Archive for the ‘For Buyers’ Category

First Time Home Buyers Guide Vancouver – Episode 2 – Where to Buy!

Friday, March 26th, 2010

So You Know What you Can Spend, Where Are You Going to Buy?
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SO you’ve gone to the bank or met with your mortgage broker and you’ve been pre-approved as we discussed in Episode 1 of First Time Home Buyers Guide Vancouver. Now you know what you can spend, now you need to decide where you want to look. (more…)

First Time Home Buyers Guide Vancouver – Episode 1 – Getting Started!

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

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This is the first post in a series of tips for First Time Home Buyers in Vancouver’s property market.

So you’re thinking of taking the plunge and buying your first home in beautiful Vancouver!

How much can I spend? Get Pre-Approved! (more…)

The Rolston – A New Pre-Sale in Downtown Vancouver at 1300 Granville with Rumoured Pricing!

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Hi All,

I had a meeting this week with the sales team at The Rolston, a new pre-sale in Downtown Vancouver to built by Rize Alliance Developments. The building will be located at 1300 Granville Street and will have 23 levels with 186 suites in total. There will be two rooftop decks, one mid way up the building and one on the very top. Most of the suites will come wit (more…)

A Mortgage Pre-Approval is NOT a Guarantee of a Mortgage!

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Mortgage Pre-Approvals are NOT Guarantees of a Mortgage!

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Chad Watts of The Mortgage Group about mortgage pre-approvals. He brought up a very important point for Buyers, particularly First Time Home Buyers. And that is a mortgage pre-approval is NOT a guarantee that you will get a mortgage at the amount the Lender originally mentions or get a mortgage at all.

What is a Mortage Pre-Approval?

This is a preliminary estimation by a Lender of how much the Lender will loan you based on very basic information. This number is subject to change based on what property you (more…)

BC HST is Only Payable on BRAND NEW PROPERTIES!

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

BC HST and Vancouver Real Estate

Hi All,

There are A LOT of misconceptions about British Columbia’s Harmonized Goods and Services Tax and Vancouver Real Estate. The one I hear most is that HST will payable on all real estate transactions in BC. This is not true!

HST in BC will ONLY BE PAYABLE ON BRAND NEW PROPERTIES! These are properties that have never been registered at the Land (more…)

Variable Versus Fixed Rate Mortgages with Jessi Johnson Mortgage Broker!

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting up with Jessi Johnson of the Jessi Johnson Mortgage Team to discuss the merits of a Variable Rate Mortgage versus a Fixed Rate Mortgage.

What is a variable rate mortgage?

This is a mortgage that has an interest rate that changes in line with the Bank of Canada’s prime rate.Variable rate mortgages tend to have a lower interest rate than a fixed rate mortgage, but the interest rate on a variable mortgage can change at any time.

What is a fixed rate mortgage? (more…)

Pre Sale Condo Assignments in Vancouver – What are They? Are they Safe?

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Assignments of Pre-Sale Condos in Vancouver

Along with the rise of the Vancouver’s Pre Sale Condo market, the market for Pre Sale Condo Assignments has been a huge money maker for investors in Vancouver Real Estate.

What are Pre Sale Condo Assignments?

A Pre Sale Condo Assignment is when the original Buyer of a Pre Sale Condo sells their rights to a completed condo to another Buyer before that condo is completed. The reason the (more…)

Vancouver Real Estate Prediction for the 2010 Winter Olympics

Monday, November 30th, 2009

The Olympics Won’t Matter That Much.

I stand by what I said in a previous prediction on the Olympics and Vancouver Real Estate that there will be minimal transactions in Downtown Vancouver and surrounding areas because of Olympic security measures. Right after the Olympics there will be a spike in activity from demand caused by all the Buyers who were unable to buy during the time the Olympics are on.

What are your thoughts?

Please feel free to leave a comment, question, or suggestion below! Thanks!

What is a Pre-Sale in Vancouver Real Estate?

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

Pre-Sales in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada

Open the Georgia Strait or any other local paper and you’ll notice advertisements for apartments and condos. Most of these places don’t yet exist. Why? Because they are pre-sales!

What is a Pre-Sale?

A pre-sale is when a Developer sells a Buyer a property before that property is built or completed. The Buyer purchasing the pre-sales is buying the right to a completed property that will be built in future. In the UK and elsewhere Pre-Sales are referred to as Off Plan Investments.

Why do people buy Pre-Sales?

Pre-sales are popular with investors and other Buyers because it allows these Buyers to have the benefit of increasing prices without having to pay a mortgage, propert (more…)

Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and Vancouver Real Estate

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Hi All,

I have been getting A LOT of questions about The British Columbia Government’s new Harmonized Sales Tax and how it will affect Vancouver Real Estate.

4 Quick Facts on BC’s proposed new 12% HST effective July 1, 2010: (more…)