You’ve heard the question, “What are the 3 most important elements of buying a home?”
The response: “Location, Location, Location.”
There is no denying: location is critical to home buying. That’s because where you live can be important to how you live, how it affects your happiness and quality of life and how it affects your financial and emotional well-being. ...
Posted by Allan Lent
on September 12, 2011
When buying a home, there are some key factors to consider before you jump on the internet or into your car to begin your research. Get out a piece of paper and start writing down yours and your family’s criteria.
(1) Your budget
Knowing what you can afford is critical and you should never waiver from this amount. Determining the right budget will also help you to eliminate neighbourhoods ...
Posted by John Procenko
on July 7, 2011
Finding the perfect neighbourhood to live in can sometimes be a daunting task. So many factors to consider: How long is the commute? Is it a family area? What is the crime rate?
I’ve done a lot of travelling across Canada these last couple of months, from Moncton NB, to Kelowna BC, and all the major cities in between. From what I’ve seen, each neighbourhood and city is unique in that ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on November 24, 2010
I snapped this photo of an unidentified floating object just off the shores of the south side of Stanley Park in Vancouver the other day. I couldn't figure out - is it a cruise ship, an old ferry, or possibly some kind of military boat? So I did some research:
The ships name is Mona Lisa. The 660-foot, 29,000-ton ship is currently owned by Leonardo Shipping, and operated under charter by Lord ...
Posted by Kelsie Struch
on February 4, 2010
Let's face it, nobody wants to be average. It's the terrain of the unremarkable, the realm of the middle ground.
But while "average" is, by its very definition, nothing to brag about, it does have its place in our world. It shows us the big picture; it reminds us where we stand, right?
Well, to a point. In real estate, average prices in the form of market statistics help us establish broad market ...
Posted by Crystal Edwards
on December 9, 2009
Gibsons, BC (pop 4,200) has earned a Gold award from the International Awards for Liveable Cities.
Gibsons - the ocean at its feet, mountains at its back, located on the famous "Sunshine Coast" north of Vancouver - won in the under 20,000 category for a full city.
Gibsons beat out the following cities in the same size category:
Carlyle, Saskatchewan, Canada
Jaromer, Bolatice, and ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on October 21, 2009
I blogged about how Google gives new meaning to "Neighbourhood Watch" earlier in the summer. Yesterday, it become official: 11 Canadian cities are now viewable - complete with zoom-able functionality and street-level details of neighbourhoods led by "Pegman, your trusty Street View guide." Those cities are:
Vancouver, BC & area, north to Whistler, east to Chilliwack (Imagine all the clicks ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on October 8, 2009
Most buyers state that the neighbourhood is their top priority when selecting a home - ahead, even, of price - according to research by the National Association of Realtors. The following is a checklist of questions to ask yourself as you investigate your prospective new neighbourhood:
Is the neighbourhood stable, improving, or declining?
Do sales in the area support the home's price?
What ...
Posted by Eugene Pilato
on September 16, 2009
If you're a golfer (and more Canadians are than in other countries), you've got one more reason to live next to a golf course. You can expect higher home values with a house located adjacent to a golf course - compared to similar homes that are not - according to a National Allied Golf Association study released this month. The Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study is the first comprehensive, independent ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on September 2, 2009
Garage sales are becoming more and more popular; especially in this economy, homeowners are finding it makes good money sense to sell these items rather than throw or give them away, or have the expense of putting them in storage or hiring a mover for them. Some people are going through “right-sizing,” i.e. moving to a smaller home for various reasons. Garage sales are also held by people ...
Posted by Eric McCartney
on August 18, 2009