February 2020

Are you considering down-sizing?

Don’t wait to downsize

If you have been thinking about downsizing, it’s probably time to do it. There are lots of reasons that people decide to give up their large homes; their kids have moved out, they have paid off their home, they are tired of cleaning so much house, or they don’t want the upkeep of a large outdoor space. If any of these reasons have crossed your mind, don’t hesitate.

Downsizing takes a little preparation and often people wait until there is an illness or a family crisis that forces them into a rushed move. It’s better to move while you are healthy and can take a few months to plan. It’s never ideal to deal with moving and a family crisis simultaneously if you can help it.

What should you be

So you’re looking to buy a new house – and pouring over all of the great real estate offerings in the Kamloops Area.

Each property slideshow conjures images of a new era of domestic bliss in your mind. It’s an exciting time, full of possibilities. But while you’re envisioning yourself in that new place, don’t forget to consider the big picture. You’ll be calling a new neighbourhood “home” too.

Read on to determine what information you need to know about choosing your new neighbourhood.

It’s not merely a question of “good neighbourhoods” and “bad neighbourhoods”. What you want, ideally, is a neighbourhood that offers the specific qualities required to enrich your life (both now and during the years to come). Those requirements will vary greatly

Home inspections are a huge part of buying and selling a home.

While in most cases a home inspection is optional, it’s highly recommended by experts so you can be aware of the home’s condition and potential problems. One of the most common pitfalls new home buyers experience are issues with the home they didn’t know about but could have been fixed prior to closing. Remember, if you have an inspection before purchasing a house, the issues are the seller’s, but if not, the buyer, you are responsible.

One of the most common subjects to a real estate transaction is the home inspection. An inspector’s report is often the deciding factor to move forward with a purchase and can be used to renegotiate the sale price or allow sellers to make repairs. It can

If you are in the market to sell or buy a property, you may have some incorrect misconceptions.

We decided to debunk some real estate myths that may be impacting your search. Consider these as guidelines for buying and selling.

Myth One: Listing your home for more than what you expect to receive will net you the price you want.

This is often considered room to negotiate. But it’s a mistake you don’t want to make. Listing too high may actually net you a lower price. Why? Because buyers and agents often won’t even look at homes priced above market value. You always have the option to reduce the price after a few weeks, but that’s not a situation you want to be caught in. A price reduction can signal to buyers that there are problems. Even in a low

Still trying to figure out this RRSP thing? You’re not alone.

It's that time of year again - time to make the most of your RRSP contributions before the clock strikes twelve on March 2, 2020

The Registered Retirement Savings Plan, known simply as the RRSP to most, is a great tool for saving money. RRSP contributions are tax-deductible, which allows you to delay paying taxes on that income until you retire, when you’ll likely be in a lower tax bracket.  If you don’t know a lot about RRSPs, it’s time to educate yourself.  Unfortunately, our high cost of living and competing financial demands can make it challenging putting money aside. But hopefully that won’t deter you from figuring out how to make the most of what you have.

There are times when

Find out how much the median single-family home in your municipality went up (or down) in value last year

Housing assessments are in the mail for nearly two million homeowners in British Columbia, but those in Vancouver who may have searched their properties online have already learned that values have fallen dramatically.

The figures released January by B.C. Assessment show the typical value of a single-family home in Vancouver has dropped 11 per cent, from $1.76 million to $1.57 million, as of July 1, 2019.

Here are a few answers to questions you might have about property values across the province. 

• How much did things change in Kamloops?

While property values dropped by four to 15 per cent across Metro Vancouver, it was a

Rent-to-own is an alternative route to home ownership for those who can’t obtain financing due to poor credit or because they don’t have enough money for a down payment (or both).

Most Canadians probably haven’t heard about rent-to-own housing. Unlike the U.S., this arrangement is still not that common in Canada.

What is a rent to own home?  It’s pretty much exactly as it sounds.  It’s where an investor, or home owner, rents out their property to a tenant, but gives the tenant the “option” to purchase the home after a certain period of time at a predetermined price. The idea is that you rent a home for a certain period of time with the goal of buying the property at the end of your lease. If all goes according to plan, by then you’ll have repaired

The Province is proposing more residential flexibility for people living in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) as outlined in a new policy intentions paper released Jan. 27, 2020, by the Ministry of Agriculture.

In order to support farmers and non-farmers living in the ALR, government is considering regulatory changes to enable landowners to have both a principal residence and a small secondary residence on their property, provided they have approval from their local government. ALR property owners would not be required to apply to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) for approval.

“We are continuing to do the work necessary to help farmers farm and protect farmland for future generations,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture. “The ALR is

Are your instincts telling you that you have the wrong Realtor? Trust those instincts and watch out for these telltale signs you’re working with the wrong person

There are many wonderful REALTORS® out there who work hard for their clients and help them with every detail of their transaction, but this type of service isn't always guaranteed.

Perhaps you’re preparing to list your home or currently searching for a new one. Either way, it’s absolutely essential that you hire the right Realtor for the job. The home purchase and sale process can stress out buyers and sellers, including their agents and brokers. This stress can be caused or amplified when personalities clash or when the real estate transaction does not go as planned.

Your agent will