Blog

RSS

Posted on by

Say you’re viewing a home and are impressed with how it looks. The walls are freshly painted. Everything seems bright and new. You’re considering making an offer.


Then, while standing on a mat in the kitchen, you hear a squeak below your feet. You lift the mat and see that some tiles are broken. Obviously the mat was there to, literally, cover up that defect.


A few broken tiles are not a big deal. But now you’re thinking, “What else might be wrong with this house?”


There’s no reason to worry that every home will have maintenance issues hidden from view. However, it’s smart to do your due diligence to ensure the home you’re considering is truly as good as it looks.


One way is to have a professional home inspector check out the property as a condition of your purchase offer. He or she will inspect the home from top to bottom, inside and out, and point out any issues you should address.


It’s also smart to ask questions. Find out the age of certain features, such as the roof, furnace, and appliances. Ask about any recent renovations, and determine whether they were done by a professional or by the homeowner.


Most importantly, work with a good REALTOR® who can provide you with information on the property that you would have difficulty getting on your own. Your REALTOR® has a stake in making sure you buy a home with your eyes wide open — knowing all the potential maintenance issues you’re likely to encounter.


Want to talk to a good REALTOR®? Call us today. 

Read

Posted on by

For immediate release

BC Home Sales to Reach 100,000 Units in 2015


BCREA 2015 Third Quarter Housing Forecast Update


Vancouver, BC – August 18, 2015. 

 

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2015 Third Quarter Housing Forecast Update today.

 

For only the third time in BC, Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales are expected to reach 100,000 units in 2015. Housing demand has not been this robust since 2007 when 102,800 homes traded hands. A record 106,300 MLS® residential sales were recorded in 2005.  

 

“While rock-bottom mortgage interest rates and BC’s nation leading economic growth are underpinning demand, consumer confidence is the key driver of the near record activity,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist.  

 

Strong consumer demand has drawn down the inventory of homes for sale to their lowest level in nearly eight years. As a result, sellers’ market conditions are prevailing in many communities and causing home prices to be pushed higher. The average MLS® residential sales price in the province is forecast to climb 10 per cent to $626,000 this year.  An increase in new construction activity and a higher proportion of condominium purchases is expected to limit growth in the average home price to 2.5 per cent in 2016.

Read

Posted on by

There are many reasons why the air quality in your home may not be at its best. A faulty furnace or an aged carpet are just two potential culprits. Until you get those issues addressed, how do you make your indoor air healthier — today?


Here are some ideas:

  • Check the furnace filter. This is one of the most overlooked maintenance items in the home. Any furnace repair person can tell you stories about filters they’ve seen caked in dust. Make sure those aren’t yours. Air passes through those filters before circulating throughout your home. Replacing a filter takes less than five minutes.


  • Clean the drains. Drains are a surprisingly common source of odour in the home. Most people only clean them when they’re clogged, but they should be flushed thoroughly with a good-quality cleaner at least once a season.


  • Turn on the bathroom fan. Not only do bathroom fans remove odour, they also reduce moisture build-up. About 50% of air pollutants originate from some type of moisture; mould being the worst. Professionals recommend you keep the bathroom fan on for at least 30 minutes after a shower.


  • Clean your doormat. Even if your doormat doesn’t smell, it can be a source of air pollutants. When people wipe their shoes, they transfer pesticides and other outside ground pollutants from their shoes to your mat.

    Of course, you can always open a window. That’s the most popular way to freshen the air, and it works. 

Read

Posted on by

News Release: August 5, 2015

 

JULY PROPERTY SALES HIT RECORD LEVELS IN FRASER VALLEY

SURREY, BC – Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) saw the highest number of real estate transactions ever recorded for the month of July.

 

There were 2,184 property sales processed, an increase of 35 per cent compared to 1,615 sales in July of last year. The previous highest July was in 2009, with 2,089 sales and prior to that in 2005.

 

Jorda Maisey is the Board’s President. “Home ownership is a passion in our country and in our region currently, conditions couldn’t be better to support that goal. Interest rates are the lowest they’ve been in six years, our provincial economy is on track to be the strongest in the country this year and in the Fraser Valley we have amongst the most affordable homes in the region.

 

“This is why this summer is shaping up to be the busiest in our history.”

 

The Fraser Valley Board's MLS® showed 7,681 active listings at the end of July, a decrease of 20 per cent compared to the 9,636 listings available in July of last year. It received 3 per cent more new listings in July; 2,815 compared to the 2,724 new listings received during the same month last year.

 

Maisey notes that despite seeing a slight increase in new listings in July, demand has led to a shortage of inventory in certain markets. "A detached home in the Fraser Valley is selling on average in just over one month and in many communities buyers will find themselves in multiple offer situations. It’s critical to tap into local real estate expertise in a market this hectic. Your REALTOR® will have the knowledge, tools and services to best position you for success.”

 

The MLS® Home Price Index benchmark price of a detached home in July was $621,100, an increase of 9.3 per cent compared to July of last year when it was $568,300. The MLS® HPI benchmark price of Fraser Valley townhouses increased 2.1 per cent going from $298,500 in July of last year to $304,900 last month. The benchmark price of apartments decreased year-over-year by 1 per cent, going from $194,700 in July of last year to $192,700 last month.

 

Maisey adds, “Renters take note. Given interest rates and the affordable price of condos in certain neighbourhoods in Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford, it may be more economical over the long-term for you to own. There are excellent opportunities currently in the Fraser Valley for first-time buyers."

 

Thinking of selling? Contact the Holmes Team today.

Read

Superior MLS® Search

Start Searching!

Buying A Home

Start buying Now!

Selling Your Home

Start Selling Now!
Powered by myRealPage.com
Reciprocity Logo 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.