Liz Moras' Real Estate Blog

Vancouver Seven Day Express - Chinatown

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 19:41:12 -0700

Chinatown has always mesmerized me; fascinated and tantalized me, but it's been years since the last time I prowled it's streets. Minutes from the Waterfront Station and next to Gastown, Chinatown has a mystique all it's own. Apparently it is the 2nd largest Chinatown in North America - next to the one in San Francisco.

With scents and sounds all its own, I wandered down the streets and the alleys intriqued by the the Chinese Medicine Shops - carrying herbs and untoward animal bodyparts - thinking this is a topic I really would like to know more about...Interspersed with Chinese tea shops, restaurants, unique architecture and memorials, not to mention yummy bakeries.

I eventually succumbed to temptation and bought a delicious coconut cream filled bun. As I traversed back and forth across the streets and checked out one market after another, produce, fish and poultry.

I couldn't help wishing I had a Chinese friend that could translate for me - since all the signs were in Chinese - and half the produce I didn't even recognize! One thing I did recognize though was that the prices were significantly cheaper than that of my local Superstore!

The Vancouver Seven Day Express

The 7 Day Vancouver Express – Day 1 – Gastown

Speechless Sunday - Do You See What I See?

he Vancouver Seven Day Express - Vancouver's Terracotta Warriors

The Vancouver Seven Day Express - Vancouver's Terracotta Warriors

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 19:23:22 -0700

It seems like Vancouver can't get enough of the fiberglass street statues........During the Olympics it was Orcas, we've had eagles and bears too, and now its dozens of sculptures modelled after the 2,200-year-old terracotta warrior statues unearthed in China decades ago.

The warriors — each painted by a different artist — will be auctioned off Sept. 27 with the proceeds going to the BC Lions Society Easter Seal Houses and Easter Seal Camps for children with disabilities. In the meantime they're fashioning the corners of our streets, fascinating and yet somehow they feel lost in time...

Read the Vancouver Sun for the history of the subterranean terracotta warriors as well as a photo gallery of the Vancouver statues. If you’d like to see them in person, 24 Hours has a map pointing to the location of each sculpture.

The Vancouver Seven Day Express

The Vancouver Seven Day Express – Day 1 – Gastown

Vancouver Seven Day Express - Chinatown

Speechless Sunday - Do You See What I See?

Speechless Sunday - Do You See What I See?

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:56:36 -0700

The Vancouver Seven Day Express

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 09:59:51 -0700

It's been a whilie since I've been on Active Rain - and as I was writing up this blog on WordPress and for Facebook I thought I really should get back to my 'first-love' - Active Rain!

So.....

A suburbanite being an urbanite for seven days ~ isn’t that the cat’s meow? Having lived in the country now for almost a dozen years, The Chilliwack Girl is realizing that she might really and truly be a city girl at heart. So when this two week job stint came up requiring me to work for one hour on a West Coast Express train trip to Vancouver – stay in Vancouver for 8-9 hours & free to do as I wish and then work another one hour on the trip back to Mission, I for one was not about to look a gift horse in it’s mouth. (Where do these idioms come from???)

Since it wasn’t likely that I’d be taking a vacation this year, I thought I’d turn these 7 days into a mini vacation. I would become a tourist in my own city – Country Mouse would become City Mouse for 7 days! So equipped with my little Pentax, my journal, and not always the best walking shoes, I decided to use only my transit pass and my feet to start exploring.

So from Gastown, Chinatown, Dr. Sun Yet Sen Gardens and Robson Street, to the Sea Bus, Lonsdale Quay, the West End, Granville Market, The Vancouver Art Galley, Vancouver Aquarium, Coal Harbour Sea Wall, Stanley Park Seawall, 14 Starbucks and 8 Street Food Trucks – stay tuned for my Vancouver Touristy Adventure – The Vancouver 7 Day Express!!

The Vancouver Seven Day Express – Day 1 – Gastown

Vancouver Seven Day Express - Chinatown

Speechless Sunday - Do You See What I See?

The Vancouver Seven Day Express - Vancouver's Terracotta Warriors

The 7 Day Vancouver Express – Day 1 – Gastown

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 09:44:01 -0700

So public transit, where I come from is a four letter word. Out here in Chilliwack we can only dream that one day we will have any form of transit taking us to Abbotsford never mind down-town Vancouver (Greyhound excluded of course – put does that fall under the category of transit?). In the past couple of years I’ve had the privilege of taking advantage of the public transit systems in both Toronto and New York and frankly I became a transit junkie. For a whole week in each of those cities I managed to make my way and see a million sites with no car! I came out of the whole experience with “I Would Walk 500 Hundred Miles for You” playing in my head!

