CEO Video With Trevor Koot

Featuring BCREA CEO Trevor Koot, this monthly video series offers a unique look into both BCREA and the real estate and housing sectors at large.

A Place to Share Ideas

Once a month, BCREA CEO Trevor Koot steps in front of the camera to discuss housing and real estate topics relevant to both REALTORS® and the public. These videos are available on our YouTube channel playlist, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Check out the series below.

Latest Video

Why the Australia Model Makes Sense for Canadian Housing

June 23, 2026

New housing construction in Canada is slowing down as uncertainty keeps buyers on the sidelines. In this video, Trevor Koot explains how the Australia model of allowing foreign investment in new housing projects could help unlock financing and encourage more homebuilding.

Transcript

In recent years, Canada has tried several different approaches to improve housing affordability, including the federal Foreign Buyer Ban, which prevents non-Canadians from purchasing residential real estate in Canada until at least 2027.

At the time it was enacted, the policy was popular. Home prices were rising rapidly, and governments were under pressure to act. But today, we’re facing a different problem. In many parts of the country, new housing construction is slowing down. Economic uncertainty has weakened demand, and new projects are being delayed or cancelled altogether.

And that raises an important question: If we want more housing supply, how do we actually finance the homes we need to build?

Here’s the challenge: In BC, most condo developments rely on pre-sales to secure construction financing. Typically, developers need to sell around 60 per cent of the units before a project can proceed. In other words, these homes need buyers before they can even be built.

But in today’s market, many projects are struggling to reach the necessary thresholds. Investor activity has slowed and financing has become more difficult.

That’s where the “Australia model” comes in. Under this approach, foreign investment would still be restricted to the resale housing market, but non-residents could participate in new housing projects and pre-sales.

That means foreign capital can help finance the construction of new homes without increasing competition for existing housing stock. It’s a more targeted approach, one that acknowledges there’s a role for foreign investors in today’s housing sector, if only in a limited capacity.

And this matters because building enough housing will require enormous amounts of capital. In fact, RBC estimates Canada needs $2 trillion in investment to meet its housing targets. That figure is far beyond what can realistically be sourced from domestic savings alone.

There’s widespread agreement that Canada needs more housing supply. But supply targets can only be reached if projects can secure financing and actually get built.

At the BC Real Estate Association, we believe housing policy should support one core objective above all else: creating more housing options for more people in more places. That means being willing to consider practical, balanced approaches, including ones like the Australia model, that can help get more homes built.

Past Videos

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2026

2026
2025
2024

May 19, 2026 – How Does BCREA Work With the Regulator?

April 21, 2026 – Why BC Housing Policy Could Lead to Another Price Surge

March 24, 2026 – What Hasn’t Changed in BCREA’s 50 Years

February 17, 2026 – Why BC Strata Councils Need Mandatory Training

January 20, 2026 – How AI is Changing the Real Estate Sector

December 16, 2025 – What to Expect for the BC Real Estate Sector in 2026

November 18, 2025 – BCREA’s New Vision: Connecting Communities, Enriching Lives

October 21, 2025 – Why BC Needs a Permanent Housing Policy Roundtable

September 24, 2025 – Redefining the REALTOR® Value Proposition

August 19, 2025 – How to Fix BC’s Short-Term Rental Legislation

July 22, 2025 – Preparing BC Real Estate for a Changing Climate

June 17, 2025 – How Offsite Construction Can Speed Up BC Housing Completions

May 20, 2025 – What’s Stopping BC From Building More Homes?

April 22, 2025 – Changing the Conversation About “Fixing” Housing Affordability

March 18, 2025 – How BCREA Advocates for a Better Housing Ecosystem

February 18, 2025 – Drug Home Remediation: Why BC Needs New Standards

January 21, 2025 – What You Need to Know About the BC Home Flipping Tax

December 17, 2024 – What to Expect for the BC Real Estate Sector in 2025

November 19, 2024 – How to Be the Voice of 26,000+ REALTORS®

October 22, 2024 – Radon Awareness: What Every BC Homeowner Needs to Know

September 17, 2024 – Three Key Housing Issues for the 2024 BC Election

August 20, 2024 – Why Canadian Housing Needs Speculators

July 23, 2024 – Guiding Success: The Vital Role of Managing Brokers

June 25, 2024 – The Need for Innovation in Canadian Real Estate

May 22, 2024 – BCREA CEO Trevor Koot on Collaboration in Canadian Housing

April 18, 2024 – BCREA CEO Trevor Koot on Accessibility and Affordability

March 22, 2024 – BCREA CEO Trevor Koot Reflects on State of Housing in BC

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CEO Video With Trevor Koot

A Place to Share Ideas

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Past Videos

CEO Video With Trevor Koot

A Place to Share Ideas

Latest Video

Past Videos

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