NEWS & EVENTS

Here are some fun ideas for freshening up and adding excitement to your home decor. On line shopping opens up a world of opportunities which, with a little creativity (and we’re rich on that here on Vancouver Island), you can copy or modify to your own taste. I personally love the idea of fabrics that…

I’ve heard it say ‘don’t eat in a restaurant that has pictures on the menu’ but in this case, you’d be well-served to make an exception (there are plentiful photos on the website)!  I recently discovered the Spice Hut in Comox, thanks to the recommendation of my dear friends and clients Jim and Pat McLean,…

Buyers have choices. They make decisions about a property within a blink of an eye. Here are ten overlooked tips for getting your property sold.   1. Don’t get personal Whether working with a professional stager or going it alone, cut all emotional ties. Visit each room, remember the memories and then pack the sentimentality…

In an exciting development this month, the Coast Realtor team moved to combine their great strengths with the Royal LePage.group in Oceanside. For me, this represents a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the exposure of your home, and bring additional tools and resources to help buyers and sellers made the best decisions in all their real…

I always talk to my real estate clients from out of town about the wonderful beaches in Oceanside and this great list provides the evidence. Of all the lovely places to be in British Columbia we rate high in so many and, when it comes to beaches, it turns out we’re not only on the…

This year will be the 45th occasion of the fabulous Lighthouse Country Fair. Of all the local celebrations, this is surely the most genuine country fair around. Be sure to mark it in your calendar for September 5 for lots of old time fun. This year, for the first time, along with games for all…

Small Towns Beat Big Cities Living in Qualicum Bay, with Bowser as my go-to town, this delightful little blog resonated with me. I’m always telling buyers I meet about the joys of living here and encouraging people to explore our area as the best place to live on Vancouver Island! I’ve moved out. Way out,…

Deferring your property taxes – if you’re eligible – can be a smart way to get equity out of your home. Interest rates are simple (not compounded) and generally reasonable but the program does require a lien on your title which may impact your ability to acquire a mortgage. There are some rules, for starters…

Here comes another ‘special day’ that all too often, creates expectations for expensive gifts and on this occasion particularly, going out for dinner. I’d like to make the case for having a good time in your perfect home without doing either! I find the gifts I’ve treasured most over the years are presents that involve…

If you’re buying a home in British Columbia that will be your principal residence and you haven’t held an interest in a principle residence anywhere in the world before now, you may be eligible for the BC Government First Time Home Buyers Program. Restrictions relative to the length of your residency in BC apply, as…

The local housing market finished 2014 on a high note, capping off a year which saw consistent monthly gains in sales and average home prices and setting the stage for a favourable market in 2015 for both buyers and sellers. Our local housing market in 2014 was positively influenced by an increase in consumer confidence…