When discussing commercial real estate, square footage is one of the most important numbers attached to a building. It influences leasing, operating costs, property valuations, financing decisions, and investment analysis. Yet one question is often overlooked: How was that area measured?

One of the questions we are asked most often is, "What is a Land Agent?" The truth is that there is no single answer. Land Agents wear many hats, allowing us to work with landowners, engineers, surveyors, municipalities, contractors, and project managers throughout every stage of a project. No two days are ever the same.

From coast to coast to coast, communities are grappling with questions of supply, affordability, and suitability, questions that housing needs assessments (HNAs) are designed to help answer. At Turner Drake, we have been conducting HNAs for communities across Canada for years, helping municipalities and provincial governments understand not just how much housing exists, but whether it is the sufficient to meet demand, and whether (and to what extent) there is a need for affordable alternatives.

Last fall, I completed a co-op term with Turner Drake & Partners as a Real Estate Analyst. Throughout the term, I was introduced to several facets of real estate and quickly realized the experience would be broader than I initially expected.

In commercial real estate, few concepts generate as much intrigue—and misunderstanding—as the “off-market deal.” To many investors, these transactions represent the holy grail: exclusive opportunities, limited competition, and superior pricing. But in practice, the reality is far more nuanced.

Global affairs have dominated the media of late, but the challenge of rising living costs continues to shape domestic politics. It is particularly evident at the local level this time of year. If you own real estate in Nova Scotia, last month you received your updated property assessment, and at this point your local municipal council is likely deep in the throes of setting their budget and tax rates.

On October 20th, housing providers, policymakers, funders, and community partners gathered for the fourth annual Housing Symposium, hosted by United Way Halifax and the Nova Scotia Non-Profit Housing Association.

A critical look at how Economic Impact Analyses can mislead, and why not all “positive outcomes” are truly beneficial.