You can scoop up raw oceanfront land for $11,500

Private, white sandy beach, 2,400 square-foot former bed and breakfast that sleeps eight comfortably. Huge windows, vaulted ceilings and a new kitchen. $639,000

BY SUZANNE FOURNIER, THE PROVINCE

As temperatures warm, urban dwellers are driven to check out rural real estate listings.

Growing young families, singles seeking investment and boomers nearing retirement pursue the romantic idea of

affordable vacation property.

However, cabin seekers will quickly discover the masses have already invested in the obvious choices of

Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast.

But there is one corner of B.C. where it's still possible to buy a piece of paradise for under $100,000. And it's experiencing a record flat market at the moment.

Haida Gwaii, the remote and stunningly beautiful island archipelago dubbed "Canada's Galapagos," is a buyers'

market.

It's a scenic northern corner of B.C. where you can buy an older four-bedroom house for under $50,000, raw

oceanfront land for $11,500 or for less than the cost of a Dunbar bungalow you can scoop up a mansion on the

water for $689,000.

On offer to island dwellers: sport fishing, pristine sandy beaches, kayaking into world-renowned ancient Haida

villages or visits to naturally occurring hot springs.

"You can buy a three-bedroom home in good shape for $50,000 to $60,000 in Masset, or a beautiful bare 2.5 acre

lot with a view all the way to Alaska for $139,000," says Brian Bussiere, who has lived in Haida Gwaii for 16 years

and been a realtor with Royal LePage for five.

Bussiere admits the real estate market there is pretty darn flat.

"Properties stay on the market for a year, two years, that's not unusual in Haida Gwaii. The Europeans and

Americans aren't buying due to the economy.

"It's perked up a bit since last year, which was the worst ever, but for buyers who know what they want, it's still an

affordable vacation paradise."

The island community is home to notables such as writer Susan Musgrave, and ecologist Severn Cullis-Suzuki,

the daughter of famous broadcaster/biologist David Suzuki, who is married to a Haida man and learning the

language.

Bussiere says many of his new buyers in the Haida Gwaii real estate market have connections to the Alberta

oilpatch.

"In the winter, it's locals who buy, or just sell their houses to each other, moving around in a circle, but in spring,

it's mostly Albertans," he says.

"A huge part of our economy is now coming from the oilpatch, and their slow season is the summer. They want a

house and to moor a boat here for vacation."

Bussiere said the Albertan buyers with their higher-end incomes might be drawn to gems such as a custom-built

five-bedroom house on the ocean that had its price reduced in the last week by $50,000.

For $639,000, Bussiere says, this house has absolutely everything you could want, on a private white sandy

beach.

The 2,400-square-foot former bed and breakfast sleeps eight comfortably, has huge windows, vaulted ceilings

and a new kitchen.

A full-width deck on the oceanside fronts fully landscaped gated grounds complete with raised, irrigated beds, two

greenhouses and a shop.

It could be a "pocket-sized fishing or adventure retreat resort," says Bussiere, in a region known for salmon,

halibut and freshwater fishing.

And yet, the Masset mansion has languished on the market for more than a year.

In December 2009, the Queen Charlotte Islands were formerly changed by the B.C. government to Haida Gwaii, in

reconciliation with the Haida people who have lived there for at least 11,000 years, since before the last Ice Age.

Only 5,000 people live in Haida Gwaii, of which a third are of Haida ancestry.

The islands' population is rapidly shifting, as loggers and fishing families leave and are replaced by wilderness-

seekers, and the rapidly-growing Haida population. As the non-native population has declined by 12 per cent

during the past decade, the Haida population is up by 60 per cent.

"People who live here mostly recognize the place belongs to the Haida ultimately and frankly we'd rather pay taxes

to them," says Bussiere.

The Haida claim the whole archipelago, but most Haida live in two villages, Old Masset at the islands' northern tip

and Skidegate in the south.

Queen Charlotte is the largest village with about 1,000 people, followed by Masset at the northern tip, Port

Clements and Sandspit, with about 400 people.

Haida Gwaii consists of two main islands, Graham Island to the north, and Moresby Island to the south, along with

about 150 smaller islands.