Day 1 of The Vancouver 7 Day Express

It’s 7:30 a.m., I’ve skidaddled from Chilliwack to Mission, Port Haney, Maple Ridge,Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody and arrived at the Waterfront Station on West Cordoba St.in the middle of down town Vancouver. Where to start? Well I did think a little ahead and managed to order online the Entertainment Guide Book forVancouver. Bonus: Order online now (valid for only 4 more months this year) I was able to pick up the $40 book for only $5 – delivery included! It has a wealth of ideas not to mention kajillion coupons. Some are 2 for 1 which can be a problem if you’re travelling solo – but if you ask many places will give you a 50% discount instead – if not just grab someone else in line and offer them a 2/1 discount where they only have to pay half! I did that at the Stanley Park Aquarium and managed to save not only myself but my new BFF $12 on her admission fee!

So where was I? Oh yes, standing out front of the Waterfront Station:

The main station building is kind of cool – it was designed in a neoclassical style (I know that from the Art History Course I took this Spring with a row of white ionic columns both out front and inside interior hall with paintings depicting various Canadian landscape scenes.

Stepping outside and heading East (to your left its about a 5 minute walk to Vancouver’s historic Gastown. The area looks much sweeter than it did a while back when it was starting to look a little neglected. Based on the amount of tourists strolling on those lovely red cobblestones – it certainly seems to be a popular destination with the Gastown Steam Clock probably the highlight. Every twenty minutes or so – there’s a street person (I hope that’s a political correct term to use?) that starts a countdown calling ye ol’ tourists to come on down and watch the clock blow it’s top. I know this because one of my favourite coffee spots is the Gastown Starbucks which is located just across the street from it. Basically the clock is made to look like 19 th Century antique – and it’s powered by a steam engine. Click on the link to see in detail how it operates!

The rest of the street is filled with touristy stores, a couple of nice restaurants, the original and inexpensive Spaghetti Factory and Al Forno’s pizzeria are both good choices – and if you’re craving East Indian – Sitar is one of my favs!

A short walk away is the famous Gassy Jack’s Statue. John “Gassy Jack” Deighton sits in a shaded area shadowed by a large maple tree. It is here, under the ancestor of the Maple tree that stands there today where the City of Vancouver was conceived, on a barrel of Whiskey and a brave man who knew how to be enterprising. This curious yet interesting tale definitely draws a crowd to the very site that began the city that surrounds them.

Next stop Chinatown!

The Vancouver Seven Day Express

The Vancouver Seven Day Express - Vancouver's Terracotta Warriors

Vancouver Seven Day Express - Chinatown

Speechless Sunday - Do You See What I See?

REALTOR.ca mobile application for Blackberry released by the Canadian Real Estate Association

Tue, 03 May 2011 12:29:28 -0700

Last week the REALTOR.ca app for Blackberry® was released. How cool is that? The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) now has apps for three of the most popular smartphones. REALTOR.ca is the most visited real estate website in Canada, listing on average some 350,000 properties at any time.

"Consumers today use their smartphones in many ways, and this free application provides Blackberry users all the features and functionality of the REALTOR.ca website" said CREA President Gary Morse. "REALTORS® across Canada are proud to be providing this service to house hunters."

The free REALTOR.ca app is provided at no cost to consumers by Canada's 100,000 REALTORS® and more than 100 real estate Boards and Associations.

The app provides users with the features and functionality of REALTOR.ca and takes full advantage of Blackberry device features, such as:
·         Using the handheld's GPS technology:
o       Properties Near Me - get up-to-date property information, photos and driving directions;
o       New Listings Near Me - recent listings in the area you're visiting;
o       Open Houses Near Me - find open houses near your present location;
·         My Agent - Contact either your agent(s), or the listing agent for more information about a specific property;
·         Property Search - Search for houses and properties across Canada, and connect with REALTORS® to view, buy or sell a property;
·         Personalized settings allowing the user to set default language, unit of measure, how properties are displayed, and search radius for "Near Me" searches;
·         Interactive BING mapping is embedded to allow focus on specific neighbourhoods;
·         Scheduled Open Houses can be added to the device's calendar.
"When considering one of life's biggest financial transactions, easily accessible, detailed information about homes and neighbourhoods, as well as access to REALTORS®, helps people make well-informed decisions" stated Morse.

Now isn't that something? :)

Help Nominate my Neighbourhood of Garrison Crossing as one of the Great Places in Canada!

