British Columbia

Speculators, once a flipping force in the Metro Vancouver condominium market, have virtually disappeared, according to Robyn Adamache, a senior analyst at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Victoria-based Aviawest Group has won an extension of credit protection from the Supreme Court of B.C. as it attempts to refinance nearly $100 million in debt on resort properties in B.C.

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.