Best Rate Mortgages

Prime is currently 3%
Best Rate Variable Prime minus .25

Rates are subject to change without notice. 

Terms	Bank Rates	Our Rates
6 Month	4.45%	4.45%
1 YEAR	3.20%	2.74%
2 YEARS	3.55%	2.74%
3 YEARS	3.95%	2.89%
4 YEARS	4.64%	2.99%
5 YEARS	5.24%	3.19%
7 YEARS	6.35%	3.99%
10 YEARS	6.75%	3.99%

How plastic bottles can lighten up the darkness

Home Sales in Interior/North Outpace Province

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that the dollar volume of homes sold through Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC declined 9.6 per cent to $3.4 billion in February compared to the same month last year. A total of 5,923 MLS® residential unit sales were recorded over the same period, a decline of 7.6 per cent. The average MLS® residential price was $574,975 in February, 2.1 per cent lower than in February 2011.

"Sales gains in the interior and the north were offset again in February by less robust demand on the south coast," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. Improving economic conditions in both BC and Alberta are positively influencing consumer demand outside of large urban areas, closing the gap between regional housing markets."

Year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume declined 9.2 per cent to $5.5 billion, compared to the same period last year. Residential unit sales dipped 6.8 per cent to 9,828 units, while the average MLS® residential price edged back 2.5 per cent to $557,732 over the same period.

Copyright BCREA Reprinted with permission

Best Rate Mortgage

Terms	Bank Rates	Our Rates
6 Month	4.45%	4.45%
1 YEAR	3.20%	2.74%
3 YEARS	3.95%	2.84%
4 YEARS	4.64%	3.09%
5 YEARS	5.24%	3.25%
7 YEARS	6.35%	3.99%
10 YEARS	6.75%	3.99%

Rates are subject to change without notice. *OAC E&OE

Prime Rate is 3.00%

Variable Rates from as low as prime

Spring Tips for Buying a Home

If you’re thinking of buying your first home or upgrading to a new one, the inventory of homes on the market come Spring is definitely plentiful – providing for a great selection of homes to serve your unique needs.

Still, there are also generally more people out looking at homes in the Spring as well. And while some homebuyers feel anxious about securing their dream home as soon as possible, it’s important to take the time to be patient and make sure the home is a good fit for you and your family.

After all, home-buying is likely the largest investment you’ll ever make, and doing your due diligence when determining which house to buy ensures that fewer surprises arise after your moving day.

Following are three top considerations to keep in mind when looking for your new home this Spring:

1. Get preapproved for a mortgage. Not only will this step help you compete against other buyers who have not been preapproved, but it will also ensure you only look at home’s within your price range – saving you the trouble of falling in love with a home you can’t afford. Your mortgage broker or lender will be able to get you preapproved before you start browsing homes.

2. Think about what you need. Jotting down specifics regarding what you “need” in a home – as opposed to what you “want” – will help determine the types of homes you should be viewing. It’s rarely possible, however, to find a perfect home for your needs, tastes and budget. While it’s important to weigh your priorities before you start your home search, it’s equally important to be flexible and willing to change your mind once you see what your true options are – viewing properties can shift your priorities. And remember that if you can only find places that require too many compromises, it’s okay to keep looking – new homes come on the market daily!

3. Look past the staging. Many sellers enlist staging professionals to help sell their homes faster and at a higher price. While this often makes listings more visually appealing to buyers, some major flaws may be covered up through staging. And while minor cosmetic issues can often be overcome with a simple fix such as a coat of paint, larger, more costly issues can arise with a home if you don’t notice poor conditions before you buy. Some things to look for include: leaks around plumbing fixtures and ceilings (thanks to upper floor bathrooms); stains on walls or ceilings; evidence of mould; poor workmanship on flooring, moulding, windows and doors; or aging and worn seals around windows and doors.