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:30:05 -0800

Well guess what? My neighbourhood of Garrison Crossing is contention to be recognized as the Best Neighbour in Canada to Live in. Many of you have seen the posts I've done on Garrison and know what a unique and wonderful neighbourhood it is.

We're currently in second place overall - however we are in first place in the category of Neighbourhoods - however we would love to move into first place overall. In order for that to happen I'm asking my Active Rain family to cast a vote for us - or anyone else that reads this post!

If you click on the link below and help us get there by voting for Garrison Crossing. The system will allow you to vote once per day minimum and sometimes more...so please vote often.

I really appreciate your support.

Garrison Crossing has been nominated as one of the Great Places in Canada!
Please help us win the title VOTE HERE NOW!

Come see what we're talking about!

Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - A Winter's Tale - First in a Series

Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Winter Wonderland - Second in a Series

Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Wintertime - Third in a Series

Frosty - in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Fourth in a Series

Winter in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Branching out with Vintage Townhomes - Fifth in a Series

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If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Chilliwack Realtor Liz Moras of Keller Williams Elite a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2011 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission. Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Keller Williams Elite Realty.

Speechless Sunday - King Kong's Reverie

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 23:39:10 -0800

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Chilliwack Realtor Liz Moras of Keller Williams Elite Realty

a call at

604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2011 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission. Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Keller Williams Elite Realty.

Wordless Wednesday - Belated Happy Valentine's!

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:04:50 -0800

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Chilliwack Realtor Liz Moras of Keller Williams Elite Realty

a call at

604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Is it a Good Idea to Buy a Home That Was a Former Grow Op?

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:26:46 -0800

So you are convinced it is a Good Idea to Buy a Home That Was a Former Grow Op?

Are you considering buying a property that was a former Marijuana grow operation or meth lab? I'm far from an expert on the subject, although Chilliwack has more than its fair share of former Grow-Op Homes. Perhaps speaking to a Home Inspector might provide some critical information, however I can speak on it from the perspective of a Realtor.

There used to be a time when this problem was the domain of derelict old homes in run down neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, not any more - if anything it is just as likely to be in a posh family oriented neighbourhood or a brand new development. As a matter of fact its become quite a popular method of paying down a mortgage. However these days grow houses are seldom used for extended periods of time since these 'investors' tend to switch up their locations fairly frequently. Nevertheless, unsuspecting homeowners are always shocked when they find a drug raid occuring at the house next door to them.

Recently the Chilliwack Progress did a series of articles on former grow ops in our area and they were kind enough to provide maps pinpointing these locations. I'm not sure but the police web site might even have that information. However knowing a home was a grow op is a lot easier to deal with then buying one where the operations went undetected.

Similar type Map in Toronto

The best advice I could possibly give you is to have each and every home you consider buying, inspected by a Licensed Home Inspector; although admittedly there are still some inspectors that do not know how to identify a former Grow Op home.

However this question relates specifically to the potential home buyer that is wondering what the pros and cons of buying a home that hosted a former grow operation; so I'll try and simplify it with a couple of lists:

The Cons: (Listed in no particular order)

Potential health and safety risks - Most grow operators illegally bypass hydro meters in order to steal the large amounts of power required for heating and lighting a grow operation. This usually results in dangerous electrical connections that are capable of causing serious injury or possible death. Operators often install large ventilation tubes to exhaust chemical fumes through the roof of a home often causing serious structural damage due to large holes cut in floors and ceilings.

- Humidity levels are kept very high in grow operations to promote plant growth. Unfortunately high humidity levels also promote mold growth which can be very carcinogenic and have long lasting health effects for humans. Use of various chemicals in both grow operations and in particular meth labs, can easily contaminate drywall, plaster and even wooden framing.

- Remediation required to restore a grow operation property back to a safe and healthy state, can be extremely costly and in the case of former meth labs, often deemed a lost cause, as chemical infiltration into all the building material within a home is usually so widespread.

- There may be some current and future property insurance issues - some companies will not insure former grow ops.

- If you're told that the these homes have no problems being resold - check the data and see how many times they've been on the market and for how long and with how many price reductions before they are eventually sold.

- I also encourage you to seriously consider whether tearing down the property might not be a better idea than rehabilitating it.

The Pros - (Yes there are some )

- If you have private money and can gut the house, and your are able to purchase the house at a great reduced price; if you spend money to have environmental engineers do spore tests etc. and perhaps have the construction skills or trusted contacts that can do it - you could end up a decent investment.

- Some believe that many former grow ops that have been repaired are in better condition than other homes. Why is this? because within the lower mainland most municipalities require former grow ops to have environmental air testing, mold and noxious material reports done. Until this is done and passed the city will not re-issue an occupancy permit.

