A press release from the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) says sales of single-family homes from Duncan to Port Hardy were down 16 per cent from October 2017 and up 11 per cent from September 2018. Multiple offers have slowed, and buyers are taking more of a wait-and-see approach, VIREB says.

The British Columbia Construction Association (BCAA) estimates 15,000 construction jobs will go unfilled this year and some subcontractors are hiring foreign illegal workers to deal with the shortage, according to the Oak Bay News. A survey by the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of BC suggests while most companies are preparing for growth, 60 per cent of construction companies report a shortage of qualified workers.

The Gales, a luxury oceanview development in Ladysmith currently has two new patio homes for sale – Units 18 and 19.  Suite 18 is available for viewing as a show home.

The City of Campbell River has updated an illustrated, easy-to-read handbook for developers preparing applications to help streamline the development permit and approval process.

The City’s development handbook was first created in 2013 to provide a visual interpretation of the City’s development permit guidelines. A comprehensive guide, it details development permit submission requirements, including how Official Community Plan guidelines apply to new commercial and multi-family projects.

Building Links, the North Vancouver Island construction report has released its third quarter, year-to-date construction statistics, which compares the permits and construction values for the first 9 months of 2017 and 2018.

They report that total construction values for the Comox Valley and Campbell River now total $223 million for the year, with a $68 million increase from last year, and an $84 million increase from 2016.