Buying a Vacation Property

There’s something special about owning your very own piece of paradise whether it’s a ski chalet, a cabin in the woods or a luxurious cottage. Here are some important points to consider when purchasing a vacation home:

1. Motives - Determine whether you’re looking for a retreat to enjoy with friends and family or an investment property that you can rent out on a regular basis.
   
   
2. Location - Figure out how far you wish to travel and whether or not you need year round access. Waterfront property comes at a premium so determine if it's absolutely essential.
   
   
3. Cost - Looking for a vacation home is exciting but it shouldn't be an impulse decision. Make sure you can afford the mortgage, taxes, insurance, etc. Don’t forget the impact rising gas prices have on travel costs.
   
   
4. Co-Ownership - Purchasing your new getaway with someone else means you can share the upkeep and expenses. Just make sure you agree on everything from day one so you can spend your time relaxing instead of arguing.
   
   
5. Reno's - Buying a "fixer upper" is a great option as it allows you to add your own personal touch. Major renovations often require permission though so make sure you’re familiar with local zoning rules and regulations.

Buying a vacation home is a huge decision so do lots of research, get your finances in order and seek professional advice before taking the plunge. If you’re considering a few different locations, let me know so I can refer you to a local market specialist who can best assist you with your specific needs.

Buying? get instant notification!

The Internet has changed the way many of us live our lives, and the process of buying a home is no exception. Buyers previously had to visit a real estate office and thumb through a large book of homes to find out what’s on the market. These days, everything's instantly updated online.

Purchasers have fun at first plugging in home preferences and browsing through a variety of homes on mls.ca. But it soon gets pretty frustrating as subsequent searches force you to sift through homes you’ve already looked at just to discover the latest ones that have hit the market. By the time you finally find your perfect home online, it could be too late.

I now offer a service that emails you properties which match your criteria so you won’t miss out on your dream home. Although there’s no obligation, it’s best to stick with one agent in order to build a strong relationship so they'll be better able to understand your needs. Dealing with more than one agent is unnecessary and causes confusion as agents have access to all the same homes.

It’s important to get acquainted with the market so you’ll be confident enough to move quickly when your dream home finally comes along. You’ll want to provide me with a detailed list of criteria that clearly specifies your needs and wants -- for example:
-What style of home do you prefer?
-Where do you want to live?
-What are the minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms?
-Does the house have to be in ‘move in’ condition or are you prepared to fix it up?

It’s important to establish a strong line of communication with me so that I'll be in tune with your likes and dislikes. Be sure to provide feedback when you receive property updates as it'll help me better understand your preferences. It’s a gut wrenching feeling to miss out on a dream home due to miscommunication so make sure you're on the same page.

Finding the perfect home isn't always easy but the right system and clear communication will make it much more enjoyable! If you know of someone who's house hunting, have them drop me a line so I can send them full updates of homes that match their criteria as soon as they hit the market! Instead of playing the frustrating game of telephone tag, they'll be able to sit back and enjoy the process.

Find your dream home!

House hunting is an exciting adventure but if you’re not properly prepared, it can become very aggravating. Here are some things to consider before you start your search:

1. Finance Forward - Get pre-qualified so you’re able to determine how much you can afford. Figure out how much you’ll need for expenses such as legal fees and taxes.
   
   
2. Know Your Needs - Make a list of the features your new home must have. Think about how long you plan on living in the home and whether or not it has to be in move-in condition.
   
   
3. Location, Location, Location - Determine whether the location of your home's more important than the home itself. Investigate different areas to determine what amenities are available as well as the location of schools.
   
   
4. The Bold & the Beautiful - Don’t be put off by the orange shag carpet or floral wallpaper. On the other hand, don’t be wowed by their amazing furniture. The key is to visualize the home with your own tastes.
   
   
5. Old vs. New - Older homes have lots of character and enjoy prime locations but they're less efficient and require more maintenance. Newer homes on the other hand are designed with functionality in mind but they’re often located in unestablished areas with ongoing construction.
   
   
6. Get out There! - Get acquainted with the market by viewing listings that match your criteria. Being familiar with a variety of different homes in different areas means you’ll be able to act quickly and with confidence when your dream home finally comes along.

House hunting can be a daunting task if you're not properly prepared. To make things easier, let me know what you’re looking for and I’ll arrange to have listings which match your criteria automatically sent to you as soon as they hit the market! You won't have to worry about missing out on the perfect home. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the process!

