Commercial mortgage rates continue to remain attractive, supported in large part by bond yields that have continued a downward march. As of Monday July 23rd, the yield on 5-year GOC bonds was 1.12%. Financing options remain available for stronger assets below 3.50% on five year money.

Source: Bank of Canada

Vancouver looks to Richmond in hiring new planning boss.

After an extensive international search in which it received 108 applications from all over the world, the City of Vancouver had to go no further than the municipality next door to hire a new general manager and director of planning.

On Tuesday the Vision Vancouver-led council ratified the hiring of Brian J.Jackson as the new general manager of planning and development. For the last four years Jackson has been acting general manager of planning for Richmond. He begins work August 27.

North Shore Outlook – NVSD looking to sell or lease four school properties.

Moving ahead with plans to offload nearly a dozen vacant school sites, the North Vancouver School District is putting four properties valued at more than $26 million on the auction block.

On July 6, the school district issued a request for proposals to buy or lease the former Monteray elementary, Ridgeway Annex, Keith Lynn and Plymouth elementary school sites in North Vancouver city and district.

Read more: http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/news/162875106.html

View the RFP here.

Resales of newer woodframe condos on Vancouver’s Westside (including UBC lands) has averaged $715 per sq ft over the past year. Pricing has remained relatively flat and has not shown a decline as of July 2012. University condos, averaging $740 per sq ft over the past year, typically trade at a premium to comparable Westside of Vancouver product, which averaged $677 per sq ft over the same time period. There are currently only a handful of active new woodframe projects on the Westside as sites are difficult to locate for developers.

Source: MLS Stats. (woodframe condo resales less than 10 years old)