Recent Real Estate Advice and Resources
Increase in ForeClosures - Bargains?
HOW-TO | BUYING Author: Kevin Henry Group
We are seeing a steady increase in the number of homes in our area offered for sale under Court Order, commonly known as Foreclosure . Indeed, you will see I presently have two such properties l ...
read moreMortgages For Pensioners - Vancouver mortgage for retired
HOW-TO | BUYING Author: Mark Fidgett
Yikes, I really pissed the Banks off with this one…
As you probably know, Banks hesitate Dealing with retired individuals whose income may not be the best.
Try getting a mortgage after you ...
read more20 Low Cost Ways to Spruce up Your Home
ADVICE | SELLING Author: LEE IVANS
Make your home more appealing for yourself and for potential buyers with these quick and easy tips: 1. Trim bushes so they don't block windows and cut down on light.
2. Buy a new doormat.
... read moreMortgage Financing for mobile homes
ADVICE | MORTGAGES Author: Caroline Lennox
Thought you might like to see an example of one lender's criteria for mobiles o.a.c.:
Must be registered and on own land Must be CMHC insured unless unit is brand new, in which case 60% LTV m ... read moreWill CMHC Be – JUST SOLD
ADVICE | MORTGAGES Author: Mark Fidgett
As you may or may not know, because of recent concerns, CMHC has been placed under the supervision of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions.
I found the following article by Garr ...
read moreAuxilium Mortgage Monthly Newsletter - May 2012
RESOURCE | MORTGAGES Author: Kam Brar
Cash Back: Some Ins and OutsI was talking to one of my friends the other day, and he told me an interesting story about what happened to him while he was at home having lunch the other day.&nb ...
read moreWHAT IS A REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL
ADVICE | MORTGAGES Author: Caroline Lennox
An Appraisal is a document that gives an estimate of a property’s fair market value, provided by an appraiser. Appraisers are trained to use existing, market data to do the home valuat ...
read moreApril Sales Stats - Victoria Real Estate Board
RESOURCE | BUYING Author: Mike Graham
FLAT MARKET IN APRIL 2012 MAINTAINS BALANCED REAL ESTATE IN GREATER VICTORIAVICTORIA, BC - Pricing and sales numbers for most categories are essentially the same as in March 2012, spe ...
read moreDo You Know the Basics of Home Security?
RESOURCE | SELLING Author: LEE IVANS
Most people feel confident about the basics of home security. For example: Keep all doors locked. Have a light on in the house while away. Never hide a key outside in an obvious place, like under the ...
read moreGet the best price when selling a home
ADVICE | SELLING Author: LEE IVANS
The housing market has not yet rebounded to pre-recession prices, when buyers seemed to be stepping over one another to bid up the price of homes. Today's sellers may be lucky to get asking price ...
read moreKam's Mortgage Minute - Top Ten Reasons to Payout your Debt_#5
ADVICE | MORTGAGES Author: Kam Brar
May 03, 2012
Reason Number 5
read moreHow to create a Refund with a Refund
HOW-TO | BUYING Author: Mark Fidgett
How do you create a Refund from a Refund?
And that’s NOT a trick question.
As you know, it’s tax time.
In fact, the tax deadline has just come and gone.
There are some lucky ones out t ...
read moreTop Summer Home Improvement Ideas
ADVICE | RENOVATIONS Author: LEE IVANS
1. Build a deck or patio. This project not only adds visual interest to the exterior of your home, it also gives you a chance to enjoy your outdoor living space to the fullest. During the spring ...
read moreWhat finance means. How do lenders price their mortgages today
RESOURCE | MORTGAGES Author: Chris Murphy
Want to know why your mortgage costs may be going up? How is it that you got a better rate as a first time home buyer than your Father on renewal? It's not complicated but the cost of mortgage mo ...
read moreZero down could be a limited time opportunity.
ADVICE | MORTGAGES Author: Caroline Lennox
Zero-down payment can help get Canadians into their homes faster, saving potentially thousands in rent, and giving them a jump start on building wealth.A cash-back mortgage that provides the cash upfr ...
read moreKam's Mortgage Minute - Top 10 reasons to payout your debt_#4
ADVICE | MORTGAGES Author: Kam Brar
April 30, 2012
Reason number 4
read moreWater Damage Tips
ADVICE | RENOVATIONS Author: LEE IVANS
These days, homes are at a greater risk of water damage than ever before. Heavier precipitation and less predictable weather patterns increase the chance of unwanted water entering our homes.
Water d ...
read moreDon't Forget the Closing Costs!
ADVICE | BUYING Author: Mike Graham
Closing costs are those costs incurred in the buying of properties apart from the sale price you agree to pay and for the most part are unavoidable so be sure to ask your realtor what other costs ...
read moreYour credit report, Beacon score and how they are used when you apply for a regular or 'bad credit' mortgage
ADVICE | MORTGAGES Author: Caroline Lennox
When you apply for a mortgage or a pre-approval in Canada, your mortgage broker or bank salesperson will request a Credit Report from either Equifax or TransUnion. These are the same organizatio ...
read moreMortgage Qualification, Do I qualify?
HOW-TO | MORTGAGES Author: Mark Fidgett
With all the negative publicity lately about mortgage credit tightening, people sometimes think they can’t qualify for a mortgage so why try?
In fact, it’s often the case that people wh ...
read moreBuy a home for $19 an hour - Really - Vancouver Mortgage
HOW-TO | BUYING Author: Mark Fidgett
Can I really buy a home and get a mortgage in Vancouver if I only make nineteen dollars an hour?
Many people are very surprised at how much they can afford when we first sit down with them.
Down pay ...
read moreHow To Sell Your Home For MORE - Vancouver
HOW-TO | SELLING Author: Mark Fidgett
Are you planning on Selling Your Home In The Next 6 to12 Months?
You may be surprised to know that what you do right now could mean the difference of thousands of dollar.
Especially if you’re ...
read moreMortgage Tightening Annoyance
ADVICE | MORTGAGES Author: Kam Brar
Last month in April, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty stated, “I’ve tightened up the mortgage insurance market three times… I really don’t want to do it again.”
Some Large ...
read moreMoving Tips
ADVICE | SELLING Author: LEE IVANS
Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually 2-4 weeks ahead of the move. Notify our charge cards, magazine subscriptions, and bank of the change of address. Develop a list of friends, ... read moreChecklist For House Hunting
ADVICE | BUYING Author: Mike Graham
If you are thinking of buying a home in the near future, a REALTOR® can provide invaluable help in finding the right home in the right price range in the area you want to live. Through acces ...
read moreCanada to Introduce Budget Bill That May Alter CMHC Rules
RESOURCE | MORTGAGES Author: Mark Fidgett
Interesting article in Bloomberg today
“Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty plans to introduce legislation as early as tomorrow that may contain changes to the oversight of Canada Mortgage & ...
read more5 Ways to Speed Up Your Sale
ADVICE | SELLING Author: LEE IVANS
1. Price it right. Set a price on the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.
2. Get your house “market ready” for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
... read moreBC HST grant for owner-built secondary or residential properties
ADVICE | MORTGAGES Author: Caroline Lennox
Recently I wrote to the Ministry of Finance to ask how the recent changes in HST to include secondary and recreational residences work when a person builds on their own lot, or buys a vacant lot and t ...
read moreEligibility requirements for BC's First Time New Home Buyer $10,000 bonus
ADVICE | MORTGAGES Author: Caroline Lennox
read moreBuying or Selling a Strata Unit-Things you Should Know
ADVICE | BUYING Author: Mike Graham
Are you thinking of buying or selling a condominium, townhome or other property covered by the Strata Property Act? If so, it's important to be aware of the documentation Strata Corporations must ...
read more