Real Estate

If you want to improve how your home shows to potential buyers, you don’t necessarily need to invest in a costly remodelling or renovation. In fact, there are some simple - and relatively inexpensive - things you can do to make your property look significantly better. Let’s take a look at some of the options available: 1. Paint it. There’s no doubt about it. A fresh coat of paint will...

Home buyer demand stays below historical averages in August The Metro Vancouver housing market continues to experience reduced demand across all housing types. “Home buyers have been less active in recent months and we’re beginning to see prices edge down for all housing types as a result,” Phil Moore, REBGV president said. “Buyers today have more listings to choose from and face less...

Home seller supply grows as demand declines Last month’s sales were 28.7 per cent below the 10-year June sales average. “Buyers are less active today. This is allowing the supply of homes for sale to accumulate to levels we haven’t seen in the last few years,” Phil Moore, REBGV president said. “Rising interest rates, high prices and more restrictive mortgage requirements are among the...

When you see a new home you like on the market, it’s easy to get distracted by all the features you love - the wrap-around backyard deck or the spacious recreation room that has plenty of space for entertaining. You just need to make sure that in all your excitement you don’t overlook any expensive maintenance issues that could be just around the corner. Nothing lasts forever. The major components...

The following tips will help you avoid waste when watering your lawn: Use a low-angle, pulsating sprinkler. Water sprayed high into the air produces a mist that loses much of its moisture through evaporation. Water the lawn, not the sidewalk or driveway. Lawns need about an inch of water per week. To determine how much watering time that requires, place an empty tuna tin within your sprinkler’s range,...

Kitchen renovations tend to be the biggest, most complicated home makeover projects, mainly because the kitchen is the most frequented and most multifunctional room in modern homes. But sometimes a kitchen makeover can be achieved with some simple cosmetic changes, rather than a complete redesign of the actual floor plan. Beyond a basic colour scheme change, the next makeover level involves replacing...

Sometimes we don’t get to choose whether or not to sell our home and buy another one. Circumstances, such as a job relocation, may make that decision for us. However, most often, the decision to move is discretionary. Sometimes people move simply because they think it’s a good idea. They feel that “now” is the right time to find their next dream home. So how do you make that kind of...

Property Surveyors, sometimes referred to as Land Surveyors, play a vital role in the real estate world. They are the professionals who determine or confirm the exact boundaries of a property. Will you need to deal with a Property Surveyor when you sell your home? You might. Sometimes the mortgage lender will ask for a land survey, especially if your property is older and hasn’t changed hands in many...

Reduced demand is allowing housing supply to accumulate “With fewer homes selling today compared to recent years, the number of homes available forsale is rising,” Phil Moore, REBGV president said. “The selection of homes for sale in Metro Vancouver has risen to the highest levels we’ve seen in the last two years, yet supply is still below our long-term historical averages.” “For home sellers...

When you’re viewing a property that’s on the market, you’ll probably try to imagine how your furniture will fit and look in that space. Where will your desk go in the home office? How will you position the sofa and chairs in the living room? First, it’s often larger furniture that creates the most concern. Make sure you have those measurements on hand when viewing a property. That way, you can use...