Recent Blog Posts by Hayley Brown

O.M.R.E.B. December Media Release

  O.M.R.E.BMEDIA RELEASE   For Immediate Release:   December 6, 2011   Okanagan   ‐ Shuswap Market Continues Normalization Trend Kelowna, BC     – The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) reported November 2011 sales activity of all MLS® property types were up 9% over this time last year as the housing market continues ...

O.M.R.E.B. December Media Release

  O.M.R.E.BMEDIA RELEASE   For Immediate Release:   December 6, 2011   Okanagan   ‐ Shuswap Market Continues Normalization Trend Kelowna, BC     – The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) reported November 2011 sales activity of all MLS® property types were up 9% over this time last year as the housing market continues ...

Fix in for mortgages?

Fix in for mortgages? Garry Marr,  Financial Post  Tyler Anderson, National Post The fix is in, when it comes to the Canadian mortgage market. New government rules, which kicked in this week, have taken away choice from many Canadians and will force them to lock into a longterm mortgage. You'll hear a chorus from commentators who will say this is a good thing because Canadians ...

Fix in for mortgages?

Fix in for mortgages? Garry Marr,  Financial Post  Tyler Anderson, National Post The fix is in, when it comes to the Canadian mortgage market. New government rules, which kicked in this week, have taken away choice from many Canadians and will force them to lock into a longterm mortgage. You'll hear a chorus from commentators who will say this is a good thing because Canadians ...

February 2010 Summary

MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release: March 5, 2010 North Okanagan Housing Market Gains Momentum Vernon, BC - February 2010 sales activity of all MLS® property types has improved over 2008 and the early part of 2009 as the market gains momentum. “The economy in the North Okanagan continues to strengthen as manufacturing and commercial activity picks up, and consumer ...

Vernon Real Estate Sales January 2010

MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release: February 4, 2010 Positive Start to 2010 for North Okanagan Housing Market Vernon, BC - January 2010 sales activity of all MLS® property types has improved over 2008 and the early part of 2009 as the market moves steadily towards recovery. “The North Okanagan has entered the New Year on a positive note with strong sales activity ...

NEW Mortgage Rules

Flaherty moves to toughen mortgage rules By CBC News Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has announced new rules aimed at preventing homebuyers from getting into financial difficulty when mortgage rates rise. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced new rules Tuesday aimed at preventing homebuyers from getting into financial difficulty when mortgage rates rise. After consulting with major Canadian ...

North Okanagan Housing Market Continues to Recover

MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release: January 7, 2010 North Okanagan Housing Market Continues to Recover Vernon, BC - December 2009 sales activity of all MLS® property types has improved over last year and the early part of 2009 as the market continues to recover. “The year ended on a positive note after six months of steady growth,” says Rob Shaw, OMREB Director ...

Property listings decrease, as February sales improve

                                      Below is a copy of the latest statistics release. To view the complete stats package for February, please click on the following link: February Stats. VANCOUVER, B.C. . March ...

Thinking of Buying your First Home?

PICTURE BELOW-- First Time Home Buyers with two friends enjoyed their gift of a flight over their new home.   If you are reading this blog, you most likely have not yet bought a home and are either considering it or some time has passed since you bought your present home. I have to say congratulations for making it to this point so far. Do your research, talk to professionals ...

Preparing your home for a Sale

You have decided to Sell your house. Just as it is when you are buying a home, you need to be comfortable with your chosen Realtor. Again you will be working together to get top dollar for your property. Your Realtor has started the process of gathering all of the necessary information for the sale of your house and has a marketing plan in place. (there is a lot more to it than just that but ...

To Buy or Not to Buy

  This is an interesting time in Real Estate for us all. The common words that I hear every corner I turn, phone call I receive and e-mail I respond to has the same question..... "What is the market doing, should we wait a few more months before we buy?" Let me first say that he who has the correct answer also has a crystal ball. (if you know who "he" is, I'd love to meet him) First time ...

Banks provide relief with mortgage cuts

Banks provide relief with mortgage cuts LORI MCLEOD AND TARA PERKINS From Wednesday's Globe and Mail January 21, 2009 at 7:51 AM EST Consumers pinched by the credit crunch are getting some relief as lenders lower their rates on both fixed and variable mortgages. Lenders including Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto-Dominion Bank and CIBC are slicing mortgage rates ...

BCREA Fall Housing Forecast

According to BCREA's fall Housing Forecast, BC MLS residential sales are forecast to decline 28% from 102,805 units in 2007 to 73,700 units this year. A modest 4% increase to 76,500 units is forecast for 2009. A weaker provincial economy is expected to increase the jobless rate from 4.4% this year to 4.9% in 2009. "While some jobs losses will occur next year, BC households will remain on a relatively ...