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One-stop Research Site for Would-be Home Owners
TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY!
BC Real Estate Convention 2012 helps buyers by putting resources under one roof!
Last year was an exciting one for real estate buyers and homeowners in B.C. As one of the most attractive urban
realms in the country, Vancouver is becoming a top location for potential investors, both local and international.
The 8th annual BC Real Estate Convention is returning on March 5th and 6th, at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Although 2011 was a challenging year for real estate investors around the world, the outlook in British Columbia
remains positive. Low mortgage rates, a strong currency, and a relatively stable economy continue to draw many
new homebuyers to the province.
Around the world, B.C. is developing a reputation as a place of burgeoning, multicultural communities and
expansive, natural wonders. For many, residential property in Vancouver remains a top global real estate
investment. At the same time, some of the province's most promising markets - from Surrey to Kamloops - are
found just outside the city.
For many, the ideal urban lifestyle has changed from the traditional dream of owning a 'house with a white picket
fence' in the big city to a vision of trendy urban living. Accompanying the desire to live in culturally rich Downtown
Vancouver and nearby urban centres, condominiums have become a desired investment for many buyers,
especially younger ones.
As the population grows, triggered by immigration and people coming from other provinces, demand for higher-
efficiency, more sustainable and multi-utility structures is expected to increase at a rapid rate in the coming years.
This will also drive the anticipated redevelopment of existing older, lower height and less energy-efficient condos.
It is important to recognize the increased functional utility of the newer condominiums as well as the retrofitted
older ones.
Although 2011 saw a sharp increase in Vancouver's real estate prices, making the city's housing market one of
the least affordable in the world, many people still manage to make their home ownership dream a reality.
Don't be put off by fear that owning a home in Vancouver is out of reach for you. The idea is to become active in the
market, find your resources and start building equity today.
The BC Real Estate Convention is proud to host this year's real estate trade show for both the public and
professionals, bringing all the knowledge and resources you need, to get a jump start in the BC Real Estate
market. With many of the industry's insiders, including top realtors, developers, investment banks and mortgage
advisory services brought together for you under a single roof, you will be equipped with all the resources you
need to take your first step into the Vancouver real estate industry.
You can also learn more about the industry itself, and what the trends are in residential, condominium, multi-residential and commercial properties. The show's goal is to bring together a range of different enterprises -from
developers to financial institutions - to help you find all the people you need in a single convenient location.
The show has free admission and offers free seminars.
With continuing support from The Vancouver Sun, The Province, News 1130 Radio, Citytv & Omni Diversity
Television, Home owner Protection Office, Bosa Properties Inc and Polygon Realty Ltd., the 8th BC Real Estate
Convention, taking place Monday and Tuesday at the Vancouver Convention Centre is a once-a-year event you
cannot afford to miss!
The BC Real Estate Convention is hosted by the Buyou Network.
Exhibit Dates: Monday & Tuesday, March 5-6, 2012
Monday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Seminar Hours: 11: 30 a.m. - 5: 30 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Seminar Hours: 11 a.m. - 4: 30 p.m.
Read more:
Real Estate Board States Metro Vancouver Market Balanced
Price for residential properties up six per cent in
a year, according to REBGV report
Metro Vancouver’s real estate market remains in stable territory with a pre-spring hike in sales, according to
reports released Friday.
“With a sales-to-active-listings ratio of over 18 per cent, we see fairly balanced conditions in our marketplace as
we move into the traditionally busier spring season,” Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president
Rosario Setticasi said in a statement.
The REBGV monthly report said that sales reached 2,545 in February, a 61.4-per-cent increase over the 1,577
sales in January and a decline of 17.8-per-cent drop from the 3,097 sales in February 2011. February sales in
Metro Vancouver were the third lowest February total in the region since 2002, although just 151 sales below
10-year average.
New listings totalled 5,552 in February, a 2.5-per-cent decline compared to February 2011, and a 3.5-per-cent
decline compared to January 2012.
The report concluded that the benchmark price for all residential properties was $670,900 in February, up six per
cent compared to February 2011 and up 0.9 per cent compared to January 2012. The benchmark price for
detached properties increased 10.5 per cent from February 2011 to $1.04 million, while the price of apartments
increased 2.8 per cent from February 2011 to $373,000. The price of a townhome unit increased 0.7 per cent over
the same period to $473,000.
Meanwhile, the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board recorded 1,269 sales in February, an increase of 59 per cent
compared to January and a one-per-cent decrease from the 1,279 sales in February of 2011.
