Vancouver Celebration of Light - Fireworks by Canada - 06/28/08 04:29 PM
Celebration of Light - Fireworks by Canada
Wednesday, July 23, 2008  
8 - 11 p.m. ~ doors open at 7:30 p.m. sharp
Dinner available from  8 - 9 p.m.  
Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
Alan G. Creer Lounge & Patio, 4th floor, 2433 Spruce Street, Vancouver
(enter via member parking lot/elevators only)  
Celebrate one of Vancouver's favourite summer events in style.
Skip the traffic, miss the downtown crowds and enjoy the free parking.
Join us for a catered, westcoast barbeque buffet that includes rosemary cured wild salmon and
cumin-rubbed chicken,' along with a variety of … (2 comments)

B.C. home owners protected against title fraud - 06/28/08 04:24 PM
      In light of recent articles in The Vancouver Sun regarding the issue of title and mortgage fraud in B.C., the B.C. Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA) emphasizes that such cases are extremely rare because strong protections are in place in this province.
      The LTSA reports that over the past 18 years, the land title system processed 15 million transactions. During this time, two claims related to land ownership fraud were successfully resolved and only 14 claims related to mortgage fraud had been filed.
      The LTSA is not only legally obligated to confirm ownership every time a property … (0 comments)

Maple Ridge Restaurant Reviews - 06/25/08 12:14 AM
Here is a great Web Site to check out reviews of not only Maple Ridge Restaurants but vitually all restaurants in Metro Vancouver: Vancouver Restaurant and Dining Guide - Dinehere.ca contains restaurant and dining listings including reviews for Vancouver, BC. Brought to you by: Maple Ridge Real Estate - Scottleaf.yourkwagent.com is your gateway for Maple Ridge Real Estate. … (1 comments)

RBC Canadian Economics Digest June 2008 - 06/19/08 09:30 PM
11
ECONOMICS DIGEST
 

 
June 2008
Current trends...
First quarterly contraction in economy in five years
 

 
􀁓 The economy contracted at a 0.3% annual rate in the first quarter, the first
quarterly decline since the second quarter of 2003. Real GDP for March fell 0.2%.
The 4.3 percentage-point drag from the inventory draw-down is positive for growth
going forward because it more than reverses the accumulation in the prior two
quarters.
􀁓 After a string of upside surprises for Canada's labour market, the pace slowed
down in May with 8,400 jobs created. Despite, the modest slowing … (0 comments)

Sustainable Green Communities - 06/19/08 09:27 PM
REBGV's VanEast Division - Ahead of the Curve
Sustainable Green Communities
Southeast False Creek and Olympic Village
32 hectares of industrial land
will eventually be home to 16,000 people.
 
Presenters:
 
Ian Smith , Vancouver Manager of Development
Chris Babar , Manager of Neighbourhood Energy Utilities
Hank Jasper , Millennium General Manager
 
Thursday, June 26, 2008
 
8:30 - 9:00 am Registration & Breakfast
9:00 - 11:30 am Presentation
$12.95* (+ GST)
*Includes Full Hot Buffet Breakfast
Vancouver Alpen Club 
4875 Victoria Drive , Vancouver  
memberservices@rebgv.org
… (0 comments)

Greater Vancouver REALTORS® Promote Ethical Education - 06/17/08 07:04 PM
SURREY, B.C. June 17, 2008 - Nineteen REALTORS® from across the Lower Mainland are the first graduates of a pioneer training program in advanced ethical leadership. The graduates were recognized at a ceremony attended by over 150 industry and community stakeholders at the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, June 16.
      REALTORS® already subscribe to a strong Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practices, however, Facilitators in Ethical Leadership in Real Estate is an innovative new program that will see graduates initiate and guide discussions on ethics with colleagues at office meetings, special workshops and one-on-one coaching and mentoring.
      … (0 comments)

