However, many buyers don’t make their lists complete enough.  When you make your wish list, don’t be afraid to dream big.  Here are some wish list items to consider: • Distances to places you visit regularly – work, schools, running trails, recreation centers, restaurants, entertainment venues, shopping centers. • Specific home features – a backyard tree, large closets, a fireplace ...

VANCOUVER — Vancouver has once again snagged top honours as the world’s most livable city, while Harare, Zimbabwe, was pronounced the toughest city to live in. Canadian and Australian cities hold six of the top 10 slots in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s global livability poll, which ranks 140 cities on five factors: health care, stability, culture and environment, education and infrastr ...

With mortgage rates at “emergency” levels – low rates not seen by your parents and possibly even your grandparents – chances are you’ve considered breaking your current mortgage and renewing now before rates start to rise. Perhaps you want to free up cash for such things as renovations, travel or putting towards your children’s education? Or maybe y ...

Pricing it Right Summer is underway and the housing market is showing surprising strength following a chilly Winter. For those of you thinking about selling, it is important to realize how vital the Art of Pricing is to the sale of your home. All sellers want the highest price possible for their homes, but the strategies to get there are not always intuitive. In certain circumstances, prici ...

REBGV May Statistics Increased demand steadies housing market in Greater Vancouver A continued increase in buyer activity over the last four months has resulted in increased home sales and lessened the downward pressure on housing prices in Greater Vancouver. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that the number of residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totall ...

Plunging prices in B.C.'s residential real estate market are levelling off, according to the latest forecast issued by the British Columbia Real Estate Association. "The majority of the decline in home prices has already occurred," said association chief economist Cameron Muir, in a report released on Tuesday. "Balanced markets are emerging in Victoria, Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Ther ...

As an adult, you might be interested in a neighborhood that is easy driving distance from a golf course, close to shoppingand fine dining restaurants, or has nearby trails suitable for walking and jogging.  But kids are different.To them, their entire world exists on those few streets in and around their home. So if you have children, you’ll want tomake sure that your new home is located in a ...

http://www.macrealty.com/macnews/newsletter.aspx?agent=marites_pineda May Market Update In February, I noted that the current market was ripe for First-Time Buyers and Move-Up Buyers to jump in. With the recent market turn-around, particularly in the lower-end, I'm happy to report that it seems as though those First-Time Buyers have, in fact, jumped back into the marketplace. With ...

Buyer activity brings greater stability to the housing market VANCOUVER, B.C.– May 4, 2009 – With more buyers and fewer homes for sale in recent months, the Greater Vancouver housing market has entered a more moderate and balanced state. For the sixth consecutive month, new listings for detached, attached and apartment properties declined in Greater Vancouver, down 33.7 per cent to 4,649 ...

Vancouver shines in quality of life rankings Canadian cities boast the highest quality of life in North America, with Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Calgary all ranking higher than major U.S. cities, according to a global survey released today. Vancouver has the best quality of living among North American cities and ranks fourth in the world as measured by Mercer's 2009 quality o ...