Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Latest Stats for BC & Prince George Real Estate Market

Here is (attached) a few BC Real Estate stats as well as mortgage rate trends as of late. As you will see its a good time for buyers with prices relatively flat and mortgage rates low.

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Prince George Airport Logistics Park underway.

Nice to see the YXS logistics park is started to be developed and sites available for sale.

Best regards,
Dean Birks - REALTOR
Royal LePage Prince George

Sent via BlackBerry

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Friday, September 17, 2010

Prince George wins Canada 2015 Winter Games bid.

A big congrats to all those involved in making the Winter Games bid a big success. Great job!
Best regards,
Dean Birks - REALTOR
Royal LePage Prince George

Sent via BlackBerry

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Homebuying Step by Step

Here is CMHC's Homebuying Step by Step guide to make things easier for you by providing the information you need to make a wise homebuying decision. This section provides examples and worksheets that will guide you through the entire homebuying process, from the moment you make the decision to buy your own home to the moment the movers carry the first box through the front door. It couldn't be easier! - CLICK HERE

Thought you may be interested. Cheers!

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709
Private Fax: 1-888-870-4132

www.DeanBirks.com

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Tips for Renovating Your Basement

Want to add more space to your home without building up or out?  Look no further than your basement.  According to the   Appraisal Institute of Canada, renovating a basement can give you a 50-75% return on your investment when it comes to selling your home. Here’s how to get it done right:

Start with a plan
What type of space does your family require?  Is it an extra living space for your teenager, a playroom for the little one, or perhaps an entertainment area for all to enjoy?  Once you decide on how you want to utilize the space, you can layout your design.  If budget allows, an architect or interior designer could assist you with the layout design and make valuable suggestions.

Do it yourself or hire a professional
Depending on your skill set, budget, and time, you may want to enlist the services of a contractor who has the expertise required to finish a basement.  If you do it yourself and don't have the required time or skill to do the job correctly, you may find yourself looking at a repair bill far exceeding the amount you originally thought the project would cost.  Make an informed decision.  Be sure to carefully weigh all factors when deciding which option is right for you, while considering costs, material, labour, and equipment requirements.

Framing
Framing basement walls and ceilings is one of the most important aspects of any basement renovation. Two popular wall framing options are wood or steel studs. Wood is the classic choice.  It is versatile, easy to work with, and cost-effective.  Whereas steel, although more costly, adds a level of strength, rot resistance and won’t warp and crack like wood might over time.  Two popular ceiling framing options are dropped ceiling tiles or drywall. Dropped ceiling tiles provide easy access to pipes and wires which can be a saviour if a tub or toilet on the main level floor springs a leak.  Alternatively, dry wall ceilings offer a smooth finish and require less vertical space – a great option if your basement ceiling height is already low.

Flooring
There are plenty of basement flooring choices to choose from including laminate, linoleum, vinyl, wood and ceramic tiles.  Be sure to match your flooring choice with the intended use of the space and your geographic location.  For example, a game room may require more durable flooring than an office.  Do you live in an area with a tendency for flooding or is your location dry?  Carpet with high density under pad will offer cushion and moisture protection from the typical condensation found in basements.  Engineered hardwood made for below grade installation will flex and handle moisture better than traditional hardwood. Ceramic tile is great for bathrooms and laundry rooms and is easy to install on concrete.

Add a bathroom
Installing a bathroom in the basement is a great way to add value to your home.  Determine if you require a full bathroom or if a powder room will suffice.  Powder rooms are relatively simple to install, easy to keep clean, and won’t take up too much room.  Full three or four piece bathrooms can provide a comfortable, private, and even luxurious, space for overnight visitors to enjoy. With either option, time and costs can be reduced if bathroom fixtures are located near existing plumbing and are arranged in a line on one wall.  Be sure to check local codes for plumbing and electrical aspects of your project.

Add storage
No matter what kind of plan you come up with for your basement, remember to factor in plenty of closet or storage space.  This will enable you to de-clutter the rest of your home to keep it tidy and inviting.  Further, if you ever decide to move, having this extra storage space should appeal to just about any prospective buyer.

A finished basement can not only increase your home enjoyment but it can also add valuable square footage.  From everyday living to financial value, finished basements provide many benefits to you as a homeowner.

Hope this helps. Cheers!

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709
Private Fax: 1-888-870-4132

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Friday, September 3, 2010

Mortgage Rates up and down

Prepare for another increase in prime next week while fixed rates continue to drop

The majority of economists are still predicting that we will still have increases to prime of .25% in at least one of the two next Bank of Canada reviews.  The next is scheduled for next Wednesday, Sept. 8th.  The fact that predictions are a little less aggressive than a couple of weeks ago acknowledges that that Canada is still tied to the world economy.  And the recovery of the world economy has slowed a little in the past few months.  Anyone who is on a "variable rate mortgage" and wonders if it is time to lock in should still wait for a while.  Although prime may go up as much as another .50% in the next few months that will still leave most people in variable rate mortgages at around 2.50% (+/-).  Five-year fixed rates are still as low as 3.64% to 3.89%.

While fixed rates continue to fall, variable rate mortgages still have the greatest savings.  Now, I could fill the rest of the page with a lot of rhetoric that I pick from the pundits...however, it is Friday afternoon leading in to the Labor Day long weekend and I'm not sure many will read on.  If you have any specific questions regarding your mortgage I would be glad to hear from you.

Bob Quinlan

250-565-8444

Mortgage Alliance

#2 - 1810 Third Avenue

Prince George, BC

www.pgmortgages.ca

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Hope you enjoy this email above I received from Bob. Cheers!

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

BMO cuts mortgage rate to spur home buying

Good News for this fall here in Prince George Real Estate!

http://www.financialpost.com/m/news/story.html?id=3469471

Best regards,
Dean Birks - REALTOR
Royal LePage Prince George

Sent via BlackBerry

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate