October 2024
Home sales registered on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver1 declined 3.8 per cent year over year in September, suggesting recent reductions in borrowing costs are having a limited effect in spurring demand so far.
With active inventories hitting levels not seen in 10 years and sales 30 per cent below the 10-year average, Fraser Valley real estate is building towards a buyer’s market if sales continue to lag.
Buyers were starting to take advantage of more affordable market conditions brought about by interest rate cuts and lower home prices. As borrowing costs trend lower, home sales are steadily increasing in comparison to previous months.
Basement leakage is the most common problem found in houses, and over 90% of all basements will leak and suffer damage at one time or another. Some evidence of moisture penetration can be found in almost every house. A house with water problems does not necessarily mean it was poorly constructed. Water can appear in even the best-built home.
Home renovation can be exciting, but they are often stressful especially if you have to stay at home while the work is being done. With careful planning, it is possible to survive major renovations.
As the winter season approaches and the air grows crisp, it's time to start thinking about preparing your house for the season. Once winter blows in, homeowners have to get serious. It is important to consider the fact that the winter season means spending a lot more time indoors. Roofs must shed rain and snow, windows and doors must reject the cold, and the heating system must keep rooms comfortable. If any of these components don't hold up, you might be faced with scrambling around in the wet, cold, and dark to fix them.
Retirement isn’t what it used to be. These days, rather than sitting back and watching the roses grow, more of us want to use the extra time, energy, and any cash released from the sale of a property to travel the world or fulfill some other lifelong ambition.