This week: AI-altered images are flooding real estate listings and duping buyers, and a ground-breaking development in Vancouver is a test case for rapid densification. Plus, a better way to help your kids buy a home and one property worth a look.

Catfishing isn’t just a concern on dating apps, as an increasing number of would-be homebuyers are learning. AI-altered images have become a common fixture in real estate listings, and they’re leaving house-hunters and realtors feeling duped when the reality doesn’t quite match up, Salmaan Farooqui reports.

That was the case for Susan Hollingshead, who went to view an apartment in Vancouver’s West End and found a massive hole in the kitchen floor that had been digitally edited out in the listing, seemingly using AI. “I wanted to see it for myself, and when I walked in I immediately thought, ‘Oh, okay. Well, that’s what was too good to be true: the photos,’” she told Salmaan. Realtors are just as frustrated, but say regulation is piecemeal and rules difficult to enforce even where they do exist.

The sky’s the limit for the bold new First Nations-owned development that’s making a mark on Vancouver’s skyline and rental market. The three towers – 26, 31 and 39 storeys high – that comprise Senákw’s first phase are unmissable at the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge in Kitsilano, and that’s the point. Built on 10.5 acres of reserve land returned to the Squamish Nation in a landmark 2003 court case, the $3-billion project didn’t require the typical city approvals or public consultations on its plans. Eight more towers coming by 2033 will create a total of 6,000 badly-needed rental units in the space, plus retail, public outdoor and culture spaces, a bike station and a new transit hub.

Senákw is a key part of the Squamish Nation’s path to economic independence, generating an estimated $20-billion in cash flow over its lifetime, and it has predictably stirred plenty of controversy. As Kerry Banks reports, it is now seen as an important test case for densification and just how bold Vancouver can be. Read his Report on Business Magazine story on exactly what makes the project so ground-breaking, both for economic reconciliation and urban planning.

Rates shown are the lowest available for each term/type and category (insured vs. uninsured) as of market close on Thursday, Feb. 26.

With homeownership further out of reach for younger generations, many parents are looking to help their kids get on the property ladder. But traditional strategies, such as setting aside money for a down payment early or passing down the family home later in life, might not be the best way to go about it, argues Anita Bruinsma. Saving too much too early can delay your own retirement, and hanging on to your house for too long keeps your cash tied up with no guarantee your kids will want to live there, or that the timing will align if they do.

Instead, Anita suggests downsizing and using the equity from the sale of your home to help your kids buy when the time comes. However, it’s important to ensure you’ll be taken care of first. “Don’t sacrifice your own retirement to get your kids into the housing market. Home ownership isn’t the be-all-and-end-all of financial stability, and your kids can build a good life without owning a home,” writes Anita.

A hot shower can be almost as invigorating as a cup of coffee in the morning, but a weak or leaky fixture can ruin the experience just as quickly as a bang on the door to hurry up. If you’re looking for a better kick start to your day – or a more relaxing way to wash it off – a new shower head adds a little luxury for much less than installing a sauna or steam room. Three Canadian designers shared their advice on selecting the right fixture for your home, along with six recommendations to fit every function and aesthetic.