Journal
The Journal.
Plain-language guides to custom home building and renovation, plus multiplex development, zoning, and what BC's new housing rules mean for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley homeowners and investors.
Renovations
Adding a Second Storey or Building New: How to Decide
Going up gets you space without giving up yard, but it puts the entire existing house under review. Here is the framework we use with homeowners deciding between a second storey and starting fresh.
Mark Van Ek · September 10, 2026 · 7 min read
Renovations
Heritage Home Restoration in Vancouver: What Owners Should Know
Restoring a character or heritage home means balancing what should be preserved against what needs to be replaced. Here is how owners in Vancouver approach that decision without losing the house or the budget.
Mark Van Ek · September 6, 2026 · 8 min
Renovations
Moving a House Instead of Demolishing It: How It Works in BC
Relocating a house sounds extreme until you compare it to demolition. Here is what makes a house moveable, what the permit path looks like in BC, and when relocation is genuinely the better option.
Mark Van Ek · September 2, 2026 · 6 min
Renovations
House Lifting in Vancouver: When Raising Your Home Makes Sense
Lifting a house is how many Vancouver owners get a full-height basement, a new foundation, and a legal suite out of a home they already like. Here is what the process involves and when it is worth doing.
Mark Van Ek · August 29, 2026 · 7 min
Renovations
Planning a Home Addition in Metro Vancouver: Cost, Permits, and Timeline
An addition can be the most efficient way to get the space your family needs without leaving the neighbourhood. Here is how the cost, the permit path, and the schedule usually work in Metro Vancouver.
Mark Van Ek · August 25, 2026 · 7 min
Renovations
Restoring a Heritage or Character Home in Vancouver: Process, Permits, and Cost Drivers
A heritage restoration runs on a different permit track and a different risk profile than an ordinary renovation. Here is what a Vancouver, New Westminster, or Burnaby heritage home actually involves, from the first status check to the final inspection.
Mark Van Ek · August 23, 2026 · 8 min
Renovations
What Does a Basement Renovation Cost in Metro Vancouver?
Finishing or reworking a basement is one of the most common renovations we get asked about. Here is what drives the budget in Metro Vancouver, from ceiling height and drainage to whether you are adding a legal suite.
Mark Van Ek · August 21, 2026 · 7 min
Renovations
High-Performance Homes in Vancouver: BC Energy Step Code
BC Energy Step Code affects custom home design, cost, and comfort. Here's what Metro Vancouver homeowners need to know before building.
Mark Van Ek · August 15, 2026 · 5 min
Renovations
Renovate the old house or take it down: how that decision actually gets made
The renovate versus demolish question rarely turns on one number. Here is the order a renovation contractor works through it, and the point where renovation stops making sense.
RealDream Contracting · August 14, 2026 · 5 min
Renovations
What Homeowners Wish They Knew Before Renovating
Renovation planning Vancouver starts with clarity around scope, budget, hidden conditions, and builder involvement.
Mark Van Ek · July 30, 2026 · 4 min
Renovations
Energy-Efficient Upgrades That Boost Resale Value
Boost resale value in Metro Vancouver with smart energy-efficient upgrades. Learn which improvements buyers want from expert home builders.
Mark Van Ek · July 20, 2026 · 5 min
Renovations
Custom Home or Major Renovation: Which Is Right for You?
Deciding between a custom home or major renovation? Learn how to choose the right path based on your goals, budget, and lifestyle.
Mark Van Ek · July 16, 2026 · 6 min
Renovations
Get the Best ROI With These 5 Home Efficiency Upgrades
Order matters more than the product list. Here are the five home efficiency upgrades that return the most in a Metro Vancouver climate, and the sequence that makes each one pay off.
Mark Van Ek · June 28, 2026 · 4 min
Common questions
About the Journal
What topics does the Venture Pacific Journal cover?
The Venture Pacific Journal covers Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley multiplex development, specifically BC's Bill 44 / SSMUH rules, GP/LP partnership structure for homeowners and investors, feasibility reviews, city-by-city permitting guides (Vancouver R1-1, Burnaby SSMUH, Richmond RSM), construction timelines, financing, and missing-middle housing strategy.
What is SSMUH and how does it affect Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley homeowners?
Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) is the BC provincial policy, enacted under Bill 44 in 2023, that requires municipalities to allow three to six homes on most standard residential lots without a rezoning. Lots within 400 metres of a frequent transit stop can add a sixth unit. This affects most Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley homeowners, including those in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, and New Westminster, by dramatically expanding what they can build on land they already own.
What is a GP/LP partnership in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley multiplex development?
A GP/LP (General Partner / Limited Partner) partnership is a limited-partnership structure for real estate development. In a Venture Pacific arrangement, the homeowner contributes their land as equity and becomes a Limited Partner. Venture Pacific acts as General Partner, contributing capital, design, permitting, and construction management while carrying the construction risk. Proceeds are shared at project completion according to the partnership agreement.
How long does a Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley multiplex development take from lot to completion?
Most Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley SSMUH-compliant multiplex projects take 18 to 36 months from the start of the feasibility review to occupancy: six to twelve months for design and permitting, and twelve to eighteen months for construction. Projects requiring a rezoning or development variance permit take longer. Venture Pacific's Manchester Living project, for example, had its rezoning approved December 2023 and is expected to complete August 2026.
Does the Journal cover custom home building as well as multiplex development?
Yes. The Journal is organized into two sections: Build, covering custom homes, renovations, and construction contracts and costs, and Develop, covering multiplex development, SSMUH and Bill 44 zoning, GP/LP partnerships, and city-by-city permitting. Each post is tagged into one of these two sections so readers can filter to the topic that matches their project.
Can I get new Journal posts without checking the site?
Yes. The Journal publishes an RSS feed at venturepacific.ca/rss.xml that any feed reader can subscribe to. New posts on both the Build and Develop sides appear in the feed as soon as they go live, so a reader following BC housing policy or construction-cost updates does not need to check the page manually.
Are the Journal's zoning and permitting guides specific to one city?
No, they cover multiple Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley municipalities separately, because SSMUH rules differ by city. Vancouver's guide explains the R1-1 zone, Burnaby's covers its R1 SSMUH district, and Richmond's covers the RSM zone. A homeowner should read the guide for their specific municipality rather than assume the rules match a neighbouring city.
Who writes the Venture Pacific Journal?
Journal posts are written by Venture Pacific's own team members and credited by name on each post. Most bylines link to that person's team profile page. This keeps the byline tied to a real, identifiable person rather than an anonymous company account, so a reader can check who is behind the zoning, financing, or construction guidance in any given article.
Let's talk about your property
A conversation, not a commitment.
Whether you're curious about the multiplex value of your land or looking to partner on a missing-middle build, we're here to start the conversation.