Home Improvement safety tips- power tools

10 rules for power tools

1. Inspect your tools before use. Inspect especially for frayed power cords and cracked or broken casings. If the tool is damaged, have it repaired by a qualified technician or toss it.

2. Follow instructions, not intuition. Maintain and use power tools in accordance with the manufacturer's warnings, precautions and instructions.

3. Check the switch on power tools and garden appliances to make sure it's in the off position before you plug it in.

4. Keep your tools in shape. Don't carry tools by the cord and never yank the cord when removing it from an outlet. When disconnecting the cord, always grasp the plug, not the wire. Keep the cord away from heat, oil and sharp edges.

5. When necessary, use clamps or a vise to hold work in place. This frees both hands to operate the tool.

6. Buy a saw with a blade guard and don't disable it. Before operating saws with guards, make sure they are in place and in proper working order. Kevin's father-in-law was a master brick mason. To increase productivity, he wired the blade guard on his circular saw in the open position. Production increased until the day he set the still-running saw in his lap.

7. Prevent against kickback. If a saw blade begins to bind, immediately stop the cut and hold the saw and work piece completely still. Wait for the saw blade to stop before pulling away from a cut.

8. Discard saw blades that are chipped, bent or in any way damaged.

9. Never leave an active power tool unattended. Unplug power tools before leaving the room and store them out of childrens reach.

10. Remove all jewelry before using power tools.

Invest In Surrey

"Surrey has repeatedly been named the best place in B.C. to invest and was recently recognized as the best place to find a job in the Lower Mainland,” says Mayor Watts. “We are re-defining Surrey and creating B.C.’s next metropolitan core by fostering a strong investment climate and implementing innovative social, economic and community initiatives for our residents and businesses.”

The following article goes into detail what is going to be happening to Surrey in the future:

http://www.cbvantage.com/news-events/creating-jobs-shaping-growth-and-building-connected-communities/

Rosenburg: Canadian Housing is Okay

An update on the Canadian Housing Market from Globe and Mail on March 29, 2011

"David Rosenberg, chief economist and strategist at Gluskin Sheff, remains a contrarian voice on the U.S. economic recovery, and he is also sticking to his argument that Canada is in pretty good shape – and that includes the country’s housing market.

That market has taken a few knocks recently, even attracting derision from the foreign press. The Wall Street Journal ran an article on Tuesday arguing that Canadian home prices are on a fresh tear, even as income growth lags record-high debt levels.

“All that has raised worry at the country's central bank, which repeatedly has warned about rising debt levels, and among some economists, who say the market is ripe for a correction – maybe a steep one,” the Wall Street Journal noted.

However, Mr. Rosenberg counters these observations. Yes, debt levels are a concern but he notes that homebuilders have shown some discipline in cutting back production, to an extent that didn’t exist in the United States at the peak of its housing market. In Canada, single-family housing starts have fallen 20 per cent from year-ago levels.

“As such there is no evidence of any meaningful supply-demand imbalance that should undercut real estate valuation,” Mr. Rosenberg said in a note to clients.

“We see no reason why the Bank of Canada should be aggressive in raising rates, and at the same time, the demographics in favour of real estate are actually quite constructive, notably the influence from Canada’s business immigration platform. Note that in 2009, net international immigration to Canada surged 13 per cent. So not only is the country acting as a magnet for international capital inflow, but Canada is also being increasingly viewed as a stable place to do business and a desirable area to live.”

Full Story Here

SOURCE: GLOBE AND MAIL

JUST SOLD 1 Bedroom Condo- Top Floor!

Beautiful and spacious top floor 1 bedroom unit in newer building (2003). Sunny south exposure with nice deck. No upstairs neighbours! Large open concept kitchen, maple cabinets, plenty of counter space and bonus breakfast bar. Corner fireplace. Maintenance fee includes gas and hot water!! Insuite laundry. Well taken care of, looks new! Great location. A community close to everything: shopping, restaurants, Alex Fraser, Patullo Bridge, etc. Direct bus route to skytrain. Enjoy the exercise room, clubhouse with big screen TV, and guest suite. Secure underground parking. more pics here!

Realtor Professionalism

Not every real estate representative can call themselves a REALTOR®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark used only by members of the Canadian Real Estate Association. To become a member, individuals pledge to uphold the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice.

REALTORS® are committed to:

• professionally competent service;
• absolute honesty and integrity in business dealings; and
• co-operation with and fairness to all.

