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Home Ownership
20 grants and rebates for homebuyers and owners
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Save money using these grants and rebates. (6 minute read)
Home Ownership
Prepare your home for sale
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Are you thinking of selling your home? Before your REALTOR® begins showing your home, you will want to make sure it’s in tip-top condition.
Taxes
What you need to know about BC's Speculation and Vacancy Tax
Friday, January 26, 2024
Detailed information about BC's SVT and property exemptions. (4 minute read)
Home Ownership
New regulations for stratas help get more electric vehicles on the road
Thursday, January 18, 2024
These regulations outline a process for strata property residents to request to install an EV charging station. (2 minute read)
Home Ownership
Greater Vancouver assessments remain stable
Friday, January 5, 2024
Assessments remained in a narrow range compared to last year in Greater Vancouver. (5 minute read)
Home Ownership
Seniors aging in place, longer
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
How will the increasing number of senior households affect the real estate market? (2 minute read)
Home Ownership
4 things to know about heat pumps
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Learn how heat pumps are an energy-efficient way of transferring heat in and out of a home. (3 minute read)
Home Ownership
Financing your home
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
When you're looking to buy a home, it's important to understand the steps for getting a mortgage. (3 minute read)
Home Ownership
Taking care of your yard during a heat wave and drought
Monday, August 28, 2023
Here's how to make your lawn and garden look good when the weather isn't. (2 minute read)
Taxes
Empty Homes Tax put to good use – Vancouver creates affordable housing
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Affordable housing projects in Vancouver received grants worth over $8.7 million, partially from Vancouver’s EHT. (1 minute read)
Home Ownership
Home ownership – BC legislative committee listens to and quotes REBGV
Monday, August 21, 2023
A new budget report cited REBGV’s three recommendations on how to clear a path to home ownership. (3 minute read)
Home Ownership
Asbestos remediation – new certification required for contractors
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Home owners looking to renovate older homes will need to ensure their contractors are certified. (2 minute read)
Home Ownership
6 bathroom renovation mistakes to avoid
Monday, May 8, 2023
Avoid costly mistakes for a worry-free bathroom reno. (2 minute read)
Home Ownership
Get your outdoor living room ready for spring and summer fun
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Tips to make your outdoor space a naturally inviting part of your home. (2 minute read)
Home Ownership
Heating your home with oil? Get up to $10K for a new heat pump
Friday, April 14, 2023
The federal government is offering up to $10K for low- and median-income homeowners to install an energy-efficient heat pump. (1 minute read)
Home Ownership
Know the rules when insuring secondary suites
Monday, April 3, 2023
Having insurance coverage is vital. There’s a misconception among home owners that their existing policy will cover a suite. It doesn’t.
Home Ownership
Canada amends foreign buyer ban regulations
Friday, March 31, 2023
The federal government amended its foreign buyer ban regulations, allowing more flexibility. (3 minute read)
Home Ownership
How to prepare your lawn for winter
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Follow these tips for a healthy lawn next summer! (2 minute read)
Home Ownership
Here are 9 ways to get ready for fall
Friday, September 9, 2022
Sure signs that fall is coming are shorter days and the start of school. Fall also means it’s time to begin preparing our homes for oncoming cooler weather.
Home Ownership
Home renos: plan for success
Monday, August 22, 2022
Your home reno can be less stressful if you plan wisely. Find out how! (3 minute read)
Home Ownership
Preparing for a flood
Monday, August 8, 2022
Many residents and businesses in the Lower Mainland are located in a floodplain - close to or beside local rivers, creeks, or coastlines.
Home Ownership
Home security – 11 tips to protect your belongings
Friday, July 8, 2022
It’s summertime and the living is easy, especially for potential thieves.
Home Ownership
It’s easy being green: here are 6 lawn alternatives
Monday, June 20, 2022
Lawn alternatives that help bees, save water, eliminate chaffer beetles, and more!
Home Ownership
PTT thresholds: REBGV makes housing affordability recommendations to province
Friday, June 17, 2022
REBGV made three recommendations for making home ownership more affordable during provincial consultations in June. (3 minute read)
Home Ownership
Vancouver increases Empty Homes Tax and double audits
Friday, April 29, 2022
Vancouver city council passed a motion to increase the Empty Homes Tax to five per cent. (1 minute read)
Home Buying
Liberal leader Kevin Falcon’s plans to make housing more affordable
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Kevin Falcon plans to address zoning, red tape, and taxes he believes contribute to higher housing costs. (4 minute read)
Home Buying
What are the tax implications of buying a vacation home?
