Home Buying 101

Shayne Ramsay, CEO, BC Housing

As CEO of BC Housing, Shayne Ramsay is responsible for the delivery of a wide range of housing programs and services. No longer just a provider of housing for low-income British Columbians, BC Housing has expanded its mandate during Shayne’s 18 years in the role to include other responsibilities, including licensing residential builders, delivering a wide range of homeless programs and support services, and conducting and sharing housing-related research and education.
In addition to his work with BC Housing, Shayne is also a past Chair of the International Housing Partnership, an international organization created to share innovative strategies for the development, operation and sustainability of social housing around the world. The IHP currently comprises 175 CEO members of housing providers from Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

Collette Gerber, President Elect, Real Estate Board Greater Vancouver

Colette Gerber, Sutton Group-West Coast Realty, has been a REALTOR® since 2008.

Before joining the real estate profession, Collette had a lengthy business career in management, finance, and luxury residential development.

Colette has volunteered with other charitable and community organizations throughout her career, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation, City of Vancouver, and the Dunbar Vision Implementation Committee.

Eric Bond, Principal Market Analyst, Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation

Eric Bond is CMHC’s Principal Market Analyst and spokesperson for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Eric provides commentary on new home construction, resale, and rental market developments and their impacts on the housing market. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Economics from Dalhousie University and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of British Columbia.

Eric Bond est chef analyste et porte-parole de la SCHL pour le Grand Vancouver et Fraser Valley. Il commente les marchés du neuf, de la revente et de la location et discute des répercussions qu’a leur évolution sur le marché de l’habitation dans son ensemble. M. Bond est titulaire d’un baccalauréat ès sciences en chimie et en économie de l’Université Dalhousie et d’une maîtrise ès arts en économie de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique.

Jamie Squires VP & Managing Broker, Fifth Avenue Real Estate Marketing

Jamie Squires, Vice President and Managing Broker of Fifth Avenue Real Estate Marketing – a residential multifamily real estate marketing firm in the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Market, has over 16 years of experience, and a National Partnership with Peerage Realty Partners.  Jamie is a leader in local Metro Vancouver new home development market working closely with developer partner clients from acquisition through to planning, and leading to successful marketing and sales campaigns with the goal of bringing people home. Jamie uses market intelligence to program new residential developments with developers and architects based on consumer feedback.

Alisa Aragon, Mortgage Expert, Bridgestone Financing Pros with DLC Mountainview Ltd.

An award-winning 8-year member of the Homebuilders Association Vancouver, Alisa Aragon is the go-to expert for all of her client’s financing needs. She understands the construction industry as a result of extensive and varied career experience with high profile companies, including Polygon Homes, Ledingham McAllister, The Quigg Group and Hollyburn Properties.

After more than 15 years in the real estate industry, Alisa obtained her Mortgage license from the University of British Columbia and started her own business in 2011. She recently established Bridgestone Financing Pros (with Dominion Lending Centres Mountain View Ltd.) after a successful partnership in Your Mortgage Solutions Group with Dominion Lending Centres Mountain View Ltd.

Creating short and long term strategies, clients come to Alisa for residential and commercial mortgages, and leasing of equipment and machinery. She also brokers unsecured personal and working capital loans that help them take their businesses to the next level.

Alisa is a regular contributing writer to Real Estate Weekly (REW.ca), and the New Home & Condo Guide Metro Vancouver Edition.

John Wiebe, Associate, Kuhn LLP

John is an associate with Kuhn LLP Legal Counsel, and was called to the British Columbia bar in 2017.

John regularly assists clients with purchasing and selling their primary residence, and frequently helps corporate clients navigate real estate development issues.

Other areas of John’s broad solicitor practice include business and charity law, wills and estate planning, and estate administration.

Wendy Acheson, Vice President & Registrar, Licensing and Consumer Services Branch of BC Housing

Wendy has 21 years of experience in licensing and the regulation of professionals, as well as legal matters, government, housing and consumer protection. She is responsible for administering the Homeowner Protection Act, overseeing licensing compliance and consumer-service operations. She has led important initiatives to increase the quality of residential construction and strengthen consumer protection.

Prior to her current role, Wendy was deputy registrar of the Homeowner Protection Office. She was also director of licensing at the Architectural Institute of British Columbia for six years. Wendy has degrees in both law and political science from the University of Calgary.

Tony Gioventu, Executive Director, Condominium Home Owners’ Association of British Columbia

Tony is the Executive Director of the Condominium Home Owners’ Association of B.C. (CHOA), a consumer association in British Columbia with over 200,000 members comprising strata corporations, owners, and business members who serve the strata industry. CHOA provides service to its members throughout the province, promoting an understanding of strata living, and the interests of strata property owners, delivering over 100 seminars annually on a variety of strata related topics including governance, operations, and administration.

Tony is the weekly Condo Smarts columnist for The Province and The Times Colonist and is the co-author of “A Practical Guide to Bylaws: the Strata Property Act, and “Understanding Governance: Strata Rules of order and procedures in British Columbia.”  Tony has served as a director/committee member for the Homeowner Protection Office, BC Building Envelope Council, Canadian Standards Association, The Real Estate Council of BC, and continues to play an active role in research and development of building standards, legislation for strata corporations and consumer protection.

Glenn Duxbury, QAO, Duxbury & Associates-Building Inspection and Consulting Ltd

Glenn is the Owner & Founder of Duxbury & Associates-Building Inspection and Consulting Ltd., a family-owned service business, based in New Westminster, created to serve, educate and protect homeowners, home buyers, renters and landlords.  Some of the larger Clients now have included BC Hydro, both area Universities, the Vancouver and Surrey School Boards, Fortis BC, numerous Law firms and Property Management companies.

Working closely with Strata Councils and their various elected members as a licensed Property Manager for over 12 years, Glenn has presented to thousands of 1^st-time home buyers and has served on several Boards.

An educator and mentor, as well as an expert witness & speaker, Glenn & his company is also a member of numerous professional Associations, including RCI, ASTTBC, Consumer Protection BC, the Safer Home Society, HAVAN, BC Building Envelope Council and the Better Business Bureau.

Glenn joined the LJ Christmas Manor Board in 2018, upon invitation, for his extensive technical knowledge and experience.

Ben Nishi, Regional Energy Solutions Manager, Fortis BC

As the Regional Energy Solutions Manager Ben’s role is paramount to positioning FortisBC as a leader in Integrated energy applications in the residential and commercial construction market. With both fiscal tools and innovative technology Ben works to help homes and businesses achieve energy and financial sustainability.