Buying a Home

In this section you can find everything you need to know about buying a home in Vancouver. It also includes information for first time home buyers, move up buyers, investors and non-canadian buyers. You can also find mortgage information and price trends. We cover the entire Buying Process, all you need to know about making an offer, Closing Costs, Moving and real estate affiliates

Three Mistakes Vancouver First Time Home Buyers Make

by Maggie Chandler September 17, 2012 Buyers

A recent TD Canada Trust poll found first time home buyers regretful of mistakes they made when buying their first home. They listed the top three mistakes as *be more thorough when budgeting and accounting for all the costs of home ownership *make a bigger down payment *buy a home sooner. Are you surprised by …

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Four Reasons to be Bullish on Buying Vancouver Real Estate

by Maggie Chandler September 3, 2012 Buyers

Vancouver real estate has experienced a slower year in 2012, with a softening of prices but the Vancouver real estate news has been more positive recently, forecasting a rise in sales in 2013 and CHMC forecast a small uptick in Vancouver home prices next year. Ozzie Jurock always says that people go where the jobs …

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Can I Close on My Vancouver Condo in 14 Days?

by Maggie Chandler August 30, 2012 Buyers

Sometimes my Vancouver buyer clients ask if they can close on the Vancouver condo they’re purchasing in less than a month. The logistics depend on whether the buyer and seller can be easily reached to sign the lawyer’s documents. If they are, then a fourteen day close in easy to do.

How to Speed Up the …

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Which Vancouver Neighbourhood Has the Best Priced Condos?

by Maggie Chandler June 29, 2012 Buyers Tips

Are you a Vancouver first time home buyer, investor, trading down or looking for a vacation home? Whichever category you fit into, you may be looking for the Vancouver neighbourhood with the best priced condos. A Vancouver condo fits the bill and is, in fact, 70% of the west side sales. So which Vancouver neighbourhood …

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What Vancouver Homebuyers Should Know About Buyer Contracts

by Maggie Chandler June 27, 2012 Buyers Tips

Real estate buyers and sellers who have sold their Vancouver property are familiar with the MLS Listing Contract, however, few are familiar with an Exclusive Buyers Contract and in fact few Vancouver realtors use them. A contract is a legally binding agreement between two parties and explains each parties rights and obligations. Buyer and seller …

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Can I Buy a Vancouver Home for Ten percent Below List Price?

by Maggie Chandler June 1, 2012 Buyers

Now that we’re in a buyers market I am often asked by buyers “can i buy a Vancouver home for ten per cent below the list price? My answer is that it depends on the Vancouver municipality, the specific neighbourhood, the type of property and the price range. Let’s consider the average Vancouver real estate …

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Is It a Vancouver Condo First Time Home Buyers Paradise?

by Maggie Chandler May 23, 2012 Buyers

I’ve been a Vancouver real estate agent for years and I consider the current market to be the most advantageous for Vancouver condo first time home buyers, for a multiple of reasons.

Low Interest Rates Will Save You Thousands of Dollars

It’s not just what the 5 year mortgage rate is, it’s the interest over 25 years …

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Do You Qualify for Vancouver Property Purchase Tax Exemption?

by Maggie Chandler May 21, 2012 Buyers

If you’re a first time Vancouver home buyer you may qualify for an exemption from the property transfer tax, which currently is 1% to $200,000 and 2% on remainder and payable on closing date to your lawyer, who forwards it to the BC Government.

Required Qualifications for Vancouver First Time Home Buyer

You are a Canadian citizen …

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What Should I Know About Vancouver Real Estate Deposits?

by Maggie Chandler April 16, 2012 Buyers Tips

When a buyer makes an offer to purchase a property, the buyers agent draws up a contract of purchase and sale for the buyer and seller to sign. One of the terms of the contract is the deposit, which binds the buyer and seller to the transaction. Sometimes the Vancouver real estate deposit is due …

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Vancouver’s Deal of the Month

by Maggie Chandler March 16, 2012 Deal of the Month

Just Reduced $251,000 and now listed at $2,999,000. This listing is a screaming deal in the Private Estates at Vancouver’s Shangri-la Hotel/Condo building. 5503-1128 W. Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC.

I just sold a unit in the Live/Work Shangri-la building at 1111 Alberni. Whilst working with my client I did extensive research on prices in both the …

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