Building & Industry News
Hire a Contractor Using VRBA Expression of Interest
Thinking of building a new home or renovating? How will you determine a builder’s track record, availability and prices? Try our online Expression of Interest making it easy to get quotes from VRBA’s professional contractors....
Greater Victoria Housing Starts Up and Down
CMHC reports housing starts in Greater Victoria are still up 9% year-to-date in Jan/Feb 2023 at 763 units vs Jan/Feb 2022 at 699 units. However, it is important to monitor the decline in February 2023 at 300 vs February 2022 at 413. February 2023 (300) also declined...
2023 CARE Awards – Call for Entry
The Victoria Residential Builders Association (VRBA) announces the Call for Entry for the 2023 Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence (CARE) Awards of Vancouver Island. The CARE Awards is the premier industry event celebrating Canada’s leaders in...
BC Step Code Changes – May 1
The BC Building and Safety Standards Branch has created the following BC Step Code changes for Part 9 homes (single detached, townhomes, etc.) taking effect May 1, 2023: Introduces the Zero Carbon Step Code, an opt-in building carbon pollution standard for...
Let the Market Work and Save BC Taxpayers Billions
The BC government introduced their budget filled with spending to build housing for the middle class and more promises to make municipal development approval processes more efficient. So far, promises of more efficiency have not resulted in any action. In fact,...
Three Housing Myths Dispelled
Here are three common myths about housing: Myth #1: Houses are unaffordable Many buildings are affordable, but the land is not. For example, a 1950’s home on a 14,950 sq ft lot in Saanich was assessed at $1,033,000 by BC Assessment in July 2022. The building was...
VRBA Golf Tournament – May 24
Wednesday, May 24 has been confirmed for VRBA’s golf tournament and we are returning to Olympic View Golf Course! (www.OlympicViewGolf.com) Mark your calendars, enjoy a day on the links and network with VRBA’s contractors, designers, trades & suppliers! Register...
Large Multi-Family Starts Up While Single Detached, Missing Middle Decline
CMHC reports new housing in January 2023 was up 62% vs the same month last year, from 286 to 463 units. However, 421 of those units were condo/apts and 71% of those were in one municipality - Langford. Sixty-nine per cent of all new housing was also in Langford. Many...
The Other Price of the Speculation Tax
Speculation Tax notices have gone out recently to British Columbians requiring a declaration on their private property. The province already generates $3 billion a year by charging an average $16,000 in Property Transfer Tax for a land title transfer costing a few...
A Solution to Skilled Trades Shortages
The skilled trades shortage is again in the news. BC’s new labour market outlook predicts 83,000 job openings in the skilled trades by 2032. Vancouver Island-Coast region is expected to have the highest rate of employment growth during that time. Shortages continue...