Greater Vancouver REALTORS® donate $1.2 million - 06/17/08 07:02 PM
VANCOUVER, B.C.  June 17, 2008 - Greater Vancouver REALTORS® and their companies donated more than $1.2 million to 60 local charitable organizations last year, according to a recent examination of the charitable activity within the profession.
      This revelation is the result of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver's (REBGV) efforts to aggregate the annual monetary contributions its members give to charity each year. This is the first time a real estate board in the country has embarked on such a program.
      "This initiative is a by-product of the work organized real estate is doing nation-wide, with the REALTORS® … (0 comments)

Ackkkk I need: Professional Development Credits!!!! - 06/17/08 12:28 PM

Yeah I need to sit in a classroom for 3 days every 2 years!, it's rough.

The teachers keep my attention at all times.

The faculty are respectful and welcoming

The courses are always offered in really convenient locations.
 
And my clients are always understanding of the time I have to block off to attend.

But after Spending a Day in this Learning Environment I am ready to take on my Profession anew!
Maple Ridge Real Estate
http://scottleaf.yourkwagent.com/
… (0 comments)

Dont you Just Love a Good Open House!? - 06/16/08 01:43 AM

My Open House started a little slow today as one might expect a Father's Day Open house might but then there was a Knock Knock on the door, "Oh Hi it's me Mr Next Door Neighbour and I want to list my home too"  Oh great Mr Neighbour, let me accomodate you.
Then about an hour later knock knock, "Hi we are Mr & Mrs Hugely Qualified New Immigrant and we need a Realtor to help us buy a home can you take us out Tuesday?"  Why sure let me set all that up for you.
And they said I was Crazy for … (6 comments)

Who Owns the Moon and is Business Better there? - 06/12/08 11:40 PM
The The Moon has been in plain view for all of human history, but it's only within the past few decades that it's been possible to travel there. And for just about as long as the moon has been within reach, people have been arguing about lunar property rights: Can astronauts claim the moon for king and country, as in the Age of Discovery? Are corporations allowed to expropriate its natural resources, and individuals to own its real estate?
The first article on the subject, "High Altitude Flight and National Sovereignty," was written by Princeton legal scholar John Cobb Cooper in … (4 comments)

# 317 2375 SHAUGHNESSY ST, PortCoquitlam, B.C. - $215,000 - 06/12/08 01:05 AM
Roomy 1 bedroom centrally located, large living area, crown mouldings and panelled walls with contemporary colours. Quiet corner with patio for BBQ. Walking distance to West Coast Express. Minimal heating bill as gas fireplace heats apartment very well. Steps away from Gates Park, and all levels of Public School.
Call Scott Leaf - Keller Williams Results Realty
604-839-8239
www.scottleaf.com

… (0 comments)

#11 - 3127 Skeena St, Port Coquitlam, BC - $479,000 - 06/12/08 12:14 AM
3 Bedrooms 2000sqft + Townhome, with tiled entry, huge fully finished recreation room and bathrooms on all 3 levels. Kitchen features Granite counters and Cherrywood cabinets. Walking distance to both Elementary and Secondary Schools. Upstairs 3 large sized bedrooms, Master has an ensuite with a walk-in shower, outside find a fully fenced and landscaped backyard with an extended cement patio. Located in a very family friendly neighbourhood. This home is waiting for you!
call Scott Leaf - Keller Williams Results Realty
604-839-8239
www.scottleaf.com
 

… (0 comments)

Should I consider buying a home which was formerly a Grow-Op? - 06/10/08 03:37 PM
The unfortunate phenomenon of 'Grow-Op' homes springing up all over British Columbia is seriously impacting on values of surrounding homes and neighbourhoods.  The home containing the illegal venture can suffer great damage including  mildew, mould, water damage, etc. and the resale value of the home almost always is seriously impacted, sometimes causing resale to be $100,000 less than comparable homes.
In the 90's the leaky condo crisis did exactly the same thing, taking down an entire class of property with it.  Condominium values were slashed across the board with homes in leaking buildings themselves selling for 1/4 their original sales prices in some cases. Those … (0 comments)

