February 3, 2015 Home buyers remain active despite reduced selection The first month of 2015 saw home sale activity above historical norms, while the number of homes listed for sale trended below typical levels.   The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 1,913 on the Multiple Lis ...

January 5, 2015 Home sale and listing activity reach historical norms in 2014 It was a typical year for the Metro Vancouver housing market in certain respects. The region’s home sale and listing totals for 2014 both rank fifth when compared against the past 10 years of activity, while home prices increased.The Real Estate Board of Greate ...

Forget schools and parks, Canadians increasingly want to live near transit: report Being close to good schools, parks and shopping have long been key to home buyers choosing a neighbourhood. And now access to commuter trains, light rail or subways is quickly moving up the list when people choose a place to live, according to a new report on the Canadian real estate market. Cl ...

January 24, 2013 (Revised) The province will transition back to the Provincial Sales Tax (PST), which replaces the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on April 1, 2013. Until then, the province has transitional rules for new homes which took effect on April 1, 2012. Note: Enhanced HST New Housing Rebate Effective April 1, 2012, your clients may be eligible for ...

1) Home Buyers’ Plan Qualifying home buyers can withdraw up to $25,000 (couples can withdraw up to $50,000) from their RRSPs for a down payment. Home buyers who have repaid their RRSP may be eligible to use the program a second time. Canada Revenue Agency www.cra.gc.ca. Enter ‘Home Buyers’ Plan’ in the search box.1.800.959.8287 2) GST Rebate on New Homes New home buyers can apply for a reb ...

The gorgeous summer weather is finally shining down upon us and that means one really important thing, patio time.It is so nice to be able to sit outside, read a book, have a drink, eat a meal or even watch a movie! Turn your backyard, deck or balcony into an extension of your home by creating a welcoming and comfortable space.  1. DECORATE YOUR DECK AS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR HOME This is a ...

Are you planning to sell your home? Proper staging excites potential buyers and will raise your asking price. Anyone selling should consider hiring a professional stager which can offer a big return on investment. A good stager will appeal to buyers by maximizing the potential of your space using design know-how and ingenuity. Here are some before and after shots of a recent condo staging. ...

Moving day is here and you are beginning a new chapter in your life and putting roots down in a new home. You've been dreaming about the new space, envisioning what furniture will go where and what colour to paint the living room.  Moving day can also be stressful. There is a lot to do and one always wants things to go as smoothly as possible. Whether you have hired movers or rounded up fr ...

Freshen Up Your Curb Appeal for Spring Just when you may have given up hope- another winter gives way to new life. It is an energizing and exciting time filled with potential. A lot of us get that irrepressible urge this time of year to open the windows, air out the place and do some spring cleaning. This year, consider the outside of your home as well as the inside. You can drasticall ...

Non-Residents purchasing property in Vancouver. What you need to know. Buying real estate in Canada is very easy. There are neither restrictions to purchase real estate in Canada, nor are there extra fees or tax implications payable at the time of purchase/closing. All of the services required for non-residents of Canada are available locally to ensure a safe and stress free investment. On ...

Accepted Offer: Now What? As mentioned, your offer will have certain conditions and subjects such as "subject to a home inspection" and "subject to financing". Typically you will have 5-7 days to get a home inspection, obtain financing, etc. If at the end of this time you are satisfied to remove subjects, then they are removed and the sale becomes final. Congratulations! After acceptance of ...

Property Transfer Tax Everyone in B.C. pays a Property Transfer Tax on each home purchase unless you are a first time home buyer and meet certain criteria. Do not confuse this tax with your yearly property taxes. If you are not considered to be a first time homebuyer, you will be charged: 1% on the first $200,000 2% on the balance of the purchase price of the property First time home bu ...

Condo Completion Cost Guide   Property Transfer Tax: This tax is 1% on the first $200,000 of the sale price and 2% on the remainder. First-time buyers may be exempt from paying this tax. See the next page for details. Prepaid property taxes or utility bills: You will have to reimburse the sellers for any prepaid property taxes or utilities. Home Inspection fee: I always recommend that you ...

You've found the home you would like to purchase, now what? Here is where your realtor's expertise really comes into play. With his or her in-depth knowledge of market conditions an offer will be put together which will include: Price: depending on the local market conditions, your opinion of value and market information provided by your agent, the price you offer may be different from the s ...

What is your Budget? Before you start looking for a home, it is important that you become aware of how much you can afford to pay. This knowledge will allow you to spend your valuable time looking productively at homes which are within your predetermined price range. You can calculate a relatively accurate figure for yourself with the following information: $ ___________ Down-payment $ ___ ...

Why use a Real Estate Agent? In our highly competitive market, the services of a qualified real estate agent is of the utmost importance. The most desirable properties are being sold within days of hitting the market and in some cases, before they hit Realtor.ca. Realtors use the 'MLXchange' system that only licensed realtors have access to. Properties come up on 'MLXchange' a few days befo ...

Sellers often underestimate the effect that small details can have on the appeal of their home. A minor makeover can improve the home’s general “wow” appeal, making it sell faster, or even for a greater price. First Impressions Do Count Tidy up your front entrance. If it is at all worn, paint or replace your front door. Consider pet or food smells in your home and do your best to make ...

Conditions Are Ripe For Homebuyers In BC FRIDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2010 11:01 WRITTEN BY NEWSROOM    Recent reports are suggesting that the time might be right to purchase a home in British Columbia. For those renters, who are readying themselves to make the leap into Home Ownership, but felt that economic factors were holding them back, the market may be ripe, and time to take the plunge. A ...

By Michael BabadGlobe and Mail UpdateOctober 8th, 2010Bank of Nova Scotia expects short-term borrowing costs to remain at ultra-low levels well into next year as the global economy moves into a "slower lane of growth." In a new forecast, Scotiabank economists, like others, say the rebound that began midway through last year has lost "considerable momentum," notably in major industrialized co ...

Top 10 Reasons It's a Great Time To Buy: 1. Selection, selection, selection. Regardless of price range, there are plenty of houses from which to choose. There's a great selection of attached homes, condos and townhouses. You can find large lots, small lots, and a lot that will accommodate your boat or RV. You have many options. When resale inventories are low, buyers are forced to make compr ...

SURVEY SHOWS HST MISCONCEPTIONS REMAIN AMONG ONTARIANS AND BRITISH COLUMBIANS REGARDING REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS HST having greater impact on housing market than rising interest rates TORONTO / VANCOUVER, August 5, 2010 – A survey conducted by Royal LePage Real Estate Services revealed that Ontarians and British Columbians have misconceptions about how the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) affects ...

Top 10 Reasons People Should Be Buying Top 10 Reasons It's a Great Time To Buy:1. Selection, selection, selection. Regardless of price range, there are plenty of houses from which to choose. There's a great selection of attached homes, condos and townhouses. You can find large lots, small lots, and a lot that will accommodate your boat or RV. You have many options. When resale inventories are ...