APRIL 2019

AN AFFORDABLE PLA​CE TO CALL HOME

Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.

Yet for too many hard-working Canadians, especially for young people, it feels like an impossibility. There aren’t enough houses for people to buy, or apartments for people to rent. That makes finding a good place to live too expensive – beyond what many people can afford.

The measures in Budget 2019 plan to increase the supply of housing, because it is the most effective way to address affordability in the long run. Also, the Budget 2019 proposes to crack down on the people who break the rules – who evade taxes or use real estate for money laundering – making housing less affordable for the people who need it.

And to help more middle class families find an affordable home today, Budget 2019 is offering new, targeted support for first-time home buyers, and taking steps to address lack of housing supply and make the housing market more fair. (read more)

    FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019

Miniature Railway at Stanley Park

Carrying over 200,000 passengers each year, the 15-minute Stanley Park railway ride features trestles, tunnels, forest, 2 kilometres of track and seasonal themes. Children and young families love the train!

The Stanley Park Train will next be operating over the Easter Weekend of April 18-22, 2019. Click HERE for more details.

    SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2019

Surrey Vaisakhi Celebrations in 2019

The Surrey Vaisakhi Parade celebrates the Punjabi New Year in mid-April every year and attracts up to 300,000 people from across the Metro Vancouver region. Click HERE for more details.

Family Favourites $2.99 MORNING MOVIES​

Select Cineplex theatres offer a different children’s movie at 11 o’clock on Saturday mornings throughout the year. Click Saturday Morning $2.99 Movies for more information.

    SUNDAY APRIL 21, 2019

River District Events and Festivals

Community events and activities are always taking place at River District Vancouver. At various locations, especially at the community centre, there are workshops, yoga sessions, fitness classes, kids’ activities and other fun things to do throughout the year.

Another great event we’ve enjoyed at the River District is the annual Golden Egg Hunt which takes place on Easter Sunday in the spring at both the River District Neighbourhood Centre and in the Town Centre.

The Easter event is free and open to the public. People can just show up! That being said, the actual Golden Egg Hunt itself takes place at set times, and, to participate, advanced registration is required. Spaces are limited, so if you want a golden egg be sure to sign up early!

The River District Neighbourhood Centre is located at 8683 Kerr Street and the Town Centre is at 8540 River District Crossing. Click HERE for more details.

FOR ALL APRIL EVENTS IN OUR GREAT CITIES PLEASE CLICK HERE.

EARTH DAY - APRIL 22

What is Earth Day, and what is it meant to accomplish?

A message from the president, Kathleen Rogers:

On April 22, 1970, millions of people took to the streets to protest the negative impacts of 150 years of industrial development.

In the U.S. and around the world, smog was becoming deadly and evidence was growing that pollution led to developmental delays in children. Biodiversity was in decline as a result of the heavy use of pesticides and other pollutants.

The global ecological awareness was growing, and the US Congress and President Nixon responded quickly. In July of the same year, they created the Environmental Protection Agency, and robust environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, among many. (read more)

 BENCHMARK PRICES FOR FRASER VALLEY

 (FEB 2019) 

 BENCHMARK PRICES FOR GREATER   

 VANCOUVER (FEB 2019)

 MORTGAGE RATES

HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR SPRING​

 31 Easter Decorating Ideas That Will Impress Your  

 Guests​

Easter is all about new life. It’s about remembering the importance of fresh starts and cherishing the season. Around Easter, flowers start to bloom and the weather gets warmer. We’re surrounded by color, sunshine, family, and friends.

If you’re entertaining this Easter and want to dress up your home, there are many simple Easter crafts that will impress your guests. We’ve gathered 31 Easter decorating ideas that range from table settings to mantle decorations to garlands. One of our favorites Easter ideas is the bright tulip, peep, jelly bean centerpiece by GlamVolution! (see more)

 MARCH 2019

 Housing Matters podcast: Digging deep into B.C.'s  speculation and vacancy tax

Housing Matters host Stuart McNish speaks with Beattie School of Business professor 

Andrey  Pavlov and lawyer Wes Mussio about the NDP's government new speculation and vacancy tax.

 MARKET STATS for JANUARY 2019

The 5 most important factors when selling your home

​

There are many reasons a home sits on the market racking up days without finding the right buyer. Some things you can control and some you can’t. This list focuses on 5 incredibly important factors a home seller can control that will help ensure a quick sale at highest price possible.

1. Price: Every home will sell if priced correctly

This one should tower above every other category on the list because it is far and away the most important factor when selling a home. Every house is “sellable” if it is priced accordingly. The 3 most common reasons a homeowner over prices a property are:

• They are not realistic about the home’s true market value. For example, a seller may have overvalued improvements made to the property that do not translate to an increase in value, yet they price their home as if it has. Many buyers will not pay top dollar for upgrades that you have chosen for your personal taste.
• A seller has misinterpreted the market data. Too many times I see a seller price their home based on “neighborhood” averages rather than looking at the true comps relative to their home. You should only be factoring in SOLD homes in your area, of similar size, similar number of stories (if possible), similar features, and within a close year built range. The largest 2 story in the neighborhood will have a significantly different price per square foot than the smallest one story so stay within your subsection of the neighborhood. It’s good to stay up on the actives and pending listings so you know your competition. But it’s the sold listings that paint the accurate picture of values.
• Pricing too high to make room to negotiate. There is a common misconception that you should price your home higher than you expect to sell in order to create negotiating room for a lower offer. I have seen this backfire more often then it has been effective. What happens is you price yourself out the buyer’s radar and never get the showing in the first place. Price your home well and a buyer will see the value and pay your price. You also increase your chances for a bidding war. You want people beating down your door and throw offers at you, do you think that will happen if you already know you are over priced?

2. Availability: Make sure you show your home when it needs to be shown!

Have you ever turned away a showing? If so, there is a good chance you didn’t hear from that buyer again. I know it can be difficult to keep your home show ready at all times, or grab the kids and scram for 30 minutes to let someone come look, but it is important if you want to maximize your chances of selling. Buyers can be fickle and time constrained, if you turn them away, there is a good chance they move on to another home in your area. Remember, this situation is temporary and the sacrifices you make now will pay off later.