The Best time to Lock in Your Mortgage Rate - 06/08/08 11:25 PM
"What do you think about rates ... should I lock in now or wait to see if they fall further?" Think I've been asked that a time or two over the past few years? You better believe it.  It's a good question-one that goes through every single buyer's head at some stage. 
A quoted interest rate is no good unless you've confirmed, in writing, that your loan is indeed "locked," or guaranteed for a designated period of time. You need to be proactive with your locked rate as well and don't assume that your loan officer already locked you in. In fact, … (0 comments)

Pitt Meadows Day Parade - 06/07/08 10:52 AM
Get off the computer this morning, gather up the kids and head over to Pitt Meadows Day!
Parade starts at 11am, lots of family events scattered across the entire day culminating in Fireworks tonight at dark.
 Come on Down, I'll be on the Keller Williams Parade Float! 
See you there!
 
Scott Leaf
Keller Williams Results Realty
604-839-8239
www.scottleaf.com
… (0 comments)

FINTRAC and Identifying my Clients - 06/06/08 06:04 PM
With the deadline fast approaching to require identification from clients starting June 23rd, the regiment and process of doing this has occupied a few minutes of my brain processing time.
When and how to do this? 
Here is my proposal which I have made to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, the logical time for a Realtor to ask for and document ID is at the same time they go over the 'Working With a Realtor" form and have their clients acknowledge the explanation with their signature.
This way all Realtors would have a consistent, acredited form to document this … (1 comments)

How to Sell Stinky Homes? - 06/04/08 11:41 PM
Deodorizing Homes with Ozonation & UV Treatment
The process of deodorizing homes, which for one reason or another stink, has been a timeless hassle for owners and agents trying to sell Homes.  In todays era we can add a new reason for deodorizing to the classics like Animal odors or Smoking.
A new phenomenon has emerged called the Grow-Op, if you dont know what this means your lucky.  Homes used for the growth of Marijuana, really small scale greenhouses, haves erupted in the Metro Vancouver area and the consequence of growing any plant in a heated environment is excess moisture, mold … (0 comments)

Growing supply helps stabilize market conditions in Metro Vancouver - 06/04/08 11:26 PM
VANCOUVER, B.C. - June 3, 2008 - The Greater Vancouver housing market continued its re-balance between sales and listings last month. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 30.7 per cent in May 2008 to 3,002 from the 4,331 sales recorded in May 2007.
 New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 20.2 per cent to 7,390 in May 2008 compared to May 2007, when 6,149 new units were listed.
 "With more property listings and a decline in the number of sales, prices are not increasing as rapidly, now down … (0 comments)

Growing supply helps stabilize market conditions in Metro Vancouver - 06/03/08 09:37 PM
VANCOUVER, B.C. - June 3, 2008 - The Greater Vancouver housing market continued its re-balance between sales and listings last month. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 30.7 per cent in May 2008 to 3,002 from the 4,331 sales recorded in May 2007.
 New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 20.2 per cent to 7,390 in May 2008 compared to May 2007, when 6,149 new units were listed.
 "With more property listings and a decline in the number of sales, prices are not increasing as rapidly, now down … (2 comments)

Deodorizing Homes with Ozonation & UV Treatment - 06/03/08 06:08 PM
The process of deodorizing homes, which for one reason or another stink, has been a timeless hassle for owners and agents trying to sell Homes.  In todays era we can add a new reason for deodorizing to the classics like Animal odors or Smoking.
A new phenomenon has emerged called the Grow-Op, if you dont know what this means your lucky.  Homes used for the growth of Marijuana, really small scale greenhouses, haves erupted in the Metro Vancouver area and the consequence of growing any plant in a heated environment is excess moisture, mold and bacterial growth.  Of course many unpleasant and … (2 comments)