http://www.realestateword.com/newsletter/archive/?sid=0&nid=353&aid=381

Are your kids pleading with you to go on Facebook?

Facebook’s current policy (which could soon be changing) is that you have to be at least 13 years old to sign up for an account.

There’s no real way to police this so as with anything, education is key. Here are a few points you should be aware of if you’re thinking of opening an account for your child:

1. Fake Friends - Predators prey on unsuspecting children by creating fake profiles to befriend them. Children want to boost their friends list and sometimes accept questionable requests.
   
   
2. It’s Not Nice to Share - Children don’t always understand the concept of privacy. They often share passwords and release private information that reveals their identity.
   
   
3. Endorsement Errors - If your child “Likes” a company that’s on Facebook, their image may appear next to an ad for that business when random strangers view their news feeds.
   
   
4. Assess Access - If your child creates a fake birthdate to sign up, Facebook will think your child is 18 when they’re actually much younger. They’ll then be subjected to ads that are geared towards adults.
   
   
5. Itchy Fingers - An impulsive rant could easily come back to haunt your child with devastating consequences. Make sure they understand that their posts aren’t owned by them and can never be taken back.

It’s important that parents proactively educate their children in today’s ever changing online world. If your kids are on Facebook, make sure to check their privacy and location settings and teach them about the new age “facts of life”.

In the first two months of 2014, the Greater Vancouver housing market has maintained the steady pace set throughout 2013.

Last month’s sales total mirrors the 10-year sales average for February of 2,547, with just 17 sales separating the two figures. The sales-to-active-listings ratio currently sits at 18.9 per cent in Greater Vancouver, a 4.9 per cent increase from last month.

“Home buyer demand picked up in February, which is consistent with typical seasonal patterns in our housing market,” said Sandra Wyant, REBGV president. “We typically see home buyers become more active in and around the spring months.”

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the Greater Vancouver MLS® is 13,412, a 9.3 per cent decline compared to February 2013 and a 6.4 per cent increase compared to January 2014.

“With the market continuing to perform at a steady, balanced pace, it’s important for home sellers to ensure their homes are priced correctly for today’s conditions,” Wyant said.

In the Maple Ridge/ Pitt Meadows area we had 91 single family homes sell this February compared to 59 last year. Townhouse had 43 sales compared to 25 last February and condos had 30 sales compared to 19 last February. Total sales last February was 103 and this year it was 164. A substantial improvement over 2013.

We have 1060 active listings residential listings consisting of 618 single family, 210 townhouse and 232 condos.

No one can say for sure what’s around the corner. If you're currently considering home ownership, here are a few points to consider:

1. Do Your Homework - It's important to plan ahead so research local amenities and public transportation. Consider features like parks and schools if you’re planning to start a family.
   
   
2. Financial Accountability - Ensure you're financially ready to buy a home. There are many other costs in addition to mortgage payments so know what you're getting yourself into.
   
   
3. Go Pro - Have a real estate agent guide you through the process. Get a market analysis of the homes recently sold in the area you're interested in as well as an idea of community trends.
   
   
4. Stick to Your Budget - Be sure to examine your individual needs and never overextend yourself financially. Make a list of the features that fit your family's lifestyle before looking at homes and stick to it.
   
   
5. Think Straight - It’s normal for home buyers to experience a full range of emotions during the complex, real estate rollercoaster ride. House hunting should be fun so don’t take things personally or let your emotions rule every decision.
   
   
6. Inspect the Unexpected - Just because you've checked over the house thoroughly doesn't mean all’s well behind the scenes. Making an offer conditional on a home inspection means there won't be any nasty, expensive surprises.

An uncertain real estate market can make it difficult to know whether you should hold off purchasing a home in case prices fall or jump right in before prices skyrocket. The time to buy is when your budget matches your needs so always consider your personal circumstances carefully before making decisions.

What is a  power of attorney?

   A power of  attorney is a legal document that authorizes one person to act for another  person. A grant of power of attorney allows the attorney to sign legal  documents and to make contracts according to the powers granted within the  power of attorney. Historically a power of attorney ceased upon mental  incapacity (these can still be made), but under the present British Columbia  legislation, the power of attorney can be enduring if you wish; in this case it  continues to operate even if the person granting the power of attorney has  become mentally incapable. Of course, the grantor of the power of attorney had  to be mentally competent at the time the power of attorney was signed. Your  power of attorney ceases to be effective upon death. Your Will then comes into  force.

What can a  power of attorney be used for?

   Most legal  authority can be granted to an attorney. The most usual use of a power of  attorney is for signing real estate documents when the grantor of the power of  attorney is out of the province, unable to sign the documents, or mentally  incapable. For example, even though you own property as a joint tenant with  your spouse, if your spouse became mentally incapable, you need a power of  attorney to sell your home.

What is a  general power of attorney?

  The most  common form of power of attorney is the general power of attorney, which allows  the attorney to do almost all acts that the grantor of the power of attorney  could do. The general power of attorney usually allows the attorney to act  after mental infirmity and also could be used in the Land Title Office for  greater than three years. In order for the power of attorney to continue past  mental incapacity, the power of attorney must expressly say that it is an  enduring power of attorney.

Do I need a power of Attorney?

It is a often convenient for a person and their spouse to have an enduring power of attorney on each other. I that case if one becomes sick or is mentally incapacitated then the other can sign documents on the behalf of the other. It is not an expensive to do and can help avoid a lot of issues if ones spouse is not available or has a accident or sudden illness.