At the opposite end of the price spectrum from custom-built mansions are 300 former military homes in Masset,

now marketed as very cheap vacation homes.

The village of Masset hosted an active military base, as a communications monitoring and relay station, from

1943 right through the Second World War.

It eventually became a Canadian Forces base, with hundreds of people, but by 1997 all military personnel had left

and the base was fully decommissioned.

About 70 per cent of the 300 boxy, basic federally built houses - the former Permanent Married Quarters - are

occupied, and many have been fixed up and resold as vacation homes.

"Some of them are for sale for as little as $40,000 but those might be a teardown due to mould," says Prince

Rupert realtor Dorothy Wharton.

She adds there are at least a dozen in the $50,000 to $80,000 range that are certainly livable, and are on the

doorstep of wild natural beaches and parks.

Haida Gwaii realtor Lynn Pineault says she has listed several "PMQs" for less than $150,000.

"They require little maintenance and are great vacation homes," says Pineault. In the mid-range, Pineault offers

her listing of an authentic log home in Masset for $165,000. Astute buyers are starting to sniff out deals.

Neil Goodwin, who runs a fishing lodge and has lived in Haida Gwaii about five years, said he and his wife just

bought a 2,400-square-foot house, on about an acre, in Sandspit for only $185,000.

"I know I couldn't buy anything in that price range in southern B.C., but as the loggers and their families leave, and

the tourism industry gears up, there are some very good real estate buys here," said Goodwin, whose wife works

for both their lodge and as an Air Canada booking agent in Haida Gwaii.

Merewyn and Wayne Nicol, originally from South Africa, were able to snag a four-bedroom home, on an acre and a

half, right on the ocean, just west of Port Clements, for only $250,000.

"We knew we wanted to be on the coast, because that's where we'd lived in South Africa," says Merewyn, 39, who

says she and husband Wayne spent three years ranching on leased land in Alberta but really wanted their own

homestead.

"We looked all over Canada, even in Nova Scotia, but everywhere else was too expensive for our budget, which

was under $300,000," says Merewyn. "The only place that came up in our price range on the ocean was Haida

Gwaii," says Merewyn.

"We all love it here," says Merewyn, 39, who soon found work as an office administrator with O'Brien and Fuerst

Ltd., a diversified Haida Gwaii logging, excavating and roadbuilding company.

Her husband, Wayne, is a supervisor in the highways division of the same company and the couple has two

children, aged three and 10. "It's not for those who like the city life - you have to get used to having no ferry due to

the weather - but there are some amenities too, and it's very beautiful. We have no plans to move again," said

Merewyn.

Pineault, who sold Neil Goodwin his house and is perhaps the islands' most active realtor and booster, says she

prefers to call Haida Gwaii a real estate market that is "waiting to be discovered."

FOR $149,000:

Two-bedroom, large sundeck. Can be purchased with the lot next door. Kitchen shown above.

Rental properties are an excellent investment but they can be a lot of work. Here's what you need to know.

By Jasmine Miller

Converting your basement into an apartment can be a lucrative move, no question, but there are perks and perils

to using part of your home as a rental property. Here are eight things to keep in mind before taking the plunge. 

1 Rental properties: Do it legally, or don't do it. 

Just because you have space for a renter doesn't mean you're allowed to get one. Some municipalities don't

issue permits for secondary suites. If you build one anyway (there's always a contractor out there who will do work

without permits), and you're discovered, you can be forced to pay fines and even dismantle the rental property.

“We've heard of situations where disgruntled neighbours inform the city of illegal units next to them," says

Rebecca Isenberg, sales representative at Sutton Sadie Moranis Realty Brokerage in Toronto. She and her

business partner, Helene Katz, broker of record at the same agency, have 35 years combined experience and

have helped scores of homeowners become landlords. 

Besides zoning issues, "a prospective landlord must verify that a second unit meets the requirements of the fire

code," says Rebecca. For example, are there two exits, and is the ceiling high enough? If something goes wrong

—a fire, for example—in an illegal dwelling, the landlord is on the hook. “If your insurance company isn't aware of

the second dwelling, they may not pay your claim, if you make one. They certainly will not cover the tenant's

possessions, and you might have a lawsuit from your tenants," says Helene. 

If you've got permits for the space, there's no need to be anxious about notifying your insurance provider. "Your

premium might increase, and any new tenant will still be required to purchase their own insurance package in

order for the landlord to be fully, legally, covered," says Helene. It's just a phone call, and it could save you a lot of

headache. 

 2 You probably won't pocket the entire rent—it's taxable and there are expenses.

You'll need to issue a receipt to your tenants for the rent they pay on their rental property, and they may use it to

claim a deduction on their income tax. Even if they don't, you're expected to declare the rent as income and pay tax

on it accordingly. 

Tax aside, landlords face other expenses. On average, plan to spend the equivalent of a couple months rent every

year on home maintenance and upkeep of the rental property (painting and cleaning services when tenants move

out, appliance repairs, and fixture upgrades or replacement).

3 The space you have might not attract the tenants you want. 

Especially if you share common areas like a driveway, foyer or yard, you want to be extra careful about who you get

in there. To preserve your family's privacy, your rental property might need more than drywall and a new shower

stall. "A tenant in a fourplex we're familiar with was exposed to all kinds of noises from their neighbours directly

above. They could even hear them sneeze," says Rebecca. "Some sound-proofing would have helped that

situation." 

Make sure your electrical service can accommodate more people (you might have to upgrade from 100 amps to

200); consider a larger water tank so the tenant won't knock on your door because they can't shower when you do

laundry. 

Don't spend lavishly on decor, but make sure the apartment is one you would want to live in—that way you're more

likely to land a tenant you want to live with. Landlord Beige might not work in your home, but it's a good choice for a

rental space. A subdued colour lets your tenant imagine their own life in the space and is one less thing for them

to ask you to contend with before moving in. Remember: like prospective homebuyers, prospective renters often

try to negotiate the rent and extras, like new paint. 

4 Once they're in, it's hard to get tenants out. 

Rules vary across the country, but all renters are protected by provincial legislation and governing bodies, and the

requirements for eviction are high for good reason: No one should feel their home could easily be taken away. "As

a landlord, you should be knowledgeable of the Residential Tenancies Act," says Helene. "Tenants are very

knowledgeable of their rights under this act." 

Also, tenants can leave before a lease is up (usually by giving two months notice), so you want to ask questions to

determine that they're staying a while. Why? The longer you keep a tenant, the cheaper it is for you in the long run:

when tenants move out, you need to show the space, get repairs done and wait for the next appropriate candidate.

This can take weeks during which you won't be collecting rent. 

Remember, too, that you can't protect yourself from all risk. You can—and should—ask for first and last month's

rent when your tenants move in, but a security deposit to cover holes in walls, broken appliances or ruined

hardwood, is not allowed in some provinces. Familiarize yourself with the rules in your area or you could

unwittingly break the law. 

You should also know that not all clauses in a lease are binding. For example, if you write into the document that

there are to be no pets or children in your building, and your tenant agrees by signing, but later gets a four-legged

companion or a bundle of joy anyway, you can't evict them. 

It's not that you don't have any rights as a landlord—if the dog is a menace to your safety, you can go to the

overseeing agency in your jurisdiction and make an application for eviction, but it won't be granted simply because

there is a pet in the house. (And you're just stuck with the baby; tenants can't be evicted for reproducing.)

 5 Showing your space and finding the right tenants is tough work. 

A prospective landlord, especially a first-timer, should consider the services of a realtor. 

You'll pay her the equivalent of a month's rent, but the agent will assess your space to determine a realistic price;

she can draft a listings write-up and post it on realtor.ca and MLS, which is accessed by tens of thousands of real

estate professionals, many with clients who'd like to see your space. "We'll screen all the inquiries about your

apartment and the applications," says Rebecca. "That means credit checks, getting an employment letter and

contacting prior landlords to see if there is a history of NSF cheques, too." 

If you decide not to use a realtor, be prepared to do that rigorous investigating on your own. And since time is

money, you should factor that legwork into your balance sheet. 

