| Recent Blog Posts by Craig Rushton | ||
Honesty in Real EstateIt blows my mind that we even need to talk about being honest in real estate but here we are... Honesty is a two way street when it comes to selling your home:
1. You need a Realtor that will be honest with you, not someone who will tell you what you want to hear just to get your listing. That said you need to be open to hearing the truth about your home; its value, condition and what needs ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on May 17, 2011
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Home Maintenance TipsSome tips from our friends at Pillar To Post: ---
First, buyers should understand the 1% rule. This rule postulates that normal maintenance on a home is about 1% of the value of the home per year. For example, a $250,000 home would require $2,500 per year to maintain. This would be enough to replace the roof covering...and then, a few years later, to replace a failed hot water tank...and then a ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on May 17, 2011
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A few thoughts on Renting vs Buying (with Jacqueline Baker)With interest rates still at historic lows, the housing market looks affordable for many families across Canada and yet far from reach for many others. Can you guess who?
As the old saying goes "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer" and here in Canada, it's the truth! It’s note surprising to learn that according to CMHC “a typical homeowner went from being 18 times wealthier than ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on March 4, 2011
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Best Buy Canada and CENTURY 21 Canada Announce New Geek Squad Partnership
Canadians who purchase a new home through CENTURY 21 are offered one of three Geek Squad services for free
Announcement Highlights:
New national partnership will bring Geek Squad into the homes of Canadians who purchase through Century 21, offering one of three Geek Squad services for free to set up their new home.
Offers include Home Theatre Consultation - $99 value; Basic Home Theatre ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on March 4, 2011
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Average Price = BSBelow is an article published today in the Vancouver Sun stating "Average BC home price hits record high of $505,178 in 2010" As Realtors, Buyers, Sellers, publishers and the public we need to stop looking at things like average price for anything other than pure amusement. Take the West Side of Vancouver; a condo in Fairview has a much higher average price then a condo in Marpole but they are ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on February 11, 2011
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Smallworks Laneway CottagesI received this email from Smallworks today. I am really impressed with this company; they are doing very cool and creative things with small spaces. --- "At about half the price of our full-sized Laneway Houses, our new single-level Laneway Cottages have only marginally less living space and retain most of the amenities. Our building time is reduced by half and the municipal fees are ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on February 11, 2011
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Coming Soon...Kits 360I received an email this morning regarding a great new condo project by Intergulf Development Group in Kits. Stay tuned for more info. Dear Craig, KITS360 is coming soon and we want to let you know first about the amazing qualities of this soon-to-be coveted community:
Spectacular views of downtown, False Creek, English Bay, the North Shore Mountains and beyond Prime Kitsilano location ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on February 11, 2011
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5 Reasons to buy Real Estate in East Vancouver
East Vancouver is becoming a more and more popular place for people of all demographics to purchase Real Estate, both a place to live and an investment property. Here are my top 5 reasons you should consider East Vancouver for your next Real Estate purchase:
Room for growth. Unlike areas like Yaletown which has reached the proverbial ceiling as far as potential to increase in price East Vancouver ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on January 8, 2011
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December 2010; Real estate market stable at year-end
The Greater Vancouver residential housing market entered three distinctive phases in 2010. Continued buoyancy from the post-recession recovery began the year, followed by a summer lull and, throughout the fall, a sustained period of stability.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that total sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in 2010 reached 30,595, ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on January 8, 2011
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How to Buy a Condo in Vancouver and not get screwed
You have heard the horror stories: You parents friend who bought a condo and had to pay $100,000 because it was leaking, your cousin’s boyfriend who unknowingly bought a grow-op, the dude you went to high school with who mortgaged more than he could actually afford and ended up in foreclosure, that guy in the paper who decided he didn’t want to complete on his presale condo and thought ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on December 12, 2010
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The Hunt for VALUE
Everyone is looking for VALUE, especially now that we have realized Vancouver Real Estate is not bullet proof and we can no longer use our homes as short term savings accounts. The hard part is trying to figure out what constitutes VALUE. Some people look at price per square foot, sure this can work if things like view, finishings and location are meaningless... people talk about "bang for your ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on December 10, 2010
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Is 2011 the Year you STOP RENTING?Home Buying can be a daunting process; however, it is not always as difficult as it can seem to be. That 1 bedroom condo you pay $1500/month in rent for, did you know you could own it for a very similar monthly payment even with a minimum down payment? Something to think about.... A few reasons why 2011 could be a great year for you to buy:
Interest rates are still very low. Yes, ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on November 26, 2010
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Vancouver Live Work Spaces
Live/Work is a great option for many people, especially young entrepreneurs who maybe can't afford both a home and office space. Below are the guidelines for Live/Work in Vancouver. Via: City of Vancouver LIVE-WORK USE GUIDELINES Adopted by City Council on March 21, 2006 Note: These guidelines are organized under standard headings. As a consequence, there are gaps in the numbering sequence where ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on October 26, 2010
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HST...what is taxable?Here is a helpful brochure explaining the effect of the upcoming HST in British Columbia. HST, What is taxable? For more info visit: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/gnrl/menu-eng.html.
