RE/MAX WHL Home Team Contest

Attention Investors: Canada's Top 100 Neighbourhoods!

The highly anticipated Top 100 Neighbourhoods edition of Canadian Real Estate Wealth is on newsstands now.  The issue, which is top-of-mind for real estate investors in Canada, details the country's top neighbourhoods according to exclusive data compiled by The Teranet - National Bank House Price Index (click here to view a summary of the country's Top 100 Neighbourhoods).

According to readers, real estate agents are the number one service (79%) that investors use when investing in new properties.  Thinking of investing in the Thompson Okanagan or Shuswap?  Find a real estate agent near you using the RE/MAX office locator.

www.TheRightAgents.com

21 Cool Bedrooms for Clean and Simple Design Inspiration

Home-Designing.com reports:  "Sometimes the most luxurious rooms are the simplest. Whether you want to cure insomnia or just rest a little easier, sometimes the best solution is to simplify. These bedrooms would allow you to do just that with everything perfectly in its place. Clean linens and clean lines are the perfect recipe for a great night's sleep."

Check out these simple design ideas, before you think about selling your home, or if you are in the market and looking for real estate to buy!

The Right Agents Real Estate Office Locator

Check out our Real Estate Office Locator

The Right Agents

How Much Does My Agent Need to Know About My Finances?

Money is a delicate issue. How much we earn and how much we owe is information many of us prefer to keep close to the vest.

If you’re concerned about detailing your finances to your real estate agent, rest assured that there’s plenty of privacy in the client/agent relationship. 

In their wheelhouse
Real estate agents don't need, or expect, you to disclose everything about your money. That said, they must understand your overall situation to help guide you to a home that’s within your budget.

An agent’s job is to negotiate a home purchase or sale on your behalf, keep the transaction on track and help you navigate real estate paperwork. His or her strength lies in understanding home values, and property and neighborhood features. Home financing is an altogether separate story from a home search or sale; therefore, agents usually don't delve into your finances to crunch the numbers.

Leave it to the lender
Agents are happy to let your mortgage lender handle the financial questioning. A loan officer at a bank or mortgage company calculates your maximum purchasing power and your monthly payments based on your loan application, financial documentation and debt-to-income ratio.

Be prepared to supply your lender with your last two years of tax returns, recent pay stubs, bank statements and investment accounts. Agents then present a lender-generated preapproval letter to listing agents, indicating the amount you’re able to borrow.

Contact your local RE/MAX agent if you have questions about buying a house or selling one. These real estate professionals can guide you – with discretion – toward your next home.

www.TheRightAgents.com

October Housing Report: BCREA

BCREA: Home Sales Continue on Upward Trend in September

Vancouver, BC – October 15, 2014. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 7,636 residential sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in September, up 17.5 per cent from September 2013. Total sales dollar volume was $4.4 billion, an increase of 25.8 per cent compared to a year ago. The average MLS® residential price in the province rose to $574,641, up 7.1 per cent from the same month last year.

“Consumer demand remains robust in most BC regions,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “More homes traded hands last month in BC than any September since 2009, while the Okanagan had its most robust September in nine years.”

“Population growth, low interest rates and strengthening economic conditions continue to be supportive of housing demand,” added Muir.

Year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume was up 23.2 per cent to $37 billion, compared to the same period last year. Residential unit sales were up 16 per cent to 65,353 units, while the average MLS® residential price was up 6.2 per cent at $565,655.

For full press release including detailed board statistics, click here.

www.TheRightAgents.com