For this episode of the Goodman Report podcast, you’ll hear the unlikely and riveting story of how a left-wing activist became one of BC’s most accomplished business leaders and philanthropists, championing projects in the visual arts and innovation in Canadian wildlife protection and sustainability.

Freedom rider. Student radical. Academic. Social activist. Residential developer. Museum builder. Grizzly bear protector. Michael Audain has been all of these things and more in a colourful life spanning eight decades, three continents and five careers. Born to a branch of the legendary BC Dunsmuir clan that had lost its wealth and social status, little was expected of Audain. A lonely teenager plagued by insecurities, he was a dismal failure in the classroom and on the playing field. Yet Audain would become one of the most prominent home builders in British Columbia and a well-known philanthropist in support of the visual arts and wildlife causes.

Along the way, Audain did time in a Mississippi prison for participating in the Freedom Rider movement. He started the Nuclear Disarmament Club at the University of British Columbia and was a founder of the BC Civil Liberties Association. He advocated for the radical Sons of Freedom Doukhobor sect on their protest march from the Kootenays to Vancouver. He proudly displayed a photograph of the communist revolutionary Fidel Castro at the founding convention of the New Democratic Party until Tommy Douglas persuaded him to take it down. Audain worked for an airline in the Arctic, became a probation officer and a farm appraiser, was detained in Ireland under suspicion of terrorism, and sought wisdom from a Buddhist monk in Thailand. In 1980, he took the most unexpected turn of all and became a developer in Greater Vancouver’s volatile housing market. As chairman of Polygon Homes Ltd., he has been responsible for the construction of over 35,000 homes.

“My life never had a business plan,” muses Audain. Join us as he shares his story of unplanned twists and turns, victories and defeats, recounted with characteristic wit and candour. It is a tale of adventure and perseverance that will inspire many seeking to find their place in the world.

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It’s always great when a single conversation makes you smarter, and that’s how I felt after sitting down with Brent Sawchyn, CEO of PC Urban Properties Corp., for this episode of the Goodman Report podcast.

Brent is a generational talent. He has spent 35 years in the development business, earning his spurs alongside high performers like Ian Gillespie at Westbank and Eric Carlson at Anthem Properties, so he’s seen his share of highs and lows. Brent was smart enough that when he started PC Urban in 2012, he steered clear of the oversubscribed condo market and jumped into purpose-built rentals, while also launching an innovative and incredibly successful version of industrial strata. Now that others seem to be abandoning condos, Brent looks like a man who has been taking the pulse of the market from a point slightly upstream of his competitors.

Our podcast conversation is rich with lessons learned. It’s clear that Brent Sawchyn has a firm grasp of the usual business aphorisms: the only constant is change; every crisis leads to opportunity; we’re all in it together; it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Unlike many others, however, he actually applies these lessons in his business. Brent is also an avid student of his own mistakes, admitting, for example, that he was once among the developers who spent too much time yelling at city planners – people who usually weren’t even responsible for the policies making it harder for PC Urban to develop good properties. Now, Brent has learned to listen. Instead of lobbying for what he wants – and complaining when he doesn’t get it – he goes to City Hall to find out how to solve planners’ problems, to excellent effect.

These and other lessons have made PC Urban a success, and Brent’s seasoned judgment will be essential as we face a market disruption that could be unprecedented in the last century.

If, like me, you’re eager to understand how best to face this multi-generational challenge, join me with Brent Sawchyn on this episode of the Goodman Report podcast. So much history. So much good judgment.

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Follow Brent Sawchyn:

LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/brentsawchyn?trk=public_post-text

Website - https://www.pcurban.ca/

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Kerry Gold has been a full-time professional journalist for the last 30 years, and for more than half that time she’s been covering the real estate and housing beat for the Globe and Mail.

She got her start at the Courier community newspaper and after a couple of years caught the attention of the Vancouver Sun editor-in-chief, who hired the young cub reporter to work in the paper’s entertainment section. During her tenure as the paper’s music critic—back in the days when newspapers had music critics and proper entertainment sections—she met a young struggling Michael Bublé and became the first journalist to write about the singer. She later penned his memoir for Random House UK, which launched her own side career as an author of several books for various businesspeople, including the Toigo family, who own White Spot.

She’s written for the Walrus, where she wrote a popular cover story on Vancouver’s growing reputation as a magnet for international wealth. She’s written for American publications Variety, L.A. Weekly, and for the Toronto Star, BC Business, Vancouver Magazine, Macleans, and for the Globe’s Property Report commercial real estate section, as well as many other publications.

As a columnist for the Globe, she’s covered everything from market cycles to lack of affordable housing to investment and speculation, short-term rentals, displacement of tenants, developer frustrations with municipal fees and ever-changing government policies, and fascinating data on B.C.’s housing situation.

In this episode, we discuss why she called Vancouver a “freak show” in 2017, what makes her lose sleep at night, the Broadway plan, why she started writing about foreign buying, how the market has changed, the ongoing supply debate, the problems with building rental, the challenge of having to work with a one-week lag time, the ugliness of social media, and how you should never read the comments section. We also get into an interesting discussion about media bias and agenda-driven journalism, and what it’s like being in the public eye.

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Follow Kerry Gold:

The Globe and Mail - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/kerry-gold/

LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kerry-gold-60a9016

X - https://x.com/goldinyvr?lang=en

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Our latest podcast is with Richard Littlemore on his new book, City Builders, a family and corporate history of the Maleks and Millennium Development and a blistering review of the grimy politics and catastrophic political intervention that marred their development of Olympic Village.

