Langley BC Real Estate | Condominums And Town Homes

Unfortunately not all builders are reputable. Luckily there are measures a buyer can take to reduce the chances of hiring a shady home builder.

The first step towards finding a reputable builder in the Langley, White Rock and Surrey area is to hire a real estate expert. The professionals at Remax Treeland Realty can help you find a builder to meet your needs.

Licenses and Credentials
The government and industry associations have set up a system of checks and balances to evaluate those individuals who call themselves home builders. Successful completion of requirements by these agencies will result in a license or designation by the association. A quality builder will have these credentials and make them available for your review. They include licensing by the state they operate in and certification from groups and associations they are members of. Another precaution to take is to go to the Langley, White Rock and Surrey building inspector and ask questions. Is the building inspector familiar with this builder? Does this builder pull the proper permits needed?

Consumer Protection Groups
Be sure to contact the Better Business Bureau to learn if there are any complaints against any builder prior to hiring them.

References
One of the most obvious measures you can take to evaluate a builder’s reputation is to check out their references. Even unscrupulous builders will have a list of references. The shady builders bank on the fact that most clients will not take that extra step to actually contact the people on the reference list. Don’t be fooled! Do your homework and check out their references. Contact people who have used this builder recently as well as clients from several years ago. Find out if they are still happy with builder after being in the home for a while. Ask the people on the reference list if they would hire the builder again. Contact any subcontractors to make sure the builder pays his bills on time.

Works in Progress
Visit job sites the builder is currently working on. Make observations about the overall look of the project as well as how it is being run. Does the job site look organized? Are the workers productive and efficient? Evaluate the overall quality of the workmanship.

Financial Issues
Determine how long the builder has been in business in the Langley, White Rock and Surrey area. Make sure they have adequate financial backing to complete your job as well as other jobs currently under contract. After all, you don’t want a builder to go bankrupt in the middle of your new construction project. Ask what kind of insurance the builder carries. Are they bonded? Do they have insurance for their workmen? Obtain a detailed list of what is included in the builder’s price. Ask if any guarantees are provided. A reputable builder will put this in writing.

Free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Langley, White Rock and Surrey real estate. For complete information about the Langley, White Rock and Surrey real estate market including new home construction, current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Langley, White Rock and Surrey real estate at www.mylangleyrealestate.com or www.yourperfecthome.ca . Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 778.862.5542 or email me at andrew@yourperfecthome.ca .

Don’t underestimate the importance of landscaping when selling your house in Langley, White Rock and Surrey. After all, your yard is the first thing a potential buyer will see. The exterior appearance of a house for sale is perceived as a reflection of the interior of the house, according to Andrew Szalontai, professional real estate agent in the Langley, White Rock and Surrey area. A neglected yard sends up a red flag to potential buyers. On the other hand, a well landscaped property gives potential buyers the impression the rest of the house will be well maintained as well. Proper landscaping implies the seller cares about this property.

There is more to landscaping than just a green lawn. These days buyers are looking for outdoor living areas. Outdoor kitchens and ‘living rooms’ are becoming popular in the Langley, White Rock and Surrey area. Some houses have elaborate outdoor living spaces and others accomplish this with modest fixtures and hardscaping. Whichever way the landscape is completed, having a well thought out design that compliments the house will aid in a quicker sale.

Several landscaping trends are popular in the Langley, White Rock and Surrey area, according to Andrew Szalontai. They are water displays, outdoor kitchens, and outdoor living rooms.

Water Displays
Water displays are popular these days. From fountains and waterfalls to koi ponds, creating a water feature is a trendy landscape option. For a more elaborate water feature, add some aquatic plants and fish for visual interest.

Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens bring the full dining experience outdoors. An outdoor kitchen may include from a fire pit or bar-b-que to high end stainless steel fixtures built into the hardscape.

Outdoor Living Rooms
Outdoor living rooms take patio furniture to the next level. An outdoor living space blends the feel of an interior living room with the openness of the outdoors, creating additional living space, and therefore, the perception of a larger home.

