Just reduced!

Come see this beautiful home in a quiet, exclusive neighborhood Surrey neighborhood.

Boasting more than 5,000 square feet in living space with 5 bedrooms & 4 baths on a 14,500+ square foot lot, this home is a great value!

Come see this stunning home for yourself! Featuring...

Curb appeal with a large 3- car garage- with room for an RV or boat!

Large, spacious rooms...

And a large & spacious kitchen...

Make this the perfect home for your family!

To book a private viewing or inquire about this listing, contact me today. If you are intersted in homes like these, I am happy to help you find the one that's right for you!

For more photos and info about this beautiful home, click here.

To see the virtual tour, click here.

When you list your home for sale in the Fall, making a first good impression with buyers poses different challenges than in the Spring & Summer when your garden is lush and there's lots of sunshine. While most of the colour and green foliage may have faded, you can still add seasonal curb appeal to make your home stand out amongst the competition. 

Here are a few tips for adding curb appeal in the Fall:

1. Keep your lawn tidy

While fallen leaves are a beautiful part of Fall, make sure you rake them up before they begin to rot and damage the grass below them. Keeping your grass healthy and green makes a much better impression than patchy & brown turf.

2. Freshen up flower beds

Remove dead or dying annuals that are past their prime and make your gaden look unkempt. If you have space you would like to fill, consider adding potted plants that can withstand cooler temperatures or decorative features such as rocks or paving stones. There are plenty of inexpensive options out there.

3. Add seasonal touches

Adding potted plants along a driveway, walkway or at the entryway adds a warm & welcoming touch. Potted mums are a popular inexpensive option in the Fall. You can also add decorative pumpkins & squash to create a vignette or a Fall- inspired wreath to your door.

If you would like to list your home and need some advice to get it ready or have questions about listing in the Fall, contact me and I'll be happy to answer your questions and help you sell your home fast.

Image Source: Pinterest

It's important to know what you're getting yourself into when you buy a home or property. Not everything is disclosed in the property title and it can be as important to have the land & property inspected that you're buying as it is the home (see this example in an article from the REBGV). It can save you a lot of time, money, and trouble simply to take this extra step.

So, if you're considering buying property, make sure you do your due dilligence. See below for some valuable information from the REBGV:

What is registered on the property title?

The legal description of a property, including:
• the parcel identification (PID);
• taxation authority;
• registered owner and their address;
• the title number;
• the previous title number;
• legal notations against the property (may include heritage);
• charges, liens and interests (under-surface rights, rights of ways, covenants, judgments);
• whether a duplicate title has been ordered and by whom, and
• transfers and pending applications.

What is not registered on the property title?

• Archaeological sites.
• Former grow ops and illegal drug labs.
• Heritage designations (not always on title).
• Highway entitlements.
• Stigmatized property.
• Streamside issues – if there are fish-bearing ditches or creeks on the property.
• Underground fuel storage tanks.

How can you discover the facts about a property?

- Ask the owner.
- Visit the local government (municipal) website where you will find a range of information, for example: 
        • Richmond provides a road map of designated heritage buildings and homes, and includes photos. (Note: there is no 
          available universal public registry of homes previously used as grow ops and illegal drug labs.)
        • The City of Vancouver confirms if a property has been used as a grow op or illegal drug lab to anyone phoning 
          604.871.6231. The City does not provide the owner’s name in keeping with privacy legislation.
        • West Vancouver provides a list of properties known to have underground storage tanks.  Visit: 
          www.westvancouver.ca and search Fuel Storage Tank Program. Scroll to More Information and see Fuel/ Oil Tank 
          Records Search.

If you don’t find what you need online, phone your local government or go in person. Depending on the municipality, there may be comprehensive data.