The board also received 2,846 new listings in February, a three-per-cent increase from January and a six-per-cent
drop from last February’s 3,038.
“Although our market has picked up, it’s still favouring buyers,” board president Scott Olson said in a statement,
adding that the seasonal increase in sales was not as robust as in previous years. “In terms of our clients, we’re
seeing more caution and deliberation when house hunting.”
Eight cheap fixes to make your house sell fast
While a dirty or cluttered house is great for buyers, it’s poison for sellers. If your home doesn’t make people feel
great when they walk in the door, chances are it’s going to take you a while to find a buyer. Which is why so many
people spend big bucks on staging their homes for a quick sell.
But there are ways to spruce up your place on your own without spending a fortune on a stager
or doing major renovations. Below I’ve listed eight cheap and easy fixes that can make your
house infinitely more sellable. There are probably more, but these can help get your started —
and even if you're not moving, these tips can help you freshen up your home so you can enjoy it
more!:
Clean, clean, clean: Clean the heck out of your house before it goes on the market. And don’t
forget the windows — clean windows let in more bright light.
Paint: A fresh coat of paint can brighten any room and freshen up even the most tired décor. This
Paint: A fresh coat of paint can brighten any room and freshen up even the most tired décor. This
is the quickest, cheapest way to make your place sellable. Hint: stick with a bright, fresh neutral
like white and avoid really bold colours that might put some people off (save the chartreuse walls
for your new place).
Don’t neglect the outside: You can’t underrate curb appeal for new buyers. It’s the first time they
Don’t neglect the outside: You can’t underrate curb appeal for new buyers. It’s the first time they
see your home so make sure the outside looks great — fresh paint and flower pots can brighten
up the front and make the place look welcoming.
Declutter: This is the number-one home staging trick — get rid of knickknacks and family photos.
Declutter: This is the number-one home staging trick — get rid of knickknacks and family photos.
And clear closets, shelves and cupboards to make everything look as open and spacious as
possible. Not only does a clear and clean room allow people to imagine their own things in your
house, it also makes your place look bigger (especially if you have small closets!).
Clean your fridge: The fridge should look as new and bright as possible. Clear out any old food
Clean your fridge: The fridge should look as new and bright as possible. Clear out any old food
and try to use your kitchen as little as possible while your house is on the market (easier said
than done, I know!).
Update your lighting: New and modern lighting is cheap to buy and install, and it can instantly
Update your lighting: New and modern lighting is cheap to buy and install, and it can instantly
update places like your kitchen or dining room, making them more attractive to new buyers.
Fix up the loo: The bathroom can be a deal-breaker, especially for female buyers (like me!). Old
Fix up the loo: The bathroom can be a deal-breaker, especially for female buyers (like me!). Old
dingy fixtures or chipped tiles can be really off-putting, so if you’re going to spend some extra
money put it into the bathroom and make sure it’s as up-to-date as possible. If you don’t have
tons of money, at least invest in some new towels and accessories like a new shower curtain to
freshen it up.
Fresh flowers: Putting vases of fresh flowers around your home is a bright and welcoming touch
Fresh flowers: Putting vases of fresh flowers around your home is a bright and welcoming touch
for potential buyers. They’re cheap and they can make a difference.
By Caroline Cakebread
RENTERS: Can you afford to buy? Use this online calculator to find out now!
(NC)—Many renters dream of taking the money they spend on rent and using it for mortgage payments. But there's
a lot more to buying and owning a home than just paying the mortgage. There are real estate and legal fees,
home inspection and moving costs, property taxes, utilities and interest rates.
One of the best ways to determine if you can realistically afford to buy a home is to sit down and crunch the numbers.
Instead of using a hand-held calculator or a pencil and paper, you can check out the new onlineRent or Buy calculator
at https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/scr/oca-bc/ssc/house.html?lang=eng. It's free and it gives you an instant snapshot of your potential as a home buyer.
Developed by Industry Canada, the calculator simply asks you to enter your current financial information (such as any
savings you might have, the cost of your rent and utilities, the interest rate you might get on a mortgage) and the
calculator does the rest for you. It shows you the maximum house price you can afford, the down payment needed,
your closing costs, and how much money you'll need to cover all your monthly expenses, including mortgage
payments, property taxes and utilities.
The web page also has links to other Government of Canada tips and resources on buying or renting a home and
mortgages.
www.newscanada.com
Categories:
Cloverdale BC, Cloverdale Real Estate
Location
Macdonald Realty Westmar, 203-5188 Westminster Hwy
Richmond, BC, V7C 5S7
The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB.