Summer is a great time to tackle the parts of your home that are easier to inspect, clean and repair while the weather is dry. A little attention now can help prevent bigger issues once fall rain and cooler temperatures return.

Start with the roof, gutters, and drainage. Check for loose shingles, debris in gutters, blocked downspouts, or areas where water may not be moving away from the home properly. Even in summer, a sudden downpour can quickly reveal drainage problems.

It is also a good time to look at windows, exterior caulking, siding, decks and railings. Heat and sun can dry out seals, paint and exposed wood, so look for cracking, peeling, soft spots or areas that need touching up. Small repairs now can help prevent moisture intrusion later.

Homeowners should also pay attention to landscaping and vegetation. Trim trees and shrubs away from the house, roofline, gutters and exterior vents. This helps with airflow, reduces pest access and keeps branches from causing damage during wind or rain.

Inside the home, summer is a smart time to service fans, heat pumps, air conditioning systems and ventilation. Clean filters, check airflow and make sure systems are running efficiently before the hottest days arrive.

Finally, do a quick safety check: test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, inspect exterior lighting, clean dryer vents and make sure outdoor stairs, paths and railings are secure.

Explore Lynn Canyon
A classic North Shore outing: forest trails, the suspension bridge, creek views, and picnic spots. Great for burning energy without spending a dollar.

Visit local spray parks and playgrounds
Perfect for hot days. Pack snacks, towels, and sunscreen, and make it an easy afternoon out. Check the City/District websites before going, as hours and water restrictions can change.

Do a Shipyards wander
The Shipyards is great for kids even without paid activities: open space, waterfront views, public art, people-watching, and room to move around. There are also free summer events and concerts through North Vancouver Recreation & Culture. Every Friday through September 11.

Try a library activity
North Vancouver and West Vancouver libraries often offer free children’s programming, storytimes, reading clubs, craft sessions, and family-friendly events. These are especially good for younger kids or rainy days.
Monday Fundays at Lynn Valley Village — Mondays, 2–3 pm
This is a free family-friendly pop-up in the plaza every Monday in July and August, with hands-on crafts and giant games. A nice one for families looking for easy, no-cost summer activities.

Go on a nature scavenger hunt
Choose a local trail, park, or beach and have kids look for things like a feather, smooth rock, yellow flower, bird, pinecone, bridge, or interesting leaf. Easy, free, and surprisingly entertaining.

Visit Capilano River Regional Park / Cleveland Dam
A great mix of trails, big views, forest, and open space. The Capilano Salmon Hatchery is also nearby and is a fun educational stop.

Spend time at Ambleside or Dundarave Beach
Bring buckets, snacks, bikes, scooters, or a picnic blanket. Kids can beachcomb, watch boats, play at the park, or walk the Seawall.

Walk or bike the Spirit Trail
Flat, scenic, and family-friendly in sections. It is a good option for scooters, bikes, strollers, and a relaxed waterfront adventure.

Check out free or low cost community events
NVRC lists events including free summer concerts and community activities, and local family-event calendars often round up ongoing North Shore options like scavenger hunts, kids’ clubs, and seasonal events.

As expected, the Bank of Canada held its overnight lending rate at 2.25% today, marking the fifth consecutive rate hold.

While this announcement does not change much for current mortgage holders, it does give us something the market has been missing for a while: a little more predictability.

The Bank is still watching inflation, global uncertainty and ongoing U.S. trade concerns closely. For now, there is no strong signal that another rate cut is imminent — but there also does not appear to be immediate pressure to raise rates.

What Does This Mean for Buyers?

For first-time buyers who have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for rates to fall further, it may be time to revisit the conversation.

Five consecutive rate holds have created a more stable lending environment, making it easier to plan around your own finances rather than trying to guess what the Bank of Canada may do next.

Getting pre-approved does not mean you have to buy. It simply gives you a clear understanding of your budget, your monthly payments and what you would feel comfortable purchasing should the right home come along.

In today’s market, being informed and prepared can put you in a much stronger position than trying to perfectly time the next rate announcement.

Aluminum wiring is one of those things that can sound scarier than it actually is. For many buyers, seeing “aluminum wiring” on a listing, inspection report or insurance questionnaire can feel like an automatic red flag — but the reality is a little more nuanced.

Myth: Aluminum wiring means the home is unsafe.
Fact: Aluminum wiring is not automatically dangerous. The concern is usually not the wire itself, but whether the connections, outlets, switches and fixtures have been properly installed and maintained.

Myth: A home with aluminum wiring needs to be completely rewired.
Fact: Not always. In many cases, a qualified electrician can assess the system and recommend appropriate remedies, which may include approved connectors, proper terminations, copper pigtailing or replacement of certain devices. A full rewire may be the best solution in some homes, but it is not the only option.

Myth: Aluminum wiring is illegal in B.C.
Fact: Aluminum conductors are still used in some electrical applications today. The key issue is that the installation must meet code requirements and use materials approved for the specific purpose.

Myth: Insurance is impossible with aluminum wiring.
Fact: Insurance can be more complicated. Some insurers may ask for an electrical inspection, repairs or written confirmation from a licensed electrician before offering or renewing coverage. This is why it is important to deal with the issue early, especially if you are buying, selling or preparing a home for market.

The takeaway: Aluminum wiring should not be ignored, but it also should not cause panic. If a home has aluminum wiring, the best next step is to have it reviewed by a licensed electrician who understands B.C. requirements. With the right assessment and proper corrections, many homes with aluminum wiring can continue to be safe, insurable and marketable.

For your own backup: B.C.’s electrical code sets minimum requirements for safe wiring methods, grounding/bonding, overcurrent protection and installation standards and it is enforced by Technical Safety BC under the Electrical Safety Regulation.

Technical Safety BC also notes that additions or modifications to existing branch circuits must comply with the current BC Electrical Code, while existing adequate branch circuits may be reconnected subject to code rules.

The most important practical point is compatibility: Technical Safety BC has investigated incidents where aluminum conductors were connected to equipment not intended for aluminum, creating high-resistance connections and fire risk.

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If you proceed with BCAA Insurance Agency and complete an insurance transaction, Greater Vancouver REALTORS® may receive a referral fee or other compensation from BCAA Insurance Agency. Greater Vancouver REALTORS® is not acting as an insurance agent and does not provide insurance advice.

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You may have seen the headlines recently: the federal and provincial governments have announced a major housing partnership for B.C., including a plan to convert more than 2,200 vacant condo units into affordable homes.

On the surface, that sounds like good news. We need more housing. We need more rental options. We need more creative ways to get people into homes faster.

But this particular idea raises some fair questions.

The basic proposal is that government, through Build Canada Homes and BC Housing, would help move completed but unsold condos into the affordable-housing system. The argument in favour is simple: these homes already exist. They are built, finished, and sitting empty. Buying them could be much faster than waiting years for new affordable housing to be approved, financed, built and occupied.

There is also a broader market concern. Condo construction has slowed dramatically, and if too many projects fail or too many developers stop building, we could find ourselves with a real shortage a few years from now.

That is the stronger argument in favour of the plan: today’s unsold inventory is not the same thing as tomorrow’s housing supply. The homes sitting empty now were started years ago, under very different construction costs, financing rates and market conditions. If new projects are not launching today, we may not feel the impact immediately — but we could feel it three to five years from now when fewer homes are actually being completed.

There is also an argument that some of these completed condos may now be selling at or near replacement cost. In other words, government may be able to acquire finished housing for less than it would cost to build the same housing from scratch today, especially once land, construction, financing and approval timelines are factored in.

That is the practical, long-term supply argument.

But here is the other side.

If these condos are sitting empty because buyers would not pay the prices developers were asking, then the market was already doing what markets do: forcing prices to adjust. For

buyers who have been patiently waiting on the sidelines, that price adjustment may have been the first real opportunity in years.

So the question becomes: is government creating affordability, or is it stepping in before prices are allowed to fall far enough?

That is where many people are uncomfortable. If public money is used to buy homes that the private market has rejected at current pricing, it can start to feel less like an affordability plan and more like a backstop for developers, lenders and projects that may have been overbuilt, overpriced, or over-leveraged.

Of course, it is not quite that simple.

If the government can buy these units at a true discount and keep them affordable over the long term, there may be a strong public benefit. Families could be housed sooner. Vacant homes could be put to use. The cost may even be lower than building new affordable housing from scratch.

But the details matter enormously.

What price will government pay for these condos? How “affordable” will the homes actually be? Who will qualify to live in them? Will the homes stay affordable long term, or only temporarily? Will there be a rent-to-own component that genuinely helps people move toward ownership? And will this help regular buyers, or make it harder for prices to naturally correct?

We are genuinely curious where people land on this.

Is this a practical way to get empty homes occupied and protect the future housing pipeline?

Or is it a government-supported floor under condo prices at the very moment buyers were finally starting to see some relief?

As always, the answer may be somewhere in the middle. It may be possible for this to be both: a useful housing tool in some cases, and a questionable market intervention in others.

But with this much public money involved, British Columbians deserve more than a headline. They deserve clear terms, clear accountability, and a clear explanation of who this is really helping.

We’d love to hear what you think.

Would you support the government buying empty condos if they become truly affordable homes? Or do you think the market should be allowed to correct on its own?

Jasmine@thebottoteam.com would love to hear your thoughts!