For the creatives among us, wandering the aisles at IKEA ignites a torrent of DIY ideas: The store's bookcases beg to be reimagined as bar carts; white desks can be elevated with new midcentury-modern legs; and a coat of paint would work wonders to transform a dresser. The "after" images always look impressive, but if you're not the handiest among us, they can also seem a tad out of ...

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has implemented new underwriting criteria (eligibility requirements) to apply for homeowner transactional and portfolio mortgage insurance. Introduced earlier this summer, these new adjustments from CMHC come as a precaution while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact consumers in the real estate market and many other aspects of day-t ...

HOME IMPROVEMENT   Electrical wiring is your home’s nervous system, and while it may seem simple (either it works or it doesn’t), it is a complex network that requires special skill to manage. Here are some do’s and don’ts when hiring an electrician: DO check if your project requires permits. An expert will have specialized knowledge and experience in securing permits and approvals that ...

Ever wonder how subway tile got so popular?    If you’re doing your part and social distancing from inside your home, you may start to notice small details of your house or apartment you hadn’t thought about before—like why your older home doesn’t have a closet, or how white subway tile became so ubiquitous. You may also be wondering if there’s anything you can do—aside from the usual cle ...

Metro Vancouver’s* housing market saw steady home buyer demand to begin March and a levelling off of activity as the month went on and concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak intensified.  The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 2,524 in March 2020, a 46.1 per cent increase from the 1,727 sales recorded in March 2019, and a ...

There are so many moving parts when buying or selling a home. For some people, just thinking about diving into the market can cause stress. Unless you’re actually involved in the day-to-day process, the lingo and the rules of the game can be confusing. That’s where I come in! My mission is to guide you through the real estate process every step of the way, whether you’re buying, selling or ...

Welcome to 2020, the official start of a new decade! I hope you had a restful and joyous end of the year, filled with friends, family and fun celebrations. As we start to get back into the swing of things, I’m posting (link below) information to keep you up-to-date on the national real estate market. Of course, it’s impossible to predict the future! However, by going over the latest market ...

We had quite a year, the start of 2019 was a slow one. Our typical "Spring Market" never happened but seemed to pick up in the last quarter. The attached stat report is an interesting one because it says that the home sales were low, however depending on where you were buying or selling you may have seen the opposite. I saw areas like Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Maple Ridge show quicker s ...

Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year! Everywhere you turn, people are celebrating the joy and cheer that comes with this season. As you get ready to host or attend your own celebration with friends and family, why not make it one for the books? This month, I’m attaching a few ways to liven up any holiday celebration! Get ideas for games, party activities and entertainment to keep ...

A grateful heart lifts your own spirits and the spirits of those around you. When you commit to an attitude of gratitude, you foster more meaningful relationships with the ones you care about — yourself included. We know that practicing gratitude has a powerful impact on others, but did you know it can impact you too? The information I’m posting this month serves it all up with some scienc ...