British Columbia Real Estate Review

By Adriana Noton

The huge and vibrant nation of Canada has many wonderful and diverse provinces, and one of the foremost is the province of British Columbia. Its name has the meaning of splendour undiminished, and when you visit you will see why! The region has a glorious aspect which is recognised widely ; superb mountainous backdrop, great coastline and rich cultural heritage make British Columbia one of the most attractive places to reside in Canada. This remains true of its capital Vancouver for example which has enjoyed the most interest of all the British Columbia real estate opportunities.

Though only emerging from a general property slump in recent times, the real estate scene has not often felt the cold draught of recession. It has instead carried on regardless of the ups and downs suffered by the other provinces of Canada. At present, it is doing fine thank you very much! Potential buyers seem more confident and all looks to be set fine for residential sales this year.

This increase in buyer confidence, and higher demand in tandem with a lower mortgage interest rate has combined to create a positive environment for investors in real estate. Actually, the word on the street is that developers are finding that the younger set are beating the retirees to the bidding post right now! The capital, Vancouver especially, has attracted many home buyers and investors recently in the search for their ideal property. It is not likely there will be a shortage of opportunities in the present market situation.

It is quite possible that the usual prices for investment and residential homes could jump to a 2% increase in the region and maybe even rise to 4 class percent in the capital for certain over the next 12 months. Alongside Vancouver the town of Victoria has also reported close to record sales from last fall. That applies to Fraser Valley too.

Over in the city of Oliver, British Columbia, there are a couple of superb new real estate development projects indicating the tremendous buoyancy of the area. Firstly, Canyon Desert golf resort on the 13,000 hectares of prize band land, and Spirit Ridge adjacent to the Tuc Nuit Lake where a development of around 450 units are being built.

These homes, according to the developers, are said to be priced in the mid- range market area and will be for full or part ownership. Waterfront town houses mixed in with golf course condominiums and top grade hotel suites, make up this exciting development. The location is quite extraordinary, being right on the lakeside where 90 to 100 further units will be grouped around the Golf Lodge itself.

A welcome spin-off from all this development will be the inevitable boost in the tourist business and lots of new local trade's work opportunities. There were plans to develop a wine village that had been moth balled due to the economy, which has now been given the go-ahead. This concept of focusing on genuine rural lifestyles in tandem with wine and tourism, will certainly assist the region to enhance its already established reputation as one of Canada's highest rated wine producing regions.

Yes, British Columbia real estate can now be likened to the old pioneers who came across the Rocky Mountains to carve out a brand-new life with a spirit of positive and innovative forward thinking. Any wise investor or home buyer with that same attitude will feel right at home in this magnificent scenic star of the West.... British Columbia! - 31864

About the Author:

Kimberley real estate offers ski condos that are perfect for a little family time. It includes everything such as kitchen appliances, and also offers great scenery as well. If you're planning a vacation for this winter, remember to visit us.

Foreclosed Homes...How To Find The Deals

By Doc Schmyz

During a down real estate market, finding foreclosed homes can be easy but you can also find foreclosures in a strong market. Here is a list of the places where you can start your search for foreclosures. You may find success with one or all of these resources. Good Luck.

Auction Houses

If you have been to a auto auction, then home auction will feel no different. Many of the auction companies hold a large inventory of properties. Since the bidding is relatively quick and houses can be sold in a matter of seconds, prices of real estate can go over market value but you can also find really good properties in their inventory.

Major Bank/Lender Web sites

Major banks maintain a good list of foreclosed properties. Some are listed on the homepage of the company website. Visit bank web sites and check out the foreclosed properties listing. Sometimes you will have to do some digging...but you can find information that will lead you in the direction your looking.

Online foreclosure companies

There are several online companies that specialize in listing foreclosure real estate. Some charge a one-time membership fee to anyone who wishes to access the list of foreclosed properties. The good thing about signing up on web-based foreclosure companies is that once you are in, you can get a wide selection of foreclosure properties available nationwide. More often then not, you can opt in for a email update on real estate in areas your looking at.