6 A rental unit won't necessarily add to the value of your home. 

Some home renovations are almost always worth the investment: an updated kitchen or bathroom, for example,

or new paint and floors. But some aren't: swimming pools or saunas, usually. So if you love and use them, go

ahead and install them for your own enjoyment, but don't think of them as an investment. Same goes for a rental

unit. 

If you do construction without permits, future owners of your home will have to contend with that. If they can't rent

the space out, or don't want the risk since it's not legal, they'll have an extra kitchenthat's of no use to them and

space that's probably not easily integrated into a single-family home. They might use that as a negotiating tool to

get your asking price down. 

7 Landlords should be handy. 

You don't need to be able to re-wire your home, but if you can't deal with a blown fuse or a clogged toilet, if

standing on a ladder or bending under a sink freaks you out, you could have problems. 

Here's why: if tenants confront even a small a problem (a leaky faucet, say, or a light that won't go on), they don't

have to solve it, they just have to call the landlord. If you can't handle the work yourself, you need to find someone

who can. 

Before there's a problem, ideally before your apartment is rented, interview contractors who will take on small jobs

(they're tough to find). Explain that you'll have tenants and the potential problems that could arise based on the

condition of your home—plumbing issues, electrical shorts, aging radiators—and that you're looking for someone

who could do that work quickly if needed. Keep their numbers on hand and don't make tenants wait long after

making a complaint to fix problems. But the more you learn to do yourself, the more money you'll keep for yourself. 

If you're buying new appliances, pay for the extended warranties. It's one thing to manage your own space and

problems, but add someone else's washing machine to the mix and it can get to be too much. Extended

warranties, besides being a tax write-off against rental income, mean fewer headaches for you. 

8 Being a landlord isn't a lottery win—it's a part-time job. 

But work can be rewarding, so if you do it right, it can pay off—and not just with the extra cash (although that's the

main reason, let's be honest). "We know a landlord and tenant who babysit each other’s pets and plants when

either one travels," says Rebecca. "Finding the right tenant is key, and as realtors, that's our goal." 

3 worthy resources for prospective landlords 

1 CMHC 

Check out the Provincial and Territorial Fact Sheet for rental authorities in your province, covering guidelines for

eviction, as well as rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. 

2 Landlord's Self Help Centre 

Membership allows you to access copies of rental applications and tenancy agreement forms. 

3 Rent Check Credit Bureau 

If you're not using a realtor, you may need to pay to access the information you need on prospective tenants. This

is a good place to start. 

By Kristin Arnold | Bankrate.com

Intro: Credit has long been viewed by many as a mystery. We know what it is and we know we need it…we're just

not exactly sure how to best utilize it for our maximum benefit. Bankrate.com separates fact from fiction when it

comes to building better credit.

Take VO:
Many people may think that paying off delinquencies will restore their credit score. While paying a debt is a better

move than not paying it, the delinquency will stay on your credit report for seven years. To improve your credit

score, get current and stay current on your credit accounts.

There's a happy medium when it comes to the amount of credit you have. Opening too many accounts makes you

top heavy, creating more risk and your credit will reflect that.

SOT: Janna Herron, Credit/Credit Cards Staff Reporter, Bankrate.com

("If a lender sees that a borrower has opened a lot of accounts in a short period of time. The lender thinks "Is this

person having trouble financially and needs access to cash fast.")

On the flip side, closing accounts gives you a smaller amount of available credit - hurting your credit score. A good

strategy: Think long-term when it comes to credit.

Smart financial moves don't always help your credit score. Paying off your loan early saves you interest but it won't

provide much a boost to your credit rating. Make sure you have open credit accounts in good standing to keep

improving your credit.

If you pay your balance before the due date, it must raise your credit score, right? Wrong. That's because the balance of the account has already been reported to the credit agencies. Play the game smartly by paying the

balance before the statement closing date or by cutting back on your credit card spending.

Tag: Looking to learn more about improving your credit? Just log on to Bankrate.com. I'm Kristin Arnold.

Can I see your license?

"(Licenses) are the 'it' factor when you are looking for a mover," says Stephen Bienko, owner of College Hunks

Moving of East Hanover, N.J.

