Home Buying July 25, 2024 · 3 min read Strata Council – The Five Main Delegated Roles And Their Responsibilities A Strata council acts as the managing body of the strata corporation ensuring that it runs smoothly for the benefit of the owners. Its role is laid out in the Strata Property Act from which the legal roles and responsibilities of the strata are obtained. Strata Councils are comprised of 5 main positions: President, Vice […]
Market Update July 15, 2024 · 3 min read GVR Market Update For June 2024 – A Significant Downturn Appears To Be Building The June 2024 market report released by the Greater Vancouver Realtors (GVR) reported that the market is shifting in buyers’ favor as June sales were slow, and we just saw the second consecutive month of sales lowering month over month. It seems that the rate cut that many thought would bring buyers, has actually brought […]
Market Update July 15, 2024 · 2 min read Is Buying A Home A Good Investment? For those wanting a steady return on their money, houses can be a sure bet. When the baby boomers started madly buying houses in the 1980s, suddenly real estate seemed like the path to instant wealth. The real estate markets fluctuate constantly. There have been times when house prices have gone down. However if you […]
Property Management July 10, 2024 · 3 min read Practices In Property Management That Can Lead To Eco Efficiency And Sustainability. In today’s rapidly evolving real estate market, there has been a dramatic shift in the focus and topic of sustainability. It is no longer an ethical choice but a necessity in our environmentally conscious world. Sustainable practices in property management are good for business, the community, and the environment. Below are some sustainable practices that […]
Home Care July 1, 2024 · 3 min read No Air-conditioning at Home? Don’t Worry We Have You Cooled Using These 7 Hacks It’s summer and for a change instead of finding ways to keep our homes warm, we are looking for ways to keep them cool. While installing air conditioning is a good option, it may not be necessary, especially as we don’t have the searing hot heat and humidity our friends in the East and down […]
Home Care July 1, 2024 · 3 min read No Air-conditioning at Home? Don’t Worry We Have You Cooled Using These 7 Hacks It’s summer and for a change instead of finding ways to keep our homes warm, we are looking for ways to keep them cool. While installing air conditioning is a good option, it may not be necessary, especially as we don’t have the searing hot heat and humidity our friends in the East and down […]
Home Buying June 30, 2024 · 3 min read Is Buying A Home In A Complex With Low Strata Fees A Good Idea? Home buyers are always looking for a variety of things when they are looking for a condo or a townhouse. A popular feature is a home with the lowest possible strata fees. This may not be a good idea because higher strata fees may not necessarily be a bad thing. Strata fees typically cover the […]
Home Care June 25, 2024 · 4 min read How To Protect Your Building Against Water Damage And Mitigate Your Insurance Footprint According to the insurance industry, water damage claims, especially among aging condominiums and apartment buildings, have been substantial in the past few years. In response to this increase in claims, insurance companies are now being more selective on what they will insure and are increasing both rates and deductibles. The following low-cost best practices outlined […]
Property Rental News June 25, 2024 · 3 min read How Important Is Mediation In Resolving Strata Disputes? A strata corporation is like a business run by volunteers. Members of the strata council run the business with its rules and regulations, but they are also neighbors with the owners and tenants within the strata. In any strata, unavoidable disputes arise between the neighbors over issues like noise levels, parking, use of common spaces […]
Home Buying June 24, 2024 · 3 min read How Does The Bank Of Canada Rate Cut Affect The Housing Market? It finally happened. The first interest rate cut of 25 basis points from the Bank of Canada took place on June 5th. Somewhat welcome news to those homeowners with variable rate mortgages, but not enough for prospective homebuyers who have been sidelined by higher borrowing costs. Theoretically, interest rate cuts over the long run usually […]
Home Care June 22, 2024 · 3 min read 7 Of The Best Home Staging Tips For Summer Showings The months of June, July and August are some of the best months to sell your home. They are also the most competitive months, so it is important to stage your home well, allowing you to rise above the competition. Below are a few great staging tips that will allow you to do just that. […]
Home Buying April 16, 2024 · 3 min read Moving? Take These Important Steps When You Move Into Your New Home. We are now into the prime of the moving season – more houses are bought and sold at this time than at any other time of the year. There is a lot to do in a new home. Here are some important basic tasks that should be done as soon as you move into your […]
News April 16, 2024 · 3 min read Strata Council – The Five Main Delegated Roles And Their Responsibilities A Strata council acts as the managing body of the strata corporation ensuring that it runs smoothly for the benefit of the owners. Its role is laid out in the Strata Property Act from which the legal roles and responsibilities of the strata are obtained.Strata Councils are comprised of 5 main positions: President, Vice President, […]
Home Buying April 16, 2024 · 3 min read Moving To A New Home? Here’s How To Get On With The Neighbors From The First Day. Moving in and out of a home can be stressful, and thankfully it doesn’t last for many days. Since a neighborhood will experience very few moves in a year or over a few years, neighbors are usually very tolerant.But if you are moving into a new neighborhood, it’s a good idea not to annoy your […]
Home Buying April 16, 2024 · 3 min read Will The “Home Flipping Tax” Impact Affordability? The recent proposed house flipping tax introduced by the BC government will come into effect on January 1, 2025, if passed. Under this legislation, any profits made from the sale of a residential home within 2 years of buying it will be subject to a tax, with some exceptions that ensure that the tax does […]
Home Buying March 26, 2024 · 3 min read Moving This Year? Here are Some Great Tips – Part 1 : The Planning Process Spring is just around the corner and traditionally this is the start of the moving season. If you are planning to move, now is the time to start planning, because the more prepared you are, the easier it will be to carry out the move.Here are some really useful tips on how you should plan […]
