ILLUMINATE VANCOUVER 2020

Want a fun date night activity on Valentine’s Day or want to do something fun and exciting with some friends? 

Come down to the heart of Yaletown to enjoy this FREE Light Art Exhibition with industry-leading light artists and designers who play with engaging advanced video and lighting technology.

WHEN: 1200 block of Hamilton Street

TIME: 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

WHERE: February 14 - February 15

In honour of the 10 year anniversary since the Olympics were held here in Vancouver, Illuminate Vancouver will pay homage for the 11th consecutive year by transforming Yaletown into a stunning light show. 

Some of Vancouver’s best restaurants that are located in Yaletown will be participating in the fun and offer “Olympic-theme cocktail menus” such as Banter Room, Robba da Mati, The Distillery Bar + Kitchen, West Oak and much more! They will also be playing gold medal Olympic games at 7 pm, so mark this on your calendars to relive the moment and have an amazing night!

To check out more upcoming events happening in Yaletown, go to www.yaletowninfo.com

When you think of having a million-dollar home the first thing that comes to mind is a giant mansion with a pool and media room. Unfortunately, these days having a million dollars in hopes of gaining a great home for the value is rare.

Now, this isn’t saying that Vancouver homes within the million-dollar range are all outdated and older. There are quite a few properties that nice and affordable but with ongoing increases in insurance prices, it’d becoming harder and harder to find. Although, having an amazing realtor that will go above and beyond to find the perfect home within your budget is crucial.

Down below are some of the most SHOCKING properties currently on the market being sold for high prices:

Price: $1,250,000

Address: 6791 Main St., Vancouver, BC

This is may not be what you were picturing given the price being offered. This is the perfect example of how crazy Vancouver’s real estate market truly is.

Source: REW / Edward Tong for Sutton Maple Pacific Realty

Price: $1,098,000

Address: 4995 St Catherines St., Vancouver BC

This is a bargain buy! Perfect for a redevelopment opportunity or as an investment property.

Source: Paul Eviston for RE/MAX

Here are a few houses that are within the million dollar range that are affordable in great neighbourhoods”

Price: $1,389,000

Address: 2822 Dundas St.

Located in the Hastings Sunrise area and perfect for a family home.

Source: REW / Sonya Reich and Dan McLennan for Homelife Benchmark Realty (Langley) Corp.

Price: $1,450,000

Address: 2993 Charles St.

This home has been extensively renovated. The photo may look deceiving but this cozy home in the Renfrew area features 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms!

Source: REW / Owen Bigland for Macdonald Realty Westmar

As mentioned previously, with an experienced and knowledgable realtor you can find the right home for you with your style preferences and within your budget.

So, if you or anyone you know is looking to buy and/or sell, contact me and I'd be happy to advise you!

Whether you're buying a home or renovating your home, here are some of the most popular trends we'll see for this upcoming year!

I've always had a passion for home design so it makes me excited to see that through the world of design there are endless possibilities. I'm not only intrigued myself on these trends but I want home-owners to be informed on what's in style now and whether it'll stay that way or will be passé soon.

INTERIOR HOME TRENDS

1) High-End Materials -- The go-to materials that most people dream of for their home are always stone, marble, quartz, etc. but it is also the time for high-end wood accents to make its debut. For example, fluted wood is making its way back into the popular choice for cabinet doors in the bathroom. On the other hand, for the kitchen, fluted glass doors are the way to go. As for metals and accents, brushed/stained gold accents are trending to give it a cozy and "lived-in" look.

2) Shades and Colours -- Neutrals are always in and will never go out of style. It seems to already be an inspiration for the colours of 2020 which is taken by the beauty of Mother Nature. Earth tones such as beige, terracotta, deep dark greens and deep blues are trending! The lighter shades bring a sense of cleanliness and zen, deep tones portray tranquility and comfort.

3) Bold Lighting -- Lighting choices are the focal points of a room and bring out a different energy and uniqueness to each homeowner's style. The forefront of lighting for 2020 are handmade designs such as those with irregular shapes like lighting created by blown glass.

EXTERIOR HOME TRENDS

1) Siding Material -- Popular siding choice is still wood. Although, there are some negative effects on wood as it is hard to upkeep. There is an alternative which is Maibec and CanExcel that offer the same visual appeal with much less maintenance. In terms of the colour for siding in 2020, it seems that most homeowners will stick to the classic white, black and charcoal.

2) Low Maintenance Plants -- It's true... most people love backyard gardens but it takes true dedication and commitment to landscaping and upkeeping the space. Low maintenance plants such as succulents and grass are trendy choice, along with green walls which are perfect for limited outdoor space while also providing privacy from neighbours.