Craig Rushton, CENTURY 21 In Town Realty, 604.505.6503, craig@craigrushton.com, www.craigrushton.com
Posted by Craig Rushton
on June 15, 2010
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How Big is too Big?Another HUGE project being proposed for Greater Vancouver. Marine Gateway is an interesting 950,000 mixed use proposal including 390 condo units, 197 rental apartments and 288,000 square feet of retail space. The developer is calling the project Bold, Strategic and Ambitious and as with all project is being met with mixed reviews; to some this development will provide a much needed boost ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on May 26, 2010
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2600 New Doors in Richmond...The following article is from the Vancouver Sun and I must say I am not sure how I feel about this new development. The developer has not released the details yet but I am having a hard time seeing the sustainability in building 2600 new "Luxury Residences" I am also-personally- having trouble comparing Richmond to Vancouver's Coal Harbour. In Richmond there are currently 1152 MLS attached listings ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on April 27, 2010
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Kelly Lantz, CENTURY 21 Colonial in Charlottetown, PEI
Kelly Lantz CENTURY 21 Colonial 1-902-314-4714 kelly.lantz@century21.ca www.kellylantz.com www.twitter.com/kellylantz
Posted by Craig Rushton, CENTURY 21 In Town Realty, Vancouver, 604.505.6503, www.craigrushton.com
Posted by Craig Rushton
on March 30, 2010
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10 questions for homebuyers who want to go green Via the Wall Street JournalVia: WSJ For homebuyers, green is fast becoming a priority — whether it's because they want to reduce their energy costs, minimize their carbon footprint or improve indoor air quality.
Here are 10 questions that prospective buyers or renters ought to ask to find out how green a house or apartment is.
1. How big is it? The bigger the home, the more energy it uses. The U.S. Green Building ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on March 12, 2010
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What is a Loft?Everyone has their own definition of a loft, it has 2 floors, or is one open space, has exposed beams or concrete floors. What matters most is that lofts are incredible and unique spaces that can be used in almost any way the owner wants them to be.
From Wikipedia:
Loft Apartments
Loft apartments are apartments that are generally built from former industrial buildings. When ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on March 12, 2010
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A Few Good InspectorsNever, never, never buy a home without an inspection. Period. It is the best $500 you will ever spend and it could save you thousands down the road. When you are looking for an inspector a few things you should look for:
What are their credentials? Were they a builder before? Are they certified with CAHPI?
What is your take away? What you want is a book or report outlining any potential upcoming ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on January 8, 2010
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***Price Reduction*** Assignment Opportunity at Sold Out MacPherson Walk Now $399,000
South Burnaby's newest development; MacPherson Walk. This 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom ground level suite features 879 Square Feet of functional living space, and a 400+ square foot private patio and garden. BONUS 2 Parking included. This impressive development is situated on 7 acres of land with 3.8 acres dedicated to green space. This is an assignment of contract with completion Spring ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on November 23, 2009
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Using Walkscore.com when Buying Vancouver Real Estate
www.walkscore.com
Craig Rushton, CENTURY 21 In Town Realty, craig@craigrushton.com, www.craigrushton.com, www.twitter.com/craigrushton
Posted by Craig Rushton
on October 10, 2009
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The Hot September Real Estate Market
Real Estate Guru Ozzie Jurock talks about the great September we had in Vancouver Real Estate. Follow Ozzie on Twitter www.Twitter.com/77ozzie
Craig Rushton, CENTURY 21 In Town Realty, 604.505.6503, craig@craigrushton.com, www.craigrushton.com, www.Twitter.com/craigrushton
Posted by Craig Rushton
on October 8, 2009
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Buying Pre Sale Condos in Vancouver
What to look out for and pay attention to when buying pre sale condos in Vancouver.
Posted by Craig Rushton
on October 7, 2009
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Google Street View now available in Vancouver!How will this affect Real Estate? This is one more step in making the Home Buying process simpler. Now if you don't have time to drive through a neighbourhood and see what it has to offer check out Street View to look for parks, schools, churches, etc. Combine Google Street View with Walkscore and quickly learn about new neighbourhoods.
This technology will never make actually going to view ...
Posted by Craig Rushton
on October 7, 2009
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