Debt Consolidation Mortgages In Surrey and Langley

Access to credit has created a credit crisis in North America.  The concept of keeping up with the neighbor’s purchases, even whenindividuals don’t have the money to do so, has destroyed personal and financial lives of families.  Credit card debt is at an all time high, even as consumer savings rates are slowly climbing.  A debt consolidation mortgage is an option to turn external debt into a mortgage loan, making it easier and faster to pay the loan off.

The way these loans work is they typically take a second position on the mortgage loan.  The original mortgage loan is always first lien position.  The second mortgage consolidates the debts of credit cards, credit lines, car loans, or any type of credit line outstanding into one loan payment, usually at a fixed rate at a far lower overall monthly payment.  This is usually incredibly beneficial, but does have its downsides.

A debt consolidation mortgage benefits consumers immensely.  By paying off all outstanding credit cards, it improves the credit score usually.  The reason for this is the ratio of credit line available to credit line used goes down, showing more access to credit that is not being improperly managed.  The other benefit is monthly payments go down because instead of having 5 $100 payments for example, you may only have one payment of $300.  These second mortgages typically will have a fixed rate, which allows for more adequate financial planning and removes the fear of your rate going up on the credit line causing more financial strain.  Lastly, one payment per month is often easier to remember and pay on time, which raises the credit score as well. 

The negatives have to do with the rate on this loan.  When a borrower is seeking a debt consolidation loan, they usually are already behind on payments and have a lower credit score due to high credit balances.  This means the fixed rate to pay off all these debts will usually not be very low.  Certain consolidation loans can actually lower a credit score as well because they are red flags to future creditors.

I Pulled this recent “How To Sell a Home Info-graphic from mint.com.  I really tells the story of How To Sell Your Home, your choices, things you need to do to get maximum value and the overall process.

It’s got some US content on it but gives you a great illustration on how the process works.  The terminology we use differs then our friends South of the Border, but I’m sure you’ll appreciate it anyways.

A couple of key terms to note are:

• Property Staging – Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace
• Competitive Pricing – A price lower or similar than that offered by the competitors, or a price made more attractive because of added additions, upgrades etc.   In this case your competitors are those other homes that are on the market.
• Online Marketing  - Or Internet marketing, also known as web marketing, online marketing, webvertising, or e-marketing, is referred to as the marketing (generally promotion) of products or services over the Internet. Internet marketing is considered to be broad in scopebecause it not only refers to marketing on the Internet, but also includes marketing done via e-mail and wireless media. Digital customer data and electronic customer relationship management (ECRM) systems are also often grouped together under internet marketing.

With over 90% of buyers searching online for their next home your Local Real Estate Professional MUST have a killer online presence, be found in search engines and spend most of their efforts online.

Post your comments and let me know your thoughts!  Hope you like it!

Escrow – Documents, real estate, money, or securities deposited with a neutral third party (the escrow agent) to be delivered upon fulfillment of certain conditions, as established in a written agreement.

In BC if represented by a REALTOR^® then you can expect the buyer or sellers agent to collect this information. For more information or to discuss Please consult a local Professional And Qualified REALTOR^®.

Please consult a professional before making any plans to purchase or sell a home. This website and information is for informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon.

2012 will most likely be a continued rebounding year for the British Columbia real estate market. Outside of the Vancouver Metro area, expect the real estate market growth to remain slow, but steady and stable.

Renovations and Repairs – Preparing Your Home For Selling – 7 Things you should know When Selling Your Home.

Selling your house is the process of turning your house into a product. You cannot expect someone to buy a product that is broken or damaged.

Here are some Valuable tips you can use when selling your home or getting ready to list your home on the market:

1. When selling your house, you need to make all necessary replacements and repairs to damaged parts of your house. When preparing your house to be sold, there are certain areas of the house that buyers will look at the most. Knowing these areas will help you to be successful in selling your house.
2. The two rooms to be concerned about most are the kitchen and bathrooms. These rooms can make all the difference to the value of your home. You cannot dismiss a few scratches on your counters, cupboards, and walls as you normally would do if you lived there. Re-staining or repainting your cupboards is a must if they have not been cared for. Appliances and fixtures should be cleaned to sparkling shine.
3. Take the time to spackle the walls and repaint them to make them look more appealing to buyers. No one will want to buy a neglected house. The house should be bright, welcoming, and appealing to people other than you. Walls should be painted light colors in all rooms to give the house a more open feeling. These colors should not depict your personal tastes, as a buyer may not be able to see themselves in your home.
4. Flooring should be completely clean and no wear, scuffs, or signs of usage. Steam clean your carpet, wax the wood floors, and have the grout in your tiled floors professionally cleaned. If the flooring cannot be salvaged with a proper cleaning, it is time to replace. Linoleum is acceptable, but may bring the value of your home down.
5. Before putting your house on the market, the roof should be inspected, and all leaks or sags should be repaired. If the roof is fine but the shingles are worn, it is a safe bet that you should replace them. Worn shingles are the main contributor to leaky roofs and will bring down your home’s value.
6. Doors should be inspected to be sure each one opens smoothly and quietly. This includes all indoor and outdoor doors and cupboard doors. Faulty hinges should be replaced and they should all be well oiled. Doors that are crooked should be rehung, and door knobs that do not function smoothly should be replaced. Outside doors should be secure, with new locks installed on them regardless of the current lock’s condition.
7. The outside of your house should be clean and bright, with no chips broken off. Damaged siding should be replaced, and the entire house should be power washed if you are not replacing the siding. Windows should be intact, and shutters should be clean and undamaged.
8. Last but not least, make sure you landscaping is attractive. Landscaping is an integral part of your home and should be treated as such. Mow the lawn, mulch the garden, and plant a few trees. If you have any lawn ornaments that are not fountains, you should probably remove them.

To sell your house, you must remove all personal elements from the property. Once the house is a neutral space, prospective buyers will have an easier time envisioning themselves in it. Leaving repairs unfinished is also a sure way to scare buyers off, as they will not want to buy a product that is damaged goods. Smart sellers know to fix up their property before they list it on the market.

Why Surrey Is BC’s BEST Real Estate Investment Town. For 2 years in a row, The Real Estate Investment Network of Canada rated Surrey BC the best real estate investment city in Canada for residential real estate. The REIN group also rated Surrey the 4th best overall city in Canada for real estate investment.

The study was based on:

1. average household income,
2. transportation capacity,
3. job outlook,
4. population,
5. and other factors.

Surrey has been growing steadily over the past decade and some predict it may eventually overtake Vancouver as BC’s largest city. Its population has grown by 100,000 in the past decade. The city is rebounding from the worldwide financial setbacks of 2008, showing substantial growth in the residential market. Over 3,500 new residential units were added in the last year.

• The city is a thoroughfare for 5 major highways in Canada, and boasts two highway connections to the United States. Surrey has a deep harbour, which will become important as trade increases with Pacific Rim countries. Median family income continues to grow in this expanding community.

Residential Real Estate – Know What You Want

• There are plenty of real estate opportunities in Surrey. For those looking to own their own home, there are 3 communities with an 80% or better ownership rate, and 2 more with more than 70% ownership rates. The median age of dwellings is 20 years.
• If you are looking to purchase rental property, the communities of Whalley and the City Centre have the largest percentage of rental properties in the city, both exceeding 30%. But purchasing rental property is not limited to these communities, as all have rental property available for investment.

Commercial Real Estate – Look at the Demographics and Study the Communities

• Surrey BC best real estate investment opportunities come down to doing your homework, knowing the type of commercial real estate you desire and studying the demographics. For example, the City Centre provides unlimited opportunities for retail and office construction. Easily accessible from all communities, supported by first rate public transportation, as well as modern, urban housing, the City Centre is quickly becoming the commercial and social hub of the City.
• The new Civic Centre, under construction, will be the new social meeting place for Surrey. With indoor seating capacity of 1,600 and an outdoor plaza to accommodate 5,000, the Civic Centre will draw people from all areas. A spacious new 77,000 sq. ft. library and a newly constructed City Hall will provide Surrey with one of the most dynamic City Centre in Canada.
• Find a Professional Who Knows the City If you are investing from another city or province, find a real estate professional in Surrey. After discussing your investment plans with a real estate professional that works and lives in Surrey, you will be given the information needed to make an informed, prudent business investment choice.

Contact Robbie Johal of Re/Max Lifestyles a lifetime Surrey, BC Resident and Award Winning Realtor when Buying or Selling your Next Home.

When buying a home or selling a property, people quickly discover that the process is more complicated than they first realized. That is why it is important to have a team of professionals dedicated to assisting clients through the entire process, from start to finish. Selecting a Langley BC Re Max Realtor® ensures that customers get service and support unparalleled in the industry. Re Max agents have a reputation as being the most experienced and knowledgeable agents, with the connections and resources to help clients take the worry out of real estate.

Listing a home with Robbie Johal a Langley BC Re Max Realtor® is the best decision in today’s difficult market. With a network of thousands of homes and unprecedented company growth, customers throughout North America know where to turn when needing results. The Re Max company brand has an iron-clad reputation for success and its signs attract buyers and sellers alike. Re Max agents receive extensive training and are selected for their familiarity with a particular area. Langley, BC is a unique area and it takes agents committed to customer service to make sure the job gets done right. Trusting unknown companies that do not have the knowledge and experience to meet the needs of its customers wastes time and money. With so much invested in buying or selling a home, people cannot afford to take chances with anyone else other than the global leader in real estate.

