Things to know about this year's B.C. property assessments

Find out how much the median single-family home in your municipality went up (or down) in value last year

Housing assessments are in the mail for nearly two million homeowners in British Columbia, but those in Vancouver who may have searched their properties online have already learned that values have fallen dramatically.

The figures released January by B.C. Assessment show the typical value of a single-family home in Vancouver has dropped 11 per cent, from $1.76 million to $1.57 million, as of July 1, 2019.

Here are a few answers to questions you might have about property values across the province. 

• How much did things change in Kamloops?

While property values dropped by four to 15 per cent across Metro Vancouver, it was a…

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4 dos and don’ts of buying your first home

Thinking of buying your own place? It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed.

After all, it’s the biggest purchase you can make. In an effort to remove some stress from the equation, here are a few tips from the experts.

What to do when you’re a first-time home-buyer:

1. Get pre-approved.

Some real estate agents won’t even work with you until you’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage. This is an important first step in the home-buying process. You don’t want to start house-hunting and fall for a home you can’t afford.

Plus, there may be problems with your credit that you don’t know about.

“Sometimes people are just unaware that they may have like a Sears card that they forgot to cancel and it’s caused a problem on your credit rating,”…

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Staging vs. Decorating: What's the Difference?

Unlike decorating, staging your home isn't about personal style — it's about creating ambiance and appeal for buyers

If you ask the average person what “home staging” is, they’re likely to say something like “decorating a house to make it look good.” The truth is that home staging is absolutely not the same thing as decorating.

Selling your home means selling a lifestyle, but not necessarily your own. In home staging, you're striving for a look that is fresh and welcoming yet not really taste specific. People with varying tastes need to feel that they can make the home their own if they purchase it. Although everyone has different tastes in decor and furnishings, most people want a home that is welcoming, functional, peaceful and organized. Tailor…

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It’s More Than Putting A Sign On Your Lawn!

It’s More Than Putting A Sign On Your Lawn.

Just as much goes into selling a home as it does into buying one.

It’s a bit of a science actually. You want to get the best price, but you can’t be out of line with market conditions. What to do? Start by being as informed as you can and by choosing an experienced agent who knows your neighbourhood inside out.

Since 1913, Royal LePage has been helping Canadians sell their homes and guiding them through every step of the process. From showing you how to increase the appeal of your home and setting a price that will maximize your profitability to discussing offers and closing the sale. Below, you’ll find it all outlined in eight simple steps.

STEP 1

Deciding to Sell

Everyone has their own reason…

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Why It Is Better to Work with a Real Estate Agent When Buying a Home

Why It Is Better to Work with a Real Estate Agent When Buying a Home

It’s true that home buyers can buy a home without the help of a real estate agent, but buying a house is not as simple as buying a cup of coffee or new clothing. Purchasing a home is more complicated than it looks and the real estate transaction involves interacting with many key persons in the process – the lender, the appraiser, the home inspector, the lawyer to name some. It would be really overwhelming for you if you deal with the whole process alone.

While you can save money by doing the hard work alone – going solo is not the way to go and in the end may cost you more than the real estate commission your agent gets.

Here’s why you should drop the idea of going solo. This…

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Candian Interest Rates stay low

Bank of Canada stands pat, keeps interest rate at 0.5%

The Bank of Canada is keeping its benchmark interest rate right where it currently sits, at 0.5 per cent.

The bank, led by Stephen Poloz, meets every six weeks to decide on monetary policy and has cut its trend-setting interest rate twice this year in a bid to stimulate Canada's economy. 

The central bank's interest rate influences the rates that borrowers and savers pay and earn for things like mortgages and savings accounts.

The consensus view among 27 economists polled by Bloomberg ahead of the bank's decision was for the bank to do exactly what it did — nothing.

In explaining its reasoning, the bank said it kept its rate as is based on the impact of previous changes.

…

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