10 TIPS FOR 1ST TIME SELLERS

April 27th, 2016
Tips for first time sellers If you’re selling a home for the first time, it’s quite a different ballgame from what you experienced as a first-time buyer. Ultimately, you’re in control of the process. You call the shots on prepping your home for sale, deciding on a listing price, accepting (or rejecting) offers, and a host of other factors. But you might want to heed the following tips: ...

Adding a deck to your backyard?

April 20th, 2016

Neighbourhood Focus this Month- Cloverdale , BC

March 21st, 2016
Cloverdale is one of the most-searched neighbourhoods on Real Estate search engines and it’s easy to see why. Over the past year, median prices for detached houses in Cloverdale were $665,000 and condos went for $226,500, just a fraction of the cost of their Vancouver counterparts. It’s no wonder this family-friendly community is so popular. Single-family houses in particular are a hot comm ...

Always LOVE working & Selling in the VILLAGE!

February 25th, 2016
I LOVE when I work in Newport Village. It's Port Moody's own little designer community with everything you need and only in a few steps. You can spend the day here enjoying the shops & services, grab a coffee at Gallaghers or a specialty tea at Soko Tea House, have a delicious lunch at my favorite restaurant Browns Social House, take a walk to Rocky Point or maybe just hit the italien bakery ...

5 Questions to Ask A Contractor When Remodeling

March 11th, 2015
It’s the contractor you pick that makes — or breaks — your remodeling project.Finding the right contractor for your job will determine the quality and timeliness of the work, and the amount of emotional and financial stress you’ll have to deal with.  To make sure you’re getting the best work from a contractor, here are five questions to ask the candidates.  Tip: Listen for how prospective co ...

Mortgage Renewal

November 7th, 2014

Customers who simply renew with their current lender miss out on saving themselves huge sums, so it's essential to talk to a broker before signing your renewal.renewal

Renting Your Basement Suite To Students

August 25th, 2014
If you want to rent your basement out to students, it's worth putting in the renovations to make it desirable and get a good return on your investment This fall, a major shortage of housing is a problem facing many students in the Lower Mainland. Meantime, home owners or buyers are looking at huge mortgage payments in Vancouver’s hot real estate market, and the need for “mortgage helpers” ...

Cut The Stress With A Moving Checklist

June 8th, 2014
Moving can be an exciting life change; however, it can also be a very stressful event if you're not properly prepared.It's important to create a detailed checklist a few months ahead of time in order to ensure things go smoothly.  Here are some points to get you started:Two Months Before Itemize all of the major items you'll be moving. Get estimates and book the movers or rental truck. St ...

A Few Tips That Spring Into Mind

May 14th, 2014
The birds are chirping and gardens are blooming!Home sales surge during spring as the nice weather encourages people to fix up their homes and check out what else is on the market.  Here are a few ways to take advantage of spring fever: Flower Power - Place a few vases of fresh cut flowers throughout your home. Spring Fling - Freshen up your home with a thorough spring clean and de-clutter. ...

2014 HOT Home Trends

March 31st, 2014
There are plenty of new and exciting home trends this year!Although your home reflects your personal style, trends help trigger your creativity and provide the opportunity to shake things up a little.  Here are a few hot home trends for 2014: Shower Spa - Homeowners are seeking a serene, spa like shower environment with a curbless design for a spacious open shower experience. Open It Up - O ...

Buying A Strata Property? What You Need To Know About Depreciation Reports.

February 25th, 2014
If you are considering buying a condo, townhouse or any other type of strata property, you should be aware that the BC provincial government has just passed a regulation requiring strata properties containing more than four units to have a common property depreciation report completed by December 13, 2013. There are specific requirements regarding what the depreciation report must contain, ...

Great Budget News for First Time Home Buyers!

February 19th, 2014
Government reduces tax burden on first-time buyers First-time home buyers received welcome news in today’s provincial budget. Any REALTORS® currently working with first-time buyers will want to share this news with them as soon as possible. The government has announced, effective February 19, 2014, under the Property Transfer Tax (PTT) First-Time Home Buyers’ Exemption program, qualifyin ...

Weathering The Winter In An Older Home

January 31st, 2014
Weathering The Winter In An Older Home Weathering the cold and dark winter months is a challenge for anyone, but can be especially difficult if you live in an older home. Older homes carry a lot of appeal but older homes also come with problems and a lot of them are brought to light in cold winters. These are common issues that should be addressed and corrected so that your focus is on frien ...

