The Simple Guide.to Real Estate
Curated by Justin Baarts 

The province is stopping or slowing down its own building projects. They hope this will help. They think if they stop building big things, the workers will go build houses instead. If there are more workers for houses, the cost to build a home might go down.

Local Kelowna Projects on Hold.

To make this happen, some local projects are being delayed.

• Cottonwoods Care Centre: This project is now paused. We were supposed to get 93 new beds for seniors. Now we do not know when it will happen.

• Burtch Road Middle School: This new school is delayed. It will not be finished until the year 2030.

• Affordable Housing: A special fund that helps non-profits build cheap apartments has been closed for now.

New Taxes to Watch For:

Even if building costs go down, some new taxes are coming.

• Professional Fees: Starting in October, you will pay a 7% tax on architects and engineers.

• Home Services: There will be a new tax on property management and strata fees.

• High-Value Homes: If a home is worth more than $3 million, the "School Tax" is going up in 2027.

• Empty Homes: The tax for people who leave houses empty is also going up.

The Bottom Line

The government wants to help by getting more workers into housing. But at the same time, they are taxing the people who design and manage those homes. We are losing a new school and a care home for now. We will have to wait and see if this actually makes living in Kelowna more affordable.

FAQs.

Will my monthly strata fees go up because of this budget?
Yes. Starting October 1, 2026, the government will add a 7% tax to strata management services. Most buildings will likely pass this new cost directly to the owners. You should check with your strata council to see how much your monthly fees might increase.

Why is the new school on Burtch Road being delayed?

The province is slowing down many big projects to free up construction workers. They hope these workers will go build private homes instead. Because of this, the new middle school is not expected to be finished until 2030.

I am planning to build a small home. How does this affect me?

You might find it easier to hire a construction crew since the government is building fewer large buildings. However, your costs for planning will go up. You will now have to pay an extra 7% tax on fees for your architect, engineer, and land surveyor.