The fact is that Re Max agents experience more sales that any other agents in the market. Every Realtor® receives extensive and continual training which uniquely qualifies them to set the best prices and sell property quicker than any other company. Finding the perfect place in Langley, BC can be a daunting task, but the right company and Agent can make the whole process less complicated. Re Max provides a market advantage over other companies that are not well equipped to meet the quickly changing demands of today’s real estate market. Having a highly trained agent cut through the red tape and handle all the details provides customers with peace of mind.

The Re Max network provides many advantages for both buyers and sellers alike. With an intimate knowledge of the Langley, BC area, expert knowledge and the latest technology, customers are confident in a leading company with an unparalleled reputation in real estate. No other company can match the advertising exposure and individual attention provided by professional agents with a top global company. When seeking the best in customer service, contact Robbie Johal Your Langley BC Re Max Realtor and make any real estate transaction a profitable one.

Canadian real estate that has gained value from the time of purchase to the time of sale is subject to taxation. There are complicated rules concerning whether the real estate is used for business or intended for use in business. This includes such real estate as farmland, inherited property of any type etc. If the property is deemed a business property, it is covered by tax regulation IT-218R.

This article will instead discuss real estate that is considered residential. If one has a second home in Canada, capital gains (net profit after itemized improvements and sales commission etc. is considered as fully taxable income.

One the other hand, if the home is a residence, capital gains are taxed at a reduced rate. If the home is a primary residence, the capital gain is not taxable. This can be a bit complicated as well, depending on the property’s usage over the period of ownership. There is a general principle that if the property “generally occupied by the owner (usually determined by percentage of time), it can be claimed as a primary residence.

Still, since many houses change purpose over a period of years, and such usage changes have an impact on taxation. An example would be a house that was used as a primary residence for part of the period of ownership, and a secondary home for part of the period. Another example would be if the property were rented out part of the time, and owner-occupied part of the time.

The tax treatment in cases such as this is to pro-rate the length of time the property was not a primary residence and that percentage of the gain becomes a capital gain. In Canada, capital gains are taxed at 50% of the gain times the marginal tax rate of the taxpayer’s income level.

Under most circumstances, people owning two homes, one of which is in Canada and the other in the U.S. should compare real estate capital gains treatment in each country and evaluate which home should be declared as primary based on personal or professional opinion.

PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR TAX ACCOUNTANT FOR MORE INFORMATION. THIS ARTICLE IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED ON IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.

Waterstone Condo’s 6420 6430 6440 194th Street

Waterstone is located in Clayton, part of the Cloverdale real estate for sale. Everything about the Waterstone Condo’s 6420, 6430, and 6440 194th Street simply states luxury. Showcasing the finest of clubhouse amenities in 15,000 square feet, Waterstone exemplifies fine living. Located in the marvelous clubhouse are a billiards lounge, wine bar, a chef’s kitchen, yoga studio, 60 foot lap pool and a sauna!! With so many activities to choose from you will feel more like you are on vacation than at home, making this a true resort lifestyle.

The Waterstone condos are just as sumptuously appointed as the clubhouse and grounds. Each condo features supersized gourmet kitchens which include ample cupboard space, polished granite countertops and all upgraded stainless steel appliances. Bakers in particular appreciate rolling dough on the cool granite surfaces, pies turn out especially flaky when prepared on stone. The surface is absolutely perfect, both scratch and scorch resistant and simple to clean and care for.

Offering over 880 square feet of living area in some of the 2 bedroom Waterstone Condo’s 6420, 6430, and 6440 194th Street excite the eye. Amazing 10’ tall ceilings are found in the living area. Warm laminate wood flooring is featured, visually expanding the public rooms and creating easy, almost no care floors. Gazing around you will be greeted majestic views of Mt. Baker and well manicured lawns and green areas. Greeting the day will be a joy while savoring a fresh cup of coffee on the patio.

Waterstone Condo’s 6420, 6430, and 6440 194th Street offers 1 and 2 bedroom homes with 1 or 2 bathrooms. These are perfect homes for singles, retirees, or smaller families. The bedrooms are comfortably sized and beautifully designed and painted. Quality light fixtures and window coverings are featured throughout the Waterstone Condos in Cloverdale. In suite laundry is a bonus.

A roughed in security system is provided. Thermo windows are featured throughout the Waterstone Cloverdale homes for sale. Elevator, full use of the club house and amenities, and garage parking are a few of the perks offered with these spectacular condos. Located near excellent schools, fine dining, and a vast array of shopping, these condos provide a little bit of everything.