Real estate agents

Due to the internet, most agents are either maintaining personal web sites or are under real estate companies that sell foreclosed properties. Major cities have real estate offices where you can inquire into possibility of acquiring foreclosures. A lot of agents are dealing with large volumes of foreclosed real estate these days. Seek out and ask for a agent who has a track record of dealing with both foreclosure and short sale real estate.

"Bandit" And Listing Signs About Real Estate.

You don't need to look anywhere else because you can find foreclosure signs around your neighborhood. Homes with signs like foreclosure, bank repo, and bank-owned are for you to consider. These signs contain address and contact information of the agents you can visit or call. The best thing about considering homes with real estate signs is that you can actually check the condition of the house on-site. And with one phone call, you can arrange with the agent the date when you want to see the interior of the house.

Government Agencies

Fannie Mae foreclosure homes, HUD, Small Business Association, The V.A., Department of the Treasury and other government agencies have a list of real estate properties for sale. Usually, when buying a house from these agencies, you are required to acquire the services of a real estate broker or personally submit an offer. Go to any of the government agencies web sites for more information. - 31864

About the Author:

Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US. He owns a free website that shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state

Tips For Home Improvements That Will Add Value To Your Home

By Daniel Furlong

Two factors that motivate people to have home additions are the improved living conditions and also the worth addition to their property. You home will effortlessly be developed when you add living room, kitchen, entertainment area and so on. Having additional location in the house certainly reduces the tension caused by unnecessary arguments over lack of space for the family.

When in terms of preparing to have home additions, your choice will depend on your available funds as well as your needs. It is a lot easier to materialize everything if you're aware of the expenses that you need and your plans on what type of home add-on you would like to do. A hurried planning or its execution invariably outcomes to getting unfavorable outcome. And, everybody likes to prevent such circumstances. But, should you bear in mind the following points, you ought to be able to avoid facing such unpleasant situations.

The initial preparing has to become done by you. You need to determine what part of the house should the addition be constructed. The type of room that you want add and the obtainable facilities which it is possible to use later one. These are the primary things that your plan ought to take care of. You ought to certainly discuss your strategy with specialists and seek their continuous guidance in the course of its implementation.

You just have to bear in mind that your design ideas ought to go along the look of your house. Of course, you can not just believe of any area without having considering the entire look of your house. You can consult a reliable architect and interior designer about these points so they could assist you to arrive up with a great theme. You should recognize that they definitely are a lot more skilled than you're and it will be great to consider their opinion. Moreover, they are here to help you to give a much better look for your strategy and not to change it altogether. So you'll need not fret if points don't shape up as per your expectations.

The purpose of having detailed discussions with the builders is to convey them the final picture of the room that you simply have in mind. For a much better understanding of your preferences, you'll need to give them your requirements in detail. Nicely, you are the boss. You employed them for the project. So, in their thoughts they are constantly conscious from the shape that you would like giving for your project. It's their job to put every thing in correct order. - 31864

About the Author:

Want to find out more on flooring, then visit Daniel Furlong's site on how to choose the best kitchen counter stools.

Real Estate Agents - A Lesson In Reality

By Adriana Noton

In a bustling economy, it seemed everyone wanted to become real estate agents. Some individuals even quit their regular jobs to get into a marketplace they had an opportunity to take full advantage of.

Of course, before being able to work the business, you need to go to real estate school. Different states have different requirements but in general all you need is a high school diploma. Schools average about 40 hours of coursework and this can be broken down into perhaps a few weekends, or other schools advocated one night a week for a few months, giving students a better opportunity to understand and remember the coursework.

After school is over you are then required to take your state's licensing exam. Once you pass you are typically recruited by every real estate agency in your town because they have access to all the new licensee names.

As you go to interview with these agencies, you are rarely told how much money it's going to cost you to get into the business. These agencies will do and say anything to get you to work for them because of course the more people they have, the better chance they have to increase sales.

As you see dollar signs in front of your eyes, you don't realize that you are truly working for yourself. Period. And as any independent contractor, because that's what you are, it costs money to be in business. Typically you will need to come up with over $1,000 just to start working at most agencies. You will be charged for MLS fees, office administrative fees which include use of phone, space, etc., along with business cards, general advertising expenses, liability insurance, and a host of other possibilities.

