Tips and Tricks

Canadians facing ever increasing house prices — and debt — are turning to short-term rentals to make ends meet, according to a new survey.

AltusGroup, which provides real estate research, said its FIRM survey from the summer of 2016 found four per cent of all households had used a short-term rental accommodation service in the past year. The number rises to seven per cent for those with a mortgage.

“There has been a lot of speculation lately about potential investor involvement in short-term accommodation rental services like Airbnb,” said Altus in its release. “But focusing on households rather investors, how extensive is the practice of short-term rentals of space in principal residences?”

Altus noted impact is even greater among millennials,

With Selina Robinson, MLA for Coquitlam-Maillairdville, sworn in this week as the new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, what can we expect her priorities to be over the coming months?

As former NDP housing critic David Eby has now become BC’s new Attorney-General, Robinson will be facing a lot of pressure to make good on promises that both she and Eby made on the campaign trail. She told voters in the run-up to the May election that the NDP’s key housing priorities were to introduce a speculation tax in Metro Vancouver and Victoria, in an attempt to calm those hot real estate markets.

The NDP’s housing platform also pledged to introduce a 2% annual property tax, based on the assessed property value, for owners of Vancouver real estate who

Owning real estate is a privilege, and in doing so, you are committing not only to serving your own personal interest, but potentially that of your family for years to come. A success story is increasingly possible, and for many of us real estate is our single most important asset when it comes to retaining value. When managed well, the rights in land associated with the building on it, not only maintain their value while factoring in inflation, but increase in value. The key to retaining your home’s value while ensuring comfort is good maintenance and a few simple upgrades.

Outside

Gutters

If you property has, or is surrounded by trees, your gutters may need to be cleaned multiple times each year. As a good rule of thumb, it’s best to access

Vancouver, BC – June 13, 2017. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 12,402 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May, down 7.9 per cent from the same period last year. Total sales dollar volume was $9.33 billion, down 4.0 per cent from May 2017. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $752,536, a 4.2 per cent increase from the same period last year.

"Market conditions have tightened considerably this spring as an upturn in consumer demand has not been accompanied by a rise in homes listed for sale," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. "The supply of homes for sale in the province has fallen 50 per cent over the past five years."

"The entire

Whatever your reasons for re-financing, the condition of your property is always important if it needs an appraisal.

If you need to re-mortgage or just renew your existing mortgage you may find that the lender will request an appraisal, this is at the lenders expense mostly but if your home does not appraise correctly then then you maybe forced into situations such as putting the home for sale or having to come up with cash to bridge the gap. Lenders look at the property to see what the house would yield in a foreclosure sale, in the unlikely event that you default on this mortgage agreement. These steps are helpful no matter why you are having a home appraisal. Some appraisers will only walk around the outside and check the overall condition of your

In our changing mortgage market where traditional lenders shy away from risk, some buyers may have to consider the alternative

For those not familiar with mortgage lenders, alternative lending agencies – including B-lenders – have previously been thought of as the car salesmen of the lending world. They were the last resort; the place you went only when there was nowhere else to go. Today, however, they might also be the only lender willing to do business with you.

Recent changes to Canada’s mortgage regulations, coupled with the fury of Vancouver’s real estate market, has made B-lenders highly sought after, and, quite frankly, for some the only option. But are B-lenders the last hope for many BC home buyers?

The reality of today’s market is that

When it comes down to selling your home, there are certain home improvements that will generate more value than others.

Knowing which ones are right for you can be tricky; after all you want to maximize your return on investment (ROI) without sacrificing too much. Replacing the practical, everyday, features of your home, remembering to landscape your yard, and constantly maintaining your home are some of our top tips for valuable home improvements.  

Replacing the Practical Features

The practical, everyday, features of your home are the ones that will add significant value. Updating outdated windows, either by replacing or painting, can create a great first impression; as the exterior of your home will look fresh and new!

Then there’s

When making the decision either to rent or buy a place to live, there are two broad categories of factors that must be considered.

The first and most obvious category represents the financial aspects of your decision. The second category is a set of personal and emotional factors, which are more intangible but play an important role in the decision to rent or buy. Here, we look at the financial factors, including the initial and ongoing costs as well as the long-term pros and cons of owning your home.

Examining Your Finances

The first step in the decision-making process is to determine whether or not you can afford to purchase a home. Issues to consider include your ability to make a down payment (generally between 5% and 20% of the home's purchase

Are you gearing up to buy your first place?

Shopping for a home is exciting, exhausting and a little bit scary. In the end, your aim is to end up with a home you love at a price you can afford. Sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, many people make mistakes that prevent them from achieving this simple dream. Arm yourself with these tips to get the most out of your purchase and avoid making 10 of the most costly mistakes that could put a hold on that sold sign. (Don't know even where to get started when purchasing a home?

1. Not Knowing What You Can Afford
As we've all learned from the subprime mortgage mess, what the bank says you can afford and what you know you can afford or are comfortable with paying are not necessarily the same. If you

As the summer approaches, Canadians from coast to coast are getting ready to indulge in the ultimate homeowner’s pleasure: renovations. And what better way to finance that marble countertop than a home equity line of credit (HELOC)?

By Erica Alini National Online Journalist, Money/Consumer  Global News

HELOCs are loans where the borrower’s equity in her or his home acts as security. And they are Canadians’ preferred financial tool to pay for large home improvement projects, for a few reasons.

First, they allow homeowners to borrow large amounts of money. Do you have $100,000 of equity in your home? You might be able to get a HELOC for close to that amount — and that should be plenty for, say, most kitchen redos.

Second, because the bank can