I bet my fellow REALTORs in Vancouver would like to show homes in this.
CheersBest regards,
Dean Birks
Top Office Producer 2010
Royal LePage Prince George
250-612-1709 Sent via BlackBerry
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Now that's a lot of snow!
Best regards,
Dean Birks
Top Office Producer 2010
Royal LePage Prince George
250-612-1709 Sent via BlackBerry
Friday, February 18, 2011
March 18, 2011 - Time is running out on 35 year amortization and 90% re-finance
Below is an email I received today and thought some of you may be interested. Cheers!
Best regards Dean Birks Top Office Producer 2010
Royal LePage Prince George
Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709 www.DeanBirks.com Prince George Real Estate Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!
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Now that banks and lenders have raised their fixed rates across the board from .15 to .25%, the next question is... what next? Are they going to continue to rise? Quicky? Slowly? It partly depends on who you listen to and partly what you believe. The majority of people whose opinions are listened to predict that interest rates will rise sooner than later and quicker than we expect. Food prices are rising around the world fueling unrest but also attracting investment. Predictions of higher commodity prices and bond rates are causing "upward pressure" on mortgage rates. Investors in mortgages are going to place their money where it gets them the most money. Many are locking in to protect themselves against future rate increases. And that is not a bad idea. 5 year fixed mortgage rates around 4% are a very good thing. Others who feel there is still time to work the variable rates in their favor are feeling that rates will remain where they (maybe even wiggle up and down for the next while) and bank prime will remain @ 3.00% until summer. The general consensus is that as rates do rise, it will be very gradually. A gentle massage to bring the economy back to stability...predictability. The stuff plans are made of.I'm not sure what is going to happen in the next six to twelve months as I read conflicting reports. It seems as if everybody is looking through a different microscope. Facts: everyone can and will be able to purchase with 5% down. Starting March 19th maximum allowable amortization (the total length of time your mortgage payments are based on) will be reduced from 35 years to 30 years. That means the same payment will qualify for 6% less in mortgage funds.
Starting March 19th any one re-financing their home for any reason will be restricted to the same 30 year amortization and only allowed 85% of the current market value of their property. That means even with rates remaining the same, someone with a $300,000 home can access $270,000 today. On March 19th the limit will be $239,700.
Most banks and lenders have declared they will follow with the same amortization limits on their conventional deals (deals with greater than 20% down payments and not needing CMHC to back the mortgage). Those lenders who have not yet announced they will also reduce amortization limits to 30 years...will. You can count on it.
Recommendations?: Take a look at your current income and payments. If you are vulnerable to any increase in rates of variable rate mortgages or lines of credit, meaning... can you afford to gamble on hoping rates won't go up any further? If you are the least bit concerned you should review your whole financial situation now, before March 18, 2011. An opportunity like this won't be around for a long time.thanks,
Bob Quinlan, Independent Mortgage Broker
Now that banks and lenders have raised their fixed rates across the board from .15 to .25%, the next question is... what next? Are they going to continue to rise? Quicky? Slowly? It partly depends on who you listen to and partly what you believe. The majority of people whose opinions are listened to predict that interest rates will rise sooner than later and quicker than we expect. Food prices are rising around the world fueling unrest but also attracting investment. Predictions of higher commodity prices and bond rates are causing "upward pressure" on mortgage rates. Investors in mortgages are going to place their money where it gets them the most money. Many are locking in to protect themselves against future rate increases. And that is not a bad idea. 5 year fixed mortgage rates around 4% are a very good thing. Others who feel there is still time to work the variable rates in their favor are feeling that rates will remain where they (maybe even wiggle up and down for the next while) and bank prime will remain @ 3.00% until summer. The general consensus is that as rates do rise, it will be very gradually. A gentle massage to bring the economy back to stability...predictability. The stuff plans are made of.I'm not sure what is going to happen in the next six to twelve months as I read conflicting reports. It seems as if everybody is looking through a different microscope. Facts: everyone can and will be able to purchase with 5% down. Starting March 19th maximum allowable amortization (the total length of time your mortgage payments are based on) will be reduced from 35 years to 30 years. That means the same payment will qualify for 6% less in mortgage funds.
