Jacob Cohen

In this post, Councillor Brad Bradford presents a useful perspective summarizing Mayor Chow’s first year in office: “Twelve months in and it’s not clear to me what Chow’s real priorities are. So far, it seems to have been spending a lot of political capital on introducing an illegal cap to ride-sharing licences that ultimately had to be walked back, presiding over an increase to the vacant home tax that saw more than 170,000 households incorrectly threatened with thousands of additional dollars in taxes, and attempting to claw back badly-needed dollars from the police budget. Congestion in Toronto remains brutal and world-class in all the wrong ways. Yet the mayor and her team have been completely silent on plans to get the city moving (apart from adding more bike lanes), grow our economy, attract investment and talent, and restore the optimism that fueled Canada’s largest city for generations. She has eclipsed her own campaign promise of a ‘modest tax increase’ with a record-breaking hike that nearly hit 10 percent—the first of several significant hikes we’ll likely see before the term ends. Couple this with a freshly-inked contract for TTC workers that will be the most expensive transit collective bargaining agreement in North American history. Costs continue to soar.” I agree with the councillor that our city feels like it is moving in the wrong direction. And with new residential development projects indefinitely on hold significantly due to unacceptable levels of government fees/taxes/charges, housing affordability in our city will only continue to move in the wrong direction. Do you agree with the councillor? What suggestions would you offer to him and our other elected municipal leaders to help get Toronto back on a good path? #citybuilding #housingaffordability #housingcrisis #TOpoli #ONpoli

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May ushered in some significant housing policy developments. We’ve distilled what you need to know. Highlights include:   • The National Housing Council’s Review Panel on the Financialization of Purpose-Built Rental Housing released a new report. • Halifax advocates demand a ban on fixed-term leases. • The City of Ottawa takes first step to pass a long-overdue renoviction bylaw.  • Quebec housing minister tables bill putting three-year pause on certain evictions.  • Housing incentive program would require Winnipeg developers to offer subsidized units.  • The Government of British Columbia steps in to prevent a summer homelessness crisis. • Homelessness survivors call for reform at BC legislature. Read our full news round-up: https://lnkd.in/eVBuc8SX

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🏠 Rethinking Housing Solutions Many Canadian municipalities seem to be looking to ADUs (additional dwelling units) as the most promising solution to address low-rise housing supply challenges. While ADUs are a valuable part of the housing solution, they are a small piece of the puzzle. And ADU renovations and coach homes require complex custom permit applications that aren’t efficient for cities to process or owners to build. 🔍 The Bigger Picture: In Toronto and Ottawa, ADU implementation has been limited in scope. For example, in Toronto, since zoning changed two years ago to allow garden suites on most residential properties, only six have been built. Across Canada, 6.9% of the units built in 2022 were as a result of conversions for ADUs and this represented 4.5% of the housing that should have been built in 2022 according to the CMHC. The Reality: ADUs represent just a fraction of the new housing being built, and the overall supply is still falling short of our needs. The Positive Outlook: Repeatable 4-12 unit low-rise infill developments have the potential to meet housing demands at scale. This type of development can provide the densities we need to tackle the housing crisis effectively. 📈 Let’s shift the focus to scalable, repeatable solutions like multi-unit infill. By BuildingIN, we can make significant strides toward resolving our housing challenges. #HousingCrisis #UrbanDevelopment #InfillHousing #SmartGrowth #FutureCities #BuildingIN

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Let’s talk about one of the hottest opportunities in Toronto: pre-construction condos. Why are they a game-changer? 1️⃣ Early-Bird Pricing: Investing before construction starts often means securing a price well below the future market value, giving you a head start on appreciation. That’s a powerful way to boost long-term profits! 2️⃣ Customizable Space: From selecting finishes to customizing layouts, pre-construction condos let you create a space that feels like home—tailored to your style and future tenants' needs. 3️⃣ High Rental Demand: With Toronto’s housing demand, pre-construction condos are primed for strong rental returns. This is an investment likely to yield both growth and steady income. Thinking about adding a pre-construction property to your portfolio? Let’s connect and discuss the potential! 💬 Have you invested in pre-construction before? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments. And if you found this helpful, consider giving it a like! #PreConstruction #TorontoRealEstate #SmartInvestment

