When it comes to renovations, green is the new fad! Start a green revolution in your own home by performing a renovation that respects the earth and reduces airborne toxins, too. Some of my favorite products include:
Made from renewable, natural ingredients, Marmoleum is a healthy choice for the environment and your environment. Marmoleum’s naturally inherent anti-static properties repel dust and dirt, making it easy to keep clean and allergen free.
Cork is environmentally-friendly, hypoallergenic and creates a natural and elegant look. Cork regenerates much faster than other wood products. Cork is completely renewable, carefully protected resource, and every bit that’s harvested gets used.
Made from recycled glass and cement slabs this counter top material is VOC-free, Cradle to Cradle Gold certified, and contain 100% recycled glass. If you are looking for a green alternative to marble or granite consider a recycled glass counter top may be a good option.
It is a beautiful, heavy-duty, composite known for its environmental sustainability, its contemporary appearance and its remarkable warmth to touch. It is an attractive new material that is produced in a socially responsible manner and can be used for kitchen and bathroom countertops.
Check out this empowering video about energy conservation. Hope you enjoy!
When you’re thinking about buying your first home, it’s essential for you to be confident in your decision to buy instead of rent. However, you may not know about the many great reasons to buy a home! Here are just a few of them:
Smart investment
When you invest in a home, it offers the possibility for appreciation in value. The equity becomes yours when you’re still paying off your mortgage. You even get to live in it while your investment matures.
Tax advantages
Since both mortgage interest and property taxes are tax deductible, homeownership can save you significant amounts of money every year.
Planned housing costs
You decide how much you spend on your home, including repairs and improvements. Unlike renters, homeowners with a fixed-rate loan can lock in their monthly housing costs.
Improvements to your taste
You can choose which improvements to make your own property, such as a deck, kitchen remodel, or new paint, instead of needing permission from your landlord.
If you have more questions about making the decision to buy a home, please feel free to call or email.
Check out the attached article from Mullin Demeo (law firm in Victoria BC)
Last year was marked by a surprising and strong recovery for the Victoria area real estate market following the slowdown in 2008 and the early part of 2009. Total sales of homes and other properties rose by 24 per cent compared to 2008 while the value of all property transactions through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) system rose over 20 per cent to nearly $3.8 billion.
Victoria Real Estate Board President Randi Masters says the strength of the recovery came as a welcome surprise, “Given the significant world-wide economic downturn we were very pleased to see the real estate market recovering so quickly. With interest rates expected to remain low in the coming months, we are anticipating a strong and balanced market in the coming year.” Masters noted that while sales rebounded strongly last year, overall average prices showed little change compared to 2008. The overall average price for single family homes declined by less than one per cent, condominium prices declined by less than three per cent and townhome prices remained essentially unchanged.
Masters added that December saw a normal decrease in sales compared to November with some minor fluctuations in prices. The average price of single family homes in Greater Victoria last month was $651,316. Sixteen sales of over $1 million, including one sale in Central Saanich of over $5 million affected the overall average. The six-month average was $601,237 while the median price was significantly lower at $555,000. The average price of all condominiums sold in December was $345,907; the average for the last six months was $324,919 while the median was $289,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $477,998; the six-month average was $450,305 and the median was $422,500.
MLS® sales last month included 246 single family homes, 115 condominiums, 44 townhomes and 12 manufactured homes.
Masters noted there has been a substantial decline in the number of properties available for sale, “As of the end of December, there were 2,557 properties available for sale — down 33 per cent from a year earlier.”
Making your house more environmentally friendly can help save money, save the environment, and save your health at the same time. Here are some popular “green” projects that you can do yourself:
Lighting
More than 90 percent of the energy produced by incandescent lights is heat, not light, so replace fixtures with more efficient bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs fit into an incandescent socket and operate on a quarter of the energy used by incandescents, lasting 10 times longer.
Plumbing
When replacing your toilet, conserve water by purchasing a low-flow toilet, which can save around 4 gallons/15 litres of water per flush. And while you’re at it, add an aerator to your faucets. Inexpensive low-flow aerators are easy to install and can cut water use by half or more.
Painting
Many paints contain chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other toxic components which evaporate and can hurt your indoor air quality and aggravate asthma and allergies. Many major paint manufacturers offer low- or no-VOC paints to help you avoid those potential health hazards.
Flooring
Bamboo is an environmentally friendly substitute for hardwood that provides much of the hardness and convenience of traditional wood flooring at about the same price. Look for a formaldehyde-free pre-finish and low formaldehyde-adhesive emissions. For carpets choose wool—it’s renewable, biodegradable, and often more durable than synthetics.
In addition, take a close look at your appliances. If your washing machine is more than 10 years old, you can save up to $100 a year by switching to a new, efficient model.
Given the continuing popularity of “green” homes, these improvements may increase your home’s appeal when it comes time to sell.
If you’re shopping for properties in Victoria right now, then you’re right to believe that the inventory is quite limited. Active listings have actually decreased 30% from last year at this time, translated there isn’t a lot to choose from right now. If your thinking about waiting until the Spring to buy then you are risking the possibility that prices may have risen by that point. The market has just began to exhibit a seller’s market conditions as a result of low inventory and rising prices (BCREA). It has been forecast that home prices will continue to rise in the months to come and should match record highs of last year and then the market is projected to stabilize in 2010. A good document for buyers and sellers to review is the BC Real Estate Association Economic Forecast (http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/economics/HousingForecast.pdf). This document forecasts that the annual prices in Victoria will contract 4% this year and rise 2% in 2010 (to date prices have dropped 5% and so this means that BCREA is projecting a 1% increase in prices in the next few months). Therefore in my opinion, although it is challenging shopping for property right now, it would be a mistake to give up and with for the spring market.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me on my cell at 250-857-6045.
The number of property sales in the Greater Victoria area slowed during August but sales were again significantly higher than a year ago. Prices, meantime, remained stable with some increase for single family homes. A total of 764 homes and other properties sold in August through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), down from the 933 sales in July but up 48 per cent compared to the 517 sales in August of last year.
Victoria Real Estate Board President, Chris Markham, says it is usual for sales to slow in August, “Many people take holidays in August so it is not surprising to see sales soften somewhat. We are very pleased, however, to note the significant increase in sales last month compared to August of a year ago which gives further evidence
of the strengthening of the market.”
There were 3,509 properties available for sale at the end of August, down 25 per cent from the 4,657 properties available in the same month a year ago. “The decline in the number of properties available for sale will continue to place some upward pressure on prices,” said Markham. Sales so far this year are running over six per cent higher than in the first eight months of last year.
The average price for single family homes sold in Greater Victoria last month was $596,498, up from $565,469 in July. Markham noted that the average price was affected by 17 sales of over $1 million. “These included two sales of over $4 million, one in Saanich East and one in Central Saanich, and these had a significant impact on the overall average price,” he stated. The median price increased $20,000 to $540,000. The six-month average was $569,546. The overall average price for condominiums was $317,312 last month, down from $328,441 in July. The average for the last six months was $307,347. The median price for condominiums in August remained unchanged at $290,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $455,430 up from $443,109 in July. The median price dropped slightly to $419,000. The six month average was $421,565.
MLS® sales last month included 403 single family homes, 218 condominiums, 91 townhomes and 11 manufactured homes.
(courtesy of VREB)
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