- Depending on the extent of the grow op - some cities require the property to be brought up to current building codes that include items such as plumbing and gas, building, electric etc. This forces the homeowner to upgrade many features that were unaffected by the grow op. And these items could be as small as adding railings to stairs or as big as fixing a foundation of structure.

- There may be an opportunity get this property at a bargain price - however make sure to take all the additional costs into consideration before you proceed on what looks like a bargain price.

So what would I do given all the pros and cons? I would probably pass. Chances are there will be headaches. Certification for home insurance could be a problem if you do disclose - if you don't disclose you may find yourself uninsured even after paying premiums. In my experience this is often a deal killer. The insurance company requires city approval for the home but if it was a grow op before the city required certification for grow ops you end up in grow op limbo land. If repairs were made before the Cities were required to approve the repairs - chances are no bank would touch it. I suspect the contract was eventually submitted without the grow op disclosure...

Lastly, the house is always stigmatized with the 'former grow-op label' - and then again there are the stories of grow rip or drive by shootings - unaware that the house has been sold!

Also be aware that there have seen many, many homes sold without the owner disclosing they had a grow op (sometimes because they didn't know and it was several sales ago). So Buyer beware!

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If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give

Chilliwack Realtor Liz Moras of Keller Williams Elite Realty

a call at

604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2011 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission. Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Keller Williams Elite Realty.

It's Been Six Months and My House Hasn't Sold...What Should I do?

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 20:12:21 -0800

Your house hasn't sold? Its been 3, 6, 12 months? You're shaking your head and wondering why? Well here are the straight goods........Look at the list and check it twice! :-)

First of all lets see why other similar properties sold and yours didn't:

1.) They made sure their property was priced correctly right from the very beginning.

2.) They made showings easy - and left the home during showings so the Buyers could explore comfortably.

3.) They invested in professional home staging - realizing that the way they saw there home was not necessarily the way others would see it. We see our homes with different eyes and may not accentuate the positive and minimize the negative. Time and time again data shows that staged houses sell for more and sell quicker.

4.) They were more aware of market trends and so knew that being more flexible when negotiating was necessary. They also did not reject offers outright.



That doesn't mean that some houses still don't sell, but your odds are greatly improved.

Somethings to consider...

1. ) How motivated were you to sell? Were you holding out for a sale price similar to the one your neighbor received a couple of years ago? Are you prepared to wait another two years to get your house sold?

2.) Are all parties involved equally motivated? Sometimes holding back on appropriate pricing is a strategy for delaying decision making when both parties are not equally ready to sell!

3.)Are you thinking your house hasn't sold because of your Realtor? Although that may be a possibility chances are that probably isn't the reason your home hasn't sold.  However sometimes people think that changing up the Realtors might make a difference - and that is unfortunate. Although the temptation might be to find a new Realtor and THEN reduce your price - the odds are that after investing both time and money there is no one more motivated in selling your home than the Realtor you already have!

4.) However if you think your house is worth more than anyone else? Bonus: You might just get to keep it! :)

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If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Chilliwack Realtor Liz Moras of HomeLife Glenayre (Chwk.) Realty a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2011 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission.   Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Homelife Glenayre Realty (Chwk.) Ltd.

Speechless Sunday - Peephole View of New York

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:35:04 -0800

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Chilliwack Realtor Liz Moras of Landmark Realty a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2011 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission. Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.

I've Sold My House - What Other Closing Costs are Involved?

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:02:42 -0800

You've sold your home - You know what the sale price is and what the Real Estate commission is, but what other costs will affect your bottom line? Know you additional costs so that you are not surprised when you arrive at the Lawyers to go over your Statement of Adjustments. People are often shocked and not usually because there is MORE money there then they thought!

1. Property Transfer Tax: This tax is payable on the purchase of all real property in BC. The calculation is based on 1% of the purchase price up to $200,000 and 2% of any amount above $200,000. Most first time buyers are exempt from this if they meet certain criteria. The main criteria are; a) borrower has never owned a principal residence anywhere; b) maximum purchase price of $275,000 in most areas; c) borrow at least 70% of purchase price; d) be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and residing in BC for a minimum of 12 months. Online Calculator.

2. H.S.T. Harmonized Sales Tax - Online Calculator - British Columbia harmonized its provincial sales tax (Social Services Tax, aka PST) with the Federal goods and services tax (GST) effective July 1, 2010.

