We have already seen hyper-inflationary price increases in many sectors; shipping, lumber, gasoline, heating fuel, and the leader of the pack, real estate. An impoverishing trend that has a huge demographic priced out of home ownership, at a time when becoming a homeowner could help to hedge any hard earned wealth they have earned. Many complex and critical steps take place behind the scenes when you enter into a real estate transaction and you should always choose to work with a licensed and reputable conveyancing professional. If you are shopping around for the best mortgage and rate, it now makes sense to shop around for the best deal in conveyancing at the same time. Many rural and remote acreages are being purchased this year and lots of buyers are discovering that they need the professional services of a surveyor to begin the process of securing the land with gating and fencing and to plan out the location of new dwellings and outbuildings. A boundary survey adds value to your title, it allows the title owner to confidently create a land use plan and develop the acreage to add maximum value using the land in the best possible way. If the provincial government released another 2-3% of Provincial Crown Land into the private saleable holdings we would see an immediate and lasting impact on the real estate market as supply would increase dramatically and prices would stop their continued rise. The uplifting economic benefits of homeownership could continue to grow the economy and the province and its residents would actually benefit as a result instead of being continually penalized for a population growth issue that has been neglected by governing bodies in BC. The released crown parcels could be ear-marked for specific types of qualifying multi-unit and single family affordable housing which could actually be affordable! April, May and June of 2021 could be likened to the spring of 1858 when thousands forged their way north into the Interior and Cariboo regions in search of gold and fortune. The only difference is this spring, LAND is the gold that buyers and investors seek. There are ways to improve your odds of successfully finding and purchasing property in this low inventory market. Canadians are in the midst of re-positioning themselves, literally moving to change their location for safety and the security of a better financial position. Insured mortgages are running at record highs across Canada, meaning that banks are still actively lending and approving residential real estate mortgages. These risk free loans backed by CMHC and the Federal Government are a way to continue to bolster our failing economy and keep Canadians borrowing and spending money. The exit of the CMBPP leaves long term collateral damages like double digit price growth and widens the wealth inequality gap between renters and asset holders even further. The BOC had a primary directive to stabilize the economy with the Bond Purchasing Program and stated the widening wealth gap is a by-product of this best policy approach. British Columbians have been living with uncertainty for over 2 years, and even when the threat of viral infection becomes a secondary consideration, fundamentally what we have lived through has changed us. We have spent more time at home, in our houses, condos and apartments in the first five months of 2020 than any other time in history.” Simultaneously around the globe in March, humanity was sent home to stay home. Home has become a workplace, a classroom, a workout studio/gym, a revolving gourmet restaurant, a dance […] Having pushed the restart button and emerged into the “New Normal, we discover that BC’s economic engine is but a shadow of its former self. Citizens and businesses must now face the long term consequences of the national measures taken to combat the Covid19 pandemic. No amount of government stimulus funding will make up for […] The pandemic has left some questioning the ‘grand bargain’ of small condo life — but for others forced to ride transit and continue working in public, there’s no choice at all, and even the best laid urban plans will have to adapt. Stefan Labbé / Tri-City News MAY 18, 2020 04:47 PMShannon Johnstone returns home from a […] It makes sense that city dwellers and even suburbanites are itching to flee urban areas! Social distancing across the globe brings the already tech-savvy real estate market to the ultimate test. Real estate is an industry born from face to face contact and will always need a human touch. But as we are urged to distance ourselves socially the impact on face to face business has to change… quickly! The […] 2020 residential real estate poised to be a “much more typical year” than recent activity, says B.C. Real Estate Association Joannah Connolly Glacier Media Real EstateJanuary 13, 2020 Following a slide in B.C. home sales that put total transactions in 2018 at 24.5 per cent lower than 2017, a flurry of activity in the second half […] Remember back to a time when you were imagining how you would run your own business and what kind of lifestyle you would enjoy as a result of your imagined efforts. Before you registered your business name or incorporated, and before you knew what you know now about being an independent business owner. Was there […] Property buyers spend allot of their time asking many questions to determine if a property they like is the right choice for them. Buyers must perform some level of due diligence with every property that they are seriously considering. A buyer must examine every aspect of a home and property to confirm that your listing […] Planning a spring listing for your home or property? If your goal is to sell your home, you may be surprised to learn that there are many positives when potential purchasers are viewing your home during the winter months. The short lull in interested buyers around the December holidays turns into a mid January movement of […] Nothing beats a great pair of wool socks for keeping you warm in winter, except a dual heating system that’s works even when the grid goes down. A back up heat source is not just for eccentric practical preppers, a