Author: Christine Jang

Halloween falls on October 31 because the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, considered the earliest known root of Halloween, occurred on this day.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to praise all saints.
Soon, All Saints' Day incorporated some traditions of Samhain and the evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.
Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.
Today’s the day to eat candies and sweets to your heart’s content! Happy Halloween!

It’s striking to see how rents across British Columbia have now declined for 23 months in a row. Average asking rents are down about 5% year-over-year, with purpose-built rentals and apartments showing the same decrease. Four BC cities—Abbotsford, Coquitlam, Richmond, and Kelowna—stand out among the top 15 in Canada for the largest yearly rent drops in purpose-built rentals: Abbotsford leading at around 11%, followed by Coquitlam (7%), Richmond (6%), and Kelowna (5%).

According to provincial officials, this easing is due to more purpose-built rental supply, vacancy-focused taxes, and stricter short-term rental rules, which are bringing more homes back into the long-term rental market. In mid-Q3, BC once again tied the annual allowable rent increase to inflation (about 2%), aiming to provide stability for renters while supporting landlords in maintaining their properties. The province continues to add housing supply through its housing plan—with thousands of new units already built or underway—hoping to see rents continue this gentle downward trend.

For those of us specializing in Richmond, Vancouver, and Burnaby, it’s especially important to stay attuned to these shifts, as local market conditions can change quickly and affect both buyers and renters. Integrity and transparency remain my guiding principles as I help clients navigate these evolving landscapes.

Surrey stood out for relative bargains, with one-bedrooms averaging $1.72K and two-bedrooms $2.11K in the current period, offering renters a lower-cost starting point.
The area's three-bedroom average reached $2.9K, meaning larger Surrey rentals did not lead on affordability this period, even as smaller layouts remained better-value options.
Surrey was highlighted as the place where locals could find the most relative bargains, especially when searching for one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments.
Within Surrey, three-bedroom units were no longer the cheapest larger-home option in the wider comparison, underscoring how value was strongest in smaller unit types.
For Surrey renters, the clearest value remained in one-bedroom and two-bedroom homes, while households needing more space faced a meaningfully higher monthly ask.

This year, luxury residential Real Estate in the United States leaned into nine-figure asking prices, making $100M+ homes a defining feature of the top tier.
The expansion tracked with rising fortunes among the richest Americans, as a strong stock market and earlier tax cuts helped lift top-end wealth.
For buyers at this level, standout amenities and stronger privacy mattered, with many high-end properties designed as compounds that create more separation.
Still, headline-making asking prices did not guarantee record deals, and some extreme numbers were seen as publicity plays rather than serious expectations.
Looking ahead, one luxury agent said the United States could potentially see its first $1B home sale within the next three years.

Florida's new state code begins December 31, 2026, and Miami-Dade portal filings sent after 4:00 p.m. on December 30 must follow it.
Projects needing permits include expansions, major renovations, structural work, some window and door changes, electrical or plumbing installations, and many roof or hurricane upgrades.
The shift does not make all repairs subject to permits, and incomplete applications submitted early still may require revisions before approval by authorities.
In Miami-Dade, roof projects deserve extra attention because High Velocity Hurricane Zone rules, updated underlayment standards, and product approvals can affect materials.
Before hiring, ask which agency will issue the permit, which code edition applies, whether products are approved, and what inspections and revisions may follow.