November 2019

Central 1 report making headlines in local media

Posted on Nov 28, 2019 in Real estate market

This is a news item about the housing market in B.C., through the eyes, words or TV screens of news gatherers.
Central 1 Credit Union caught the attention of B.C. news outlets by proclaiming that “the turnaround in B.C.’s housing market [will] lift sales and prices.” Central 1 is defined as “credit union central” for credit unions here and in Ontari...

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Fixer-Uppers 2: Possible Disadvantages

Posted on Nov 25, 2019 in Fixer-uppers

Close to Vancouver, a young couple recently undertook a major house renovation. It is taking longer than expected, because those things often do and, in this case, because the “minor” excavation included the accidental severing a hydro line.
That’s an example of the kind of disadvantages you can encounter when buying a fixer-upper.
Disadvantages?
Can...

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Fixer-Uppers 1: Possible Advantages

Posted on Nov 21, 2019 in Fixer-uppers

An online definition of “fixer upper” is this: a property that will require redecoration, re-construction or re-design, though it usually can be lived in as is. (Another definition is a TV show of the same name that had a five-year run on HGTV.)
At a time when real estate prices appear to be ready to rise, the fixer-upper is more likely to be in pla...

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Style of house: personal preference, mobility keys

Posted on Nov 18, 2019 in Buying a house

What’s the right style of home for you?
Options may include the following: two-storey to duplex to split-level to bungalow.
These are personal preferences, of course. Seniors tend to want bungalows with fewer stairs. Families sometimes find a two-storey best: bedrooms up, everything else down.
Beyond that, there’s no criteria.
However, resale value is...

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Simplifying mortgage jargon for new buyers

Posted on Nov 14, 2019 in Mortgages

Newcomers to mortgages sometimes find the terminology confusing. So what follows is Mortgage 1.0, a snapshot of the terms you’ll need to know when you go shopping for that first house.
Fixed-rate mortgage: the interest rate that will apply for the term of your mortgage
Term of mortgage: the length of time for which interest rates apply, not to be con...

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Kitchens can be crucial in selling a home

Posted on Nov 07, 2019 in Selling a house

One theory out there in the real estate world is that when you’re selling a house, you’re really selling a kitchen.
That’s how important kitchens can be.
So that’s why it can be important to renovate your kitchen before listing your home with an agent…”can be important” because it depends on the condition of your kitchen.
How extensive does the reno h...

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