Note H.S.T. is only payable on Newly Constructed Homes. There is a new housing rebate for new homes purchased as a primary residence - a partial rebate (71.43%) of the provincial portion of the HST for new housing to ensure that new homes up to $525,000 (increased from $400,000) bear no more tax than under the previous PST system, while homes above $525,000 receive a flat rebate of $26,250.

3. Legal Fees: Legal representation will cost you approximately $750 for a purchase and a mortgage, add approximately another $450 if you are selling a property at the same time. The legal fees to only register a mortgage will be in the $350 range. Phone for all-inclusive estimates (taxes, disbursements and courier fees included) - note Notary fees are not always cheaper that Lawyer fees.

4. Interest Adjustment: This is the interest you will pay for receiving your mortgage money before the official start of your mortgage (ie: if your "completion" were on the 23rd of a 30 day month, your interest adjustment would be 8 days interest).

5. Property Tax Adjustment: Generally, property taxes for the calendar year are paid at the beginning of July for the full calendar year. If you purchase a property before July 1st, the seller will be paying you for the days they owned a home from January 1st to completion day. You then are responsible for the entire amount to be paid to the municipality on July 1st. If you purchase a property after July 1st you will pay the seller for the days you own the property from completion day to December 31st, as they will already have paid the entire amount to the municipality on July 1st. To calculate this amount: one days' taxes on owner occupied properties is the annual taxes, less $470 homeowner grant, divided by 365.

6. Strata Cost Adjustments & Form A Certificate: For those purchasing a strata property, the adjustment works similar to the property tax adjustment explained in item 4. The difference is that strata fees are paid monthly not annually, so the adjustment will be based on the number of days in your completion month that you have ownership. A Form A Certificate is required only on strata purchases and is issued by the strata corporation in order to confirm that the seller does not owe the strata corporation any money. This certificate will range in price up to approximately $50.

7. CMHC Application Fee: This is a $75 underwriting fee paid to CMHC for processing a high ratio mortgage application and initiating the mortgage loan insurance. This fee is usually deducted from the mortgage proceeds. (Note: This fee may be applicable if you have less then 15% down on the purchase). If you are funding a "High-Ratio" Mortgage CMHC will be charging you a fee - please check with them for their fee schedule.

8. Property Appraisal: The property is evaluated by a professional appraiser to determine the market value of the property. This is done to ensure that; a) the lending institution is not over lending on the property and; b) to protect the borrower from over-paying. Generally, a standard residential appraisal will cost approximately $250-300. It is usually your financial institution that arranges for the appraisal - and the report will go to the financial institution -but you will be charged.

9. Property Inspection: An inspection is a thorough evaluation of the structure, systems and components of a home. The inspection report is usually multi-paged, and comments on the condition of, but not limited to: foundations, electrical, plumbing, heating, water heaters, appliances, fireplaces, drainage, roof, walls, floors, attic, crawl spaces, patios... The inspection is usually performed a day or two before the market value is determined by the property appraisal. This property inspection is your responsibility and will usually cost somewhere in the range of $450-550.

10. Survey Certificate: A bank will require a survey to confirm that the house and/or any outbuildings do not encroach or cross over the property lines. The seller will often already have a survey, especially if the seller also had a mortgage on the property. Otherwise, you may want to call to get estimates on a new survey. CMHC requires a survey on all properties insured by a high ratio mortgage. Keep in mind, however, that surveys can be replaced by title insurance and that new surveys are not required on strata properties. Title Insurance is significantly cheaper and usually costs less than $200.

11.Insurance Binder: This is a requirement by the bank to ensure that the borrower has arranged sufficient insurance to cover any losses that may be incurred on the purchase. Proof of coverage by way of an insurance binder supplied by the insurance agent is necessary and usually costs $35 (this is not applicable for a strata property).

*This information is being provided to assist in the planning of a home purchase. It is not intended to be legal advice and the information set out may not be applicable in all cases. In some situations, a purchaser may be required to pay for other additional expenses such as a second mortgage, an assignment of rents, power of attorney, or independent legal advice.

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Chilliwack Realtor Liz Moras of HomeLife Glenayre Realty a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2011 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission. Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of HomeLife Glenayre Realty Chwk. Ltd.

I'm Thinking of Selling My Home - What Should I do to Get Ready?

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:00:34 -0800

Planning to put your home on the market...soon? Spring time seems to be a popular time for people to want to list their properties.......and the Spring Selling Season is fast approaching......what to do?...

I'm Thinking of Selling My Home - What Should I do to Get Ready?

With Christmas behind us and a New Year in full swing it is the perfect time to...

Start now and get ahead of the Spring Market!.....You can get your house ready for showing at a pace you can control.....it is the perfect time to start doing the necessary improvements, preparations and start organizing your home!

