Inside the Condo Market: Inventory, Interest Rates & What’s Coming Next
Nico James-Bach began his real estate journey assisting his mother in commercial and industrial transactions before transitioning into residential real estate. Recognizing a major gap in accessible, organized condo data, he built CondoWiz, a platform designed to centralize information on multi-unit communities including condos, rentals, hotels, and long-term care facilities.
The discussion highlights Toronto’s housing dynamics — a highly dense market where vertical development dominates due to limited land availability. Nico explains how recent years have created a “perfect storm” of high condo inventory, rising interest rates, and investor pullback, leading to short-term price softening.
However, he emphasizes that this is cyclical. With fewer new projects being started, the market could face a future supply shortage within 2–3 years, potentially driving prices back up.
Derek and Nico also compare U.S. vs Canadian lending structures, interest rates, leasing regulations, and condo ownership rules. They explore how government policies shape investment strategies and why understanding local market dynamics is critical.
The episode closes with Nico’s vision for expanding CondoWiz across Canada and into major U.S. cities, along with insights into his personal passions and long-term goals.