The tranquil yet stimulating atmosphere available at Waterstone Condo’s 6420, 6430, and 6440 194th Street awaits the discriminating homeowner. With just a few of these on the market, you want to call or stop in today to make an appointment to view them before they are gone.

Willow Grand Condo’s 19500 65th Avenue

Expect to have your breath taken away when you first see one of 43 Craftsman style condos being built at Willow Grand Condo’s 19500 65th Avenue. The wow factor of these spacious homes will simply leave you stunned. Nothing is left to chance or overlooked in these spectacular townhomes in Cloverdale. With security fob access points, secure parking, and surveillance cameras where needed, safety is first in this well planned community. Wildlife green spaces and lots of hiking trails are located nearby for the outdoor enthusiasts.  Located within Surrey and Langley Border, the condos are being presold with a $10,000 incentive and are going fast.

The Willow Grand Condo’s 19500 65th Avenue are near Willowbrook centre, tons of dining options and present a majestic view Mt. Baker and downtown Langley. Set back from the streets for privacy this is certainly a place to call home.

The interiors are sumptuously appointed with grandeur. Stepping through the opulent front two storey lobby entryway you will immediately begin to feel coddled. Going into your own home will serve to enhance the experience. The Willow Grand Condos in Cloverdale are focusing on luxuriant interiors.

The Craftsman styling is particularly evident in the kitchen and bathrooms of these homes. Featuring huge old fashioned style bathtubs where you will want to spend hours soaking in a hot bubble bath with lit candles and a glass of wine, the bathrooms are spa like in their luxury.

The large kitchen hoods feature detailed woodworking, as do the ample cabinets. Craftsmanship and detail are centrefold in the design of these fine Cloverdale homes for sale. Chandeliers provide additional luxury to the rooms as do the burnished stainless steel appliances. Grandeur is evident in the well designed tile backsplash and stone countertops.

Relaxing in bed after a long day will have you feeling pampered while resting your eye on the magnificent detailing and care that have gone into this room. The Willow Grand Condo’s 19500 65th Avenue are a new concept in Cloverdale real estate. Combining one storey living, with deluxe woodworking and fixtures will create a one of a kind community. Large oversized windows allow sunlight to stream in and reflect throughout, sparkling with brilliance from the beautiful chandeliers and surfaces.

The grandness and comfort of the homes being created at Willow Grand Condo’s 19500 65th Avenue will make them go quickly. Reminiscent of a time gone by, this spectacular living experience can be yours. Be sure and book an appointment to tour a home soon as these will sell out extremely fast.

Starpoint II Townhomes at 18839 69th Avenue is located in the Clayton heights area which is a part of Cloverdale. These premium homes offer everything a growing family is looking for providing ample amenities and convenience.  These Cloverdale townhomes for sale are nestled into communities, where children and adults alike will have the opportunities to meet other like minded families and develop friendships to last a lifetime.

An open floor plan makes these homes exciting. Living rooms feature, large fireplaces and windows. High ceilings and luxurious carpet complete the room, making it a favorite gathering place. Beautifully finished in warm neutrals the walls are the perfect backdrop for art and mirrors. Thermo windows are featured throughout the home.

The kitchen provides a granite breakfast bar, and has lots of counter space and cupboards for storage. The black appliances lend an austere air to the cheerful kitchen. Laminate flooring throughout the kitchen and dining area is easy care and beautiful. The patio doors lead to the perfect spot for a barbeque grill. The yards are mostly fenced in, private and perfect for grilling and spending time outdoors entertaining guests and family. Children and pets too will enjoy playing and getting fresh air in the lushly landscaped treed yard.

Starpoint II Townhomes 18839 69th Avenue offers the home buyer a choice between 2 and 3 bedroom townhomes. The Master bedrooms are spectacular featuring en suite and a large closet. Combined with in suite laundry and a built in (roughed-in) vacuum system to eliminate hauling clothes and vacuums up and down stairs, these additional luxuries will be greatly appreciated.

One special feature of this Cloverdale home for sale is the Low strata fees (at time of writing, check with your Realtor®) are associated with this home and it also comes with the remainder of the 2-5-10 warranty. Smoke alarms, appliances and drapes are all included with this Starpoint II home in Cloverdale.

Located near Hazelgrove Elementary School and Clayton High School, this is a perfect example of the Cloverdale real estate plannings success. The dog park, restaurants and a shopping centre are also located very near Starpoint II Townhomes at 18839 69th Avenue.

Call or stop in today to make an appointment to tour these homes in the Clayton area.