• There is a BC Heritage Sites Inventory. Information about its properties comes from local governments, so start there
  first.
• Check the BC Archaeological Site Inventory at 
  www.for.gov.bc.ca/archaeology/accessing_archaeological_data/index.htm.You can also phone: 250 953-3338.
• Search the BC Government’s Contaminated Sites Registry which lists some contaminated sites. It is available through 
  www.bconline.gov.bc.ca.(Go to Products). There is a charge to access the database.

This demonstrates just one of the many reasons it is good to work with a realtor. If you have questions about a home or property you re thinking about buying, contact me and I'll be glad to answer all of your questions.

Source: Finding the Truth About Property, REBGV

Image Source: Stimulrealty

A recent ruling by a judge in Toronto has landlords angered after a judge ruled in favour of a young tenant. The building has a no under age policy (18 or younger), even though individuals can legally rent at the agf of 16 or 17 in the province of Ontario. Here is an excert from the original article from Canadian Real Estate Magazine:

The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal recently ordered a landlord to pay a young woman $10,000 for denying her an apartment because she was under-18.

The woman was 17 when she applied for a bachelor apartment at 500 Dawes Rd., the rental building that is often cited as one of the worst in Toronto with reports of mice, bed bugs, broken heating, mould and fire damage.

The building superintendent told the woman that the building had a policy of not renting to anyone under-18 despite Ontario law stating that 16 and 17-year olds can sign leases.

The ruling ordered the payout for injury to the woman’s “dignity, feelings and self-respect,” with the landlord claiming during the hearing that the apartment was not vacant at time of application. The adjudicator also reported that the landlord tried to influence a witness to deny that age was a deciding factor and that she fabricated evidence.

"No property owner should be told who they should rent to," says Kayla Andrade from Ontario Landlords Watch. "Landlords should be allowed to choose whomever they want for their properties and should not feel obligated or pressurised to allow someone they do not feel comfortably with in their rental property."

To view the original article in it's entirety, click here.

What do you think about this? If you are considering investing in some property and have questions about the laws in BC, contact me and I'll be happy to help. 

Article Source: 

Ruling in favour of teen tenant causes uproar- Canadian Real Estate Magazine

Image Source: Canadian Real Estate Magazine

http://www.canadianrealestatemagazine.ca/news/item/2161-ruling-in-favour-of-teen-tenant-causes-uproar

Image Source: Songbird Blog

According to the recent market report from the FVREB, there was an 11% increase in sales over July last year and a 1.4% above the 10 yea average.

President of the Board, Ray Werger had this to say:

“July’s steady activity is a continuation of what we’ve been seeing all year. Our market has fully recovered from last year’s slump and has returned to what we typically see in the Fraser Valley, which is a steady, consistent market... we’re actually seeing a shortage of listings creating a seller’s market for particular homes."

In July the benchmark price determined by the MLS HPI of a 'typical' single family detached home was $568,300; for Townhouses it is $298, 500; for apartments it was $194,700.

To view the full report, click here.

Do you have questions about what a seller's market means for you? Think this is the time to sell? Contact me to help you sell your home fast & take that next step on the property ladder!

Image Source: Rew.ca

There's been a lot of talk lately in the news and media about the rising cost of real estate in the Vancouver & surrounding markets. (For an informative recent report, check out this post with info from the BCREA). This, combined with low mortgage rates makes it an ideal time to buy.

Before the anticipated increase in home prices, make the most of this opporunity and get the best value for your money. Contact me today to find out more about your local market, what's selling, what's not, and everything else you need to know. I'm happy to answer all your questions and help you find your next home.

Image Source: LIBN

It's important to do some maintenacne on your home as we head into the cooler months.

