Buying a home can be an emotional roller coaster and as a result, it's easy to make mistakes when you're swept up in the excitement of it all.  Here are a few common buyer blunders to be aware of:

1. Not Thinking Ahead - If you hope to one day start a family in your new home, consider features like local parks and school zones.
   
   
2. Choosing the Wrong Home - Make a list of features that are absolutely necessary.  It's easy to be taken in by curb appeal, but walk away if it doesn't have that critical third bedroom!
   
   
3. Buying a Home that's too Expensive - Buyers who overextend themselves are often forced to sell at a loss.  Avoid the temptation by only viewing homes that are in your price range.
   
   
4. Bad Location, Bad Location, Bad Location - Determining the location that best suits your family's lifestyle is critical so consider proximity to public transportation, schools and other amenities.
   
   
5. Skipping the Home Inspection - Just because a house looks solid doesn't mean all is well behind the scenes.  Making an offer conditional on a home inspection will help eliminate any regrets.
   
   
6. Acting too Slowly - The home you fall in love with could be gone tomorrow if you wait too long.  Do your research ahead of time so you'll have the confidence to act swiftly when the time comes.
   
   
7. Not Using an Agent - It's important to have an agent to help you make decisions, negotiate the offer and explain the conditions to help ensure you enjoy a positive experience.

Buying a home can be very emotional so it's important to stay grounded in order to avoid errors that could cause you to regret your decision.  If you conduct your research ahead of time, you'll be able to move forward with confidence and peace of mind.  If you ever have any questions about real estate, please let me know -- I'm always here to help!

Vancouver Real Estate board overall

Single family houses sales for June totalled 1106 with the average sale price of $1,116,102. This 19% increase in number of sales and 5% increase in average price over last year same time period (June). 

Townhouse sales for June totalled 472 with an average sale price of $570,142. This is a 13% increase in the number of sales and an increase of 0% in average price over the same time period last year (June). 

Condominiums June sales totalled 1068 with the average sale price of $487,515. This a 4% increase in number of sales and 12% increase in average price over the same time period last year (June).

Total of all types for June was 2646 sales with an average sale price of $764,987. This is a 11% increase in number of sales and 8% increase in average price over June last year. 

 
The Vancouver Real Estate Board sales volume year to date is down by 12% year to date and year to date average sales price has increased slightly by 1%. The number of active listings is 6% lower this June compared to last June. It would appear that prices have stabilized in both single family, townhouses and condos and we have a more balanced market.
 

Local Maple Ridge

Single family house June sales totalled 91 with the average sale price of $529,451. This a 2% decrease in number of sales and average price increase of 7% compared to June last year. 

Townhouse June sales totalled 33 with an average sale price $269,547. This is a 8% decrease in the number of sales and average price decrease of 3% over last June. 

Condominiums June sales totalled 12 with the average sale price of $182,325. This is an 29% decrease in number of sales and average price decrease of 6% over last June.

Total of all types of sales for June was 136 with an average sale price of $435,757. This is a 6% decrease in number of sales and a 7% increase in average price over last June.

Low volumes cause the statistics to vary quite a bit from month to month. Year to date our average prices for single family are down about 2%, townhouses down about 1% and condos unchanged. Average price for a single family home year to date 2013 is unchanged from year to date 2011 (2 years). In Townhomes and condos we have seen about at 10% drop in average sale price year to date 2011 to year to date 2013 ( the last 2 years) . 

The number of properties on the market in Maple Ridge for June is 1036 which is 1% less than last June.

Video on last months statistics by Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver , just click this link  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7zUTBj5WXc&feature=youtu.be

For more detail just call 604-466-4549 or email

pearceteam@telus.net . 

Going away on vacation can sometimes be more trouble than it's worth.  Not only do you have to pack and plan but you also have to arrange for someone to collect your mail and look after your pets.

Gas prices also take a huge toll on a vacation budget so this year why not consider a staycation?  Here are a few ideas:

1. Be a Tourist - Contact your local tourist board so you can plan a trip as if you were visiting your area for the first time.
   
   
2. Take a Hike - Check out a new local community trail.  Enjoy a hike, bike ride, picnic or even a geocaching experience.
   
   
3. Dine Out - Go to a restaurant you've never been to before.  Find out when specials such as “2 for 1” and “kids eat free” are on so you can plan around the deals!
   
   
4. Overnighter - Visit an unfamiliar place an hour or so from home to experience a true getaway.  Book a night at a bed and breakfast or campground to really get into the spirit!
   
   
5. Kids Stuff - Involve your kids by letting them pick a new attraction to visit.  Nearby amusement parks, museums and summer festivals offer endless hours of fun.

Staying home and seeing your area through the eyes of a tourist will give you a new appreciation of where you live.  Not only will you save money but you'll also reduce your carbon footprint while supporting your local economy.  The best part of all is that you won't need a vacation after your vacation!

Debi invites you to join us in downtown Maple Ridge for 2 days of exciting music, about 70 street vendors including a wide variety of food and a beer garden.

Check this link to the website  http://www.caribbeanfest.ca/entertainment.html

This is the 13th annual Caribbean Festival in Maple Ridge so don't miss it. The Caribbean music will include reggae, steel band, salsa and R & B . Show starts at 12 noon on Saturday with new Caribbean acts every hour. From 7:00 to 9:00 is the final show of the day  “HEART IN THE PARK”  A tribute to HEART with BARRACUDA . This show is the non Caribbean portion of the weekend. Sunday kicks off at 11:00 AM with some R & B Soul with Nick Hope and new Caribbean acts every hour until headline show featuring "Steel" from 6:00 - 7:30. To end the day is a wind down with a DJ until 8:30. 

From Noon til 6 each day the the Kids Zone has lots of of activities for the young Caribbean Fans, including a bike parade (bring their bikes down to decorate in the Kids Zone either day) a Kids Zone stage with kid friendly entertainment, colouring stations, Tumblebus, Clowns, and much more. Also the YTV Wow tour is coming to our event and it includes a Bey Blades competition and other activities. So bring your Bey Blades and see if yours is the best!

No charge - Bring the whole family for a fun filled Caribbean holiday. Enjoy the music, food and do a little shopping. 

Looking forward to seeing you there!

It's been proven that music can help inspire and motivate us.  The type of music we listen to can also affect our mood in a variety of ways.

Songza is a music streaming app that allows you to listen to music based on the activity you're engaged in, the mood you're in or the mood you want to be in.

Songza's "music concierge" will put together the perfect playlist whether you're waking up or working out. There are various music genres including classic rock, hip hop and even children's music.

Songza has no commercials, you can save your playlists and it doesn't cost a cent!  You can use it on your home computer or on the go with your smartphone.  Check it out for yourself at www.songza.com.