next week in Vancouver the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) will be hosting its annual convention, a gathering of over 2,000 local government elected officials, influencers and provincial government representatives. For over…
HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENTS CONTINUE TO ROLL IN…
EXPANSION OF 30-YEAR AMORTIZATIONS AND INCREASED INSURED MORTGAGE CAP At a press conference this morning, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland announced significant reforms to the Canadian…
IN RETROSPECT, SOME THINGS CHANGE, AND SOME THINGS REMAIN THE SAME …
It is with a heavy heart that I write this guest edition of MMB. Ron Rapp and I knew each other in Toronto, where he held a senior position with…
UNITING A COLLECTIVE VOICE TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS …
As we look forward to the fall, the pending provincial election is top of mind. HAVAN, with our 1,100 members across the Lower Mainland’s 21 municipalities, collectively represent a powerful…
10 Essential Tips for Designing and Renovating Small Living Rooms
Designing and renovating a small living room can be a delightful challenge. With the right strategies, you can transform even the coziest of spaces into a stylish, functional area that…
THE ONGOING QUEST TO BUILD HOMES, AFFORDABLY …
The need for affordable housing solutions has never been more urgent. While advancements in building science have paved the way for more energy-efficient and sustainable homes, they are not a…
COMMON SENSE IN CITY HALLS? …
As we head into a summer lull, we look to local governments that recently are realizing that some of their well-intentioned decisions have consequences that might have been previously considered.…
A FAREWELL TO RON RAPP
HAVAN Members, By now, many of you have heard former HAVAN CEO Ron Rapp passed peacefully last Thursday, July 18 surrounded by family and friends. We are re-posting the following…
Hot Town, Summer in the City …
As the temperatures are soaring across the province, WorkSafeBC’s new Heat stress screening tool is now available on the resources section of the Heat stress page on worksafebc.com. Users can use this interactive tool…
Some Did, Some Will, and Some Won’t…
Well, the June 30th deadline for local governments to enact legislation to align with the Provincial Government Bills 44 and 47, has come and gone. And across the region, there has been…
RON RAPP STEPS DOWN AS HAVAN CEO: ANNOUNCED JUNE 19
In case you missed the original announcement last week, we announced that Ron Rapp, HAVAN CEO, stepped down to focus on his health and family. As many of you…
CELEBRATING HAVAN: A LEGACY OF BUILDING AND COMMUNITY
From its humble beginnings as a small gathering of builders and suppliers in the New Westminster Legion Hall basement 50 years ago, to becoming the largest homebuilders association in BC…
HUBBA HUBBA …
The province launched a new digital Building Permit Hub on May 27 in its next step to help build homes faster and address challenges in B.C.’s housing market. Still in…
JUST BORROW AND BUILD …
As we count down—just two weeks and three days left—until HAVAN’s 50th anniversary celebration, we’ve been digging in our archives and discovered an advertisement from 1974 promoting a government program…
TWO-FERS AND TRIFECTAS …
Last week May 23 – May 25 saw the CHBA-BC Provincial Meetings and Georgie Awards taking place at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver. These meetings include networking, education, special guests,…
Episode 64: Kitchen Appliance Design Trends
Renovating 20+ kitchens every year, Julie Hale from Trail Appliances knows a thing or two about how to determine which appliances will work for you and how to design the ultimate kitchen that works for you. Tune in the hear the latest kitchen design and appliance trends, and optimize your next renovation!
Transform Your Bathroom: Top Renovation Strategies for Increased Resale Value
– Jamie Banfield, Principal Designer Jamie Banfield Design Inc. A well-designed bathroom can significantly boost a home’s value, making it more appealing to potential buyers. At Jamie Banfield Design Inc., we’ve…
Episode 63: Unlocking Home Equity
According to Bobby Purba of BDC Homes, who has built many multi-plex and multi-generational homes, talking about generational wealth and real estate can be tough, but says these conversations need to S.U.C.K. Sharing insight on the new multiplex legislation, listen in as Bobby offers tips and recommends the professionals to consult before you start unlockinh your home equity.
Episode 62: Suite Solutions
Looking at housing through a holistic lens, Sara Goldvine from BC Housing dives into the concept of housing as a system. Providing an overview of BC Housing and solutions to address our housing crisis such as the BC Builds Program and the new Secondary Suite Incentive Program, benefits of builder licensing, and the 2-5-10 Home Warranty Program are also reviewed.
WEST MEETS EAST …
Last week In Saint John, New Brunswick the CHBA National Housing Week took place bringing members, HBA staff, EOs, and sponsors together for a week of committee meetings, AMM Meeting,…
MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU …
The grand halls of the JW Marriott Parq Hotel in Vancouver set the stage for an unforgettable evening of galactic celebration as esteemed members gathered for the unveiling of the…
Episode 61: Multi-Family Homes
Meet Laurel James, the design-half of the award-winning Novell Design Build team. Passionate about building homes for families of all configurations, Laurel approaches design with a curious and thoughtful eye to ensure the dwelling spaces nurture our creature comforts. Listen in as Laurel shares her thoughts on multi-family dwellings and the latest provincial regulations.
