Canadian housing starts rose 2.4 per cent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 222,700 starts.  New home construction in BC urban centres showed strong growth for the second straight month, registering a robust 34,100 starts (SAAR) in June, a gain of 31 per cent over May.  On a year-over-year basis, BC housing starts were 60 per cent higher than June 2011. BC Housing starts are 13 per cent higher through the first half of 2012, the result of an 18 per cent increase in multi-family starts while single-family construction has been flat.

BC's strong new home construction was led by a jump in multi-family construction in Vancouver which rose close to 70 per cent year-over-year in June, including a near doubling of multi-family units compared to June 2011. Single family starts, however, continue to moderate, falling 7 per cent year-over-year. Abbotsford new home construction fell 21 per cent year-over-year in June due to a 26 per cent dip in single-family starts and a 9 per cent decline in multi-family starts. Housing starts in Victoria rebounded from a weak May as total starts rose 30 per cent year-over-year on balanced growth between single and multi-family starts. Finally, new home construction in Kelowna fell 15 per cent, largely due to weak multi-family starts. 

Information provided by www.bcrea.bc.ca

Canadian employment held steady for the second consecutive month in June while the National unemployment rate ticked down by 0.1 points to 7.2 per cent.  Year-over-year, Canadian employment was 1 per cent higher than June 2011.  The BC economy added 3,200 jobs last month, including 2,400 full-time positions. Higher payrolls combined with a large drop in the labour force to push the BC unemployment rate down 0.8 points to 6.6 per cent. However, the provincial unemployment rate has been unusually volatile in recent months and we expect that June's big decline is mostly temporary.  June employment numbers were 2.3 per cent higher compared with 2011.

South of the border disappointing jobs creation continued with just 80,000 new jobs added in June, falling well short of already diminished expectations of 100,000 new jobs. The US unemployment rate held steady at 8.2 per cent.

Information provided by www.bcrea.bc.ca

How do you select the best moving company for your needs?

• Ask for recommendations from friends other professionals in the local real estate industry.
• Beware of fly-by-night operations. They may seem like a bargain, but you get what you pay for.
• Does the company provide you with a written estimate and contract? (Beware of movers that just give you a price over the phone.)
• Ask if they are covered by insurance, and what their policy is regarding lost or broken items. Make sure you receive a copy of their insurance certificate.

Finally, always ask what circumstances would result in extra charges being applied. The number one complaint received about movers by the Better Business Bureau is unexpected extra charges.

Questions about moving? Call the Dion-Ivans Group today!

Something has just spilled on your favourite rug or carpet. There's a stain forming. You're worried. Will you be able to remove it? Will the stain set and stay forever?

Luckily, there's a good chance you can completely lift just about any kind of stain – if you follow a few guidelines.

The first rule of stain removal is: act fast. The fresher the stain, the easier it is to lift. So when you notice a stain of any kind, start to work on it right away. Don't wait.

Begin by trying to dry blot the stain. Avoid the temptation of using a wet cloth or detergent, at least at this stage of the game. Blot the stain gently with a clean, dry cloth or absorbent paper towel. Be patient. It may take several minutes before you see any results.

If dry blotting doesn't completely lift the stain, mix up a combination of one glass of water with one teaspoon of lemon juice. Again, take a clean cloth or paper towel, wet it with the water/lemon mixture, and gently blot the area (test on an inconspicuous area first). Wait five minutes, then try dry blotting again.

You may have to repeat the above process a few times.

Using a vacuum cleaner directly over the affected area can also help lift more of the stain.

If, after all your efforts, some of the stain is still there, place a couple of sheets of paper towel over the stain, with a few books on top to maintain pressure. Leave those there for 24 hours. Check every hour or so. If you see stain on the paper towels, you know it's working.

If all else fails, consider calling in a professional cleaner. They know all the tricks and can often perform a miracle for you!