Welcome to the third annual edition of Western Investing, the definitive guide to investing in commercial real estate across Western Canada.
This year will present some challenges to western investors, especially after the record-breaking performance experienced in the previous two years. But, unlike previous downturns, we expect the 2019 moderation to be short and shallow. The key reason is that it is primarily based not on economic forces but on government policy and miscues.
This could have been a breakout year for the Alberta economy had provincial, federal and First Nations politicians not fumbled on vital pipelines needed to move Alberta oil to a hungry world.
B.C.’s multi-family and land markets would likely be surpassing record levels if not for a series of government policy decisions that hammered housing sales to a decade low.
The commercial real estate market of Western Canada is anchored on rock-solid fundamentals, however. Investors should consider this a year of positioning and preparation for the brighter future that is likely coming quicker than most believe.
- Frank O'Brien
Columns and Features
- 1. Feature | Where to Invest
- 2. Feature | The Northwest Nexus
- 3. Kitimat's coming boom
- 4. Multi-family financing
- 5. Multi-family investing (Vancouver)
- 6. Multi-family investing (Edmonton)
- 7. Sponsored Content: Prime waterfront B.C. development site offers huge potential for profit
- 8. Fraser Valley development land
- 9. Recreational land
- 10. Commercial financing
- 11. Contaminated sites
- 12. Industrial market
- 13. Feature | Top rental markets
- 14. Nanaimo real estate
- 15. Top REITs 2019
- 16. Hotel market
- 17. Retail market
- 18. Vancouver office market
- 19. Construction costs
