Vancouver Commercial Real Estate Podcast

Hosted by Cory Wright

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About the show

Imagine you are friends with hundreds of commercial real estate investors, developers, economists and urban planners in Vancouver. Now imagine you can grab a coffee with each of them and casually chat about failures, successes, motivations, lessons learned and even their best investment advice. This plus the nuts and bolts of Commercial Real Estate - that’s what we’re aiming for with the Vancouver Commercial Real Estate Podcast!

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60 recent

30 min

VCREP #196 | Building Against the Odds: Inside OpenForm Properties’ New Vancouver Development With Jason Turcotte

Why is OpenForm Properties moving forward with a new commercial development while much of the market remains cautious? Cory Wright and Rod MacKay sit down with Jason Turcotte, President of OpenForm Properties, to discuss the company's latest project at 288 West 8th Avenue in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. What is the thinking behind the development? What about the demand for office and light industrial space? Jason shares his perspective on investment sentiment in BC, political changes affecting development, current acquisition opportunities, and where he sees the commercial real estate market heading.

38 min

VCREP #195 | What the Conservative Landslide Means for B.C. Real Estate with Stephen Gammer

After calling a snap election, David Eby’s NDP watched the B.C. Conservatives turn a polling edge into a decisive majority. Join hosts Cory and Roderick as they chat with Stephen Gammer from William Wright's Fraser Valley office, about the campaign’s biggest turning point and what this political shift means for the future of BC. Gammer unpacks the campaign missteps, the Conservatives’ disciplined strategy and the unusual chain of events that brought the parties to the polls. He also considers what the result could mean for development, property rights, permitting and business confidence, while cautioning that big promises—from faster projects to new infrastructure—will take time, and may collide with the challenge of reining in spending.

31 min

VCREP #194 | Where Are Commercial Property Values Headed? With Ryan Wong and Tony Liu

What’s really happening in Metro Vancouver’s commercial real estate market, and where are property values headed next? Cory Wright and Rod MacKay welcome Ryan Wong and Tony Liu of Wong & Liu Valuation Group to unpack the latest market trends from an appraiser’s perspective. From navigating lease renewal disputes and arbitration to understanding how leasing incentives affect property valuations, Ryan and Tony share valuable insights into the challenges facing landlords, tenants, investors, and developers. With a potential recovery still on the horizon, this episode offers a practical look at what lies ahead for Metro Vancouver’s commercial real estate market through 2027 and beyond.

36 min

VCREP #193 | Use Smarter Investments to Tackle Higher Interest Rates, with Alan Haigh

Where are the real opportunities in commercial real estate as higher interest rates, inflation, and economic uncertainty continue to shape the market? Cory and Rod welcome Alan Haigh, founding partner of Impact Commercial Mortgage, to discuss the state of commercial real estate across BC and Alberta. Alan breaks down how rising borrowing costs affect property valuations, mortgage renewals, and financing requirements, while highlighting the sectors showing resilience. From retail properties gaining momentum to office markets slowly recovering and land development facing significant challenges, he shares what investors need to know before making their next move.

41 min

VCREP #192 | BC’s Snap Election & Municipal Elections: What’s Really at Stake? Part 2 of 2

The BC election gets even more interesting as Cory, Rod and Stephen Gammer dig deeper into the policies and political strategies shaping the campaign. In part 2 Stephen breaks down the proposed tax changes, the PST, housing and real estate, government spending, and what a change in government could mean for businesses, investors and the broader BC economy. What are the risks of calling a snap election and what could happen if the polls get it wrong?

53 min

VCREP #191 | BC’s Snap Election: What’s Really at Stake? Part 1 of 2

Why is BC heading to the polls early, and what does the snap election mean for the province’s economy and real estate market? Cory and Rod sit down with Stephen Gammer, William Wright Commercial’s unofficial political expert and former political staffer, to break down the BC election, the issues driving the campaign, and what could be at stake for real estate, housing, taxes and businesses. They also discuss the overlap with the municipal elections, the proposed tax on unsold condos, PST, housing supply and why this election could have significant implications for BC’s commercial real estate market.

37 min

VCREP #190 | The 2026 Commercial Real Estate Report Card

How is BC’s commercial real estate market really doing in 2026? Cory Wright and Rod McKay hand out their mid-year report card, grading multifamily, office, industrial, and retail while breaking down what’s driving the market. From rising cap rates and shifting buyer expectations to changing demand and the growing gap between asset classes, we are taking a look at where things stand after a wild few years. What does the rest of 2026 have in store for BC’s commercial real estate market? Tune in and take notes.

39 min

VCREP #189 | How AI Is Transforming Commercial Real Estate with Alex Taylor of Commercialize IQ

Cory Wright is back with co-host Rod MacKay with this week's guest Alex Taylor, Founder and CEO of Commercialize IQ. Alex breaks down how Commercialize IQ helps owners and operators bring together information from spreadsheets, leases, emails, and accounting systems to streamline portfolio management and reduce manual work. Can you trust generic AI tools with confidential leases and sensitive real estate information? Where does AI actually fit into lease analysis and brokerage workflows? And can it work alongside platforms like Yardi, MRI, and AppFolio rather than replace them? Alex also shares his outlook on the retail, industrial, and office markets for the rest of 2026.

29 min

VCREP #188 | How AI is Hurting Commercial Real Estate with Jerry Shi

From bad lease advice to costly negotiation mistakes, AI is already changing commercial real estate. Cory speaks with Jerry Shi of Red Point Law about the opportunities, risks, and why experience still can't be automated.

37 min

VCREP #187 | Developer's Bailout or Bank Bailout? with Rod MacKay

This week, Cory sits down with Rod MacKay, team leader at William Wright Commercial, to break down the BC and federal governments' plan to purchase 2,200 unsold condos across the province. They unpack the real numbers behind the $3.2 billion announcement, who stands to benefit, and what it could mean for housing affordability in BC, before diving into the commercial real estate market heading into the second half of 2026. Where investors are finding opportunities? Tune in to find out.