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I just finished uploading this Apartment for sale, PH5 3255 Smith Ave, Central Burnaby North, Burnaby, BC

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PANACASA – Concrete construction, you will love this spacious & bright 1 Bdrm + Den PENTHOUSE suite with high elevated 12 ft ceilings! This fabulous home is move in ready. The bdrm has soaring windows with a walk thru closet to the cheater ensuite. Features granite counters, laminate flooring & S/S appl. Superb layout with functional open concept den. Cozy gas fireplace in the living room with sliding doors out to the massive 182 SF south facing balcony – perfect for BBQ’s, entertaining with friends & soaking in the sun! Comes with 1 parking stall & storage locker. Pets & rentals welcome! This unit is centrally located with easy access to Brentwood Mall, Deer Lake, SFU, BCIT, Metrotown, Burnaby General Hospital, transit , Central Park & Hwy 1. Don’t miss this!

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We are proud to announce that this Apr 30th, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 8655 JONES ROAD in CATALINA in the Brighouse South neighborhood, Richmond. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent Apartment for sale in beautiful Brighouse South.

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Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this Brighouse South Apartment for sale.

As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at 604.644.1044 if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.

Alisa Sakamoto
REALTOR® RE/MAX WESTCOAST

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by Ephraim Vecina

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The latest study by TD Canada Trust revealed that around 13 per cent of buyers in Toronto and Vancouver purchased homes in a rush for fear of missing out on good picks before these grow too expensive for their budgets, underscoring a disturbing trend in Canada’s most active housing markets.

 
Meanwhile, fully one-fifth of the survey respondents indicated a degree of buyer’s remorse, saying that they might have dived headlong into the frenzy without taking stock of what they could actually afford.
 
The survey proponents strongly suggested a calmer and more measured approach on the consumers’ part, as panic buying might artificially inflate demand and prices, thus further placing homes out of the average household’s reach.
 
“It's understandable that house hunters don't want to miss out on buying their dream home, but that shouldn't come at a cost they can't really afford,” TD Canada Trust associate vice president Marc Kulak said in an interview with HuffPost Business Canada.
 
The price index certainly isn’t helping, as it rose sharply last month to 11.6 per cent in Toronto and 23.3 per cent in Vancouver. These accompanied a growth in March sales, with Toronto posting a 16.2 per cent increase and Vancouver a 27.4 rise.
 
Kulak advised prospective buyers to realistically assess their finances before they put down 20 per cent, which would help them save on mortgage insurance premiums.
 
“With careful planning and a good savings plan for a down payment, it is possible to get a property that works for them without ending up with buyers' remorse after they've closed the deal,” Kulak explained.

Looking for a REALTOR who knows the market? Call me today --604.644.1044 Alisa Sakamoto 

Courtesy of: http://www.canadianrealestatemagazine.ca/news/fear-of-missing-out-provokes-panic-buying--study-206194.aspx
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-by Justin da Rosa

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Investors in this market likely to enjoy even higher rents.

Condo rents in Toronto have increased 6.8% year-over-year as vacancy rates fell to 0.5%, according to Urbanation.

“The rental market is benefitting from strengthening fundamentals such as employment and population growth, but also quickly eroding affordability and intense competition in the ownership market,” Shaun Hildebrand, Urbanation’s senior vice president, said. “Even with record numbers of condos coming up for rent by investors, conditions have tightened, supporting increased rental development.”

The number of condos rented through the MLS system in Q1 of this year increased by 25% year-over-year to 6,163 units.

That follows a record 2015 when 27,155 units were rented – a 19% year-over-year hike.
For the fourth quarter in a row, condo leases outgrew total listings. The ratio of lease-to-listings hit a Q1 record of 78% -- up from 64% a year ago.

The average time on market also fell from 27 days to 23 days.

And developers are taking note of the trend.

“After purpose-built construction starts increased to a 25-year high of 3,476 units in 2015, applications for new rental developments surged by 40% in the first three months of 2016,” Urbanation said in a release. “A total of 4,284 units was added to the total proposed inventory of 14,753 rentals across 42 projects in the GTA. Vacancy rates within the 7,309 purpose-built units completed since 2005 averaged 0.5%.”