Starting March 19th any one re-financing their home for any reason will be restricted to the same 30 year amortization and only allowed 85% of the current market value of their property. That means even with rates remaining the same, someone with a $300,000 home can access $270,000 today. On March 19th the limit will be $239,700.
Most banks and lenders have declared they will follow with the same amortization limits on their conventional deals (deals with greater than 20% down payments and not needing CMHC to back the mortgage). Those lenders who have not yet announced they will also reduce amortization limits to 30 years...will. You can count on it.
Recommendations?: Take a look at your current income and payments. If you are vulnerable to any increase in rates of variable rate mortgages or lines of credit, meaning... can you afford to gamble on hoping rates won't go up any further? If you are the least bit concerned you should review your whole financial situation now, before March 18, 2011. An opportunity like this won't be around for a long time.thanks,
Bob Quinlan, Independent Mortgage Broker
Monday, February 7, 2011
This would not be possible without your help. Thanks!
Thanks once again to all my present & past clients, friends and family for trusting me to help you with your Prince George Real Estate needs in 2010. I will continue to strive to meet the high expectations you have and thank you in advance for your referred business. I look forward in helping you or someone you know to reach your/their Real Estate goals in 2011 and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
I would never have obtained these awards without your help. Cheers!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
New Home price should cost less with HST
I just read over parts of an email I got with regards to the confusion with HST. When it comes to Real Estate and New Home construction there is allot of misunderstanding and it drives me nuts that the Home Builders Association does not do more in the way of promoting the positives for the consumer. If your looking to buy new construction the cost today should be lower. In pre-HST they had PST they could not claim back and passed on to the consumer bu now with HST they can claim back the entire tax which should be passed on to the buyers = lower price compared to pre-HST. Anyways, I am not an expert in tax but wanted to get out the general thought that HST for new construction should equal lower prices if the tax savings get passed on as they should.
Here is a new site for more info:
The HST Information Office launched www.hstinbc.ca a new website designed to put more factual information on the HST in the hands of British Columbians. Public opinion research released in December showed that there is confusion about the HST’s implications, and that a majority of British Columbians are interested in reviewing straightforward and factual information about the HST. The new website was created from a user perspective, based on a review of user surveys, site analytics and polling research. The site has an improved navigation system, so users can find facts and information faster. With a simple URL — www.hstinbc.ca — web users now have access to HST information from a consumer, family-budget, and small- or large-business perspective.
Hopes this helps! Have a super 'Super Bowl Sunday'.
Best regards Dean Birks Top Office Producer 2010
This weeks Top 10 from Pat
Once again I'm forwarding on another great list for BC.
Hi All
Pat Bell http://www.patbellmla.bc.ca
1. Bucking the national trend our local unemployment rate saw another drop last month to 6.1-percent. That's down .3% over Decembers 6.4 % rate, and an amazing turnaround when compared to last January's rate of 13%!
2. Small businesses across B.C. will be able to access free energy-efficiency advice, equipment and incentives with the new LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program. The $15-million, three-year LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program will be tailored to meet the needs of key sectors such accommodations, retail, agriculture, offices and more than $4.5 million allocated for upgrades in the restaurant industry. Building on the successful residential LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program, this new program will support small businesses owners who may not have the time, information or resources to make energy efficient improvements. There are four components to the program: Business Energy Advisors: will deliver free energy assessments, help owners tap into available product incentives and cash rebates, and help co-ordinate product installation. Direct Installation: will fund 100 per cent of the cost of replacing and installing select energy-efficient equipment such as lighting and pre-rinse spray valves for commercial kitchens. Enhanced Product Incentives: will increase cash rebates for more than 10,000 energy efficient products. LiveSmart Champion: an open call for businesses to access funding for new, innovative ways to conserve energy.
