BC Government is Raising the threshold for the new housing rebate on the HST from $400,000 to $500,000
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/11/19/bc-hst-new-home-rebate-raised.html
Housing market to Continue Upswing
By Castanet Staff - Story: 50512
Nov 2, 2009 / 10:56 am
The housing market's gradual upswing will continue throughout the fall and into the new year, says Kelowna's Paul Fabri of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
“Strong price competition, a good selection of listings and favourable interest rates will help sustain growth in demand for existing homes next year,” says Fabri. “Expect existing home prices to edge back up as demand improves and the supply of listings is drawn down."
Fabri said the biggest improvement will come in the detached home sector, as the existing supply of new homes is sold and new homes will be built. Condo housing starts will be slower, as there is still a large number of new units on the market.
"At the end of September, there were approximately 250 new, built condo units on the market and that doesn't include the units that have yet to be built," says Fabri. "So for the first half of 2010 we won't see a lot of condo construction."
Fabri says new construction will also start in the rental apartment market, as rental prices have come up and land that was originally intended for condominiums may end up for multi-family rental housing instead.
“Strong price competition, a good selection of listings and favourable interest rates will help sustain growth in demand for existing homes next year,” says Fabri. “Expect existing home prices to edge back up as demand improves and the supply of listings is drawn down."
Fabri said the biggest improvement will come in the detached home sector, as the existing supply of new homes is sold and new homes will be built. Condo housing starts will be slower, as there is still a large number of new units on the market.
"At the end of September, there were approximately 250 new, built condo units on the market and that doesn't include the units that have yet to be built," says Fabri. "So for the first half of 2010 we won't see a lot of condo construction."
Fabri says new construction will also start in the rental apartment market, as rental prices have come up and land that was originally intended for condominiums may end up for multi-family rental housing instead.
Fall Maintenance for Your Home
Is your home ready for cold weather? These fall maintenance tips for your home will help get you ready for chilly temps, and help save money by making your home more energy efficient. Don't wait until something important breaks down before you fix it! Preventative maintenance is the key to saving money and keeping your home warm and comfortable during cold winter months.
Take one day to finish these fall maintenance tips for your home. You'll be glad you did!
Check weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows. If you notice any gaps in the coverage, make a quick trip to your local home improvement store for new materials. Keep all cold air out, and all warm air in your home with well-sealed windows and doors.
Replace your furnace filter before you even turn the unit on. A nice, clean filter will help air flow freely, and will put less strain on your furnace, making your home more energy efficient.
Have a qualified heating professional come and check your heating unit before cold weather hits. If you wait you see noticeable problems with your heater, you may not be able to get someone to come out to check it out before it breaks. These individuals are much busier during cold weather, so get them out to your home now.
If you have a chimney, having a professional chimney sweep come out and clean out flues. Again, don't wait until the weather is cold. Do it now to save yourself time and money.
If you live where the weather becomes extremely cold, protect your home from frozen pipes. Insulate the pipes before the weather dips down to freezing temps. The more insulation you use, the less susceptible they are to freezing.
Change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The risk of house fire and carbon monoxide poisoning increase during winter months, so make sure that your family is protected.
By taking the time to complete the fall maintenance tips for your home listed here, you will ensure that your home stays nice and warm all winter long.
Take one day to finish these fall maintenance tips for your home. You'll be glad you did!
Check weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows. If you notice any gaps in the coverage, make a quick trip to your local home improvement store for new materials. Keep all cold air out, and all warm air in your home with well-sealed windows and doors.
Replace your furnace filter before you even turn the unit on. A nice, clean filter will help air flow freely, and will put less strain on your furnace, making your home more energy efficient.
Have a qualified heating professional come and check your heating unit before cold weather hits. If you wait you see noticeable problems with your heater, you may not be able to get someone to come out to check it out before it breaks. These individuals are much busier during cold weather, so get them out to your home now.
If you have a chimney, having a professional chimney sweep come out and clean out flues. Again, don't wait until the weather is cold. Do it now to save yourself time and money.
If you live where the weather becomes extremely cold, protect your home from frozen pipes. Insulate the pipes before the weather dips down to freezing temps. The more insulation you use, the less susceptible they are to freezing.
Change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The risk of house fire and carbon monoxide poisoning increase during winter months, so make sure that your family is protected.
By taking the time to complete the fall maintenance tips for your home listed here, you will ensure that your home stays nice and warm all winter long.
Finances - Homeowners Insurance
It is something that you have to have, so why not make sure you are getting the best deal possible. For many households, simply taking the time to compare different insurance plans can lead to savings of 10% or more per year. You want to make sure that you are adequately insured, but many people make the mistake of getting too much insurance instead. Below we have included some tips that can help you save on your homeowners insurance:
- Add some security devices such as smoke deterctors, dead bolts, or a burglar alarm
- Do an annual review to compare the amount of insurance you are carrying to your home and assets. You want to be properly insured without overpaying for insurance you do not need.
- Often insurers will offer steep discounts if you also get your auto insurance through them
- Call and ask your insurer if there is anything you can do to save. This simple act can often save your some money.
- Consider raising your deductible. Call your insurer to find out what you could save by raising your deductible another $250.
These few steps can help you gather the information needed to ensure you have the right coverage at the right price.
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