Garry Marr is CoStar News' chief Canadian correspondent specializing in commercial real estate and economic policy impacts on property markets. With 30+ years of reporting experience, he's become the definitive voice on:
"Our recurring services now account for over 70% of earnings, providing our company with balance and stability through all market cycles" - Brian Rosen, Colliers Canada CEO
Achievements: 2023 SABEW Canada Outstanding Achievement Award, 2019 National Newspaper Award Finalist, 18 years as National Post real estate editor
With over three decades of reporting experience, Garry Marr has evolved from general assignment reporter to Canada's preeminent commercial real estate journalist. His career began at major Canadian newspapers before an 18-year tenure at the National Post established his real estate reporting credentials. Since joining CoStar News in 2021, Marr has become the definitive voice on:
"The tariffs implemented by the United States on Canada and the countries' intensifying trade war are creating 'an unprecedented conflict' that could affect the commercial real estate sector" [6]
Marr's April 2025 analysis dissected the Bank of Canada's decision to pause rate cuts after twelve consecutive reductions. The 1,200-word piece combined:
Notably, Marr revealed how 43% of REIT executives had factored continued rate cuts into their Q2 acquisition strategies, forcing portfolio rebalancing. The article became required reading for institutional investors, cited in three analyst reports within 72 hours of publication.
This 2025 exclusive detailed Colliers' strategic expansion during market volatility. Marr secured:
The piece's "shift toward recurring revenue" analysis became an industry benchmark, referenced in two earnings calls and a Wall Street Journal column on service sector consolidation.
Marr's election coverage bridged political strategy and real estate development. Key elements included:
The article's "density vs. affordability" framework influenced three candidate policy announcements and remains central to Canada's housing policy debates.
Marr consistently links monetary policy to property market movements. Successful pitches should connect Federal Reserve/BoC decisions to specific asset class performance. Example: His 2025 rate hold analysis [1] demonstrated how 0.25% rate variance could shift $4B in REIT valuations.
With 37% of his 2024-25 articles addressing US-Canada real estate flows, Marr prioritizes tariff impacts and currency hedge strategies. The Automotive Properties REIT expansion piece [3] exemplified this focus, tracking CAD-USD exchange rate risks.
Marr's Colliers-Triovest merger coverage [6] set the standard for operational integration analysis. Effective pitches include metrics on workforce transitions, technology stack integrations, and client retention rates post-M&A.
The federal election housing article [4] succeeded by contrasting political promises with builder pain points. Pitches should bridge legislation to construction timelines, financing accessibility, and labor market constraints.
Only 12% of Marr's 2025 output addressed residential markets, primarily through policy lenses. Pitches about first-time homebuyer programs or mortgage rate comparisons typically get redirected to personal finance reporters.
The Society for Advancing Business Editing & Writing honored Marr for career-spanning contributions to Canadian financial journalism. Judges noted his "unique ability to translate complex REIT structures into accessible market analysis" across 142 published works.
Marr's investigation into pension fund real estate holdings made him the first CoStar journalist shortlisted for Canada's highest print journalism honor. The series exposed $2.3B in underperforming retail assets across three major funds.
