BC Home Buyer Rescission Period, BC Housing Ministry, Anti-Flipping Rules & more

 

One Hour Ideas for Boosting Curb Appeal

You’ve heard of the term “curb appeal”. It refers to the initial impression buyers get when they first see your property from the street. If the impression is a good one, it sets the right tone for the rest of the home viewing. How do you boost curb appeal? Here are some proven ideas that you can get done in an hour or so: Wash both the inside and outside of the front windows. You’ll be amazed at the difference that can make. Sweep the walkway leading up to the front entrance. Add a new welcome mat. Also, wash down the front door. If possible, remove cars from the driveway. Let buyers imagine their own cars parked there! Mow the lawn. Lightly trim the hedges. Weed flower beds. Remove anything from inside window sills that may look unsightly from the outside. Try putting a couple of flowering plants there instead. Place any trash bins out-of-sight. For example, put them in the garage or neatly at the side of the house. If the entrance door hardware is old and worn, change it. New hardware can make a bigger difference than you might think. Make sure the outdoor lights are working, especially if you’re showing your home in the evening. Add some flowering plants to flower beds, or buy a couple of portable potted plants and place them strategically. Clean your mailbox. If it’s rusted, replace it. If you have a power washer, give the walkway and driveway a quick blast. Just be sure it will be dry before the buyers arrive. These one-hour improvements may seem minor, but anything that helps buyers form a more positive first impression of your home is worth the effort.

The Latest Options in Outdoor Lighting Outdoor lighting has come a long way from the days of patio lanterns and strings of lightbulbs. These days, there’s an exhaustive array of options available to illuminate your outdoor space, and make it more appealing and comfortable, particularly in the evenings. Here are just a few ideas: Solar garden lights. These lights are on stakes that can be easily inserted throughout the garden. Powered by the sun, they generate enough energy to cast a soft, pleasant glow along walkways or in flower beds in the evenings. Deck post lights. These are easy to install because they’re designed to sit on top of a standard 4x4 wood deck post. Most are solar powered. Street-style lamps. As the name implies, these look similar to old-fashioned street lamps. Installation is a little more complex, but still DIY-friendly. They’re eye-catching and have a dramatic impact on the look of your outdoor space. Portable lantern lights. These are outdoor lights that are portable and often made to look like a decorative fixture for a coffee table or side table. They can be placed anywhere. LED walkway lights. These are small lights that fit neatly and almost invisibly under stairs and around walkways. Walkway lights not only look good but also improve safety. Most are battery powered. Planter lights. This is one of the most interesting options. Each one is both a flower pot and a light in one! The pot itself is translucent which allows the light inside to shine through. Design experts say you should treat your outdoor space as you would any room in your home. Lighting it up for evening comfort and enjoyment is a good place to start. BCFSA - Home Buyer Rescission Period Information Vancouver Sun – Cities across B.C. look to building more laneway and infill housing CBC B.C. – Renters cautiously optimistic changes to B.C. housing rules will make life easier Victoria Times Colonist – B.C. to create new stand-alone Housing Ministry Victoria Times Colonist – Speculation and vacancy tax generating millions, is being expanded, government says CBC B.C. – B.C. to create 1st minister to focus solely on housing crisis, says premier CBC B.C. – Rental restrictions could increase speculation, create more work for strata councils, homeowners say Financial Post - GOLOMBEK: The CRA is already challenging real estate transactions ahead of new anti-flipping rules Canada’s new anti-flipping rules for residential real estate are scheduled to come into force on Jan. 1, 2023, and are designed to “reduce speculative demand in the market place and help to cool excessive price growth.” Financial Post - Bank of Canada says higher interest rates still needed to tame inflation Inflation in Canada remains too strong, and higher interest rates will be needed to cool the overheating economy, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said in testimony at the House of Commons on Wednesday.  “Inflation has come down in recent months, but we have yet to see a generalized decline in price pressures,” Macklem said. “This tightening phase will draw to a close. We are getting closer, but we are not there yet.” Financial Post – Banks seek workarounds to avoid mortgage default for struggling variable-rate borrowers Financial Post – A severe doctor shortage in Canada is fast approaching, RBC report says Globe and Mail – MCLISTER: An ominous warning portends mortgage rate relief – eventually Storeys – As Ontario and B.C. home prices sink, these 4 provinces are becoming more expensive Canadian Mortgage Professional – What will the impact of the current interest rate hikes be? Canadian Mortgage Professional – How much have mortgage interest costs risen? Keyspire - Finding Passive Appreciation  Real Estate Magazine – How to make home inspections work for you National Post – HOLMES: Keeping your family safe from harmful gas Globe and Mail – Canadian house prices expected to tumble 17.5% peak to trough, analysts say Canadian Mortgage Professional – How did average home prices shift across Canada's cities last month? November Jazz Music Notable, Quotable, Quotes!   “Try not to become a person of success, but rather a person of value.” Albert Einstein “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” Lao Tzu   In the days before the internet, when people were looking for a professional – a contractor, for example – they would often ask a friend or neighbour, “Do you know a good [insert profession]?” Well, guess what? The same thing still happens today! It’s just done a little differently. These days, people often ask for recommendations online, such as on their community’s Facebook page. However it’s done, the intention is obvious. People prefer to work with professionals who are recommended. That definitely includes real estate professionals. In my business, I work hard to be the kind of trusted real estate professional that clients rely on to help sell their property, find their next home, and make the entire process go smoothly. In addition, I stay in touch long-term to be an ongoing resource of information and advice. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I send you this informative e-newsletter. So, if friends or neighbours ask for a real estate agent recommendation, I hope you’ll feel comfortable giving them my name. I’d really appreciate your support!   Best regards, Diana Winger Personal Real Estate Corporation | eXp Realty CNE, SRS, SRES, ABR www.Housesforsale369.com | 250-588-8839 ON YOUR TEAM!