With more selection on the market there is more competition among home sellers than there has been in the last few years.... its time to take stock and definitely put your home's best foot forward!

Some home sellers have their homes in pristine condition and looking like the cover of a Martha Stewart Magazine...but for most of us we need a little help in that area!

Times have changed, and the of multiple offers and homes with clutter, unsightly decor and green shag carpets should be over.....Until recently home sellers could get away with a lot because just about anything was selling.........For a few years now - Selling in a Seller's market has been a bit of a breeze and we've been spoiled. Clients used to say 'what do we need to do'.......and the answer was - probably nothing! There was so little inventory that everything was selling - and selling quickly. But not anymore!

I've always said, that a Realtor should put their own home on the market every few years, just to remind us what its like for 'Sellers'...........And I have! So I can speak not just from the perspective of a Realtor - but from that of a Home Owner! And I won't say that its not challenging...and my home really didn't need any major renno's or improvements......but here are a few tips if all you need is a general spiffing up!*

1.) Start leisurely chipping away at your list of improvements well before your home goes on the market. You ARE doing improvements aren't you?? :-) If you do you'll avoid so much stress...tackle the big items first and then start focusing on the small touches that will make your home stand out from the rest!

2.) Go to your local movers and ask if you can have their used packing boxes. I refer my clients to these movers so I always get free boxes both for myself and my clients. While you're at it get some packing paper too!

Then I put a box in every room in the house - and start pulling out every thing that might be considered to 'clutter' for some people; photos, knick knacks, books, pictures etc.,I wrap it up, label it and then start stacking the boxes in a corner of the garage. Less clutter, less to clean and this way you'll be a quarter packed when you're ready to move!

3.)Rearrange some of your furniture - give your home 'flow' and make it easy to manoever.

4.)For Cleaning....Divide up your home into areas.........not just rooms, ie. Kitchen: 1. cupboards;stove;fridge;drawers.............Bedroom: bedding,dressers,walk-in;....For example if yoiu have 2 weeks in which you want to get your home ready and you can set aside 2 hours a day - divy up the chores.........you won't be overwhelmed, and you'll be done in no time. Actually once you find yourself working your plan, you might even get on a roll and get way more done in a shorter period of time. This was my mom's tip - and i'll tell you - it will bring you down from 'overwhelm' to 'calm cool and in control'.........in no time! :-)

5.) Colour your world.......either wash your walls, paint your rooms, or touch them up....paint a feature wall and maybe add a little drama or 'ping' to your home...

6.) Buy some flowers - candles etc......do a fruit arrangement - anything with a bit of whimsy...

7.)Light up your house! Open up all your blinds and window coverings - clean your windows.........and make sure all your light fixtures have lighbulbs in them and light it up!

8.) Pay special attention to your Entrance, Walk Way - and what we like to call your Curb Appeal! Mow your lawn, trip your tree branches, shrubs, clear your walkway.......and make your Entrance Sizzle......first impressions are so important.....

9.)If all this is a little more then you can handle...... hire a 'home stager'!........Seriously people, for the few hundred that they charge, you'll more then make up for it in the sale price of your home, not to mention the peace of mind and de-stressing effect it will have on you! Check out Active Rain......for a Home Stager near you - you'll be happy you did ! :-)

10.) Last but not Least - Hire a Realtor that you Connect With. Pick Someone that Sparkles with Enthusiasm and Prepares with Professionalism. Frankly...you have a lot of Realtors to Choose from.....choose the Best - I'd suggest you choose Me! :)

Choose the one thats Best for You! That doesn't necessarily mean the one with the Most Listings, the One with the Biggest Team, Your Aunt or your Best Friend's Friend.......Do some research...check the papers if you like.........but definitely check out their Website....Head for the Testimonials Page - and see what others have to say.......and for Heaven's Sake pick a Realtor that has aBlog!

There is no better way to get to know how Professional - Knowlegeable - Respected - What their Values are - Their Hobbies - or about their Family - then to read about A Day in Their Life in a Blog!

*Not a complete list - now I couldn't tell all here could I? :-) For more tips - call - e-mail - or post a comment or question on my Blog! :-)

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If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Chilliwack Realtor Liz Moras of Landmark Realty a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2011 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission. Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.

How do I go About Buying Recreational Property in British Columbia?

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:40:04 -0800

How do I go About Buying Recreational Property in British Columbia?

Did you know that the average sale price of recreational land in BC has increased 157% in the last 10 years - while single-family residential properties have appreciated 115% in the same period, according to Landcor Data. Interesting isn't it?l

The average sale prices of waterfront recreational land in BC has increased 237% in that same time period.