Home Buying March 26, 2024 · 3 min read Why Real Estate Investing Is A Worthwhile Option One of the best decisions you can make is to invest in real estate. If done correctly, real estate investment is stable, profitable and can return a very attractive profit return. Here are some of the reasons why:Very likely to appreciateIf you do your due diligence properly and invest in areas where property values typically […]
Real Estate March 11, 2024 · 4 min read New Housing And Infrastructure Woes Top Of Mind At UBCM 2024 Housing Summit This year’s Union of the BC Municipalities (UBCM) 2024 housing summit was unique as it was the first time “in a while” that all 3 levels of government were in the same room. Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser, BC Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon and mayors from various municipalities across BC met under one roof, giving […]
Home Buying March 11, 2024 · 3 min read 5 Important Tips To Know When Buying A Rental Property Buying a property for investment can be financially rewarding if done the right way, even in a challenging real estate market. How much property can you afford? You must know what kind of money you have to work with and ascertain how much of that you want to deploy on the purchase. If you are […]
Real Estate February 28, 2024 · 3 min read Looking For A Luxury Apartment? These Are Some Of The Must Have Amenities Finding a luxury apartment that fits your taste is not easy, especially as it impacts your daily lifestyle and overall well-being. The amenities available can make a big difference in the quality of your life. There are certain features that you should look for and expect to find in a luxury apartment. Here are 9 […]
Home Buying February 20, 2024 · 3 min read It’s a Great Idea To Inspect the Neighborhood Before Buying In One of the most neglected due-diligence duty done by homebuyers is a thorough screening of the prospective neighborhood. There is a Russian proverb that goes: ” Don’t buy the house, buy the neighborhood.” While prospective buyers spend a lot of resources on the home inspection, various surveys and appraisals, they often settle for a cursory […]
Real Estate February 12, 2024 · 2 min read The Benefits Of Having A Wine Cellar In Your Home Today, wine cellars are no more just limited to luxury mansions and fine dining restaurants. They are becoming a modern trend in many regular households, a focal point for home entertainment where guests and family members can gather, mingle, and taste good wines. There are a number of benefits of having a wine cellar in your […]
Real Estate February 5, 2024 · 2 min read Is An Overhaul Of The BC Property Transfer Tax Required? BC’s Property Transfer Tax was introduced in 1987 as a tax on every real estate purchase in the province when the average price of a home was around $150,000. The tax was and still is levied at a rate of 1% on the first $200,000 of a property’s price, 2% on the fair market value […]
Home Buying January 23, 2024 · 3 min read Closing Costs – The Biggest Purchase Of Your Life Comes With Additional Fees Your down payment and mortgage costs are not the only costs you will face when buying your home. There are several administrative and legal costs associated with the buying a home, known as “closing costs”. Typical closing costs that are borne by the buyer and vary from 1% – 4% of the home’s purchase price. […]
Market Update January 23, 2024 · 2 min read More Small-Scale Housing Units To Be Built Across The Province To Help Alleviate The Housing Shortage The NDP government is tabling new legislation this fall to tackle the housing affordability and shortage crisis, that the province is currently facing. The legislation will focus on updating the “outdated zoning rules” in a move to deliver more small-scale housing units across the province. “Anyone looking for a place to live in a community […]
Market Update January 2, 2024 · 3 min read Why A Comparative Market Analysis Is Different Than The Assessed Value Of A Home For most homeowners, a home’s value represents a huge chunk of their overall financial picture – their net worth, if you will. So it is important to know what the value of the homes is worth. But this is not that straightforward as a home is valued in different ways, the most common being market […]
Home Buying December 12, 2023 · 3 min read Banks Vs. Mortgage Brokers – Which Is The Better Option? With mortgage rates being at 20 year highs, homeowners are keen to find a competitive mortgage rate for their new home or mortgage renewal. There are 2 main options when looking to secure a mortgage: going to a bank or to a mortgage broker. What is the difference and which is better? A bank can […]
Home Buying December 6, 2023 · 3 min read Why Are Presales In Condos So Attractive? One of the topics in the Vancouver real estate market that has been very popular is that covers the presale market. Before outlining the reasons why a presale property is so attractive, it is important to distinguish the difference between a “presale” property and an already “built” property. A presale of pre-construction property is one […]
Home Buying November 21, 2023 · 3 min read The Importance Of A Move-Out Inspection A move-out inspection is performed before a tenant vacates the property and the landlord conducts a walk through the vacant property. The purpose of a move out inspection is to: Document and itemize any damages from the previous tenant ensuring that the latter has left the dwelling in a similar and acceptable condition as when […]
Home Buying November 15, 2023 · 2 min read Planning on Moving? Here’s How to Find the Best Moving Company Moving is stressful and expensive. Everyone has had at least one bad moving experience in his or her lives. The best way to prevent the stress that comes with moving, is to chose the right moving company that will make your move flawless. This comes with a fair amount of research and preparation. A lot […]
Home Buying November 7, 2023 · 2 min read Property Investing Requires a Cool Head, Cash and Good Advice. Watching TV shows that make buying investment properties glamorous and easy can be very misleading. Many first time investors who have been lured into this trap have ended up losing their whole investment and the whole experience has been painful and stressful to say the least. If you have money saved up and are determined […]
Home Buying October 26, 2023 · 2 min read Ready to Own A Home? These Signs Will Indicate That You Are. Buying a home will probably be the most important purchase of your life. If you are a first time home-buyer, it can be a daunting task, especially if you are not prepared. Below are signs that indicate whether you are ready or not. You are ready if : 1) You know how much you can […]