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Multifamily / apartment residents want larger suites, and will make sacrifices to get them. This and more from the simplydbs 2024 Canadian Multi-Residential Satisfaction Study, in Sarah Segal's new CRE Data Deep Dive column. #cre #crecanada #realestate #housing #leasing #buyandsell #multifamily #apartments

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In adopting technology, building managers need to know reality, not perceptions. Sarah Segal debuts her new CRE Data Deep Dive column today on RENX. Welcome aboard! #cre #crecanada #realestate #proptech #propertytechnology #yardi #technology #assetmanagement

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🏘️ Affordable housing providers in Canada face a unique set of challenges: financial constraints, aging infrastructure, and the need to keep rents low. GMF’s Housing Providers’ Toolkit addresses these issues, offering tools for energy benchmarking and project cash flow analysis. Tackle these challenges head-on and pave the way for sustainable, affordable living spaces. https://lnkd.in/gkbZTdrb

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Is investing in pre-construction real estate a good opportunity in today's market? How can more investments in pre-con actually help solve the housing crisis in the GTA? Listen as Ashi Mathur, President, the Baz Group, and Erin Millar, CSMO, Marlin Spring Developments discus the advantages of buying pre-con real estate in today’s market and how more investments in pre-construction real estate can affect change in the housing environment. #bazgroup #marlinspring #housingcrisis #torontorealestate #construction

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🏙️ The housing crisis across Canada is putting immense pressure on both the private and public sectors. The digitization is happening fast. Municipalities are racing to make crucial decisions to keep up with our communities' rapid growth. One major hurdle? Outdated permitting and zoning processes that just can't keep pace. 🚧 These steps can't be taken alone. Today, planners, consultants, developers and real estate lawyers are spending precious time searching for the right information. Often, they're left overwhelmed and frustrated, resorting to inundating city staff with inquiries. The result? Costly delays, bottlenecks, and a lack of collaborative problem-solving. At Ratio.City, a division of Esri Canada, we're tackling these pain points head-on. Our easy-to-use platform brings all stakeholders to the same table, enabling quicker collaboration by providing access to updated data. Private sectors can conduct due diligence analyses faster and with deeper insights, while city staff save hundreds of hours on pre-application processes. 🌐 With everyone accessing the same sources and data, projects are seen in context, speeding up decision-making and problem-solving. Watch our ungated webinar recording to learn more, or visit our website and book a call with us! Webinar: https://bit.ly/3WolScr #CityPlanning #DigitalTransformation #urbandesign #urbanism #urbandata #housingsupply #housingcrisis #affordablehousing

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The federal government announced more than $30 million in contributions and low-cost loans through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to help build and repair 1,812 affordable homes across Nova Scotia. The funding is helping create a total of 44 new homes and is leading to the repairs of 1,768 homes, the federal government noted. Among the projects is $30,000 to Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation to construct two units, then another $150,000 to Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation for 10 units. Potlotek First Nation will receive $180,000 to construct 12 units. Eskasoni First Nation will get $450,000 to build 30 units of housing. We’koqma’q First Nation will receive $60,000 to build four units and another $840,000 to construct 56 units. #mikmaw #housing #paqtnkek #wekoqmaq #potlotek

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Wow. Government trips over itself again. This ruling shows zero understanding of how development works and will backfire. Proforma's already don't work and this is another nail in that coffin. What is 100% of zero? That's how many are going to get built. If they do get built they will be at even higher prices as everything will be forcibly bigger which spits in the face of affordability. The accessible housing that is already built (upwards of 20% depending on municipality) is already rarely occupied by those who need it. Mark my words, by going to 100% we will see less accessible homes built total than we would at 20%. When is the government going to learn that they can't force socialist agendas on private land or the machine will just stop running. https://lnkd.in/ghBHmw-v