Once you are shown to your new desk, you're pretty much on your own. This is where you realize that what you learned in real estate school isn't helping you much at all. Real estate school teaches you about tax stamps and deed rights, but it doesn't teach you a thing about how to sell property. Most agencies don't provide much on the job training and you'd better find a mentor quick before you quit.

To help you get some customers you will probably be given the opportunity to answer phones for specific periods of time. You're probably saying you didn't sign up for this, but in reality this is how you will get your first customers. People see for sale signs with your company name, and they call in for information. This is your chance to try to schedule an appointment with them and sell them the home.

With a little experience you might be lucky to get your own listings, meaning you are being hired by sellers to put their home on the market. Of course, you are also responsible for spending your own money to advertise the house, and you need to spend money on gas driving customers around to see all your houses for sale.

For anyone thinking about getting into real estate, be aware that there are heavy expenses associated with the business where some commission splits are very low. - 31864

About the Author:

Selling Brampton real estate can be a challenging yet very lucrative job. The top real estate company in North America allows you to earn bountiful commissions working as a licensed Brampton real estate agent.

Tips For Selling Condos Homes Houses And Real Estate In Canada

By Karen Delion

If you are trying to sell Condos homes houses and real estate in Canada there are some things that you can do that will help your property to sell quicker. The sooner your properties sell, the sooner you can move your funds to another investment or have them free for other obligations.

Price is one consideration that can help a property to move quickly. If the price you are asking is in the range of most other similar properties, you will at least have a chance to sell the property. If the price is too high you may scare off some customers; however, if it is too low, people are going to think something is wrong with the property. For the quickest sale, you should set the price at the bottom of the range but not necessarily the cheapest price.

Your property will sell quicker if it is ready for the next person to move in without much additional work. Walls may need new paint and floor coverings should be cleaned before the property is shown. If you have a room that has been painted in a bright color, you may want to paint over those walls with a more neutral color so that the potential buyer can picture their possessions in the room.

While it is nice to have basic furnishings in place as you show a home, you will want to remove many of your personal items and photographs from the walls. Once again, you are presenting a palate that needs to be pretty blank in order for the buyer to see their own possessions in place.

Since first impressions are important, you will want to be sure that sidewalks stay shoveled of snow and that grass is kept neatly trimmed. Lawns should be kept watered during the growing season and flowers in the beds can make the home more attractive.

Even though it is more difficult to sell Condos homes houses and real estate now than at other times, a good presentation can help to speed the sale. - 31864

About the Author:

Article by Condo Edmonton. To find

Learn How To Make A Success Of Real Estate Investing

By Josh Bickerstaff

You may be happy to find out that it seems the recession is officially over. Most segments of the economy are now seeing signs of growth and development. This means that it is the perfect time to think about real estate investing. The last few years of economic woe resulted in many homes being repossessed by banks so the market is still not as costly as it once was.

Be aware that the real estate sector is evolving constantly. If you are going to reap the benefits of a property portfolio then you will need to understand some basic tips and pointers that are necessary with this form of investment.

The first step will involve identifying your main targets and goals. When we come to invest potentially huge amounts of money then we would not do so without already having a desired result in mind. This could be that you plan to rent the properties and receive a healthy income from the tenants or maybe you are looking at the future resale value of the buildings. Identify your goals and then build a plan then can take you towards them. Make sure any property that you consider meets the targets you have set out.

Real estate is a very big industry. There is a wide selection of properties to go for. Some will cost more to maintain than others, this is an important consideration. It is possible that for some buildings, by investing ten thousand bucks you can increase their value by as much as fifty or a hundred thousand.

Another important aspect when choosing any real estate is the actual location. By understanding certain market trends you may be able to identify regions and neighborhoods in which the will be an above average increase in value; perhaps down to redevelopment or similar schemes. Remember there are not just private homes that can be bought as an investment; you may also want to consider commercial buildings.

When it comes to selling on the properties you have then it is useful to know as much about marketing as possible. Today this should include the techniques used to advertise and sell real estate over the internet. If you can master internet marketing then you will have a greater reach.

