Imagine you’d been keeping your eye on a desirable neighbourhood over the years. You had hoped that one day you could buy a home there. But then you saw prices creeping up — to a point where they became unaffordable.

“Oh well,” you’d thought. “I guess we won’t be moving there!”

That scenario is familiar to many homeowners. In fact, you too may have been keeping your eye on a neighbourhood you’d love to get into but have decided it’s become too expensive.

If that’s so, it might be worth taking a second look.

The real estate market changes. One year an area might be a red-hot seller’s market with prices soaring. The next year, things may have cooled, and prices stabilized....

Spring is often associated with moving, but now is the time to start preparing your home if you want to sell a house fast this coming springtime.

Sure, you can wait until the weather starts turning warmer if you just want to put your property on the market and hope for the best. However, clever sellers know there’s more to be made with a bit of forethought than simply selling a house ‘as is’ once spring is already here.

So, if you are wondering how to sell your home fast this springtime, here are some hints and tips.

1. Do your spring cleaning now

If you are planning to sell your property before the summer, now is the time to start getting it ready for sale...and that includes spring cleaning.

Not only will cleaning and decluttering...

Are you thinking of selling your home this year? If so, you might be paying extra attention to housing market news covered by the regional and national media.

While that news can be helpful information, it can sometimes say little about what’s happening in your particular neighbourhood. In fact, it’s possible for there to be a balanced market nationally or regionally, while at the same time your street may be experiencing a hot seller’s market!

That’s why it’s important to understand what’s happening in your local “micro” housing market when you’re selling your home.

What do you need to know about your local real estate scene? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Is our neighbourhood...

If you are thinking about selling your home this coming spring, one factor that may hold you back or delay your preparations is time. You may be worried that you won’t be able to find the time in your busy schedule to prepare your property so you can sell successfully.

If so, here are four strategies that can help:

1. Understand what needs to be done

Do you know what you’ll need to do in order to sell your home? Do you understand the steps involved? Do you have a clear idea of how long it will take to complete these various tasks, such as getting repairs done, decluttering, and doing some ‘staging’?

The more accurately you can anticipate your tasks and how long it will take to complete them, the better you’ll be...

Have you ever had to go last-minute gift shopping? If so, you know what that can be like. You don’t have time to amble casually through numerous stores in hopes of coming across something suitable. The clock is ticking. You need to find the right gift, now!

A similar thing can sometimes happen when shopping for a new home. You may not have a lot of time available in your schedule. Yet, you need to view properties and find the right home, quickly.

So, how do you do that on a tight schedule?

One way is to be clear on the type of home you want to get into. The more narrow your search parameters, the more likely you are to view properties that are strong candidates.

Create a profile of your dream home, including property type, number of bedrooms,...

Until a couple of years ago, internet access was a nice-to-have for most homeowners. But these days, it’s fast becoming a necessity. Kids need good internet to do homework assignments. You may need reliable internet to work from home and attend online meetings.

So, when shopping for a new home, it’s wise to check if the property which you’re interested in making an offer on has good internet available. The last thing you want is to move into a home only to discover that the internet service is slow and faster options are unavailable.

There are many ways to do find out.

For example, most internet services websites have a feature where you can type on the address and find out what type of internet services are available. Pay attention...

Positive Buyer Strategies for a Tough Market

With the way the housing market is at present, it’s tough for buyers to compete and even harder to stay positive, and things may seem especially hopeless for first-time homebuyers; they have no previous home on which to draw equity, and they can also be dealing with sky-high rent and high student debt balances, making it extremely difficult to save for a down payment.

Buying a home is always emotional, and having to deal with disappointment and uncertainty just adds to the stress levels. So how can buyers stay positive in a market like this? We’ve put together a few tips on how buyers can make smart decisions, and move in the right direction towards finding their new home.

1) Mortgage ...

Hillside Terrace is a new 15-unit townhome complex that will check all the boxes and leave you with nothing to do but move in.  Fully finished including appliances and window coverings.

The entry level will have a 39'9 deep garage for your vehicles, boat, quads, sleds or other toys.  Maybe this is a space for a workshop/office? The main level consists of an open floor plan, shaker style cabinets, quartz countertops, an 8ft island for entertaining and if it’s an end-unit a N/G fireplace.

And, by pre-purchasing you will be able to choose certain colors as well as your desired city and mountain views.

All units have 3 bathrooms, vinyl plank flooring throughout, and forced air heat/A/C.  The upper floor has either 3 bedrooms,...

Why buy real estate in the Shuswap?

If you’re interested in making a move to the BC interior, check out Salmon Arm and the Shuswap to see what this community has to offer.

Salmon Arm is frequently mentioned as one of the best places to live n BC, and in Canada as a whole; the city and its surrounding communities have grown and developed over the past few years into a thriving lakeside community, and for those who no longer need to go into the office to work, the Shuswap offers plenty of opportunity for home office locations set in a beautiful rural environment.

Here a just a few good reasons why a move to the Shuswap might work for you:

Outdoor adventure on your doorstep

No matter the time of year, there is always something to do in and...