Recreational Property in the Okanagan increased over 406%. Don't you wish you'd invested then?

A good place to start is with Maps!

Click on Map of British Columbia

How does one get started and gain the confidence in knowing what to buy and how to research investments? According to Western Investor a good resource is the recently published book by Rudy Nielsen, president of Niho Land and Cattle Company, entitled The Secrets to Investing in Recreation Land...Rudy a legendary recreational land investor has probably owned more raw land then most small countries.

Guts, Motivation and Maps are what he considers the Top 3 Keys! Do the necessary Research!

Check out these Maps and Online aerial photos that provide information about just about any Recreational Land in B.C.!

Pre-emption Map - This is the most important map. It gives you the big picture - Crown vs. private land, roads, railroads, power lines, rivers, creeks, mountains, towns and much much more. If you can't find a pre-emption map......

An easy substitute is...

Online Cadastre - The BC government has an internet-based interactive map site for viewing on your computer as the pre-emption Map .... The only difference is that these maps don't distinguish between Crown and Private Land. Its free and easy to use......

Contour map - This map shows you if the property is hilly, steep or swampy, as well as access trains...they can also be viewed online cadastre by turning on the contour layer.

Plan - If the property has been subdivided you can order a subdivision plan for the property from BC Online or the Land Titles office. This will give you the size and measurements of the property and tell you where the roads are located.

Agricultural Land Reserve Map - contact the ALC for a copy (some are available online). This map will determine if all or part of the property is in the agricultural land reserve, which will have a major baring on what you can do with the property.

Aerial photos or orthophotos - These can be obtained from Land Datas BC, giving you a view of the property from the air. Its also useful for identifying roads, timber and water on the property. Orthophotos can be viewed on onlined cadastre also, just by turning on the 'orthophoto layer'.

Google Earth - Another tool for aerial imaging that is free and easy to use.

Fish Wizard - this free online resource tells you the depth of lakes on or near the property and the type of fish found within it. How interesting is that?

Zoning Map - To find out the zoning and permitted land use of your property, contact the Regional District and request a zoning map.

Now theres a headstart if you're interested in doing your own research!

Then call your local Real Estate Expert!

If you're looking in the Fraser Valley call - Liz Moras with Landmark Realty - if not I can refer you to an expert in your area.

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If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Chilliwack Realtor Liz Moras of Landmark Realty a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Wordless Wednesday - Waiting for Spring

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:40:51 -0800

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Chilliwack Realtor Liz Moras of Landmark Realty a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Winter in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Branching out with Vintage Townhomes - Fifth in a Series

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:26:03 -0800

Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - New and Renewed Vintage Homes - and Beautiful Vintage-styled Townhomes Reminiscent of San Francisco's Painted Ladies!

Also see...

Blog Entry: Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - A Winter's Tale - First in a Series

Blog Entry: Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Winter Wonderland - Second in a Series

Blog Entry: Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Wintertime - Third in a Series

Frosty - in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Fourth in a Series

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Frosty - in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Fourth in a Series

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:10:49 -0800

Winter really doesn't have its official start until you see your first Snowman - I'm not sure maybe I got a late start - but this was my first Snowman! Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing is this delightful family oriented community - and it Rocks when it snows!

Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Wintertime - Third in a Series

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:44:23 -0800

Although last week's snow disappeared quickly - as it usually does around here - the photos capture some of those beautiful moments in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing!

Blog Entry: Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - A Winter's Tale - First in a Series

Blog Entry: Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Winter Wonderland - Second in a Series

Frosty - in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Fourth in a Series

Winter in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Branching out with Vintage Townhomes - Fifth in a Series

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing or Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2011 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission. Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.

The Canadian Government Announces Changes to Mortgage Rules

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:14:23 -0800

Changes to Mortgage Rules

The government today announced three loan financing changes designed to address concerns about increasing levels of household debt. A link to the government announcement is here.

First, the government will reduce the maximum mortgage amortization period from 35 to 30 years.

Second, the maximum amount of the value of a home that can be re-financed will drop from 90 per cent to 85 per cent.

And finally, government insurance will no longer be available to financial institutions wishing to insure home equity lines of credit.

It is important to note, the government did not increase the minimum downpayment, which was under consideration.

Together, these three measures are designed to ensure homebuyers invest responsibly in home ownership and don't risk their financial security by buying too much home for their income or the country's economic circumstance.

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If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2011 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission. Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.

Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Winter Wonderland - Second in a Series

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:51:13 -0800

It really doesn't get much more beautiful than this! Garrison Village in all its Vintage Winter Wonder!