There will always be certain factors relating to property investment that you have no control over such as certain government rules and the latest interest rates. But, as long as you take time to arm yourself with knowledge and are determined, then you stand every chance of being successful. - 31864

About the Author:

Want real flexibility to flip nearly ANY deal you want to do, including profitable pre-foreclosure deals? Want access to transactional funding? You can get all these crucial resources by going here Fix And Flip Real Estate.

How To Make Money Flipping Real Estate

By Josh Bickerstaff

Over the past five years or so, flipping real estate has gone to the forefront of real estate money making opportunities. However, flipping real estate is not for the weak, weary, broke, or inexperienced. It takes knowledge, time, dedication, an array of contacts and resources, and of course, money.

Not every home can be flipped. Don't think you can just buy a home you got 'a good deal' on and then resell it. It doesn't work like that. The only way you can actually make money doing a flip is to learn how to find and purchase the right type of property. This includes knowing the advantages of different locations, and what to expect to pay for the home and the necessary renovations.

The perfect flip is a home that actually is in need of many repairs. This is the reason you will be able to buy it for really cheap. However, to make this work, you also need to know how to do this for a minimum. Either do it yourself, call in some favors, or find contractors you have worked with before who will charge you reasonable rates and do a good job. This is the only way you'll make any money.

If you are someone who knows nothing about construction, this is probably not the money making opportunity you had hoped. It's fine to hire professionals, but without knowing what a good bid is, and without being able to assess the work being done, you could be wasting lots of money.

Before deciding to buy a property, it's vital that you actually see it. Too many first timers find a property online and actually buy it sight unseen. Big mistake! What happens? When you finally pass papers and go see it for the first time, you are guaranteed to find problems that were never disclosed. Serious cracks in the foundation, a completely flooded basement, old leaky plumbing, and outdated wiring can force you into bankruptcy before even lifting a paint brush.

It's always a good idea to bring an experienced contractor or at least a home inspector with you as you look at properties you are considering. Real estate agents are not trained and are not experienced in how to find properties for you to flip! They will sell you anything you want to buy; don't use their 'expertise' to base this type of decision on.

Assemble a list of contractors way in advance. No matter how much you think you want to do on your own, plan for problems way ahead of time. - 31864

About the Author:

Want to find out more about flipping real estate, then visit this site.

Tips to Success in Real Estate Investing

By Jamel Gibbs

Flipping Houses is the best way to build fast cash in real estate investing. An estimated 90% of the world's millionaires made their money through real estate investing. But how can an ordinary individual flip houses and make a substantial amount of money in real estate investing? What are the main things you need to understand before going to invest in a house? And why is it important to educate yourself before real estate investing? In this article I will go over several ways that will assist you in your real estate investing venture.

Step 1: Find Your Buyer

In order to make money in real estate investing, it makes sense to first find your buyers. You can do this by calling we buy houses signs, building a buyer's list, attending auctions, working with real estate agents and using the MLS as well as other simple strategies and tactics. The best strategy to use if you ask me would be to target buyers that have a history of purchasing properties for cash.

Action Step 3: Gather the Information

After you find the buyers the next thing you need to do is find out what your buyers want. You can do this by asking them what areas of town they are investing in. How much they are looking to spend on their ideal property? What type of property they are currently buying? And how fast they can settle? Getting these questions answered will give you an idea of what to approach your buyers with.

Tip number 3: Find motivated sellers

In order to make money in flipping houses you have to understand how to work with motivated sellers. A motivated seller can be anyone who is in distress financially, or physically. An example of a motivated seller is someone who is getting a divorce, going into foreclosure, paying 2 mortgages, need to rehab their property but don't have the cash, going bankrupt, and so on. Therefore, in order to get a great deal when real estate investing you have to find someone that falls within this category. You can find these sellers using various forms of marketing.

Action Step 4: Screen the Motivated Seller

When your advertising is working and the motivated sellers are calling, in order to really get a good investment property deal you want to get as much information from the seller as possible. You can do this by asking the seller for information on their house. You want to find out what type of condition the house is in as well as the asking price of the property, but the most important question you need to know is why the seller is determined to get rid of their property.