Members of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board also abide by the Rules of Cooperation, a common set of rules agreed to by the three real estate Boards operating in the Lower Mainland of BC. These rules are a model of cooperation and ensure consistency of service across our geographic boundaries.

In addition to our commitment to ethics and professionalism, our members abide by the legal regulations set out by the Province of British Columbia. Any violations to our Code, Standards, Rules, or legislation are brought forward for investigation and disciplinary action at both the Board level and at the provincial level, through the Real Estate Council of BC.

Professional Education

Most consumers take comfort in knowing that the professionals they hire are required to be life-long learners. REALTORS® are no exception. It is critical that, as professionals, our members are abreast of legislative changes, real estate practice topics such as agency and legal issues.

As a condition of membership, our REALTORS® are required to complete a number of accredited professional development courses. Requirements for our Professional Development Program surpass the basic requirements set out in provincial legislation.

Powerful data, powerful technology

Through the Multiple Listing Service®, our members have access to vast amounts of historical and current data to assist their clients in the sale or purchase of a property. Our members also have a variety of powerful technology tools to search and analyze this data for their clients.

Early Spring Surge in Sales

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,279 sales on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in February, an increase of six per cent compared with 1,204 sold during February 2010, and 53 per cent more than the 834 listings that sold last month.

Sukh Sidhu, Board president, confirms the market is more active earlier than expected. “Fraser Valley REALTORS® are busy. We sold 659 detached homes last month compared to 398 in January. We also saw the greatest amount of new inventory come on stream since last summer.

“We think one of the drivers is the change in mortgage rules that is coming up on March 18. Some clients have asked that their sale complete before that date. Plus, our REALTORS® are telling us that almost fifty per cent of their buyers paid less than 25 per cent as a down payment for their home purchases during the first half of February. A 35-year amortization could be more attractive to those buyers.”

In February, the benchmark price for Fraser Valley detached homes was $514,161, an increase of 1.2 per cent from the February 2010 price of $508,136.

The benchmark price of Fraser Valley townhouses in February was $316,578, a 2.5 per cent decrease compared to $324,708 in February 2010. The benchmark price of apartments remained on par year-over-year going from $245,879 in February 2010 to $245,519 in February 2011.

The MLS® received 3,038 new listings in February, an increase of 15.4 per cent compared to the volume received in January and 6.2 per cent more than the 2,879 new listings received during February last year. Last month finished with 8,680 active listings, an increase of 2.3 per cent compared to the 8,485 active listings available during February 2010, and 12.4 per cent more than were available in January.

SOLD Family home in Surrey

Well cared for home in great location. Spacious rooms. Kitchen features gas appliances, laminate floors and a large eating area with plenty of cupboard space. Large dining room and open living with upgraded gas fireplace. 3 bedrooms up , one down.Large private yard with huge patio area great for entertaining. BONUS separate studio/workshop (previously used to make jewelry) bring your ideas as it has power, water and heat. Would make a great office or rec room. Downstairs has one bedroom accommodation in modern decor and colors. 2 car garage. must see!!!!

pics here: http://www.powerhouserealtor.ca/Listing/ViewListingDetailsAuthenticated.aspx?preview=true&listingid=33158049

JUST SOLD! New Home in South Surrey $825,000

15309 29TH -Southpointe Estates, an exclusive area in South Surrey. Outstanding location with shopping, parks, elementary schools all within walking distance. Beautiful 3778 SF 2 storey plus full basement home with 9" to 10" ceilings on a 6000 SF lot. Upscale builder with excellent attention to details. 3 bdrms up plus bonus loft area for a sitting room or office. Master Bedroom has large ensuite, W/I closet not to mention the fireplace exposed to the ensuite as well. Gourmet kitchen w/large island. Hardwood flooring throughout the main floor, granite countertops. The front of the home is showcased with extensive use of rock & cedar. Enjoy the backyard with a dynamic cedar deck. Hurry to pick your colours & flooring & cabinetry

Coldwell Banker Vantage Realty

Selling your home or purchasing a new home may be the biggest financial decision you ever make. That’s why, at Vantage Realty, our top priority is YOU. We want you to be comfortable with the choices you make by answering your important questions, providing you with viable options, and walking with you every step of the way. You’ve definitely come to the right place.

Our associates are committed to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service. We are proud to offer you

--The latest Vancouver and area market information

--State-of-the-art searching tools

--Access to our office’s latest listings

--Access to all MLS^® listings

--Important insights and practical tips to make your buying or selling experience with us safe and rewarding

--Personal attention from experienced, caring people at every step

--And a lot more

Call me!