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

January 31st, 2014
Purchasing a home, especially your first, is a big decision and a major financial commitment. But did you know that Canada’s Economic Action Plan (EAP) can help with the First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC)? The HBTC assists first-time home buyers with the related costs, such as legal fees, disbursements and land transfer taxes, which are a particular burden for first-time home buyers w ...

Ready To Rent?

January 11th, 2014
If you own a second home or are in the market to buy one, what do you do when you’re not there? Often, second homes sit empty for most of the year but are still costly to operate. If you’d like to bring in some income to supplement the mortgage and maintenance fees but still have the flexibility to visit whenever you like, consider the value in turning your home into a vacation rental.  LEGAL ...

Looking Up? Check that Ceiling

December 5th, 2013
While it may not get the attention of the walls and floors, the ceiling can be an indicator of certain problems affecting a home's condition, so it's important to identify and address any issues that arise. From "popcorn" to plaster, wood to drywall, there are many different ceiling ...

Preventing Rodents in the Home

October 2nd, 2013
PREVENTING AND ADDRESSING RODENTS IN THE HOME As much as homeowners enjoy the shelter and comfort of their home, mice, rats, and other rodents do, too. Not only do rodents make a mess, they can carry and spread diseases, contaminate food, and cause property damage. The first step in keeping rodents out of the home is prevention. Rodents commonly enter homes, garages, sheds and ...

Old or New: What's Best for You?

February 8th, 2013
Home buyers face countless decisions when purchasing a home. One of the first things to establish is whether you prefer a newer or older home. Comparing newer and older homes can be like comparing apples and oranges. It really depends on your individual preferences and family priorities. Here are a few advantages each type of home offers: Pros of Older Homes Old World Charm - Old ...

25 Fall Home Maintenance Tips

September 10th, 2012
Regular Maintenance Is The Key Here are 25 reminders & tips to get your home ready for Fall & Winter. 1) Have furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified service company every two years for a gas furnace, and every year for an oil furnace, or as recommended by the manufacturer. 2) If you have central air conditioning, make sure the drain pan under the cooling coil mounted ...

New for 2012 & 1st time Home Buyers!

March 12th, 2012
First-time new-home buyers’ bonus – New 2012 $10,000 B.C. Home Buyers’ Bonus – The government is passing a new legislation for 2012 to allow 1st time Home Buyer's to apply and receive a cashback bonus of up to $10,000 when they purchase a brand new home before April 2013. The Buyer or couple must make less then $150,000 combined to receive the cashback bonus and it works out to 5% of the purc ...

Year End Message

December 30th, 2011
Happy New Years!Tis the season for giving and gratitude.I just want to say a huge thank you to all of you who allowed me to help you with and as a result helped my business have a great 2011!I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve each and every one of you and if there is anything I can do for you during this coming 2012 year, please do not hesitate to call me!So many people ask ...

Prime to stay low until 2013!

October 6th, 2011
BMO says no Canadian rate hike till 2013BMO Capital Markets has pushed its rate hikes forecast back to 2013 Tuesday, citing continued serious economic risks both home and abroad. The new forecast pushes the expected time frame for the Bank of Canada to raise its benchmark interest rates back from previous expectations of the second half of 2012. As recently as this spring, economists had be ...

Seperating?

October 4th, 2011
Separated and ready to buy your own place?  I receive calls every now and then from a husband or wife that is separated from their spouse and wondering how they can move on and buy their own home. Since the process of a legal separation and pending divorce can be a very stressful time for couples I try my best to keep it simple. Once I have an idea of their situation I can guide them fo ...

HST Referendum underway

July 7th, 2011
HST Referendum underway July 2011 Ballots are being distributed to BC residents by mail and must be completed and returned to Elections BC by July 22, 2011. We at EPR endorse the HST as the best tax system for the province of BC. Exercise your right to vote on this important issue. HST facts you need to know before you vote The HST replaces two taxes (GS ...

May 2011 Stats

June 6th, 2011
Greater Vancouver housing market holds steady and favours sellers in May *** For detailed area reports please contact me as these stats are general for Greater Vancouver*** Home sales remained at typical springtime levels on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Greater Vancouver in May. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales o ...

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