Vancouver Real Estate board overall
  

Single family house sales for September totalled 599 with the average sale price of $1,119,166. This 37% decrease in number of sales and a 1% decrease in average price over last year same time period (September) . Townhouse sales for September totalled 246 with an average sale price of $531,311. This is a 32% decrease in the number of sales and an decrease of 7% in average price over the same time period last year (September). Condominiums sales for September totalled 676 with the average sale price of $444,129. This a 26% decrease in number of sales and decease of 2% in average price over the same time period last year (September).

  

Total of all types for September was 1521 sales with an average sale price of $724,650. This is a 32% decrease in number of sales and a 3% decrease in average price over September last year.

 
 The volume of sales overall continues to decrease substantially over the same month of the previous year. The Vancouver Real Estate Board sales volume year to date is down by 22% and year to date average sales price is down 7%. The number of active listings is 14% higher this September compared to last September. Increased inventory and reduced demand has the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver stating that it now a BUYERS market. September sales on the Vancouver Real Estate Board were 41.6% below the 10 year average for September.

Local Maple Ridge
  

Single family housesales in September totalled 58 with the average sale price of $525,306. This a 9% decrease in number of sales and average price increase of 6% compared to September last year. Townhouse sales in September totalled 13 with an average sale price $261,200. This is a 45% decrease in the number of sales and a 15% decrease in average price compared to last September. Condominium  sales in September totalled 12 with the average sale price of $196,558. This is a 20% decrease in number of sales and a 4% decrease in price over last September.

  

Total of all types of sales for September was 83 with an average sale price of $436,410. This is a 19% decrease in number of sales and a 6% increase in average price over last September.

 

The Maple Ridge sales volume year to date is down by 9% and year to date average sales price is basically unchanged.

 The number of properties on the market in Maple Ridge is similar to last year and our prices are virtually unchanged in the last 2 - 3 years. Currently about 8% of active listings are selling each month.
  

For more detail just call 604-466-4549 or email - pearceteam@telus.net .

Investing in rental properties is an appealing idea but taking on the role of landlord isn't for everyone.  You'll want to thoroughly explore the good, the bad and the ugly before taking the plunge.

Having someone else pay your mortgage while your property appreciates is a very financially rewarding experience!  There are also various tax advantages as you can write off mortgage interest, real estate taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance.

Being a landlord isn't always easy though.  Even the most reliable tenants can be late with their rent which will turn you from investor to collection agent.  Dealing with disagreeable tenants can be hard work so make sure it’s the right fit for your personality.  If not, you may want to hire a property manager.

Cash flow's an important consideration as you’ll be responsible for overseeing the ongoing maintenance of your building.  An emergency fund is essential for taking care of immediate problems such as a broken furnace or leaky roof.  It's also common to be in between tenants from time to time so you'll have to budget for lost rent.

Purchasing a rental property to live in is a great way to get your foot in the door, so to speak.  It's much easier to afford a property if you have someone paying rent and the best part is that you don't even have to put up with a roommate!  It's also easier to maintain the property if you're on site to cut the grass and do other general types of repairs.

As with any property purchase, it's important to seek professional advice from your real estate agent to ensure you buy the right building in the right location so that it'll be a profitable investment you won't regret.  If you'd love to operate your own business and are able to plan for the unexpected, being a landlord might be right for you!

Any questions on buying and owning investment property both residential and commercial please give us a call at 604-466-4549 or email at pearceteam@telus.net .

With the price of real estate these days we often see parents assisting their children with the purchase of a home or children wanting parents to live in the same home. This can be because of health issues of the parent or child care assistance for the children or just convenience overall. The home is purchased together and one or the other will live in a basement suite. It is important to have the details worked out ahead of the purchase so everyone understands their responsibilities. Details should include but not limited to the following:

1/ Who is supplying the downpayment and who will be making the mortgage payments?

2/ Who will be on title as owners?

3/ If all parties are on title will it be equal portions?

4/ Who will be paying monthly bills for services and annual taxes?

5/ If someone wants or needs to move out then what would the process be for buying that person out or selling the property?

These are some of the main points and should be in a written agreement signed by all parties. It can be drawn up by the lawyer at the time of purchase.

Needs more details - Just call or email.

The online world can pose many dangers for children and the popularity of smartphones and tablets means kids are accessing the web anywhere, anytime.  Here are a few Internet guidelines to share with your children:

1. Keep it to Yourself - Never give out or display personal information such as addresses or phone numbers on sites or social media pages.
   
   
2. Click Click Boom - Don’t click on unknown downloads or attachments as they could be inappropriate material or a virus.
   
   
3. Facebook Never Forgets - Material on Facebook is recorded and archived and even if it's removed, someone may have already taken a screen shot.
   
   
4. No Photos Please - Don’t post photos of people unless you have their permission as they can be shared and downloaded by others in an instant.
   
   
5. Communication is Key - Cyber bullying is an issue that can quickly escalate so ensure your children talk to you immediately if they feel victimized.
   
   
6. peeping.tom - Don’t allow your kids to meet up with anyone they've met online and remind them that people may not be who they say they are.

In today's world, children access the Internet from places other than just the family room so it's best to establish a mix of rules, levels of trust and open communication rather than simply relying on parental software.  You'll be better able to protect your children from online dangers if they feel they're able to come to you and ask questions.

Send chills and thrills to your Halloween guests this year by brewing up a batch of scary punch!  All you need for this spooktacular blood red drink is:

• 4 10-oz. pkgs. of frozen strawberries, defrosted
• 2 6-oz. cans of lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 1 bottle of lemon lime beverage
• 1 bottle of cranberry or grape juice
• ping pong eyeballs & plastic spiders
• gummy worms & candy corn

Freeze some candy corn in ice cube trays overnight.  Mix the strawberries and lemonade concentrate in a blender.  Transfer to a punch bowl and add the lemon lime beverage, cranberry juice, candy corn ice and ping pong eyeballs.  Finally, garnish the punch bowl with the gummy worms and plastic spiders!