All Blog Entries by Steve Harmer

One question that pops up constantly from both first-time and seasoned homeowners alike is "When is the best time of year to buy a home?"

Potential homeowners want to know the best time of year to get the best home for the lowest price - and ideally, at a time that makes sense for their life. It would be great if there were a simple and straightforward answer, like "the best time of year to purchase a home is between April 1 and April 7." But unfortunately, it's not that simple. Let's take a look at the factors that play into answering the question "when is the best time of year to buy a home?"

Convenience

The first factor to consider when buying a home is convenience. This is particularly important if you have a family. If you have school-aged

Under new federal legislation, Canadians will be able to grow up to four marijuana plants in their private residence.

But a lack of protections and awareness could cost them thousands – or even their mortgage.

Sentiment on smoking and cultivating marijuana at home still largely negative, finds new Zoocasa survey.

With the new cannabis laws coming into force, would growing pot at home reduce your property’s value? What about smoking weed at home? Do you think a new cannabis store in the neighbourhood would help or hinder a home sale? A majority of Canadian homeowners (64 per cent) believe that a home where the owners smoked pot would see a decreased value, according to a survey released October 16 by real estate website Zoocasa.

And 57 per cent

Are you thinking about a separation from your spouse? How does that effect real estate?

Then you need to know the legal ins and outs when it comes to separation under Canadian law. This article will go over some ideas that many people have about separation so that you will know exactly what your Separation Agreement must include.

Always take professional legal advice

There is much to consider during a divorce, but one of the most basic questions is “Who gets what?” For some couples the division of property can get very messy, while others are able to deal with it quickly and easily. Under Canada’s Constitution, each province and territory is responsible for laws regarding the division and/or equalization of family or marital property, and these

Are you in need of a Bad credit mortgage loan lender? Are Banks and Brokers saying no?

When most people think about the process of applying for a mortgage, they think about going to a bank or other lending institution depending on where they live. Private Mortgage loans are short in term, ranging from six months to three years. They are based on assets or a hard money real estate loan. What determines whether or not you get the loan depends on the value and equity of the property that serves as the collateral, rather than the credit of the party taking out the loan. Many professional real estate investors who want to purchase, renovate and “flip” a property, or liquidate the equity from property that produces income use Bad Credit Mortgage Lenders.

Guest Article written for Kamloops Property For Sale by Suzie Wilson of Happier Home. Click the link to explore her tips on making your home a happy home and learn about her new book Ultimate Guide to Prepping Your Home for an Open House.

When you’re trying to sell your home, you want to showcase all that makes it a great place to live.

When you’re having an open house, you have to make it shine so that visitors can get an idea of how they would live in the home. Basically, your lived-in home has to look as good as a photo in a magazine. That’s no small feat!

To get ready, you’ve got to spend a little time, a little money and a lot of elbow grease. But don’t worry, none of it is impossible. You can do most, if not all, of it yourself.

Start

New research forecasts which cities will outperform the rest of the province's markets, despite recent dramatic value increases

A new report released today shows Surrey, the second largest city in B.C. and the fastest growing, has the diversity and strength required to lead the province in real estate investment potential. The Top 10 Towns and Cities – British Columbia report helps home-buyers and sellers decide whether now is a good time to buy, or sell, a property.

The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) is an independent research and analysis firm that has been producing reports on housing markets across Canada for 25 years and has earned its reputation as a dependable source in providing unbiased research and analysis.

Studying 36

BC Assessment notices arrive in the mail, giving some homeowners a big smile and a bit more spring in their step (increased property taxes aside), while others wilt and lament at a modest gain or decrease in assessed value. Do these numbers make you more interested in selling your home?

Wait a sec. Neither this assessment document, nor either parties’ emotions, are tied to a current true market value. In fact, provincial property assessments can be significantly too high or too low. Values are determined in July of the previous year, and properties are rarely visited in person by provincial appraisers.

For this reason, provincial property assessments should never be solely relied upon as any sort of relevant indicator of true market value for the

Guest article written by Karen Weeks from www.elderwellness.net

Aging in community is a popular way for seniors to focus on their health by staying active and social, but what exactly is it?

The definition can vary from person to person, but generally it simply means living at home or in a senior community that isn’t assisted by nurses or other caregivers. For many seniors, this is a big deal, as it means that they can continue to make decisions for themselves and live life on their own terms.

“As a matter of fact, a growing number of baby boomers are turning to shared living as an aging in place housing option. A 2014 AARP analysis of census data found approximately 132,000 households and 490,000 women over the age of 50 living with non-romantic

Fact or fiction in BC Real Estate.

The industry has been booming for well a while now. Low inventory has created bidding wars and fixer-uppers in some major cities are hitting seven figures. So how do you keep your head amid the frenzy? How can you wade through all the clutter and the chatter to suss out the info you need to make wise decisions?

How to interview your Realtor CLICK HERE

Well, you always have us in your back pocket. In the meantime lets look at some of the common misconceptions that we have all heard in real estate transactions.

#1: Question: Real estate contracts are standardized so just sign the paperwork and work out the details later.

Answer. Not on your life,. Each real estate contract is as unique as the pink and black

We have collected information from both of the consumer reporting agencies (credit bureaus), as well as our own research to provide a full picture on credit files and credit scores, including those little known “insider” secrets.

If you are looking to buy a home soon then make sure you know your credit score and how to improve or question the details that are held on file.

What information is kept in my credit file?

Your credit file contains information on all of your credit accounts submitted to the credit bureaus, including balances, limits, payment history, etc, as well as identification information such as your name, address, age, social insurance number, marital status, spouse’s name and age, number of dependents, occupation, and employment