Also see...

Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - A Winter's Tale - First in a Series

Blog Entry: Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Wintertime - Third in a Series

Frosty - in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Fourth in a Series

Winter in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Branching out with Vintage Townhomes - Fifth in a Series

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - A Winter's Tale - First in a Series

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:42:16 -0800

Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing is a beautiful blend of refurbished and replica vintage homes located minutes from the Vedder River and Cultus Lake. It's always been a favorite of mine and with our recent snowfall I got to experience its beauty as a Winter Wonderland! So I took a stroll through the streets, the snow was freshly fallen - with no footsteps yet - it truly was a winter wonderland! I couldn't resist putting together a series of Garrison Winter photos.

Also see...

Blog Entry: Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Winter Wonderland - Second in a Series

Blog Entry: Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Wintertime - Third in a Series

Frosty - in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Fourth in a Series

Winter in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing - Branching out with Vintage Townhomes - Fifth in a Series

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack's Garrison Crossing, Cultus Lake, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz Moras of HomeLife Glenayre Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Wordless Wednesday - Hans Brinker Eat Your Heart Out!

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:04:17 -0800

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If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Village of Roncesvalles in Toronto

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:33:13 -0800

This summer I made my third trip to Torontoand second one to visit my daughter Rachel...after doing our tour of New York and New England and the Maritimes I spent a week wandering the neighbourhoods and villages of Toronto. One of my favorites is Roncesvalles........it reminds me of my home country Croatia. Probably because its surrounded by a multitude of Eastern European (mostly Polish) bakeries, butchers, delis,perogies and cabbage rolls.....mmmm mmm..I guess thats why its sometimes called "Little Poland. .I stocked up on a variety of Poppyseed cakes for my brother (his fav) and smoked sausages for my Dad and pastries and jams for my mom.

Much of the land west of Roncesvalles was once part of Sunnyside Farm, owned by John Howard, Toronto's first surveyor and one of Canada's greatest architects. In 1873, Howard donated a large chunk of land to the City of Toronto. In 1890, he also donated the Colborne Lodge and surrounding land. which today forms High Park.

Residential homes began to appear from the early 1900s on, as Toronto experienced a massive building boom. For the first half of the 20th century, Roncesvalles residents were mostly of British but after WWII, Polish immigrants started setting the area, setting up churches, banks and in important local institutions. Every year, Roncesvalles celebrates the Polish contribution to Toronto's cultural mosaic with the Polish Festival.

Roncevalles is also well known as the home of Revue Cinema, one of Canada's oldest structurally unchanged movie house. Roncesvalles has also had long and proud association with the TTC. The Roncesvalles division is the oldest in the TTC, built by the Toronto Railway Company in 1895. Roncesvalles has also served as the origin of a new breed of cat, the Sphinx.The hairless cat, made famous by Mr. Bigglesworth from the Austin Powers movies, can trace its origins to a back alley behind Roncesvalles, where a litter was discovered in 1963, according to the Toronto Star.

Roncesvalles Village was featured in a recent episode of Structures, produced by Rogers Television in Toronto. Click below to watch the video! (Video courtesy of Rogers Television).

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Toronto's ~ The Junction

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 02:23:48 -0800

While visiting Toronto this summer I stayed in a B & B in High Park and next to a cool area called "The Junction." In the mid-1850's most of the area was part of the Keele family Carlton Race Course, home of the first Queen's Plate. For a long time it was known as an industrial neighbourhood, where the railways cross; it was also the home to the Ontario Stockyards and many meat packing companies. Interestingly enough it was the last dry area of Toronto (until 2000 - the last area in Toronto to prohibit alcohol) which severely impacted the growth of the area for a long time.......since restaurants were reluctant to locate in an area where they weren't allowed to serve alcohol...

However there has been a boom since then, the elimination of prohibition has had a positive effect on the community. Rapid gentrification has meant new chic restaurants and bars have opened up along Dundas Street, while lower rents make the neighbourhood appealing to artists. Some see The Junction as the next big "hip place to live" with lots of empty industrial space and warehouse loft conversion possibilities.

The area is now known for its variety of ethnic restuarants - everything from the famous Vesuvius Pizzaria to several Indian Restaurants, and the popular 'Rawlicious'......."toronto's only restaurant to never cook a thing!" - I had zucchini spaghetti (Zuchetti) there - frankly I thought it was going to be zucchini flavored spaghetti - but instead it was actually zucchini cut into spirals that made it look like spaghetti and served Raw! There wasn't even a stove in the Restaurant!

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2010 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission. Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.