MAKING HIS LIST, AND CHECKING IT TWICE …
Sorry, it’s not Santa Claus – it’s Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. Last week the Ministry of Housing announced the next 20 communities to be issued prescribed housing targets – also…
Episode 60: Energy Advisors
Mike and Jennifer-Lee explore the benefits of working with an Energy Advisor to calculate the building envelope, mechanical systems, and the air-tightness of your home to help provide choice, manage budgets, and above all, increase the comfort of your home when building new or renovating. A performance-based process, tune in for tips from Barb Silverthorn of Capture Energy.
Episode 59: Windows
Looking into windows, one quickly realizes there are many considerations and potential unintended consequences that can impact the heating and cooling, plus the affordability, and comfort of your home. Speaking with Anton Van Dyk of Layton Consulting, Mike and Jennifer-Lee look into the importance of proper window selection.
Passive Home Design
Imagine a home that’s not just a shelter, but a cozy haven that’s kind to both your living environment and the planet. That’s the essence of Passive House Design, a…
PERSISTANCE PAYS OFF …
On Friday, April 12, 2024, the Federal government announced and released details for Canada’s Housing Plan. Per the backgrounder provided by the federal government “Through Canada’s Housing Plan, the government…
Episode 58: Zero Carbon Phoenix House
Discover the remarkable journey of resurrecting Phoenix House, a home devastated by fire, as the homeowners look to rebuild to the prestigious Zero Carbon certification standard. Join Mike and Jennifer-Lee as they delve into the extraordinary efforts of the homeowner and team of industry experts including Best Builders.
$HOW ME THE MONEY …
This past week there were no less than 3 major housing announcements from the Federal government totaling $21.6 billion. MAJOR FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENTS Infrastructure Fund Allocation The week kicked off with…
Episode 56: HP Reno Review
Discover the challenges and triumphs of renovating a 112-year-old home as we bring back the builder – TQ Construction, and the homeowner, Dr Janet Simons, to review the high-performance whole home renovation project. Including lessons learned, scope creep, and pesky woodpeckers, this episode is packed with information to help you on your next home renovation.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES …
As an industry, we have been busy trying to assess the impact of the many pieces of housing legislation introduced by the province over the course of the last eighteen…
IT’S AWARDS SEASON …
SAG, Golden Globes, Emmy’s, Tony’s, the Oscars, and a bunch of other awards have all been handed out over the last few weeks, but all are overshadowed by the highly…
Elevate Your Home: Embrace 5 Home Design Trends of 2024
Are you eager to transform your living space into a haven of style and comfort? The exciting world of interior design in 2024 has plenty of trends to inspire and…
A BILLION HERE, BILLION THERE … AND SUDDENLY, IT’S GONE.
Last week the federal government announced the $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) was exhausted, and all funds had been earmarked for about 150 communities across Canada. These monies, specifically…
IN STREAM, OR UP THE CREEK? …
“In Stream” applications are applications that have been duly submitted into the approval process with the goal of satisfying stipulated requirements of the municipality to secure a development permit or…
A LASER FOCUSED VIEW ….
Do we have a housing crisis or don’t we? Has this crisis grown to a critical point where the ability to afford a home either purchased or rental is exceeding…
Kitchen Design Trends with Sarah Gallop Design Inc
The kitchen is the heart of the home, a space where families gather, meals are prepared, and memories are created. Whether you’re renovating your existing kitchen or building a new…
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK, REALLY …
As noted in previous Monday Morning Briefings (MMB) and Government Relations Updates (GRU), there has been no end to government consultations on competing fronts of crisis and we encourage all…
A LEGENDARY EVENING …
It was a full house last week as we celebrated our 2024 Legends of Housing (50-Year Retrospective and Future Outlook), as an inaugural kick-off to HAVANs 50th anniversary which will roll…
THE COSTS OF BUILDING, AND THE COSTS OF NOT BUILDING…
2023 had been a tough year for the construction industry and between rising construction costs, development cost charges, community amenity charges, interest rates, inflation, etc., the private sector continued to…
HEADWINDS PREVAILING …
HEADWINDS PREVAILING … The prevailing interest rate environment, a key factor shaping the 2024 housing landscape, is poised for the first Bank of Canada Rate announcement scheduled this Thursday, January…
Preserving Charm: A Guide to Renovating Your Character Home
Renovating a character home in Vancouver can be both exhilarating and challenging. These homes, with their unique features and historical significance, demand meticulous planning and execution to retain their charm…
BRANCHING OUT …
Looking towards a more sustainable future. As we embark on a new year, a holistic approach to the homes we are building is predicted for 2024 and beyond. Recognizing the…