Click one of the links below to see a graph on prices over the last 8 years in the area you select. If your area is not listed there then call and I will email. The graph is interactive so run the cursor along to get property prices at different times. Green line is single family, orange is townhouse and blue is condo. The graph reflects the"median" price which means 50% of sales were above this number and 50% were below.

 
Maple Ridge

http://statscentre.rebgv.org/infoserv/s-v1/7DT-ykI

Port Coquitlam

http://statscentre.rebgv.org/infoserv/s-v1/7DE-v1n

Vancouver

http://statscentre.rebgv.org/infoserv/s-v1/7D8-hrK

Mission

http://statscentre.rebgv.org/infoserv/s-v1/7DS-uo8

Coquitlam

http://statscentre.rebgv.org/infoserv/s-v1/7Du-hBF

Langley

http://statscentre.rebgv.org/infoserv/s-v1/7Ds-dad

Surrey

http://statscentre.rebgv.org/infoserv/s-v1/7Dy-Okd

It is that time of year that you can top up your RRSP with a contribution if you have some cash. The maximum benefit would be if you had some extra room on your RRSP contribution limit and could contribute $25,000. You may have this amount saved up for the downpayment on a property this spring. You make your RRSP contribution of $25,000 and get a substantial refund. If you are in a 40% tax bracket this would be $10,000. The goverment Home Buyers Plan allows first time buyers and buyers who have not owned a home in the last 5 years to withdraw up to $25,000 to purchase a property. The funds must be in the RRSP for 90 days before they can be withdrawn and the money must be repaid over the next 13 years.

If you with draw the $25,000 and add it to the refund of $10,000 you now have $35,000 towards the purchase of your home. The minimum you would repay annually would be $2000. In any year if you do not contribute the $2000 to your RRSP you must declare the $2000 as income for that year.

Need some more information and help with buying?  Call me at 604-466-4549

The busiest time of the year for the real estate market is from now until mid June. People have made the decision to move this year and want to get moved before summer vacation or to cordinate with the end of the school year.

When listing your property it will likely take 30-60 days to get and offer. This will depend on pricing and if you price too high it may take longer. The completion and possession dates (when you actually move) will be on average another 45-90 days. The whole process can be as short as 30 days (rare) or as long as 6 months with average being in the 3-4 month range.

If you are thinking of moving this year now is the time to start. We will review market value of your property, all costs to sell and buy and give you advice on staging and repairs that should be done before your house goes on the market.

The Greater Vancouver housing market maintained a consistent balance between demand and supply throughout 2013.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that total sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in 2013 reached 28,524, a 14 per cent increase from the 25,032 sales recorded in 2012, and an 11.9 per cent decrease from the 32,390 residential sales in 2011.

Last year’s home sale total ranks as the third lowest annual total for the region in the last ten years, according to the region’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®).

Last year’s listing count is on par with the 10 year average.

“It was a year of stability for the Greater Vancouver housing market,” Wyant, said. “Balanced conditions allowed home prices in the region to remain steady, with just a modest increase over the last 12 months.”

The relationship between you and your real estate agent should always be productive. Having an open line of communication is absolutely critical to ensuring a win-win partnership!

Once you’ve discussed and agreed on your agency relationship, start working on how you can communicate effectively. Communication is a two-way street so both parties need to be open and honest at the outset.

Start with the basics by discussing your contact preferences. For instance, be clear whether or not you can be contacted at work should your dream home suddenly hit the market. Clarifying these somewhat obvious details ahead of time will mean fewer miscommunications down the road.

Be clear on which features are essential in your new home. Ranking your priorities will help your agent conduct a more efficient search; however, always try to keep an open mind as it may be a good idea to “look outside the box” at homes that don’t completely match your criteria.

If you're selling your home, make sure you discuss any issues that could help or hinder the sale. Agents can offer great advice on staging so show them everything no matter how insignificant. That tiny crawl space you weren't even thinking of mentioning could be marketed as a unique selling feature!

Finally, let your real estate agent know if your needs change and don't ever hesitate to ask questions. If for whatever reason you're not completely satisfied with the way things are going, be completely honest so you can resolve the problem straight away.

The key to any strong relationship is communication. The partnership between you and your agent will hopefully continue for many years after you land your dream home! Please don’t ever hesitate to email or call with any real estate related questions you may have.

If you've finally had enough of the dated, floral wallpaper in your hallway, then it’s time to take action!

Removing wallpaper isn’t always easy but it’s well worth the effort. Here are a few environmentally friendly solutions that are just as effective as steamers and toxic removal paste:

1. Fabric Softener - Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of fabric softener and hot water and apply to the wallpaper.
   
   
2. Vinegar - Mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water. Use a paint roller or large brush to apply the solution onto your wallpaper.
   
   
3. Dishwashing Liquid - Mix 1 part dishwashing liquid and 3 parts warm water. Make sure to use a dishwashing liquid that uses a degreaser.

Once the wallpaper’s been removed, wash the walls with warm water and let them dry thoroughly before prepping them to be painted. If you do it right, wallpaper can easily be removed so if your dream home’s covered in it, don’t let it deter you from putting in an offer!

The New Year provides us with an opportunity to plan a fresh new start with a powerful new attitude.

The media continuously bombards us with negative stories which can bring us down but reading inspirational quotes can help keep our thoughts positive. Here are a couple to get you started:

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
Winston Churchill

“Our beliefs about who we are and what we can be precisely determine what we become.”
Anthony Robbins

There are various websites that send daily motivational quotes. If you post them on your fridge, mirrors and computer screen, they’ll remind and inspire you to stay positive throughout the year!