Jay Peterson's (jay_peterson) Blog

  August 5, 2009 July stats: Strong spring market carries into summer months VANCOUVER, B.C. – August 5, 2009 – The Greater Vancouver housing market gained further momentum in July with record sales levels and a continued strengthening of home prices. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (R...

Whether you intend to finance your renovation yourself or borrow money, you should talk to a financial advisor and to your lender before you make firm plans. They can help you understand your options and advise on how much you can borrow. This information will help you plan realistically. EXPLOR...

Save Money, Energy - and the Environment Improving the energy efficiency of your home can do more than reduce your energy use and help protect the environment. It can also help you reduce drafts and noise, fix moisture and condensation problems, improve your indoor air quality and comfort level -...

For investors looking to maximize their return on investment, heres all you need to know: building an income suite is by far How do I increase the value of my property? Thats the question on every homeowners mind. There are two key survival strategies. The first is to think long term, have a plan...

The Canadian Renovator Association offers a number of golden rules to help renovating homeowners achieve their goals. Know what you want. Take the time you need to explore the possibilities for your home and develop a firm plan. Begins with the fundamentals-what do you need and how you want your ...

          1 Know Your Market Learn your market, the value of your property and your competition. Most sellers operate in the dark, simply offering the property for the price they want, without regard to what other homes have sold for and are currently selling for. Undervaluing or overpricing your...

Every three minutes, a home in Canada is burglarized. Many of those break-ins occur while the homeowners are away. But burglaries can also take place when you are at home, at any time of the night or day. To help lock crime out of your home and keep your house and family safe and sound, Canada Mo...

Your mortgage isnt your only expense when buying a home. In fact, there are several closing costs that you must pay before you can take possession of your house (to take possession means the home is now legally yours). Many of these costs are listed below: Appraisal Fee: This is the cost for a pr...

Benefits of Using a Realtor to Sell your Home    Selling your home is a complex process that can be stressful and time-consuming.  An experienced Realtor has the knowledge, skills, and connections to help you through the process every step of the way.  Consider the following benefits of working w...

Buy or Sell First?    If you are considering looking for a new home, and are a current home-owner, then chances are you're wondering what your strategy should be:  do you wait to find the perfect new home before you put your current home on the market, or do you sell first and then look around?  ...