PROPERTY ASSESSMENT NOTICES ARE HERE
WHAT’S A PROPERTY WORTH? PROPERTY ASSESSMENT NOTICES ARE HERE (Updated January 2013) Property owners throughout BC received their yearly assessment notice in the first week of January from BC Assessment (BCA), the government agency responsible for determining and reporting property value estimates. This notice is BC Assessment’s estimate of a property’s value as of July [...]
HST TO PST – TRANSITION RULES FOR REAL PROPERTY
PST TRANSITION RULES On August 26, 2011, the provincial government announced that it will eliminate the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) by March 31, 2013. Commencing April 1, 2013, in BC the HST will be replaced by the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the BC Provincial Sales Tax (PST). On February 17, 2012, the [...]
HOMEBUYERS’ ROAD MAP
REALTORS® ARE EXPERIENCED IN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AND DO WHEN BUYING A HOME Buying a home involves a number of steps and many buyers need help in understanding the options available. The Homebuyers’ Road Map is a tool designed to help you navigate the complexities and financial implications of purchasing your first, or [...]
LANEWAY HOUSE TOUR 2012 – VANCOUVER HERITAGE FOUNDATION
CREATING NEW LIFE FOR OLD BUILDINGS Saturday, October 20th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is having it’s third annual self-guided Laneway tour that takes you inside 7 recently completed laneway houses in Vancouver. Builders will be on site to answer questions about laneway construction. Laneway housing can be a tool for owners of [...]
BOSAVOLT™ – BOSA PROPERTIES
INTRODUCING BOSAVOLT™ Bosa Properties home owners can conveniently have their very own private electric charge station installed and ready to use for when they move into their new home – a first in North America. They’re pleased to be launching the BosaVOLT™ program, a high performance charging station added to parking stalls purchased in all [...]
FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS WILL BE SQUEEZED BY NEW MORTGAGE RULES
A first-time homebuyer could need to earn as much as $500 more a month and would have to pay an extra $209 toward their mortgage each month under new mortgage rules that the federal government announced Thursday. The changes, which apply to government-backed insured mortgages, will mostly affect first-time home buyers looking to get into [...]
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAKES CHANGES TO MORTGAGE LENDING
2012 ANNOUNCES ON MEASURES TO SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM STABILITY OF CANADA’S HOUSING MARKET For the fourth time in as many years, the Federal Government has announced action to restrict mortgage credit. The new measures include: • The maximum amortization on a prime mortgage will be reduced from 30 to 25 years. • Mortgage insurance will [...]
NEW GENERATION OF HOMEBUYERS
HOPEFUL HOMEOWNERS STAY IN THE NEST More young Vancouverites are buying real estate, but they’re not exactly becoming homeowners – at least not in the traditional sense. A local mortgage expert says many 20-somethings are now finding a way around the city’s sky-high housing costs by buying investment properties and renting them out – all [...]
THE B.C. FIRST-TIME NEW HOME BUYERS’ BONUS
SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATURE, THE B.C. GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT A TEMPORARY BC FIRST-TIME NEW HOME BUYERS’ BONUS. EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 21, 2012, TO MARH 31, 2013, THE BONUS IS A ONE-TIME REFUNDABLE PERSONAL INCOME TAX CREDIT WORTH UP TO $10,000. REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THE BONUS ELIGIBLE FIRST-TIME NEW HOME BUYER You will [...]
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES NEW HST/PST HOUSING TRANSITIONAL RULES
RETURN TO PST As the province transitions back to the PST, which will replace the HST effective April 1, 2013, measures to ease the HST burden on new home buyers, include: • The BC New Housing Rebate threshold will increase to $850,000 from $525,000, so that more than 90% of newly built homes will now [...]
50 WAYS TO GREEN YOUR HOME AND SAVE $$$ IN GREATER VANCOUVER
THE GREEN TOOL KIT When it comes to making your home more energy efficient, you can easily make small changes that won’t cost you a dime. With even a modest budget, big changes are possible, especially if you qualify for some of the grants and rebates available to home buyers and owners going green. And [...]
COST SAVING PROGRAMS FOR HOME/PROPERTY BUYERS AND OWNERS
HOME BUYERS – COST SAVING PROGRAMS Wise real estate decisions are made when you have a clear understanding of your personal financial circumstances. When assessing your situation, it is important to know that there is a broad range of cost-saving programs available to help you. HOME BUYER’S PLAN: REGISTERED RETIREMENT SAVINGS FOR DOWN PAYMENT • [...]
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM VANCOUVER4LIFE
WE WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A FANTASTIC NEW YEAR!!!
HOME BUYERS – CLOSING COSTS – BC
TYPICAL CLOSING COSTS The last big step in the home-buying process is the CLOSING DAY – it is the day that you complete all the paperwork for your new home. Each of the closing day items that I outlined costs money so it is recommended that you set aside at least a couple thousand dollars. PROPERTY [...]
HOME BUYERS – TIPS ON BUYING A HOME
THE BIG DECISION Where you live is your most cherished space and the place you call home is the foundation of your life. You need a place to wind down, to relax and to rejuvenate so before you start looking for your “dream home”, here are few things to help you along the way: 1. [...]
Vancouver4life
VANCOUVER as the most livable city in the world is the perfect mix of nature and metropolitan. World leader in quality of life on the planet, home to spectacular scenery and a stunning natural environment …. all this beautifulness inspired my career as a REAL ESTATE AGENT. Buying a new home ore Selling your old [...]
