CB Execs Realty - Becoming a Realtor

09/16/2026

When you ask your REALTOR® to cancel your listing you should first be aware of a few things:

1. There is no such thing as firing your REALTOR®. You have a contract between 2 parties and those parties are the you the seller and the Real Estate brokerage. The listing is not actually with your REALTOR®. Effectively, the only way this can be cancelled is by mutual consent of both the parties.

2. The form for canceling a listing has a very important clause in the middle of it. This clause states that, even after the cancellation form is signed by all parties, if the property sells within 60 days of the signing of the cancellation form or within the original listing period outlined in the contract, whichever is sooner, you, the seller, would likely still owe a commission. If you are not aware of this clause and you have relisted it with another brokerage and sold it you could potentially become liable for two commissions. Any competent REALTOR® will search to find the status of your listing and ask you for a copy of your cancellation before considering taking your listing. What they are looking for is whether you have a conditional or unconditional cancellation. They may ask you, "Did your previous REALTOR® stroke the clause?"

3. The REALTOR® and/or the brokerage effectively have the right to refuse to cancel a listing. It is expensive to market a listing and if the listing is cancelled the REALTOR® loses that marketing money with no possibility to recoup it.

4. This post is particularly relevant now because many sellers are frustrated that their property is not selling. Sellers tend to look at the REALTOR® as the cause. However, the reason a listing is not selling is almost always the price. Even if the listing is simply marketed on the MLS system/realtor.ca that is by far the most effective and aggressive marketing that is available to the REALTOR®. A "Dirty Little Secret" in our business is that if it is on the market for 30 days or more and it is not selling then it's overpriced. Prices have dropped in the last 2 years right across British Columbia and no one likes to take a loss.

5. Lastly, cancelling a listing is a complicated venture. It is a good idea to get legal advice and know your rights prior to pulling that trigger.

Coldwell Banker Executives Realty
TheBCHomes.com

Office Locations: Abbotsford ● Castlegar ● Enderby ● Kamloops ● Lake Country ● Maple Ridge ● Revelstoke ● Salmon Arm ● Sicamous ● Trail ● Vernon ● White Rock

09/13/2026

SHOULD THE BAN ON FOREIGN BUYER'S GO OR STAY?

Canada's federal ban on foreign purchases of residential real estate is currently scheduled to expire January 1, 2027.

Will the government allow it to expire? More importantly, should they?
I believe this deserves a much bigger discussion.

Logically, restrictions on foreign purchasing should have their greatest impact in markets that have historically attracted significant international investment and immigration. The two obvious examples are Toronto and Vancouver, Canada's two largest economies. To some extent, housing markets across the rest of the country are also influenced by what happens in these two major markets.

Look at what has happened to available inventory since the ban came in.
Compared with the extremely tight market of 2021, active housing inventory has increased approximately:
Toronto: +168%
Vancouver: +67%

Those are enormous increases in the number of homes available to buyers—and additional inventory was desperately needed.

Now look at prices.

From their 2022 peaks, residential values have declined approximately:
Toronto: -24.8%
Vancouver: -20.8%

That doesn't mean the same thing has happened everywhere in Canada. Some markets have remained relatively flat, while others have actually increased.
It also certainly doesn't mean the foreign buyer ban caused these corrections by itself.

This is where I think much of the commentary about real estate in the press misses something I call the VECTOR PRINCIPLE.

There is never just one force determining the direction of a real estate market.

Think of the market as being pushed and pulled by numerous vectors, each operating in a different direction and with a different magnitude:
• Interest rates
• Employment
• Immigration and population growth
• Housing inventory
• Consumer confidence
• Affordability
• Economic growth
• Domestic government policy
• Foreign government policy and global events
• Taxes and regulation
• Availability of credit
• Investor activity

The ultimate direction of the real estate market is the sum of all of those forces/vectors.

I have been tracking Canadian Real Estate Statistics for roughly 30 years, and both Toronto and Vancouver markets have historically been remarkably resilient. By 2022, however, they had become severely overheated and a correction was badly needed.

That correction has now been substantial.

I am not suggesting that the foreign buyer ban single-handedly caused inventory to rise or prices to fall. Interest rates alone have obviously been an enormous force during this period.

What I am suggesting is that the foreign buyer ban has been one significant vector among many, particularly in Toronto and Vancouver.

And if we remove that vector on January 1, 2027, what happens next?

Should Canada extend the foreign buyer ban—or is it time to let it expire?

I'd be interested to hear what you think.