3) Outdoor Kitchen -- The ongoing trend of being a "foodie" and people trying to transition to a healthier lifestyle for the new year has sparked the return of the outdoor kitchen. 

I hope you got some inspiration from this blog for your home and I wish you all a successful 2020!

YALETOWN OPEN HOUSES THIS WEEKEND!

Looking for a new home to start fresh in the new decade?

Check out open houses in Yaletown being held this weekend.

CLICK HERE for more details.

CLICK HERE if you're looking for a specific building or area within Yaletown for active listings.

So many fun things to do this holiday season with your friends and family! Check out some of my favourites:

Another amazing outdoor visual enchantment... but this one even has a light show! I held my annual Holiday event there earlier this month and it was a hit with everyone! Festival of Lights is amazing with small activities set up for the kids, food trucks, hot chocolate, and much more. Definitely a must-see activity during the holiday season!

Aurora Winter Festival

Canada's Largest Winter Festival is in Vancouver! They have a cute village that features a skating rink, tube park, Christmas Market, amusement rides, food gardens and of course, light displays all throughout the festival! They have special offers and kids ride free from December 14-23, check out their website for more details!

This Yaletown Penthouse Will Make You Feel Like You're Living in New York

Source: REW.ca

This home features 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with over 2800 sqft! It's being listed on the market for the FIRST TIME at $4,650,000. It has floor to ceiling windows, Architectural design details, and exposed concrete making it feel a unique loft space that gives an extra feeling of the infamous show "Gossip Girl" based in New York. Who wouldn't want to live in an amazing Vancouver neighbourhood in this stunning property. 

Source: REW.ca

You'll even have your own PRIVATE rooftop pool on your own rooftop terrace. It would be so perfect to have summer bbq's, watch the sunset or simply have a nice cup of coffee.

Source: REW.ca

THE PENTHOUSE AT THE ILIAD

Address: PH-1245 Homer St.

Price Offered: $4,650,000

FOR MORE DETAILS: https://www.rew.ca/properties/R2391619/ph-1245-homer-street-vancouver-bc

Now that the kids are out of school, and the sun is out, maybe it's time to make a few changes around the house! Here's some ideas on what you can do over the summer (maybe even with the help of your kids) to spruce up the home a little!

Gardening and Landscaping

Let's start off with someting easy. The best way to spice up your house is to plant some new flowers, or trim that old tree in your back yard! Maybe you can eventually turn your back yard into a beautiful garden when you become an expert! 

Backyard Renovations

Now that the sun's out, you're going to be spending a lot more time outside, so it's a good idea to transform that backyard into a place that you want to be! Maybe add that fire pit, or install that swimming pool that you've always wanted! Now is the time to do so! 

Pressure Wash

This is probably one of the easiest things you can do to freshen up the look of your home! You can also do this easily without the help of a professional. Just take a day to do so, and I guarantee you that your home will look as good as new!

Paint the Exterior

Applying a fresh coat of paint to the exterior may not seem like much, but you will be surprised at how much it can do for the appearance of your home!

Let us know which one of these ideas you did, and how it went! We would love to see the before and after pictures! 

If you're somewhat familiar with real estate, then you must have heard of the term "assignments". But, do you know what that term means in the real estate world (No, they're not what your teacher assigns you in school). 

Assignment Definition

An assignment is a transaction between the assignor (the original buyer of the property) and the assignee (the new buyer of the property). The assignor and assignee enter a contract in which the assignee will take over the rights & obligations of the contract of purchase and sale. All this happens before the completion date of the intial sale. 

This is a legal, and legitimate practice in real estate. 

Despite this being a legal practice, the RECBC has developed requirements that must be followed to avoid abuse of assignment contracts. These requirements include: 

• The contract must not be assigned without the written consent of the original seller 
• The seller is entitled to any profit resulting from an assignment of the contract by the buyer or any subsequent assignee

Important Assignment Terms To Know

Lift: The lift is the balance of the assignment amount (Typically a positive number because property values appreciate over time). Essentially, it's what the assignor is getting paid by selling this assignment to the assignee. 

Assignment Fee: The developer commonly charges an assignment fee. This can be found in your original contract. You should also be aware that you may need developer approval before being able to assign your property. 

In conclusion, selling an assignment can be confusing, and is quite different from selling a regular property. This is why it's important to do your research before! 

As always, feel free to contact us if you're interested in buying/selling an assignment! We are here to help make your real estate journey as smooth as possible! 

Resources:

https://www.recbc.ca/licensee/contract-assignment-faq-2.html