Cariboo Gold project – which has completed its environmental assessment – would generate $53 million annual payroll and require twice as many workers as the town’s currrent population Nelson Bennett, Glacier Media. The tiny, historic town of Wells, B.C. is about to experience an economic transfusion, whether it likes it or not, in the form of […] Say hello to fractional ownership, a new rising star in real estate that’s increasingly being eyed as an attractive alternative to traditional property options, based on the highest Property prices in the history of BC, the lack of availability, and a comparison to timeshare. In the last few years, fractional ownership has been raining in […] Dreaming of ditching that claustrophobic condo in downtown Vancouver? Yearning for wide-open spaces where the only traffic jams involve herds of deer? Well, you’re not alone! The hustle to rural utopia in British Columbia is picking up steam faster than a hipster runs to the newest kombucha bar. What’s got everyone swapping their penthouse view […] Peter Mitham, Western Investor Operators focus on RVs, luxury amenities for post-pandemic glampers. Private campground operators are upgrading sites and investing in amenities as high land costs and rising expenses put an emphasis on cash flow. The timing couldn’t be better, however. High housing costs in the run up to the pandemic saw many people swap Van city for van life, while COVID-19 spawned renewed interest in getting outdoors. When the property you are inspecting has a “shallow well” designation you could come across a system as crude as a large open pit dug by a backhoe that captures ground seep and run-off water to a hand-bored sand point with a hand pump or 12-volt solar pump on off-grid properties. Shallow wells are typically 25 feet below the surface of the ground or less and can experience taste and odor issues from mineral content like iron and manganese. Part 1 of a two-article series on groundwater sources and water systems on rural land. A clean, year-round, potable water source will always be the most important land attribute you need to sustain life. Understanding the different types of rural property water sources and how you can and cannot access, divert and use them will save you time in vetting rural properties and raw land for both residential and commercial use. Break up has arrived in the interior of the province, and Right Now! is one of the best times to head north and strap on pair of snowshoes or a pair of rubber boots and go make trails around the properties you are interested in possibly owning. Walking property during the transition between winter and spring will give you valuable insight into how the geography changes with winter snow accumulation, and more importantly how well the geography deals with snow melt and runoff water. Characteristics you need to know about before you invest in or plan the location of driveways, dwellings, gardens, and outbuildings. 1.1 millions Canadians are set to renew their mortgages in 2023, and their equity position is one of the first risk indicators their lender will examine along with; income changes, credit card debt and credit score. Depleted equity makes you a higher risk to a lender and can be a factor in your ability to negotiate the best rates in subsequent renewals. A 27 year old mobile home, previously assessed at $55,400 in 2021, is now being assessed for $116,000, a $60K increase, year over year. BC Assessment had previously de-valued the mobile by -$1700 in 2021 even with an increase in the land value. 2023 dawned an altered and uncharted chapter in our province’s history of real estate. With well-meant intentions to expose corruption, reduce speculation, and increase affordable supply back into BC markets, buyers and sellers will now have several additional layers of government policy to navigate when entering into any real estate transaction. Commodity markets are variable and often unpredictable – and touch most in agriculture. One of the best ways to manage the uncertainty is with education – learning market language and some of the implications of the terms.Here is a brief primer to get you started on how to market, when to hold and when to […] Using the historically high 2021 figures as a benchmark for where market values should aim to be is misleading to potential buyers, investors and home owners. Your home is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, at the time you are ready to sell it. And you should only buy or sell a home or property when it makes sense for you, and not just when the market is at the lowest or highest point. Yes, it is financially advantageous when you can time the purchase or sale of your property to coincide with the beginning or end of a cycle, but the real return on investment in owning your own home is received while you are living in it and still paying for it. Somewhere along the line we have forgotten that.
All posts by Freddy Marks
Western Investor: New gold mine will transform tiny, historic Wells, B.C.
Exploring Fractional Ownership: A New Age in Real Estate
“Trading Skyscrapers for Spruces: Embarking on the Ultimate BC Adventure in Rural Living”
Western Investor: Camping goes upscale as land, operating costs bite
Jun 13, 2023
CAMPING GOES UPSCALE AS LAND OPERATING COSTS BITE
Part 2: Locating and Evaluating Potable Water Sources on Rural Property
Locating and Evaluating Potable Water Sources on Rural Property
Early spring land tours reveal more than just flood risks.
Equity is your advantage, deplete at your own risk.
Manufactured home sees 60K dwelling tax assessment increase.
Foreign Buyers Ban Creates Compliance Confusion
Basis price, futures and your bottom line
Altered Expectations Required To Return Balance
