Whether it’s an up-and-coming area or a timelessly desirable community, certain neighbourhoods offer compelling reasons to invest—even during a down market. However, pinpointing these prime spots can often be a challenge.

James and Denny share their list of the best neighbourhoods and talk about what makes them so special and why they picked them.

This episode will focus on popular neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland, dream places to upsize, the most popular communities, the best bang for your buck, family-oriented, neighbourhoods covered in these cities; North Van, East Van, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Langley and Port Coquitlam.

Podcast Videos can be found on the Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team YouTube channel

Email us at [email protected]

James Garbutt [email protected] Instagram: /jamesgarbutt Facebook: /jamesgarbutt

Denny Dumas [email protected] Instagram: /denny.dumas Facebook: /denny.dumas.5

Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Instagram: /gdrealestateteam Facebook: /gdrealestateteam Website: garbuttdumas.ca

Vancouver remains the priciest city in Canada for renters, though rents for vacant apartments are gradually decreasing from last year’s peak. According to the latest rent reports, the average monthly rent for an empty one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver is now $2,690, a 4.6% drop from last year.

James and Denny discuss what they're observing in the real estate market and how falling rental rates impact their day-to-day work.

This episode will focus on what happening in Vancouver rental markets, how rental rates affect investors, cash flow with current mortgages and rental prices, rental rates going down across the lower mainland, being a landlord and rental-specific data in Brentwood, New West, Surrey, Port Moody, and Port Coquitlam.

Podcast Videos can be found on the Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team YouTube channel

Email us at [email protected]

James Garbutt [email protected] Instagram: /jamesgarbutt Facebook: /jamesgarbutt

Denny Dumas [email protected] Instagram: /denny.dumas Facebook: /denny.dumas.5

Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Instagram: /gdrealestateteam Facebook: /gdrealestateteam Website: garbuttdumas.ca

The Bank of Canada has reduced its key interest rate by 50 basis points to 3.75 percent, marking the first cut of this size since the COVID-19 pandemic. This rate cut was prompted by the latest Canadian inflation report, showing the Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped to a year-over-year rate of 1.6%, below the Bank of Canada’s 2% target range.

James and Denny discuss their insights on Vancouver's real estate market and the impact of the recent rate cut on home prices.

This episode will focus on the recent BoC rate cute and the effects on real estate, the bizarre state of the current market, how close are we to the bottom? Sellers holding firm, inventory piling up, some optimism about the future, current variable vs fixed mortgage rates and future predictions.

Podcast Videos can be found on the Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team YouTube channel

Email us at [email protected]

James Garbutt [email protected] Instagram: /jamesgarbutt Facebook: /jamesgarbutt

Denny Dumas [email protected] Instagram: /denny.dumas Facebook: /denny.dumas.5

Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Instagram: /gdrealestateteam Facebook: /gdrealestateteam Website: garbuttdumas.ca

Managing difficult conversations with real estate clients effectively is key to maintaining strong relationships. Staying informed about current market conditions and the factors that can cause deals to fall through is crucial for navigating these situations.

James and Denny discuss how they handle delivering bad news, emphasizing the critical importance of open communication between realtors and clients.

This episode will focus on collapsed deals in real estate, the importance of always understanding the current market conditions, inspection items, people walking out of deals, due diligence during slower times, and less certain buyers, communication is everything.

Podcast Videos can be found on the Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team YouTube channel

Email us at [email protected]

James Garbutt [email protected] Instagram: /jamesgarbutt Facebook: /jamesgarbutt

Denny Dumas [email protected] Instagram: /denny.dumas Facebook: /denny.dumas.5

Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Instagram: /gdrealestateteam Facebook: /gdrealestateteam Website: garbuttdumas.ca

As election day nears, the B.C. NDP and Conservatives remain divided on housing. NDP Leader David Eby warns that John Rustad's Conservatives would undo most of the NDP's housing policies, including Bill 44, a stance the Conservatives openly endorse.

James and Denny share their thoughts on Bill 44 and discuss how housing will be affected depending on who wins the election.

This episode will focus on Bill 44 and small scale multi development, the BC election, NDP's housing policies, Cons housing policies, poor city planning making development difficult, how realistic Bill 44 is, how cities will fight it, too many condos being built and predictions for the future.

Podcast Videos can be found on the Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team YouTube channel

Email us at [email protected]

James Garbutt [email protected] Instagram: /jamesgarbutt Facebook: /jamesgarbutt

Denny Dumas [email protected] Instagram: /denny.dumas Facebook: /denny.dumas.5

Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Instagram: /gdrealestateteam Facebook: /gdrealestateteam Website: garbuttdumas.ca

   The new CMHC rules will enable more homebuyers to qualify for mortgage insurance, potentially allowing them to secure larger mortgage amounts, and making homeownership more accessible. This includes 30-year amortization periods and mortgage insurance qualification for houses up to $1.5 million.