3. DriveBC is the Province of British Columbia’s most popular website, and it’s been overhauled and improved by Shirley Bond’s team to make it more user-friendly. The highlight of the new website is an enhanced map view of the province’s highway network. Users can roll over icons on the map to get details of highway events, road conditions and webcam information. As with the previous version of DriveBC, highway events are also available in list form. The DriveBC website at www.drivebc.ca is just one of the many tools the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is using to keep people informed of highway conditions and the work the ministry is doing around the province. Congratulations to Shirley for the great work!
4. A TD report out last week shows B.C. was a net recipient of 5,592 people moving here from other provinces in 2010 – the highest in Canada. BC is forecast to continue being a top destination for interprovincial migration through 2011 and 2012.
5. A new $15-million employment and skills training program can help unemployed British Columbians gain the skills, confidence and experience needed to find employment. The Province is providing $15 million each fiscal year for Job Options BC – a program that consists of four to six weeks of facilitated group work followed by an additional four to six weeks of work experience, preparing participants for new employment, or when appropriate, further training. When needed, individuals completing the program can also access up to six months of additional support to help them succeed.
6. The HST Information Office launched www.hstinbc.ca a new website designed to put more factual information on the HST in the hands of British Columbians. Public opinion research released in December showed that there is confusion about the HST’s implications, and that a majority of British Columbians are interested in reviewing straightforward and factual information about the HST. The new website was created from a user perspective, based on a review of user surveys, site analytics and polling research. The site has an improved navigation system, so users can find facts and information faster. With a simple URL — www.hstinbc.ca — web users now have access to HST information from a consumer, family-budget, and small- or large-business perspective.
7. Over 100 actions have been completed or are underway in response to the March 2009 Working Roundtable on Forestry. A January 2011 status update on recommendations from the Working Roundtable on Forestry is now available at: www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/forestry_roundtable This is the third progress report to be released by government. Copies of the original report and the two previous status updates are also available online.
8. $1.2 million in federal-provincial funding for the First Nations Forest Sector Technical Support Program will help First Nations with economic development in the forest and wood products industries. The Technical Support Program will help First Nations groups develop new and existing forest-related businesses. Participants will be provided with technical advice and hands-on expertise, such as best practices in harvesting, transportation, equipment selection, mill layout, manufacturing, market intelligence and market opportunities.
9. Increases of more than 10 per cent in overnight visitors from the U.S. and China, key tourism markets for British Columbia, have contributed to the sixth straight month of gains in international visitors, according to new figures released by Statistics Canada. International overnight visitors to B.C. jumped 7.5 per cent in November 2010 compared with November of the previous year, bringing 175,121 visitors to the province. Canada, by comparison, saw a 6.3 per cent increase. Overnight visitors to B.C. from the U.S. rose 10.9 per cent, while overnight visitors from China jumped 10.4 per cent.
10. Both the Interior and Coastal Forest Industries are benefiting from the work we have done in China. Thirty-five sawmill workers back on the job at the Western Forest Products sawmill in Ladysmith is a perfect example of how B.C.’s coastal forest sector is enjoying increased lumber demand from China. Lumber exports to China for January to November 2010 are nearly 2.5 billion board feet, with a total value of $580 million. With statistics for December still to come, I expect final exports for 2010 will top 2.8 billion board feet and exceed $660 million, to more than double last year’s shipments in terms of value. Provincial lumber exports to China between October and November were about 350 million board feet – one of the biggest monthly gains the market has seen in the last three years. The value of November shipments was about $84 million. More than 200 people are at work in Western’s Ladysmith, Somass, and Nanaimo operations due in part to the growth of the Chinese market for B.C. forest products.
Copy courtesy of:
Best regards Dean Birks Top Office Producer 2010
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Prince George population rate up for the 4th year in a row!
Despite what the Federal Gov't said, most of us here in PG knew there was no way our population was down and that is now supported by this recent report by Initiatives PG. See attached. Cheers!
Best regards Dean Birks Top Office Producer 2010
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