William Hubbard
Owner / Broker
Coldwell Banker Executives Realty
https://thebchomes.com/Blog/should-the-foreign-buyer-ban-go

09/03/2026

BANK OF CANADA HOLDS AT 2.25%

No surprise today — the Bank of Canada left its overnight rate unchanged at 2.25%. Rates are stable, which is good news for buyers and anyone with a variable-rate mortgage. Inflation is still keeping the Bank cautious, so I wouldn’t be counting on a rate cut anytime soon. Trade issues with the U.S. and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty are still the big wild cards because they can push prices up while slowing the economy at the same time. From a real estate standpoint, I think the message is pretty clear: Don’t sit on the sidelines waiting for dramatically lower interest rates to save the market. The mid-terms in the US are right around the corner, the Ban on Foreign Buyers is set to either expire or more likely be rewritten on January 2027, with lesser constraints and the trade war is likely to find a solution all by the end of the year. These are positive vectors that will help consumer confidence for those buyers who have been sitting on the fence.

And for sellers, pricing is still everything. The market is moving, but buyers know the market is tough and they are moving slowly and making offers that reflect a tough market.

The next Bank of Canada rate announcement is October 28, 2026.

TheBCHomes.com
Coldwell Banker Executives Realty

08/28/2026

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08/22/2026

Do I have to disclose an unpermitted basement suite?

An unpermitted suite can raise important questions about disclosure, zoning, building requirements, financing and insurance. Understanding the property’s history—and addressing potential concerns before listing or purchasing—can help prevent costly surprises.

Every situation is different. When necessary, obtain advice from the appropriate municipality and qualified legal professionals.

Tough questions deserve clear answers.

Coldwell Banker Executives Realty
TheBCHomes.com

Office Locations:
Abbotsford • Castlegar • Enderby • Kamloops • Lake Country • Maple Ridge • Revelstoke • Salmon Arm • Sicamous • Trail • Vernon • White Rock

08/20/2026

BCREA (British Columbia Real Estate Association) is anticipating a slightly better year in 2027 than 2026, but the improvement is expected to be slow and gradual, with the market continuing to face challenges from persistent geopolitical volatility

In my opinion, this is nothing to get excited about—YET.

Sales remain relatively flat in the Interior and are down in the Lower Mainland. As anticipated last year, 2026 is turning out to be somewhat better than 2025, but we’re still a long way from what I would call a strong market.

There are a few reasons for cautious optimism heading into 2027, including:

• The federal foreign buyer ban is scheduled to end January 1, 2027

• A potentially different political climate in the U.S. following the midterm elections

• The possibility of a new Canada-U.S. trade agreement

• And the hope that the conflict involving Iran will come to an end, one way or another, sooner rather than later

So, better? Probably.

Boom? Not likely.
Something to get excited about? Not yet.

As always, the market will ultimately be driven by interest rates, affordability, consumer confidence, employment and—perhaps more than anything right now—what happens geopolitically.

TheBCHomes.com
Coldwell Banker Executives Realty

08/20/2026

Where do you get your real estate market information?

Bill Hubbard of Coldwell Banker Executives Realty explains why attention-grabbing headlines don’t always tell the full story—and why reliable data, local market knowledge, and long-term trends matter when making real estate decisions.

Learn more at TheBCHomes.com

https://thebchomes.com/Blog/WheretoFindReliableBCRealEstateMarketInformation

Not every real estate headline tells the full story. Learn where to find reliable BC real estate market information, local data and expert insights.

08/18/2026

Canadian inflation rose from 2.8% in June to 3% in July. What could this mean for you?

The increase was primarily driven by fuel costs, although other cost-of-living factors also contributed. The Bank of Canada aims to keep inflation near its 2% target. When inflation rises, it may consider increasing interest rates to help slow spending and bring inflation back under control.

The Bank of Canada’s policy rate has remained unchanged for the past six announcements. However, this rate primarily affects variable-rate mortgages. Fixed mortgage rates are influenced more closely by government bond yields. Bond yields have recently increased slightly, which has contributed to a modest rise in fixed mortgage rates.

Mortgage rates will likely remain relatively steady for the balance of the year, although economic conditions can change.

Interested in learning more about home prices in your area—or discovering what your home may be worth?

Visit TheBCHomes.com to connect with one of our local real estate professionals.

With offices throughout British Columbia:
Abbotsford ● Castlegar ● Enderby ● Kamloops ● Lake Country ● Maple Ridge ● Revelstoke ● Salmon Arm ● Sicamous ● Trail ● Vernon ● White Rock

08/14/2026

BC WILDFIRE RELIEF — OUR NEIGHBOURS STILL NEED US

As wildfires continue to affect communities across British Columbia, thousands of people remain displaced and many families are facing devastating losses. Current reports indicate that more than 20,000 people have been evacuated.

Funds raised through our GoFundMe will be donated to The Salvation Army to help provide food, clothing and essential household items to individuals and families impacted by the wildfires.

If you are able to contribute, please know that every donation—regardless of its size—can make a meaningful difference.

Donate here:
https://gofund.me/961be2e76

Thank you for helping us support our neighbours during this incredibly difficult time.

08/05/2026

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