Thursday, May 2, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Real Estate Investment in Greater Vancouver …1 + 1 = 2…
Real Estate Investment in Greater Vancouver …1 + 1 = 2… If you are ever taking advise from a REALTOR on investment properties... ask them do you own investment properties?… if they do not say yes as I would, then you should re-consider the advice and maybe consider working with me.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Did you know?
Source: Metro Vancouver
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Have your received your Vancouver Food Scraps Bin?
Friday, April 26, 2013
What are the Benefits of ENERGY STAR light fixtures and CFLs?
· Indoor fixtures come with pin-based CFLs, which use 75% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
· Qualified light fixtures and CFLs carry a two-year warranty – double the industry standard – making them perfect for hard-to-reach places because the bulbs do not need to be replaced as often.
Get lots more tips and information on the energy efficient lighting at: http://www.bchydro.com/powersmart
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Why is Vancouver such a solid rental investment?
Right now is a great time to be looking for investment properties in Vancouver. I am beginning to see some slightly cash-positive investments that offer a great long-term hold with a 20% to 25% down payment. I recently just helped two clients purchase their first investment properties this year, and I am often asked why Vancouver is such a strong rental and investment opportunity? The quick answer is
Ongoing low vacancy in Vancouver + and little rental-purposed construction in the last many years, have continued to foster a = very strong rental market.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Get an Inspection done when your buying a house... everytime!
I tell all my clients when buying; we are looking for one of two outcomes from an inspection.
Outcome 1.) We do not discover any major issues that we were not already aware of, however the inspection will have clearly outline all the small deficiencies in the building that would take you a year to discover. For example the scratches, chips, “broken this,” “loose that” and so forth; you will then be in a position to accept it or not more forward.
Outcome 2.) We discover major issues that were not disclosed to us, or we discover things that are not conforming to what we have been told. You will then be in a position to walk away from the accepted contract or re-negotiate a different purchase price if all parties agree.
Following are five common mistakes that can be avoided, if you follow these rules when you get a home inspected.
1.) ALWAYS get a newly constructed home inspected. Don’t assume your builder or contractors haven’t made mistakes just because you are buying new, and the home has passed all local codes and ordinances. A good inspector will catch any problems or issues. The other very valuable factor when you get an inspection of a brand new home is that the items your inspector finds can be brought up in your deficiency tour and corrected under the builders warranty.
2.) Choose the best inspector you can; he/she should be knowledgeable, trustworthy and thorough. Don’t hire based exclusively on fees, or someone simply because that is the one name you got from a friend. Often those with the least experience and technical knowledge will cost less; so, be wary. Ask for several names, so you can interview them and make the right choice. Accreditation, licensing, credentials, professional experience, whether the inspector carries Errors and Omissions (E & O) insurance, and your comfort level should be determining factors.
3.) Attend the inspection—at least the last part of it. A written report doesn’t reveal everything. Sometimes minor problems can be overemphasized or major problems, disastrously underemphasized. Also, ask questions and listen when the inspector gives his/her opinion of the house. A great report has clear details of how everything is performing and has clear pictures to support the key issues.
4.) Follow up on issues discovered by the inspector before the closing. You might not realize the cost to repair certain items, or the extent of necessary work. Although the inspector should not recommend a repair person, he/she might be able to shed light on the contractors’ suggestions.
5.) Don’t expect inspectors to predict specifics about when a particular aging component might fail. Their response would only be an educated guess. Because their income doesn’t hinge upon the property’s closing, unlike others, they are hired and paid by you to give you honest answers; so you can always count on them to be neutral.
Source: Roland Kym & August 24th, 2011 of the Real Estate News
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Bank of Canada Interest Rate Announcement - April 17, 2013
BCREA ECONOMICS NOW
BCREA Economics Now
Bank of Canada Interest Rate Announcement - April 17, 2013
The Bank of Canada kept its target overnight rate at 1 per cent this morning. In the statement accompanying the decision, the Bank forecast that the Canadian economy will gain momentum through the year following a weak second half in 2012, but slow growth through the first half of this year will limit real GDP growth to just 1.5 per cent in 2013 before rising to 2.8 in 2014. The Bank's revised forecast means that the economy is now projected to return to full capacity in mid-2015, rather than in 2014 as previously predicted. A more persistent output gap will keep downward pressure on inflation, which is now expected to gradually rise to the 2 per cent target rate by mid-2015. The Bank continued to sound a much more dovish note on future rate increases, noting that the considerable policy stimulus currently in place will likely remain appropriate for "a period of time, after which some modest withdrawal will likely be required."
With an expanding output gap and inflation trending well below its 2 per cent target, it is natural to ask if the next move by the Bank of Canada is a rate cut rather than the rate hike that almost all economists have penciled into their forecasts. However, unless the economy deteriorates much more or inflation trends much lower, the Bank is unlikely to lower interest rates since doing so would run counter to a year of loudly exhorting households to cut back on debt. Instead, the Bank will likely continue to use forward guidance about the need, or lack thereof, for future rate hikes in order to influence long-term rates and the Canadian dollar lower. The combined of effect of which should provide continued stimulus to the Canadian economy.
For more information, please contact:
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Which school catchment you are standing in? Has anyone found a link or an app that can tell you instantly on your cell phone? If yes, please tell me!
Each Vancouver school belongs to a family of schools including a secondary school and the elementary schools