Looking for a REALTOR who knows how to market your home for maximum exposure?Call me today --604.644.1044 Alisa Sakamoto 


Courtesy of: http://www.canadianrealestatemagazine.ca/news/price-hikes-forcing-rent-increases-205859.aspx
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No one wants to deal with a burglary. How do you reduce the chances of one happening?

Fortunately, burglaries are a well-studied phenomenon — especially by law enforcement. These studies have identified specific things you can do to cut the risk dramatically. Here are some ideas:

             • 34% of home break-ins occur through the front door. Experts recommend investing in a door with a top-quality locking mechanism. (The best are those that lock at three points of contact.)

             • 50% of burglars will be deterred if your home has some sort of video monitoring system. A thief doesn’t want his face on YouTube!

             • Unfortunately, signs and window stickers warning of an alarm system do not deter thieves. However, 62% of burglars will immediately run away when an alarm goes off. Always turn on your alarm system when you’re not home!

             • 22% of burglaries occur through a sliding glass door or patio door. Make sure it’s locked and also use a solid metal jammer.

             • Some thieves use frequency scanners to gain access to garages. Police recommend changing your remote entry code regularly and putting blinds or curtains on garage windows so thieves can’t see (and be tempted by) any valuables inside.

As you can see, there are many simple things you can do to reduce your chances of a burglary dramatically. The effort is worth it.


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Residential property sales in the region totalled 5,173 in March 2016, an increase of 27.4 per cent from the 4,060 sales recorded in March 2015 and an increase of 24 per cent compared to February 2016 when 4,172 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 56 per cent above the 10-year sales average for the month.

"March was the highest selling month the REBGV has ever recorded,” Dan Morrison, REBGV president said. “Today's demand is broad based. Home buyers are active in neighbourhoods across our region."

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 6,278 in March 2016. This represents an increase of 5.2 per cent compared to the 5,968 units listed in March 2015 and an 8 per cent increase compared to February 2016 when 5,812 properties were listed.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 7,358, a 40.5 per cent decline compared to March 2015 (12,376) and a 0.8 per cent increase compared to February 2016 (7,299).

“Strong job and economic growth in our province, positive net migration and low interest rates are helping to drive this activity," Morrison said.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $815,000. This represents a 23.2 per cent increase compared to March 2015.

Sales of detached properties in March 2016 reached 2,135, an increase of 24.8 per cent from the 1,711 detached sales recorded in March 2015. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 27.4 per cent from March 2015 to $1,342,500.

Sales of apartment properties reached 2,252 in March 2016, an increase of 38.4 per cent compared to the 1,627 sales in March 2015.The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 18.8 per cent from March 2015 to $462,800.

Attached property sales in March 2016 totalled 786, an increase of 8.9 per cent compared to the 722 sales in March 2015. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 20.1 per cent from March 2015 to $589,100.

Download the full stats package by clicking here



Courtesy of: http://www.rebgv.org/news-statistics/march-sales-set-all-time-record
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Determining if you should buy a new home or fix up your current one isn’t easy. In fact, the decision can be steeped in so much drama they make reality TV shows about it!

So if you’re considering whether to move or improve, here are three things to consider.

1. Will a renovation truly fix what you don’t like about your property?

If you’re tired of a small kitchen, for example, it might not be possible, given the layout, to make it any bigger. On the other hand, if you’re craving a spacious rec room with a cosy fireplace then a renovation could make that happen.

Of course, there are some things you may want that aren’t specific to your house, such as an easier commute or nearby park. Those are features you may only be able to get by moving.

2. How much will a renovation cost? How does that compare to the cost of moving to a new home?

It’s important to get accurate estimates of each so you can make a smart decision. This is where a good REALTOR® can help.

Keep in mind that renovations have a habit of costing more than you originally anticipate. As mentioned earlier, the final result should be a home you want to stay in for quite some time.

3. Beware of compromising versus settling.

Whichever decision you make — renovate or sell — you can expect to have to make at least some compromises. That’s normal.

For example, consider adding an extension to your house. That’s a major renovation. Is it the ideal way to get the extra room you want? Do the benefits of renovating outweigh the benefits of finding a new larger home designed to include the space you need?

Yes, it’s a tough decision. If you’re in the midst of making it, Call me today --604.644.1044 Alisa Sakamoto , to get the facts you need to make the best choice for you.


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