Real Estate

Your company is growing fast. Is it time to fire yourself?

Thank goodness for the so-called ‘unicorns’ of the knowledge economy. They’re the ones powering innovation, transforming markets—or creating entirely new ones—and helping their CEOs become ultra-wealthy rock star business luminaries along the way. But sometimes when their companies grow quickly, those magazine cover-worthy leaders run smack into an insurmountable wall of managerial challenges. That’s when […]

Chinese authorities step up personal income tax enforcement

As Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig linger in detention in China, Canadian entrepreneurs would be excused for being more than a little anxious about doing business in the Middle Kingdom due to the current geopolitical tensions between our two countries. You’ll recall that the Sino-Canadian clash first emerged with the detention of Huawei Technologies […]

Canadian entrepreneurs worried about doing business in China should rest easy—for now

It would be an understatement to say that relations between Canada and China have hit an all-time low. For the business community, the rift is causing major uncertainty and trepidation. The question on many a Canadian CEO’s mind: Should we be doing business in China right now? The short answer is: yes. But more on […]

Beijing’s tax crackdown has wide-ranging implications for Chinese-Canadians

China has embarked on a major reform of tax laws that could have sweeping implications for high-net-worth individuals inside the country, not to mention Chinese-Canadians and Chinese citizens who have investments in Canada. Perhaps the most high-profile example of the country’s efforts to close tax loopholes and boost tax revenue are the recent accusations lodged […]

Foreign investors: 4 things to know before investing in Canada

Political instability, tumbling currency values, economic uncertainty—they’re common reasons why high net-worth foreign investors often try to extract funds from their home countries and search for financial refuge elsewhere. Many look to Canada as that safe-haven. Why? Put simply, our $1.6 trillion economy is one of the largest and most stable in the world. The […]

New restrictions on foreign investors leave more questions than answers

When Bank of Montreal and Bank of Nova Scotia, two of Canada’s largest banks, recently announced the introduction of new or revised mortgage lending rules for foreigners and international students, many across the country hailed the decision. Those sentiments were strongest in cities such as Vancouver and Toronto, where foreign buyers have been blamed at […]

Major changes to U.S. rules on sales of U.S. real estate property

On December 18, 2015, the U.S. Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (“PATH Act”). President Obama has since signed the PATH Act so it is now enacted law. The PATH Act contains significant reform measures for the rules governing Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) and non-U.S. investors in U.S. real […]