BC Real Estate News
Tax Fairness for Homebuyers This spring, REALTORS® around the province are meeting with their MLAs to talk about the impact provincial shelter taxes (that is, the Harmonized Sales Tax and Property Transfer Tax) have on homebuyers. BCREA and REALTORS® believe the following actions will help restore tax fairness: Increase the 1% Property Transfer Tax threshold from $200,000 to $525,000, with 2% applying to the remainder of the fair market value. Index the 1% Property Transfer Tax threshold of $525,000 using Statistics Canada’s New Housing Price Index, and make adjustments annually. Index...
Read MoreComox Valley Sales looking up for January!
Excerpt from CREA: OTTAWA – February 15th, 2011 – National resale housing activity climbed further in January 2011, according to statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Seasonally adjusted national home sales activity rose 4.5 per cent in January 2011 compared to the previous month, reaching the highest level since April 2010. Led by Vancouver and Toronto, seasonally adjusted sales activity posted monthly gains in more than half of all local Canadian markets in January. National sales activity has improved steadily since last summer, and now stands almost...
Read MoreCREA Revises Annual Resale Housing Forecast
By mcherun OTTAWA – November 5, 2010 – The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has lowered its forecast for home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®)Systems of Canadian real estate Boards and Associations for 2010 and 2011. Sales activity in the third quarter of 2010 began on a weak footing, but gained traction as the quarter progressed. Improving momentum for home sales activity suggests the resale housing market is stabilizing, but weaker than expected third quarter activity has reduced CREA’s annual forecast. National sales activity is now expected to reach...
Read MoreBank of Canada raises key rate to 1%
The Bank of Canada raised its target for the overnight rate by one quarter of one percentage point to one per cent on September 8th, 2010. It was the third consecutive quarter point hike. The Bank rate was raised to 1.25 per cent and the deposit rate is now 0.75 per cent. The Bank noted that, while the global economic recovery is proceeding, it remains uneven. The main downside risk cited in the Bank’s announcement was the recent weakness in the U.S. recovery, saying, “In the United States, the recovery in private demand is being held back by high unemployment and recent...
Read MoreCanada's Resale housing forecast- REVISED!
OTTAWA – July 30, 2010 – The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) revised its forecast downward for home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems of Canadian real estate Boards and Associations, and elevated its average price forecast. Weaker than anticipated sales activity during the crucial spring home buying season in Canada’s four most active provincial markets prompted the revision. The decline is consistent with the exhaustion of pent-up demand from deferred purchases during the economic recession, and sales having been pulled forward into early 2010...
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Owen has lived in the Comox Valley for over 30 years. He loves the Comox Valley, and the people who live here! His strong negotiating skills and great personality make him the right choice for your real estate needs. 