Step 5: Getting Comps

Once you receive the information from the prospect, the next thing you need to do is run comparable sales to see if the deal will be a good house flip. You can do this by going to sites like Realquest.com, Zillow.com, Bank of America has a home value estimator and you can find it by going to Google.com and punching in Bank of America Home Value Estimator. You can also use sites like Eppraisal.com, or consult with a Realtor. There are many ways to run comps when you're looking to find out what a house is truly worth.

Step 6: Work the Numbers

After you get the comps for the house the next thing you need to do in order to flip a house is work the numbers. You can do this buy understanding the MAO formula. The MAO formula is as followed: You take the ARV (After repair value) and you multiply it by 65% and that leaves you with the amount that you're willing to pay for the house. Then you subtract the rehab cost, closing cost and overhead and that leaves you with the MAO or (Maximum Allowable Offer) that you can make on the house.

Action Step 7: Getting your Offer In

Once you have the Maximum Allowable Offer the next thing you do is make the offer. Your offer should be less than what your MAO is. The best thing to do in this case is to subtract and additional 10% off of the MAO and start you're bidding with the motivated seller from there. Negotiating is critical when it comes to real estate investing so make sure that you're sincere and very clear with the seller from the very beginning.

Tip number 8: Make Money

Once you get all of this done, you need to approach your buyers list that fit the criteria of the particular property. Doing this will allow you to sell the property rapidly, being that you have pre-screen the buyers and you know that they can close fast! Once you have solid buyer then all you need to do is send the contracts over to the title company and wait for your check to come in the mail. The best strategy to use in real estate investing would be to sell the property for less than the market value without rehabbing it. This is called wholesaling the property.

Copyright 2010 Jamel Gibbs

All Rights Reserved - 31864

About the Author:

Learn more about Real Estate Investing. Stop by Jamel Gibbs' site where you can find out all about Real Estate Investing and what it can do for you.

Rehabbing a Home? Here Are Some Skills You Need To Know

By Erin Cureton

Drywall/ Plaster Repair - When rehabbing old houses, cracks and holes in the plaster are common. Often, holes in ceiling plaster are the result of water infiltrating either from the roof, or from a split plumbing line. Holes in walls are often the result of vandalism, but could be the sign of more serious foundation issues. Once the root cause is fixed (see basic water repair section) cut a square area and replace with inch drywall. Once your piece is cut, secure it with multiple drywall screws, mud the gaps, tape, re-mud then sand to a smooth finish. In underground floors if Basment Waterproofing is required call a professional like Basement Doctors before you Repair the walls

Basic Water Pipe Repair Usually the hardest part of water pipe repair is finding the leak. You do this by turning on the water, listening for falling water, then visually inspecting where the water is coming from. Once you find the leak, cut out the old section of pipe and cut a section of new pipe to replace it. It is very important to dry the ends of the pipe and rough up the end of the old and new sections of pipe with your sandpaper. Apply flux to each section of pipe and to a coupler that will be used to join the pieces. Put the new section in place. Heat the coupler with your butane torch and apply solder around the edges of the coupler. Once it is sealed all the way around, allow the solder to dry and move on to the next leak.

Drain Repair Drains work by using the force of gravity to expel waste water down and out of the house. Improperly working drains can be the result of improper pitch in the drain line or a clog. Clogged drains are a very common problem. When a working drain gets clogged, Draino or a quick snake will often do the trick. If that doesn't work, unscrew the drainpipe and inspected for clogs. If a clog is found in there, simply remove the clog, replace the drain and test the drain. In a vacant house, a clog can become impenetrable. If you encounter such a clog, you need to cut it out and replace that section of drain. Using a saw or grinder cut out the clogged section of pipe. Once the clog is cut out, cut a similar length of PVC pipe to replace it. Either connect the new pipe to the old with PVC connectors or with a fernco connector. If you use the PVC connectors make sure that you clean the old pipe thoroughly and apply PVC cement to ensure a proper seal.