short or long term grid down situation during the winter has the ability to put […] British Columbia has both an ever increasing population and a prevalent lack of saleable, privately owned land. BC’s population growth outpaced five other provinces and increased by 5.6 per cent over four years from 2011-2016. The provinces 4,648,055 citizen count has shown steady growth with an increase of between 5%-7% every 5 years since 2001. All those […] What a fantastic surprise; I read the Western Investor on my way back from my Mexico vacation. I was delighted to read that our view for a solution to the increasing land and home prices in British Columbia finds some prominent support. Thank you, Frank O’Brien and the Western Investor! Freddy Marks Read the entire […] “We’re not sure what problem they are trying to solve with this,” says Victoria Real Estate Board president2 days ago By: Andrew Duffy The province’s announcement that it plans to impose a cooling-off period on home purchases took the industry by surprise and solves a “problem” that doesn’t exist, says the president of the Victoria Real Estate […] Western Investor’s annual forecast of top investor towns looks at five centres that are riding out the pandemic and look solid for investors into 2022Nov 3, 2021 12:01 PM By: Frank O’Brien PreviousNext1 / 5 Victoria: industrial strata, such as this new project by PC Urban, is perhaps the best investor play in B.C.’s capital region. | PC UrbanExpand No. […] Sales of land led a 130 per cent year-over-year increase in the value of commercial real estate transactions during the second quarter of 20212 days ago By: Frank O’Brien B.C.’s Lower Mainland saw its surging commercial real estate market continue a blistering pace in the second quarter (Q2) of 2021. There were 726 commercial real estate sales […] Canadian Bankers Association says only 0.18 per cent of Canadian homeowners are underwater, despite record-high home high prices and mortgage debt 2 days ago By: Frank O’Brien When COVID-19 led to business lockdowns and layoffs early in 2020, there was widespread concern of a looming spike in mortgage defaults. Yet, despite a record rise in Canadian mortgage debt […] Canada’s largest land owner tells you they care about the plight of the low and middle class Canadian not being able to afford a home for their family, and then turns around and spends federal & private land management proceeds for anything but actually improving the housing crisis. Their promises are just like the supply chain – broken at best. Canada’s housing agency said the country is now at high risk of a sharp correction in home valuations as the continued appreciation in prices becomes unmoored from economic fundamentals. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. raised its market risk assessment to high from moderate on Tuesday, in a report showing both activity and prices remain near record […] Billionaires battle over False Creek land deal Vancouver’s Concord Pacific squares off in court against Singapore-based investor Oei Hong LeongSep 23, 2021 7:15 AM By: Chuck Chiang, Business in Vancouver The legal battle over the former Expo ’86 lands continued this month, when developer Concord Pacific Group appealed a court decision that awarded “special costs” in the […] You’ll never have to mow the lawn again with these eco-friendly alternatives to grass.2min read There’s a harsh reality to how much water is required to maintain a luscious lawn. And in many dry and arid climates, supporting a grassy front and back yard is unsustainable. If you live in a desert-like climate or are looking for […] Typical B.C. home price will top $937,000 in 2022 – and $1.2 million in Metro – as housing starts plunge 12.8 per centAug 30, 2021 9:08 AM By: Frank O’Brien Multi-family construction continues at the Oakridge Centre in Vancouver. | Chung Chow Despite election pledges from every major political party to boost new home construction, B.C. housing […] For those thinking of buying a home in B.C., the housing market could have more movement this fallAug 25, 2021 11:49 AM By: Justin Kerby, REW The market has changed since the beginning of the year, and though a frenzy of dozens of offers is unlikely, B.C. buyers and sellers can still expect to see competition from […]
Home is where the Hedge is.
Carefully Calculate Closing Costs as Conveyancing Fees Increase
The Value of a Property Boundary Survey can be Priceless!
Provincial policy changes that would make housing affordable without penalizing buyers or sellers.
The Great 2021 LAND RUSH!
Finding the right property in a low inventory market.
Positioning for profit and peace of mind.
A test of resilience for long-standing BC markets
Is there still a middle class in our electric future?
Transformative Lifestyle Choices Spur 2020 Land Rush.
YOUR HOUSE HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST HOME BASE
Home Sales Vital To Economic Recovery
Will COVID-19 herald the end of urban density?
Rural Land Inquiries stimulate market movement amid lockdown.
Face to face is now FaceTime, as tech savvy market adapted to forge forward.
B.C. home sales plateau as housing markets ‘stage strong recovery’
Realistic Goal Setting Adds Value to More than your Bottom Line.
Support documents build buyer confidence and help to sell your home faster.
Winter Home Sales strategies bring in cold hard cash$
A back-up heat source is a must have to protect your property investment and it’s a great selling feature.
Correcting BC’s Private Land Market with a Crown Land Release.
Western Investor: Search for affordable B.C. housing starts with
Province to introduce cooling-off periods for home buying
Top western towns for real estate investors 2021-22
Lower Mainland land sales surge to nearly $600 million a month
Mortgage defaults remain very low, lenders say
Qualified Buyer ISO: Affordable Family Home
Housing-market risk jumps to high in Canada government rating
Billionaires battle over False Creek land deal
5 LOW-MAINTENANCE IDEAS FOR YARDS IN DRIER CLIMATES
Forecast: B.C. home prices soar as supply falls
7 things the fall housing market could have in store for buyers in B.C.