Vancouver developers Peter and Shahram Malek have lost two great fortunes, both times at the hands of a hostile government. First, as young men in the flush of success, they were forced from Revolutionary Iran, leaving behind the massive construction and development business built by their father. Second, and more surprisingly, after rebuilding in Vancouver, to the point that they could deliver an internationally admired 25-acre, 1.5 million-square-foot Athletes Village in time for the 2010 Olympics, the City pushed the project into insolvency and seized everything but the Maleks’ own homes.

Either disaster would have ruined less resilient players. The Maleks, however, stand triumphant, and their company, Millenium Development Corporation, continues to enhance their chosen home of Metro Vancouver.

When they found themselves attacked, rather than thanked, they never faltered. They remain—greatly to the benefit of their fellow citizens—city builders.

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Follow Richard Littlemore:

Latest Book: City Builders by Richard Littlemore - https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/city-builders-the-maleks-the-olympics-and-a-historic-gift-to-vancouver/9781998841042.html

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardlittlemore/?originalSubdomain=ca

X - https://x.com/rlittlemore?lang=en

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In episode 2, Mark Goodman sits down with Hani Lammam, Executive VP of Cressey Development Group, to discuss his journey from a high school laborer to leading one of Vancouver's top development firms. With over 25 years in the real estate industry, Hani shares his insights into the challenges and opportunities in today’s market.

“The institutions and the big corporations, they're the stabilizing factor in the marketplace. They are the ones who are disciplined, who are very careful about how they underwrite these investments. And I think where it all kind of falls apart is because there is not an appreciation for the risk that investors take. It’s a big risk. This is a lot of money and the return is minimal. We're literally talking about three to four percent yields on investment. That's not very good.

So these are not very profitable investments. This is an investment into the future. And we should embrace these investors because they are literally the ones that are supporting the housing stock, as opposed to demonizing them and somehow suggesting that the financialization of real estate is bad.

When people say that, I kind of recognize how naïve they are about how the world works. You almost can't respond to it because they’re just oblivious.”

– Hani Lammam, Cressey Development

Key highlights:

Housing Affordability Crisis: Supply shortages, increased taxes, complex regulatory demands and ineffective policies are driving up rents and making housing unaffordable

Misconception of Foreign Buyers and Corporations: They are not the primary issue; the lack of supply is the main cause of the housing problem.

Inefficiency of Rental Protection Fund: While it preserves social housing, it removes affordable units from the market and doesn't create new stock.

TOA Initiative Flaws: The Transit Oriented Area initiative sets density targets but leaves details to municipalities, leading to conflicting policies and lack of progress.

Need for Coordination: Developers and municipalities must collaborate to create feasible housing solutions, with advocates or champions helping navigate the approval process.

Cautious Optimism for 2025: There is hope for political change and structural fixes that could improve the housing situation and create development opportunities.

Despite market challenges, Hani’s team stays nimble, deeply involved in project details, and focused on sustainable growth. Tune in for an in-depth look at Vancouver’s real estate future!

👂 Listen to the full conversation. You won’t want to miss this!

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In the inaugural episode of Goodman Report Podcast, host Mark Goodman interviews Bob Knakal, a veteran in the New York City commercial real estate industry with over 40 years of experience.

We dive into Bob's incredible career and his strategies for success in one of the world's most competitive real estate markets.

Bob is a true titan in commercial real estate. As the founder of BKRE in New York City, he has led some of the city's largest, high-profile transactions and personally sold billions of dollars in properties. His expertise in the Manhattan market is unmatched.

Bob shares his unexpected entry into real estate, his rigorous daily routine, and his business strategies.

The discussion covers the differences between the Vancouver and Manhattan real estate markets, the impact of technology, and the challenges of housing affordability.

Bob emphasizes the importance of mentorship, delegation, and perseverance in the industry.

The episode concludes with insights into Bob's career and advice for newcomers in real estate.

🔑 Topic highlights include:

Bob’s journey from beginner to #1 commercial broker in Manhattan

Gaining a competitive edge: Asset class specialization and geographic focus

A "day in the life" of Bob Knakal – working 16-hour days, staying energized, and achieving it all

Bob’s favorite aspects of the business: Negotiation, business origination, valuation, marketing, mentoring, and more

A deep dive into the Manhattan market: Number of properties, turnover rates, average deal size, cap rates

Navigating the political climate: Rent control, over-taxation, landlord vilification, and more

Bob’s biggest mistakes and lessons learned in his 40-year career (spoiler alert: no one wins every deal)

How Bob is embracing change, including AI, in his new venture

Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with invaluable insights from one of the best in the business.

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Welcome to the Goodman Report Podcast! I’m Mark Goodman, principal at Goodman Commercial – a leading force in Vancouver's real estate market. Our firm has been a trusted name in rental apartment buildings, development land, and commercial investment properties for over 40 years. Now, we’re bringing the insights that have shaped our success directly to you in podcast form.

Each episode, we’ll dive deep into the world of real estate – exploring market trends, the latest drivers, and industry insights. But we don’t stop there. We’re also bringing you the voices behind the deals: investors, politicians, architects, developers, mortgage brokers, and thought leaders who are shaping the housing and commercial real estate landscape.

And, of course, you’ll hear from me – Mark Goodman – as I pull back the curtain on the deals we’re making, the challenges we face, and everything in between. Get ready for the good, the bad, the ugly, and yes, the gossip – as I share a behind-the-scenes look at Metro Vancouver’s real estate investment market.

Since 1983, our flagship Goodman Report has provided the highest-quality market insights for our clients. Now, we’re delivering that expertise directly to you.

So, be sure to follow the Goodman Report Podcast on your favorite platform and subscribe to get the latest episodes.

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