A moving company's licenses and other requirements will differ depending on whether you are moving within your

state or to another, notes David Hauenstein, a vice president with the trade group the American Moving and

Storage Association, or AMSA.

To do business across state lines, the mover must be licensed with the federal government and have a U.S.

Department of Transportation, or DOT, number. You can find out if an interstate mover meets the requirements by

calling the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or by looking up the moving company on the agency's

website, ProtectYourMove.gov.

For local moves within the same state, AMSA recommends you contact your state moving association to check on

a mover's licenses and other requirements, which may differ from state to state.

Go local or go national?

"We often have very good luck getting problems resolved by local owners that may go unanswered by a large

corporation," she says.

However, just because you liked the mom and pop mover for your local move doesn't mean the company has the

appropriate licenses or experience to cross state lines.

Smaller companies may hire day labor or temps who are untrained or unknown to the company, which can result

in problems if there is any loss or damage, says Jim Lockard, owner of Denver-based moving company JL

Transport. But he adds that large companies may not offer the crews, insurance and services you need and can

sometimes transfer your property to another company or crew during transit.

"In the middle is a company that assigns permanent employees to travel with your property," Lockard says. "Good

research of the history (of the company) can avert problems and losses."

Do some detective work

Make sure you check government and independent sources -- not just the mover's website -- to verify licenses and

references, says Hauenstein. While the mover may boldly claim on its website to have the right credentials, that

may not be the case. "We find instances of movers using the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and AMSA logo, but

they aren't members," he says.

Do some digging of your own on a mover's social media pages, such as Facebook, to read comments from

customers. Also check testimonials on Angie's List, Yelp, Google Places and MovingScam.com. You might try an

online search pairing the company's name with the word "complaints" to find any blog posts about bad customer

experiences with a specific moving company.

"Every company has a few tough clients that may have felt they did not have the experience they were looking for,"

says Bienko. "However, take the average and base your decision on that."

Get an estimate, and get it in writing

You should get estimates from more than one moving company, says Lamoureux. And make sure those

estimates include everything in your home you want moved.

"That includes things in the attic, garage, backyard, shed, crawl space, basement, underneath and behind

furniture, and inside every closet and piece of storage furniture," she says. If you point to several things during the

estimating process and say, "That will be gone before the move," and they are not, your cost will be higher, she

says.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, recommends that the estimate be in writing and

clearly describe all the charges. Do not accept verbal estimates.

Along with a binding estimate, the FMCSA recommends that you get these additional documents from the mover

on moving day:

• Bill of lading -- a receipt for your belongings and a contract between you and the mover. Do not sign it if there's anything in there you don't understand.
• Order for service -- a document that authorizes the carrier to transport your household items from one location to another.
• Inventory list -- a receipt showing each item and its condition prior to the move.

Be assured you're insured

While your mover is liable for your belongings as they're being handled and transported by the company's

employees, there are different levels of liability, or "valuation," says Hauenstein. "You need to understand the level

that will apply for your move."

Under federal law, interstate movers must offer their customers two different insurance options: "full value

protection" and "released value."

Under full value, a more comprehensive insurance that will cost you extra, the mover is liable for the replacement

value of any item that is lost or damaged during the move.

Released value protection comes at no additional charge and offers limited liability that will pay you just 60 cents

per pound for any items that disappear or are harmed.

You may opt to purchase your own separate insurance for the move. Or, your furniture and other stuff may already

be covered through your existing homeowners policy.

In-state movers are subject to state insurance requirements, so make sure you ask about coverage when using a

local carrier.

Don't ever sign anything that contains language about "releasing" or "discharging" your mover from liability.

See link below for more details:

http://firsttimehomebuyersseminar.eventbrite.com/

By: Maya Millar | HGTV

You’ve taken the plunge and purchased your first home. While you may want to furnish every room immediately,

the wisest thing you can do is take time to properly budget and plan for everything you’d like to do in your home

over the next few years. Not to despair; there are a few essentials you can invest in now that will make your first

house truly feel like a home.

Lighting
A good lighting scheme can make or break a place. Consider what type of fixture you’d like in the each room. A

quick change that will allow you to instantly change the mood of a space is to install dimmers on your lights.

