Selling your property and buying a new home can be a potentially intimidating experience... so much so that these jitters may even prevent some people from making a move!

It doesn't have to be that way.

A big part of the stress of selling and buying comes from not understanding the process or having unanswered questions. You might worry about how the state of the market will affect the value of your purchase over the long term or what you would do if you found your dream home before receiving any offers on your current property.

That's where a good REALTOR® comes in. He or she can explain the process to you, answer all your questions, and show you how to make your move go smoothly.

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Call the Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group today!!

Canadian employment rose by 58,000 jobs in April following a blockbuster March in which employment increased by 82,000. Despite large job gains in the past two months, the national unemployment rate edged up 0.1 points to 7.3 per cent as more Canadian were looking for work. 

Employment in British Columbia expanded by 19,700 in April, including 16,700 full-time positions. The BC unemployment rate fell by a surprising 0.8 points to 6.2 per cent. BC employment growth is up 2.1 per cent through the first four months of 2012, a marked improvement on the weak job growth of 2011. 

The Canadian economy has added 150,000 jobs over the past two Mont's, a rate of job growth that may firm up the Bank of Canada some decision to raise interest rates this Fall.  That said, we anticipate a gradual increase in rates with the Bank of Canada testing the water with one or two 25 basis points rate hikes over the fall and winter. 

Information provided by www.bcrea.bc.ca. 

Canadian housing starts soared 14 per cent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 244,900 units. The jump in starts was driven by a big increase in multiple-unit starts in Ontario and Quebec. New home construction in BC urban centres rose over 6 per cent from March 2012, registering 22,100 starts (SAAR) in April.  On a year-over-year basis, housing starts were 1.6 per cent lower than April 2011.

Housing starts were flat on a year-over-year basis in Vancouver at 1,332. A decline in single family starts of 19 per cent was offset by a 7 per cent increase in multi-family starts.  Abbotsford new home construction was up 60 per cent year-over-year in April due to increased activity in multi-family construction. New home construction in Victoria was off 5 cent compared with April 2011.  Finally, new home construction in Kelowna fell 51 per cent on a year-over-year basis due to much weaker activity in both the single-family and multi-family segment of the market.

Information provided by http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/. 

Most people feel confident about the basics of home security. For example: Keep all doors locked. Have a light on in the house while away. Never hide a key outside in an obvious place, like under the mat.

• Yet, almost a million and a half properties get burglarized in North America each year. So how can you prevent that from happening to your home? Here are a few less known home security basics:
• Actually, never hide a key outside. Thieves know all the hiding places. Instead, make sure all family members have a key.
• Two-thirds of home burglaries occur during the day. So be extra vigilant about making sure doors and windows are locked while you're away during the day.
• Surprisingly, most thieves are not daring. They are 2.7 times more likely to target a home without an alarm system.
• Thieves will attempt to force entry through sliding-style doors and windows first. So make sure these have a locking bar or extra bolt lock.
• Surprising, 40% of household burglaries do not involve forced entry. The thief is able to slip in through an unlocked window or door.
• Don't show off possessions! An imported racing bike parked next to the garage, or expensive audio equipment clearly seen through a window, is an invitation to burglars.
• Take a look at the lighting and landscaping around your property. Are there spots where a thief could easily hide? If so, make some changes.
• When planning a trip, have a trusted neighbour pick up newspapers, flyers and anything else that may accumulate at your door.

Your local police department may have more tips and special programs for keeping your home secure. Give them a call. For all your real estate questions, call the Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group!!

The housing market has not yet rebounded to pre-recession prices, when buyers seemed to be stepping over one another to bid up the price of homes. Today's sellers may be lucky to get asking price, with the reality being a certain percentage below. However, that doesn't mean sellers should accept bottom-of-the-barrel offers. There are still ways to get the best price possible on an offered home.

With sellers hoping to get the most possible for a home and buyers interested in spending the least, it's sometimes a battle of wills when it comes to hashing out a confirmed price in the world of real estate. Sellers who wonder whether they'll struggle to get a good offer can hedge their bets in the right direction by employing a few strategies.

- What you see is what you get: It's difficult to change first impressions. If a potential buyer pulls up to a home that doesn't give them "warm and fuzzy" feelings immediately, it may be hard to eventually sway opinion of the home even if it's pristine on the inside. Individuals do judge a book by its cover, which means that effort should be put into making a home's exterior as appealing as possible. Landscaping should be neat and lush. There shouldn't be any obstacles leading to the front of the home. Items that look in disrepair should be mended. Curb appeal does matter.

- Use a real estate agent: Many people forgo this step, thinking they can sell their home just as well without an agent and not have to pay commission in the process. A real estate agent is schooled in the process of negotiating the price of an offered home. In fact, the more a home's selling price, the higher the agent's profit. That's incentive right there. Furthermore, agents know the average prices of similar homes and can help a seller price and market a property correctly. That may add up to a faster sale (and a better offer).

- Price it competitively: Some sellers think the higher they price their home the more money they'll get for it. The fact is, the longer an overpriced home sits on the market, the less appealing it will appear to buyers. Individuals looking for a home may repeatedly see the listing and wonder what's wrong with the home. Even if it's the best home in the neighborhood, it may be seen as a red flag that's best avoided.

- Give people what they want: Buyers often prefer updated kitchens and bathrooms. Most buyers out there are not looking for "handyman specials." They want a relatively turn-key property. A kitchen or bathroom that is an eyesore can repel potential buyers. Home shoppers may be more inclined to go closer to asking price if some of the bigger-ticket items are already completed.

- Don't be an open book: If a buyer knows that time is of the essence or the home is "priced to sell," he or she may sense that desperation, almost guaranteeing a low-ball offer. Sellers shouldn't let on too much about their reasons for selling or make it seem like they'll be in dire straights if the home doesn't sell quickly. Selling a home under duress is not likely to cause prospective buyers to pony up.

- Don't be afraid to counter-offer: A buyer who is excited to get an offer on a home in a slow market, but feels the offer is below value, should definitely counter-offer. While the buyer may not accept the counter, he or she may make another offer that is more to the seller's liking

Information provided by EMC News. Call the Dion-Ivans Group today for more information!!