Monday, March 21, 2022
Before buying a vacation property, be aware of tax implications and other vital considerations. (4 minute read)
Home Ownership
3 easy ways to help keep your home green clean
Monday, February 28, 2022
Keeping a green-clean home is not only better for the environment, it can be better for your health and your wallet. (2 minute read)
Home Ownership
Get your home ready for spring using these simple steps
Monday, February 28, 2022
Spring is a time of renewal for both you and your home. As you emerge from your winter cocoon, you’ll want to start the spring repairs and updates your home requires.
Home Ownership
7 ways to get the most out of small living spaces
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Small living spaces are a reality for more and more homeowners. But small spaces don’t have to mean small dreams.
Home Ownership
Federal government offers home owners $5,600 to make homes energy efficient
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Here's how to apply for one of the $5,000 grants offered by the federal government.
Home Ownership
What’s a reverse mortgage?
Thursday, June 10, 2021
How can older home owners cover their expenses without selling their home?
Home Ownership
Resolving strata disputes
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Strata corporations, strata owners, residents and strata council members can access online services through the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal to resolve solve disputes.
Legislation & Regulations
Speculation and vacancy tax relief for non-existent homes
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
The provincial speculation and vacancy tax applies to airspace above buildings classed as residential. The government will temporarily remove this tax for one year.
Home Ownership
Stratas: Maintenance fees and special levies
Thursday, May 20, 2021
What are maintenance fees and special levies for stratas and how are they determined?
Home Ownership
What's a non-conforming strata? What you need to know to avoid headaches
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
If you’ve heard the term “non-conforming strata” before, there’s something you should know: There’s no such thing. Find out why.
Home Ownership
Are BC home owners protected against title fraud?
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Two rare fraud attempts highlight protection for home owners.
Taxes
What are the tax implications of building a laneway house?
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Before building a laneway home or buying a property with one, you should understand the tax implications of doing so.
Home Ownership
Eight ways you can prepare for a disaster
Monday, February 22, 2021
Natural disasters can strike at any time. Earthquakes, floods, and fires can spring up quickly and endanger homes and businesses. What can you do to prepare?
Home Ownership
Aging in place: Top tips on how you can adapt your home
Friday, February 12, 2021
Whether you’re looking for your ‘forever’ home or already live there, adjusting its design will help make your life easier and safer.
Home Ownership
BC Strata insurers to end ‘best terms pricing’
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Learn what changes are being made to give strata corporations the info needed to make informed decisions about their insurance needs.
Home Ownership
Design trends emerging from the pandemic
Thursday, October 29, 2020
We're adapting our personal spaces to reduce our exposure to the coronavirus and to feel better. Some trends are now commonplace, but one may surprise you.
Home Ownership
Home suite home: Making a basement suite feel like home
Friday, August 14, 2020
Making the most of a limited space is a constant challenge for home owners with basement suites.
Home Ownership
Provincial government introduces bill to help with soaring strata insurance costs
Thursday, June 25, 2020
The BC government is taking its first steps to mitigate soaring strata insurance costs.
Legislation & Regulations
What’s happening in BC’s strata insurance market?
Thursday, June 18, 2020
The BC Financial Services Authority found strata insurance premiums rose by about 40 per cent, with deductibles seeing triple digit increases.
Home Ownership
Funding insurance premiums and calling general meetings
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Two additions to the Strata Property Regulation will make life easier for strata corporations grappling with sky-high insurance premiums.
Home Ownership
What you need to know about strata insurance rate increases
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Strata owners in BC are facing insurance rate increases of between 50 and 300 per cent this year, according to the Condominium Home Owners Association of BC.
Home Ownership
Asbestos exposure remains a risk in older homes
Friday, November 15, 2019
If you own, or are looking to buy, a pre-1990s home, and are planning a demolition or renovation, you’ll need to understand the risks of asbestos and the need to hire a qualified testing company.
Home Ownership
Stratas and pets
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
If you’re planning to buy a strata property and you have furry or feathered friends, find out whether pets are allowed and if there are restrictions.
Home Ownership
Strata parking spaces and storage lockers
Thursday, November 8, 2018
What documents do you have to check to make sure the parking spot and storage locker come with the apartment you plan to buy?
Taxes
All you need to know about Vancouver's Empty Homes Tax
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Each home owner will have received a property status declaration from the City to determine if their property is subject to the Empty Homes Tax.