Another inexpensive way to play with your lighting is to invest in some clean-lined candle holders (simple clear

glass holders are always classic) and a substantial supply of white candles. If you tend to host dinners or parties

that last for hours, consider votives instead of tealights (votives burn longer than tealights so you can spend the

evening with your guests rather than replacing tealights throughout the night).

Towels 
Stocking your linen closet with a full set of thick, luscious quality towels, is worth the comfort and pleasure you’ll

get from them every day. The best way to shop for towels is to touch them in the store and examine the texture;

look for a heavy weight all-cotton terry that is soft against your skin. In terms of colour, white is classic and clean,

but if your bathroom is neutral, adding a juicy vibrant shade of towels is a simple, noncommittal way to experiment

with colour. And while you’re in the linen department, pick up some cloth napkins—they’re more eco-friendly than

the paper variety and will add polish to your table setting.

Cutlery
The mismatched set you own does have a certain charm for a more whimsical place setting, but a proper set of

cutlery is essential if you plan on hosting dinner parties in your new home. Besides looking for a design you like,

pick up the cutlery to check if its weight is pleasing to use. A basic set of quality knives will also do you well. A

chef’s knife, a paring knife and a bread knife is all most of us need.

Kitchen Tools
What gadgets you need in your kitchen depends on your cooking and entertaining habits, but a few must-haves

include: a rabbit-ear style wine opener, a salad spinner, an electronic can opener and a knife sharpener.

Sofa
If you’re still using the old couch from your parents basement or that starter couch from your very first apartment,

it’s time for an upgrade. This is a substantial buy but It’s worth investing in now as you use it everyday, from

reading the newspaper to catching your favourite TV show, and it will help establish your living area. Check for

comfort and size (ensure it fits not only the space you’ve set out for it, but that it can also get through the doorway

and stairwell to your place), but also ask about the sofa’s frame (a hardwood frame is preferable) and springs

(avoid the wire coil type).

By Bethany Lyttle | Forbes

Selling your home this summer? Cheap tweaks can pay off big-time. "And even when these don't equate to big

dollars, they may help sell your property faster," says Adam Hade, an associate broker with Houlihan Lawrence in

southeastern New York state.

But choosing which improvements to make is where many homeowners go wrong, according to Hade. "They over-

improve or improve in ways that don't really matter to the buyers in their particular area," he says. Exactly the

reason you should consult with a qualified realtor in your neighborhood before investing in any improvement

projects. They can tell you if buyers are looking for nurseries or extra bedrooms and can actually save you money

by preventing well-intended but unnecessary upgrades.

One such superfluous improvement is splurging on high-end kitchen appliances. "While a buyer may appreciate

chef-quality ranges or top-of-the-line fixtures, a well-kept lower-price brand will rarely break a deal," says Hade.

"On the other hand, worn carpet, dirty grout and clutter will give the impression that the house is not well-

maintained and lacks sufficient storage," he adds. Details like these make it difficult—and even impossible—for

many prospective buyers to envision themselves living there.

A home's layout is another adjustable feature sellers should take advantage of. Dina Landi of Rebecca Riskin &

Associates in Montecito, California, suggests reconfiguring your home's layout to meet market demands.

Substituting one room's use for another is a cheap way to transform a three-bedroom home with a den to a four-

bedroom home. Or a home that has a dining room with doors can be reconfigured for use as a main floor master

bedroom.

Landi also recommends pausing to inventory all the things you've collected over time and reassessing what to

keep. As life unfolds, as children grow up, as careers take off, things accumulate. "Taking rooms back to their

basics can make a huge difference, allowing a room's millwork, architectural details, and distinctive details to

shine," she says. The price? Almost zero. All you have to do to make your rooms look bigger is remove pictures,

souvenirs, all those stacks of books and magazines.

The best way to improve home values on the cheap is to do what needs doing—and nothing more. Why buy a new

ceiling fan when replacing the blades will do? Why paint the entire exterior of your home when touching up any

peeling paint will suffice?  Taking this approach allows you to make several small improvements instead of taking

on just one or two bigger ones. In short: Know your buyers. Choose projects carefully. Know when to quit.