By Jeremy Davis
In one statement, 2024 was an exciting year of events and advocacy on behalf of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board (WRREB).
In February, the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board hosted its annual Market Insights event virtually which brings together national and local industry experts to gain insights into economic and real estate related trends, results and forecasts. We welcomed keynote speaker, Benjamin Tal, Managing Director and Deputy Chief Economist for CIBC Capital Markets, for a national economic outlook and forecast with respect to inflation and interest rates, both hot topics to start and finish 2024. He was joined by Shaun Cathcart, Senior Economist for the Canadian Real Estate Association, for a national housing outlook, and Dan Chubey, Managing Director of the Winnipeg Colliers Brokerage, for his perspective on the Winnipeg commercial real estate landscape. The event closed with my recap of the residential real estate market in the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s market region, along with a forecast for 2024.
Looking back, 2024 started with interest rate uncertainty which captured the attention of all those seeking to enter the real estate market. The Bank of Canada made five interest rate decreases in 2024 before settling at 3.25% to enter 2025. This was a big topic of discussion, and the impact of the rate decreases were certainly felt in Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s market region in the second half of 2024. This will almost certainly be a topic of discussion in 2025. To learn more, you’re invited to watch the 2025 Market Insights virtual event on February 20, 2025. Scan the QR code at the bottom of this page for details about the 2025 Market Insights speakers and program.
In March, Daphne Shepherd was announced as the 2024-2025 President of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board. Shepherd has been a REALTOR® for 17 years, a Broker/Owner for 14 years and has achieved numerous REALTOR® designations along the way. She is an international best-selling author and accomplished speaker. Daphne’s motivation and passionate attitude continues to inspire REALTORS® to reach greater heights through her custom workshops.
One way the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board prioritizes and gives back to the communities we serve is through the Citizens Hall of Fame, which was founded 38 years ago in 1986. The Citizens Half of Fame honours individuals who have brought recognition to Winnipeg or have made outstanding contributions to the quality of life and development of the city. Each inductee is honoured with a bronze bust of their likeness in the Citizens Hall of Fame at Assiniboine Park. This year, Dr. Lotfollah Shafai was the recipient as the 50th inductee in celebration of his groundbreaking achievements and innovations in satellite and wireless communications, antennas, and electromagnetics.
The Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board continued its efforts to advocate on behalf of the real estate industry with a focus on increasing housing supply, improvements to the City of Winnipeg’s permitting system, ensuring adequate support for strategic enabling infrastructure, and increasing infill housing.
As part of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s ongoing efforts to create awareness on advocacy efforts, the Real Estate Market Matters column in the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate News is where advocacy issues and topics related to real estate are considered. This year, columns covered the City of Winnipeg’s Preliminary 2024-2027 Multi-Year Budget, Daphne Shepherd’s announcement as 2024-2025 President of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board, the City of Winnipeg’s CentrePlan 2050, Province of Manitoba funding announcements on community safety, a mid-summer Lake Country real estate market update, Dr. Lotfollah Shafai’s induction into the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s Citizens Hall of Fame, Honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and the PAC Days event in Ottawa. Guest columns were provided by Chris Lorenc, President of Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, on a new funding arrangement for the City of Winnipeg, the Manitoba Real Estate Association on REALTORS Care® about Habitat for Humanity Manitoba Team Build Days and Celebrating REALTOR® week 2024, and the Canadian Real Estate Association on their 3-part roadmap to address Canada’s ongoing housing crisis.
For over 43 years, the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board has been proud to provide a complimentary weekly premier real estate publication, the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate News. The publication produces 10,000 weekly copies with a pick-up rate of 96% and is distributed to over 350 locations throughout Winnipeg and across our market region and is available at financial stitutions, grocery stores and various REALTOR® offices.
The Winnipeg Regional Real Estate News website provides helpful information and is a great resource when searching for a REALTOR® and offers valuable tools such as a mortgage calculator closing costs and Land Transfer Tax, mortgage terminology, a moving checklist, a list of our Business Partners and Affiliate Associates, and resources for those moving to Winnipeg. The Winnipeg Regional Real Estate News website averages over 223,400 monthly page views with year-to-date totals of over 2,450,000 (Year-To-Date November 2024).
In 2025, the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate News will continue to be the premier open house guide in our market region and your go-to source for current real estate market information, listings, articles, advocacy, and results.
Have a great holiday season and see you in 2025!
Jeremy Davis is the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s Director External Relations & Market Intelligence.