   James and Denny share their thoughts on these changes as the government tries to stimulate home buying through policy.

   This episode will focus on CMHC's new lending rules, new mortgage caps, longer amortizations, new construction rule changes, prolonged presales, buyers walking away from condos, the government trying to stimulate home buying, and comparisons to 2007/08.

Podcast Videos can be found on the Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team YouTube channel

Email us at [email protected]

James Garbutt [email protected] Instagram: /jamesgarbutt Facebook: /jamesgarbutt

Denny Dumas [email protected] Instagram: /denny.dumas Facebook: /denny.dumas.5

Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Instagram: /gdrealestateteam Facebook: /gdrealestateteam Website: garbuttdumas.ca

As the fall season sets in, the real estate market is experiencing a noticeable slowdown, with lower-than-usual sales compared to previous years. Buyers and sellers alike are feeling the effects of shifting economic conditions, leading to more cautious decision-making and longer listing times.

James and Denny discuss how they navigate slower market periods and share insights into the conversations they're having with both buyers and sellers during these times.

This episode will focus on how buys and sellers are treating the current market, the effect of interest rates on sales, ambitious sellers, cautious buyers, luxury homes and condos sitting, development projects not competing, predictions for the fall and stats for North Burnaby, New West, Port Moody, North Van, and East Van.

Podcast Videos can be found on the Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team YouTube channel

Email us at [email protected]

James Garbutt [email protected] Instagram: /jamesgarbutt Facebook: /jamesgarbutt

Denny Dumas [email protected] Instagram: /denny.dumas Facebook: /denny.dumas.5

Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Instagram: /gdrealestateteam Facebook: /gdrealestateteam Website: garbuttdumas.ca

To tackle the housing crisis, the Province implemented a series of legislative changes in the fall of 2023 with Bills 44 and 47. These changes permit small-scale multi-unit housing and increase density in transit-oriented development areas, ensuring more people can access homes within their familiar communities.

James and Denny go over the new changes and discuss how they will affect different communities across the Lower Mainland in varying ways.

This episode will focus on housing density and plans to address the issue, certain cities asking for exclusions, 3-4 plexes on single-family home lots, skytrain/ transit proximity rules, bringing density to Shaugnessy and West Van, changing floor space ratios, and future predictions.

Podcast Videos can be found on the Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team YouTube channel

Email us at [email protected]

James Garbutt [email protected] Instagram: /jamesgarbutt Facebook: /jamesgarbutt

Denny Dumas [email protected] Instagram: /denny.dumas Facebook: /denny.dumas.5

Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Instagram: /gdrealestateteam Facebook: /gdrealestateteam Website: garbuttdumas.ca

The real estate market in Vancouver is showing signs of revival following a recent rate cut by the Bank of Canada, which has made borrowing more affordable for potential buyers. With expectations of more rate cuts incoming, experts anticipate further boosts in market activity and home sales in the coming months.

James and Denny offer their personal insights on how the recent rate cuts have impacted Vancouver's real estate market, highlighting which cities have been affected the most.

This episode will focus on the Bank of Canada rate cuts, more rate cuts in the future, longer days on market for properties, the current state of new construction, selling and buying recreational properties, and future predictions.

Podcast Videos can be found on the Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team YouTube channel

Email us at [email protected]

James Garbutt [email protected] Instagram: /jamesgarbutt Facebook: /jamesgarbutt

Denny Dumas [email protected] Instagram: /denny.dumas Facebook: /denny.dumas.5

Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Instagram: /gdrealestateteam Facebook: /gdrealestateteam Website: garbuttdumas.ca

As the June 30 deadline for amending zoning bylaws has passed, city governments in BC have detailed new construction permissions for single-family properties starting in July.

James and Denny discuss the impact of these changes on Vancouver real estate from the perspectives of buyers, sellers, and investors.

This episode will focus on new zoning bylaws and what they mean, small-scale multi-unit housing, floor space ratio changes, Transit-oriented development areas, and how this will help with density.

Podcast Videos can be found on the Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team YouTube channel

Email us at [email protected]

James Garbutt [email protected] Instagram: /jamesgarbutt Facebook: /jamesgarbutt

Denny Dumas [email protected] Instagram: /denny.dumas Facebook: /denny.dumas.5

Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Instagram: /gdrealestateteam Facebook: /gdrealestateteam Website: garbuttdumas.ca