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OUCH..and Tarion is just Ontario.. "Tarion based on a survey performed in late 2023 by Environics suggest that as many as 250,000 potential new home buyers dropped out of the market compared with 2022." #developer #construction #planning #design #affordablehousing #affordablerentals #realestate #commercialrealestate #condos #realestateindustry #interestrates #loaninterest #inflation

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BC Municipalities: Do you have your Housing Needs Reports for January 2025? With the January 1, 2025 deadline for Interim Housing Needs Reports fast approaching, BC municipalities need to align with the latest government regulations. That’s where HelpSeeker comes in. Our Housing Needs Reports utilize the standardized HNR Method required by the BC government, ensuring your municipality stays compliant while effectively planning for the next 5 to 20 years. Key Features: ◾Projections: Address local housing challenges with precise data. ◾Reporting: From core housing needs to transportation-related requirements. ◾Process: We handle everything—from data analysis to public reporting—so you can focus on your community. Don’t let planning delays or funding complications hold your community back. Future-proof your housing strategy with HelpSeeker, and we can help you with your Interim and Regular Housing Needs Report before the deadline. Book A Meeting: https://lnkd.in/gdFgcVH7 #HousingProjections #BCMunicipalities #ActionableData #HelpSeeker #HousingNeeds

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New Developments on CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance and 30 Year Amortization for Mortgage As of September 16, 2024, the Liberal government has announced new developments: 1. 30-Year amortization period now be available to all first-time home buyers of residential resale homes and new build/pre-constructions homes. 2. 30-year amortization period will now be available to all buyers of new build/pre-construction homes. 3. Mortgage default insurance is increasing on homes up to $1.5 Million in purchase value Follow the link for the entire article: https://bit.ly/3znrUko Contact Ridhima Pathak ([email protected]) for any real estate questions. #realestate #amortization #housing #housingcrisis #housingaffordability #cmhc #mortgage #breakingnews #liberal #government #newbuild #preconstruction #default #insurance #homes #buying #firstimehomebuyer #youngbuyer #30years

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CHBA releases the results of the second quarter of the Housing Market Index (HMI). CHBA’s quarterly survey results inform all housing stakeholders with insights of Canada’s new home construction market. In Q2, both the single-family HMI (29.9 [out of 100]) and multi-family HMI (32.5) fell from the previous quarter. This is the eighth consecutive quarter that #CHBAHMI has shown negative home builder sentiment across key regions of the country. To see the full results, visit: chba.ca/hmi

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Regina's #office market shows signs of resilience amidst steady demand and minimal new construction. With vacancies inching down and lease rates stabilizing, there is a sense of cautious optimism in the air. As we recently reported, Class A spaces are particularly sought after, highlighting a flight to quality among tenants. Dale Griesser shares more market updates with the Western Investor: https://lnkd.in/eFvTQN7j #Regina #AYdifference

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🏡 Faster Approvals = More Affordable Homes 🕒💰 If you’ve ever wondered whether reducing approval times can truly impact housing affordability, Marshall Homes’ latest project in The Corporation of the Town of Ajax is proof it can. As this article in the Toronto Sun outlines, Time, a thoughtfully designed stacked townhome community, was approved in just five weeks thanks to decisive political will and collaboration between the public and private sectors. With 81 units priced from the low to high $600,000s — well below the area’s $851,733 average for attached homes — this project demonstrates how speeding up approvals can pass real savings to homebuyers. Faster approvals also mean Marshall Homes can deliver occupancies as early as February 2026. 🚀 When housing approval times are reduced, developers avoid prolonged financing costs and can deliver more affordable homes. Time stands as a shining example of what’s possible when innovation and political leadership align. We hope this inspires more action to unlock housing affordability. What are your thoughts on the relationship between faster approvals and housing costs? Let us know in the comments! https://lnkd.in/gS-djQxi #housing #policy #solutions #canada #attainablehomes

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