Here's some things to look out for on your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist from the DIY Network:

Exterior:

-  Clean gutter & downspouts

-  Check wood trim around doors, windows, decks, and railings with a screwdriver to check for holes or rot. Caulk holes or replace rotten areas as needes

- Give your home a fresh coat of exterior paint

- Inspect your roof

- Turn off valves to exterior hoses & drain completely to avoid pipes bursting; wrap taps if necesary

Keeping Warm:

- Have your fireplaces inspected

- Wrap pipes that run along exterior walls to prevent them from freezing & save energy

- Clean & replace furnace filters

- Do you use a hot water heating system? Drain the expansion tank, check the water pressure, & bleed the radiators

- Check the insulation in your attic; is it installed properly? Is there evidence of moisture damage? Are there pests?

Lawn & Garden:

- Divide & move perennials; remove dead annuals

- Mulch perennials after first freeze- but remember not to cover the center of the plant, this can lead to rot

- Clean garden tools before storing away for the winter

- Trim dead tree branches & shrubs

- Rake up leaves to avoid grass dying over the Fall & Winter; leaves are a great item for your compost

- Aerate lawn

- Plant grass seed; certain varieties do very well in the cool Fall climate before Winter hits

Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Detectors

- Check these each Fall & replace batteries

- Make sure you install carbon mooxide detectors according to manufacturer's instructions for optimal use

For more details, check out the full article from the DIY Network here.

Is your home ready for the Fall? Thinking about selling? Let me help you sell your home fast & get settled into your new place as soon as possible! Contact me today!

Image Source: I Don't Want Your Love

According to a new report from the BCREA, BC residential sales are forecast to increase 9.8%, wit the average MLS residentail sale price estimted to rise 5.6% to $567,300.

While the first quarter was somewhat weak, home sales increased in the second quarter, largely due to improved conumers confidence stemming from  low mortgage interest rates and improving economic conditions.goo

Throughout the province market conditions are improving and are much stronger than at the beginning of 2014.Further, most markets are becoming balanced, with the Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and Okanagan markets potentially shifting to seller's markets.

To view the full report, click here.

Have some questions about the local market? Want to know what your home is worth?I'm happy to help! Contact me today to have all your real estate questions answered.

Image Source: Spiele Material

Open house this Saturday & Sunday 1-4pm

7672 211A St, Langley

Have you paid a visit to Yorkson Properties yet?

If you're looking in Langley, here's your chance to find a beautiful new home that's move- in ready for your family.

Welcome to 7672 211A St

Would you like to call somewhere like this home? Come by the open house this weekend or contact me today to view other properties like it.

For more information, click here.

I know you don't want to think about it yet, but Summer will soon be winding down and it'll be back- to- school time before we know it. Aside from the new school clothes, backpacks, and school supplies shopping, make sure your house is equipped for the upcoming academic year. Setting up a workspace that's inviting and organized is great to encourage work and homework gets done, and helps keep you on top of all those after- school activities!  See below for some ideas I love!

Get organized with a big, beautiful corkboard. Click here for instructions.

Keep After School Activities Organized with a Fridge Calendar.

Click here for instructions. Perfect for kitchen homework spaces!

Corral backpacks & sports equipment with a DIY organizer.

Click here for instructions.

Make the most of the space in your home and get organized for this back- to- school season! I love a good DIY project (they're great for homestaging!)- contact me for more tips to help prep your home for sale.

Image Sources:

Infarrantly Creative

The 36th Avenue

DIY Creator

Have you heard of the MLS HPI (Home Price Index)? It's a great tool that measures house price trends in the Greater Vancouver area and other major markets in Canada. 

Developed by 5 of Canada's largest real estat boards (Greater Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal), it measures the change in price of housing features.

Other HPI facts:

- It measures pure price changee (inflation or deflation)

- It measures the price of a 'typical' property

- It uses lot size, age, number of rooms, etc to provide accurate information

- Simply enter the area you are interested in, the type of property (residential, detached, etc), and date

to determine the HPI for the property type in the area you are interested in

Click here to check out the HPI.

If you are trying to figure out what you can afford in the areas you love, or want to know what your home is worth, get in touch and I'll be happy to answer your questions!

Image Sources:

MLS HPI Logo- FVREB

Bedroom- Pinterest