Replacing Light Fixtures Be sure the power is off to the fixture by checking the wires with a voltage meter. Remove the old fixture. Strip off a section of the wire casing and attach your new fixture with wire nuts and electrical tape. Insure that no unexposed wire remains. Since each fixture will come with its own set of instructions, be sure to read those instructions thoroughly to insure proper installation. Electricity can cause severe injury if you do not follow instruction implicitly.

Window Installation Carefully remove the old window, making sure not to damage the wood frame. Once the window is removed place wood shims on the sill and level the shims. Once the shims are level secure them in place with screws (drilling pilot holes will keep the shims from splitting). Put the new window in place. At the sash, place more wood shims between the wood frame and the window to fill that gap, and then secure the shims in place by screwing through the window frame and into the wood frame. Repeat this step about six inches from the top and six inches from the bottom of the sides. Once the sides are secure, make sure you can easily open and close the window. Fill the gaps around the window with expanding foam insulation.

Refinishing Wood Floors First remove the old carpet. Then remove all of the tack strips, staples, nails and quarter round molding. Once the floor is clean, run your drum sander with the grain of the wood. It is very important that you keep the drum sander moving at all times though. If you leave it sit it will quickly eat into the floor, leaving the finished floor wavy looking. Start with 36-grit sandpaper, then 80-grit, and then 100-grit. Once the main body of the floor is sanded, do the edges with an edge sander using the same grits of sandpaper that you used on the main floor. When all the sanding is complete, sweep the floor, and then vacuum the floor. Apply your choice of stain or apply polyurethane directly to the wood. Finish with 2-3 coats of polyurethane. Replace the trim molding along the floor.

Laying Tile The key to a good tile project is a good foundation. Whether you are tiling a wall or floor, the foundation must be plumb or level and the surface must be flat. Once the old covering has been removed lay a product like Hardi-Backer, an extremely durable cement-based product. Begin tile installation by troweling on a thin application of mastic over a three to four foot area. Set the tile in place and push gently to secure the position. Place a spacer next to the tile and position the next piece. Continue in this fashion until the tiles are all in place. Allow the mastic to dry for 24-hours before grouting. If you are laying a natural stone tile (travertine, slate, marble) be sure to seal the tile prior to grouting. If you don't, the tile will appear hazy. Remove all tile spacers. Mix a grout color of your choice, push the grout between the tiles with a rubber float and clean up all excess grout.

Texturing a Ceiling Texturing a ceiling is one of the simplest jobs you will do on a home, yet it gives the room a finished look. Dip a texturing brush with a long (4 foot) handle into a bucket of top-coating mud. Push the brush into the ceiling in a random pattern. After it dries finish by painting with a white ceiling paint. (Note: This project can be messy. Either do it before you put your floors in or cover them completely. )

Painting a Room Two tools that will make painting a room faster, easier and produce a better result are an orbital sander and a power sprayer. Use the orbital sander to smooth out any surface imperfections. Once the walls are smooth, start spraying. First, spray the walls, and ceilings with a coat of latex based primer. Next spray your ceiling with a white ceiling paint. Then spray your walls with a flat paint. Flat paint is the best choice for hiding small imperfection in your walls surface. Be sure to follow the sprayer with a roller to produce the best results. For a great finished look, be sure to apply a fresh coat of white semi-gloss paint to all trim.

Landscaping The exterior is the first impression people will get of your house. Take time to remove all the overgrown 1950's era plants and replace them with smaller more modern looking plants. After removing the old shrubs, cultivate the bed and mix in organic materials like manure, compost or peat moss. Arrange your new plants on top of the beds. Once you are happy with the arrangement, remove any burlap or plastic and plant them. Be sure not to bury the root balls of shrubs. You want to plant the shrub with just a little of the ball showing above the ground surface. Follow spacing instruction on the containers so that your new landscape doesn't look like overgrown in two years. After planting the large landscape in this fashion, take time to plant flowers around your new plants and enjoy your new look. - 31864

About the Author:

Erin Cureton is the lead partner of Cureton Property Alliance. Erin is also a leading fundraiser for the Medina County St. Vincent DePaul Society. He highly recommends Carpet Cleaning Cleaveland