Is B.C.’s rent subsidy working for seniors?
B.C.’s new seniors advocate, Dan Levitt has called on the provincial government to redesign a program that provides rent subsidies for low-income seniors, saying recent improvements don’t go far enough. In April, the provincial government announced a one-time $430 payment, plus increases in monthly benefits, income eligibility and rent ceilings that will allow about 4,800 […]
Canadian home sales rise after interest rate cut
National home sales increased in June following the Bank of Canada’s first interest rate cut since 2020, and activity posted another small gain in August on the heels of the second rate cut in late July, but the bigger picture appears to be a market mostly stuck in a holding pattern. “Despite some fledgling signs of life […]
B.C. seniors face rent hikes that are illegal
Many residents of retirement homes in British Columbia are facing illegal rent increases, the province’s seniors’ advocate says. In a report released this summer, Dan Levitt called for increased protections for the 30,000 people in independent living facilities in the province. “Calls to my office from seniors who are facing unlawful rent increases have more than doubled in […]
Canadian seniors not downsizing due to lack of options
As the population of seniors in Canada continues to grow, many experts have anticipated that an increasing number of older adults would choose to downsize their homes, moving into smaller, more manageable residences. However, the reality is that many seniors are not downsizing, and a significant factor behind this trend is the lack of suitable […]
B.C. long-term care home based on idea of ‘dementia village’
Canada’s first ever public long-term care home based on the concepts of a dementia village has opened its doors in Comox on Vancouver Island. A partnership between Providence Living, the province and Island Health with funding also from St. Paul’s Foundation and Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation, Providence Living at The Views is the first step […]
Canadian seniors want cheaper housing options
When you’re living on a pension, it’s tough to keep up with inflation. That’s why so many seniors are demanding more affordable housing options, a key factor in upcoming provincial and federal elections. Some government agencies are working on the problem. For example, the Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood in east Vancouver will soon have 146 new affordable homes for […]
Greater Victoria real estate sales see a drop
A total of 661 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this June, 6.2 per cent fewer than the 705 properties sold in June 2023 and a 13.4 per cent decrease from May 2024. Sales of condominiums were down 16.5 per cent from June 2023 with 202 units sold. Sales of single family […]
Looking to buy a new recreation property in B.C.?
A flood of listings will not hit Canada’s recreational property market, said RE/MAX Canada’s 2024 Cottage Trends Report. Despite higher interest rates, Canada’s cottage owners are choosing to hold on to their properties. This is a trend influenced by the quality of life alongside the prospect of future returns on recreational property ownership. RE/MAX brokers and agents in Canada predict an increase in […]
How to help our grandchildren afford Canadian housing
One of the biggest pressures on people right now is housing and it’s hurting our children and grandchildren in significant ways. Young Canadians – particularly Millennials and Gen Z – are being priced out of their communities. Families are finding it difficult to get a good place to settle down. Rising rents and the high cost […]
Seniors with older homes can get this Canadian benefit
Many seniors live in older homes. Now they can get this key benefit. FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) has embarked on an extensive $50 million pilot project aimed at uncovering the best pathway to reduce energy use in older homes and multifamily housing units, which is an essential step in meeting B.C.’s climate action targets. Working with partners […]
