Structural Pitfalls to Avoid When Looking at Homes for Sale in Vancouver

"Buying a good home is one of the most important financial investments that most people work hard for to achieve, and your home will likely become a major financial obligation that you'll be paying off for years to come. While home ownership can be an exciting prospect for a first-time homebuyer, remember that you should never rush into making a purchase, lest you end up carrying the enormous burden of a bad deal throughout your entire mortgage period. A home for sale in Canada's Terminal City, for instance, might be in an excellent neighborhood and comes in a style that pulls at your heartstrings – something that gets you hyped up and ready to hunt for a mortgage lender. However, after closing the deal, you find out too late that the house is riddled with flaws, maybe a leaking roof, foundation problems, or bad siding. Hence, to avoid this predicament, an article from MSN Money by Liz Weston, highlights the following considerations that you have to keep in mind when looking at affo

http://vancouvercanadahomes.com/blog.html/structural-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-looking-at-homes-for-sale-in-vancouv-2763213

Enviable Condos for Sale in Vancouver: Living the Life in Rain City

"Vancouver is the eight largest city in Canada, with a metropolitan area home to more than two million people. This seaport city is an excellent place to live in, thanks to its mild climate and favorable economic conditions. Visitors and locals can't get enough of the abundance of natural beauty in sites like Stanley Park and the Burnaby Mountain, as well as notable attractions like the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Chinatown. Many new and long-time residents who would rather not deal with the high upkeep demands of a traditional house and lot are eager to acquire condos for sale in Vancouver. After all, who wouldn't want to have convenient living conditions in one of the world's cleanest and best cities to live in? If you fancy a bit of an international road trip, the U.S. state of Washington is only 45 minutes to the south from your nice, comfy condo."

http://vancouvercanadahomes.com/blog.html/enviable-condos-for-sale-in-vancouver-living-the-life-in-rain-city-2763208

Planning to Move to Vancouver? Check Out Vancouver Luxury Real Estate Listings

"According to rankings by The Economist, which is often based on the cost of 160 products and services in the cities being surveyed, Vancouver, B.C. was found to be the most expensive city in North America to live in. However, given the fact that Vancouver has also been ranked one of the most livable cities in the world, not to mention it has the least carbon footprint among all major cities in North America, it's easy to say that every dollar you spend in the “Hollywood North” is worth it. In a vancitybuzz.com article, the most expensive home in Vancouver was listed at $35 million. The home has formal rooms, 2 wine cellars, 9 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 3 kitchens, stained glass windows, art deco parkade, and secured underground parking spaces. Homes like this help boost the Vancouver luxury real estate market. In fact, Vancouver's overall real estate industry is seeing a positive rise in sales figures and demand."

http://vancouvercanadahomes.com/blog.html/planning-to-move-to-vancouver-check-out-vancouver-luxury-real-estate-l-2763203

Vancouver Real Estate Market Boom – A Good Sign to Move to Vancouver?

"In a huffingtonpost.ca news article published last August 2, which was based on a news release given by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), it was reported that Vancouver's housing market had the most sales for the year, specifically in the month of July, which is also the best since 2009. The recent Vancouver real estate market saw a 40.4 percent increase compared to the same month last year and 11.5 percent over June 2013. These data also showed a 0.1 percent growth throughout the 10-year average. According to The Economist, Vancouver is not only the best place to live in Canada, but it's actually the best city in the world to live in. Furthermore, if you check the results of the United Nations 175-country Quality of Life survey in the past ten years, you'll see that Canada has always remained among the top ten best places to live. Some factors that were considered to determine the outcome of the said researches are: the city's political stability, healthcare, inc

http://vancouvercanadahomes.com/blog.html/vancouver-real-estate-market-boom-a-good-sign-to-move-to-vancouver-2763193

What to Look for in Homes in Vancouver BC

According to the latest Economist Intelligence Unit's livability survey, Vancouver is the best city to live in North America and the third best city to live in the world, trailing right behind Melbourne (Australia) and Vienna (Austria). For this reason, if you've been delaying your plans to relocate to this great city for awhile, this is a good time to reconsider and look for housing options here. You can choose from single-family homes to more luxurious homes in affluent areas.

When house-hunting, it helps to examine a home from inside and out to know exactly what you'll be in for when you purchase the home. Doing a quick assessment of the place may cause you to miss a poorly installed gutter system or fading siding paint. At times, however, with all the paperwork you need to complete when buying a home, you may not get a chance to do a thorough examination, so it's best to rely on a house inspector to do it for you.

It is also a must to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood. If you scour newspapers and you see that the neighborhood has figured in robbery incidents, then it may be best for you to take your business elsewhere. Your fellow residents are also a clue to how charming the community is; if the people give you a scrutinizing look and you haven't even bought the place yet, chances are, they are not as welcoming as you'd like them to be.

What Are the Features of a Luxury Condo?

As with other luxury items, the demand for luxury condos does not decrease with increasing prices. Instead their value is enhanced, attracting investors who are looking for properties in the luxury market. Buyers of luxury condos naturally want to make sure that they get the best value for their money, and thus look for features that rightly place these properties in the luxury class.

As with any other real estate property, location is a prime consideration when valuing a luxury condo. It will need to be situated in a highly secure area, but with convenient access to the necessities of its residents, such as schools and offices. Needless to say, the location has to be a well-kept and maintained area. A condo unit's placement in the building can also affect its value, with penthouse units typically considered the most luxurious. A good view from within the unit also helps to enhance its value.

A luxury condo naturally has to have the right size, and good interior planning and design. Spaciousness is another feature of most luxury condos. A smaller-spaced luxury condo needs to be built such that it still affords the resident ample room to move around, and does not appear cramped or boxed-in.

Another feature which sets luxury condos apart from the others are the amenities provided in the condo. Exclusive pools, gyms, and gardens are some of the facilities offered by most luxury condos. Others provide extra services such as valet parking and housekeeping. 

Things to Do Before Buying Luxury Real Estate

Despite being a city that's popular for its vibrant culture and pleasant atmosphere, Vancouver is also known for having the highest cost of living in North America. It's so high that the starting price of many luxury homes in Vancouver can reach $4 million, especially in more affluent neighborhoods like West Side. As such, those who are in the market for some high-quality and expensive real estate should decide on their purchases carefully to avoid making a bad bargain.

One of the first things that buyers should do is to inspect the property they wish to buy and see to it that everything inside and outside is in good working order. Pest problems and roof damage can be found even in luxury real estate properties, especially vintage houses like those found in Gastown. Buyers may also want to double check the property's history to see if the relevant documents are available, with special interest being given to its maintenance history.

It would also help if the buyers would work with a lawyer and a home appraiser to ascertain if the property is properly-valued based on its current condition. There may be some home features or fixtures, like antique furniture, that the seller harbors great sentimental value for, but they really don't do much to increase the property's selling price. A lawyer is especially important so that the estate's legal documents can be properly reviewed before any purchase is made.