Home Buyers' Plan (HBP)

The Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) is a program that allows you to withdraw funds from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to buy or build a qualifying home for yourself or for a related person with a disability. You can withdraw up to $25,000 in a calendar year.

Your RRSP contributions must remain in the RRSP for at least 90 days before you can withdraw them under the HBP, or they may not be deductible for any year.

Generally, you have to repay all withdrawals to your RRSPs within a period of no more than 15 years. You will have to repay an amount to your RRSPs each year until your HBP balance is zero. If you do not repay the amount due for a year, it will have to be included in your income for that year.

Nest Building Workshop

Find Your Inner Interior Designer during this two-day Nest Building workshop with author and consultant, Kate Bridger.

This workshop offers a combination of design psychology mixed in with a reassuring dose of pragmatism. It is the course to take at any stage during your home-making or renovation journey whether you intend to hire outside expertise or not.

The sessions will include exercises and discussions to help you discover why you hang on to certain objects and attitudes; why particular colours please or trouble you; how to work with and appreciate what you have; and how to bring harmony to your life and to the lives of those you live with.

The objectives of the two-day course are to reacquaint you with your personal designer history, fine-tune your aesthetic awareness and carve out a fulfilling path to help bring you home to a place that not only looks good, but feels right just for you.

This workshop will take place on April 21 & 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at 402 Baker Street (upstairs in the Kootenay Real Estate Board meeting room) in Nelson.

Register soon to take advantage of the 'early bird' rate. For more information, please visit: http://www.katebridger.ca/Pages/Workshops.html, or contact Kate directly at: kbridger@telus.net or 250-352-4653.

CREA Updates Resale Housing Forecast - March 2012

OTTAWA – March 5 2012 – The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has updated its quarterly forecast for home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service^® (MLS^®) Systems of Canadian real estate Boards and Associations in 2012, and extended it to 2013.

National home sales activity for 2012 and 2013 is projected to remain roughly on par with the 10 year average for annual activity, as interest rates remain low and further economic and job growth continue to support Canada’s housing market.

National resale housing activity is forecast to reach 458,800 units in 2012, representing an annual increase of 0.3 per cent compared to 457,305 sales in 2011. Rising demand in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia, is expected to offset softer activity in British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick.

“The continuation of low interest rates is good news for housing and for the economy,” said Gary Morse, CREA’s President. “Local housing market outlooks differ according to their respective economic prospects, so buyers and sellers should talk to their local REALTOR® to better understand housing market prospects in their area.”

In 2013, national sales are forecast to ebb by 0.3 per cent to 457,200 units, with modest gains in all provinces except Ontario as economic and job growth picks up later this year and builds into 2013.

Multi-million dollar sales activity in Vancouver caused the national average price to temporarily spike in early 2011. This phenomenon is not expected to recur in 2012. As a result, while prices are projected to hold steady near current levels, the national average price is forecast to dip by 1.1 per cent in 2012 to $359,100. Prices are expected to rise modestly in 2013, with the national average inching upward 0.9 per cent to $362,300 at the national level.

“CREA’s updated housing market forecast reflects recent & prospective trends for provincial home sales activity coupled with prevailing provincial economic outlooks,” said Gregory Klump, CREA’s Chief Economist. “Risks to the Canadian economic outlook remain elevated owing to the European sovereign debt quagmire, but the continuation of low interest rates is the silver lining. So long as the European debt crisis is contained and a global economic recession avoided, low interest rates will support Canadian home sales and prices. Recent trends are reassuring, but interest rates remaining low for longer will doubtless keep the Canadian housing market under scrutiny for signs of overheating.”

Copyright CREA reprinted with permission

Rental In Nelson

One bedroom with den basement suite. This is a non smoking unit that is suitable for quiet single or couple. Close to the college on a quiet street in Fairview. Lots of storage. Separate washer and dryer. 4 piece bath. Outdoor sitting area.  $1000 per month includes utilities. Call Robert 250-354-8500 or email robert@kootenayconnector.com