British Columbia

An apparent buyer's market in Metro Vancouver's high-flying housing sector is a seasonal blib that won't last the winter, according to a seasoned real estate developer, but some realtors warn it will be tough for sellers while it lasts.

Cross-culture miscommunication can derail house sale negotiations in Vancouver, where new immigrants and offshore buyers make up a substantial sector of the residential market, according to Ross McCredie, president and CEO of Sotheby's International

BC Place stadium in downtown Vancouver, which recently re-opened after a $563 million retrofit, could prove the catalyst for downtown redevelopment.

A recent Business Council of British Columbia conference on Asian opportunities revealed that, while exports of B.C. softwood to Asia are soaring, the wood is often seen as low value in the China market.

A survey of registrants to the Western Canadian Hotel & Resort Investment Conference, held October 12 and 13 in Vancouver, revealed that Victoria is seen as being the weakest hotel market among major Western Canadian cities.

Enbridge says $400 million on goods and services during the construction phase would be spent in the central B.C. region - from Prince George to Smithers - if the Northern Gateway Pipeline goes ahead.

October 26: An $8 billion federal government ship building contract is expected to boost demand for commercial and industrial real estate in North Vancouver, with the uptick expected to start next year.

October 25: B.C.'s harmonized sales tax (HST) is dead but it continues to haunt developers of high-end homes, who say confusion over the HST phase out has stalled sales and forced price discounting.

Development cost charges for industrial developers in Metro Vancouver can add more than $8 to the square-foot-cost of construction, according to a survey released October 20 by NAIOP, which represents major commercial and industrial developers in the

Western Investor named Surrey as the No. 1 centre for Western Canadian real estate investors in its first annual Top Ten Towns, which will be published in the November edition of the leading commercial real estate publication.