Blending a well maintained landscape with a few key outdoor elements can increase the value of your house. Additionally, well landscaped properties sell quicker in the Langley, White Rock and Surrey area.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Langley, White Rock and Surrey real estate. For complete information about the Langley, White Rock and Surrey real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Langley, White Rock and Surrey real estate at www.mylangleyrealestate.com or www.yourperfecthome.ca . Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 778.862.5542 or email me at andrew@yourperfecthome.com .

VANCOUVER, B.C. – April 6, 2010 – A steady influx of new listings has helped create a balanced ‘typical spring’ housing market in the Greater Vancouver region.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that new listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 7,004 in March 2010. This represents a 60 per cent increase compared to March 2009 when 4,385 new units were listed, and a 52.1 per cent increase compared to February 2010 when 4,606 properties were listed on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®).

At 13,538, the total number of property listings on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) increased 19 per cent in March compared to last month, but remains 7.6 per cent below this time last year.

“The total number of homes listed for sale on our MLS® is at its highest level in 10 months, which translates into more options and variety for those looking to buy during the traditionally busy spring period,” Jake Moldowan, REBGV president said.

Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 3,137 in March 2010, a 38.5 per cent increase compared to March 2009, a 4.7 per cent increase over March 2008, and a 12.4 per cent decrease compared to March 2007. The current figure also represents a 26.8 per cent increase compared to the 2,473 sales recorded in February 2010.

“With a sales-to-listing ratio of 23 per cent, we see a healthy balance between buyer demand and seller supply in the marketplace,” Moldowan said.

Over the last 12 months, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver increased 20.3 per cent to $584,435 from $485,845 in March 2009. This price is 2.8 per cent above the previous high point in the market in May 2008 when the residential benchmark price sat at $568,411.

Sales of detached properties in March 2010 reached 1,336, an increase of 49 per cent from the 897 detached sales recorded in March 2009 and a 19.7 per cent increase from the 1,116 units sold in March 2008. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 23.3 per cent from March 2009 to $800,341, but declined 0.6 per cent compared to last month when the benchmark price was $800,796.

Sales of apartment properties in March 2010 reached 1,252, an increase of 28.3 per cent compared to the 976 sales in March 2009 and a decline of 8.6 per cent compared to the 1,370 sales in March 2008.The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 17.3 per cent from March 2009 to $395,507 and is up 1.2 per cent compared to last month when the benchmark price was $390,899.

Attached property sales in March 2010 totalled 549, an increase of 40.1 per cent compared to the 392 sales in March 2009 and a 7.4 per cent increase from the 511 attached properties sold in March 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 17.3 per cent between March 2009 and 2010 to $493,263, but declined 0.5 per cent compared to last month when the benchmark price was $495,496.

For immediate release: April 6, 2010

(Surrey, BC) – With plenty of selection and relatively modest price increases, buyers are enjoying a healthy spring market in the Fraser Valley. The Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) recorded 1,565 sales in March, an increase of 30 per cent over February’s sales and an increase of 56 per cent over the 1,006 sales processed March of last year.

Deanna Horn, president of the Board says, “March sales volumes can fluctuate as much as the weather, and this year’s reached the mid-point between the highs and lows seen over the last decade.

“However, available listings were near the peak, meaning buyers had lots to choose from and were clearly taking advantage of great buying opportunities.”

There were 3,395 new listings entered onto the MLS® in March, slightly higher than in March 2009, when 3,028 new listings were added. Altogether, there were 9,828 active listings on the MLS® at the end of March, on par with the 9,832 active listings one year ago.

The ratio of sales compared to active listings, which indicates the type of market, reached 16 per cent in March, representing a buyer’s market. This is up from last year’s 10 per cent but a far cry from the 25 per cent ratio in March 2007, when the Fraser Valley was in a seller’s market.

“Prices are closing in on the record highs we last saw in spring 2008, so it’s no surprise to see the increase in listings as sellers position themselves to move up or downsize into a smaller residence using their home equity for their purchase.”

In March, the benchmark price for Fraser Valley detached homes was $514,787, an increase of 11.9 per cent from the March 2009 price of $459,841.

The benchmark price of Fraser Valley townhouses in March was $326,307, a 10.3 per cent increase compared to $295,809 in March 2009. The benchmark price of apartments increased by 8.6 per cent yearover-year going from $227,188 in March 2009 to $246,673 in March 2010.