Facts about real estate market conditions
Posted on Dec 17, 2021 in Real estate market
At a time when it’s impossible to predict much of anything, attempts to forecast what’s ahead in the real estate market are more difficult than ever. Attempts to explain what’s been happening to the housing market during the pandemic are more logical, but only because they are based on what has already happened.
They are based on facts.
Fact: More ho...
Linking immigration and home prices
Posted on Dec 13, 2021 in Home prices
“It is a conundrum.” — Stephen Brown, senior Canada economist at Capital Economics, on the effect of immigration on housing costs.
The conundrum is that immigration is desirable, even needed, in Canada…and that curbing escalating housing prices is also desirable, even needed.
One is expected to fuel the other. If you have high immigration, it probabl...
Interest rate unchanged — as predicted
Posted on Dec 09, 2021
Days before the Bank of Canada decided to maintain its record low interested rate at 0.25 per cent, the Financial Post previewed what to expect in this story:
"Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has one objective: managing inflation, which the central bank defines as keeping the Consumer Price Index (CPI) advancing at an annual rate of about two p...
Question — tenancy or home ownership?
Posted on Nov 20, 2021 in Buying a house
Rent a home, or buy one?
That’s a question many people ask at some point in their adult lives, and there’s no definitive answer because everybody’s situation is different. It usually begins with finances, yet there are other considerations, too.
Buyers have often been renters before entering the real estate market. As renters, they have enjoyed the b...
Facts used to determine real estate market theories
Posted on Nov 15, 2021 in Real estate market
There are many theories floating around in the media, be it social or conventional about what’s right and wrong with the current real estate market.
How about a few “facts?”
According to economist and real-estate analysts who track these things:
• The average price of a home in British Columbia is currently $913,471, or $226,821 above the national ave...
WiFi thermostats and BC Hydro offers
Posted on Nov 09, 2021 in Energy efficiency
It’s easy to miss valuable information from TV commercials, especially in the current age of using a PVR so you can skip past them. One useful commercial that is worth revisiting is about BC Hydro rebates, because it can be a dollar-saver for homeowners.
With its Power Smart program, BC Hydro is constantly advising and helping customers save energy...