THANK YOU everyone for all your great pictures. There were so many good ones that I had to call in the judges to make the final choice. The panel consisted of my parents, my wife, her dad & sister, and our Uncle & Aunt. The results were VERY close but after every judge was given 2 votes each, the winner is.......... Charlie the Cat - Slide 26 "Congratulations Fabi Keane!" You have won the two tickets to the Canucks vs. St. Louis game on March 1st 2012! All entries and can be found at Smileb ... Full Article...

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent. The global economy has slowed markedly as several downside risks to the projection outlined in the Bank’s July Monetary Policy Report (MPR) have been realized. Financial market volatility has increased and there has been a generalized retrenchment from risk-taking across global markets. The combinat ... Full Article...

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales of detached, attached and apartment properties on the region’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) reached 2,246 in September, a 1.2 per cent increase compared to the 2,220 sales in September 2010. Those sales also rank as the third lowest total for September over the last 10 years. “There's more competition amongst home sellers in today's market, providing more options for prospective buyers," ... Full Article...

Home Sales Stable During Summer Months  The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential unit sales in the province rose 16.4 per cent to 6,504 units in August compared to the same month last year. The average MLS® residential price climbed 10.7 per cent to $539,953 last month compared to August 2010. "BC home sales edged up one per cent in August compared to July on a seasonally adjusted basis,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chie ... Full Article...

As antisipated the lending rate has held steady, meaning no change to your variable rate mortgage or line of credit payment. The global economic outlook has deteriorated in recent weeks as several downside risks to the projection in the Bank’s July Monetary Policy Report (MPR) have been realized. The European sovereign debt crisis has intensified, a broad range of data has signalled slower global growth, and financial market volatility has increased sharply. Recent benchmark revisions sho ... Full Article...

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver reached 3,377 in May 2011, a 7 per cent increase compared to the 3,156 sales in May 2010 and a 4.7 per cent increase compared to the 3,225 sales in April 2011. Looking back further, last month’s residential sales are 8.1 per cent below the ten-year average for sales in May. The three highest selling Mays ever recorded occurred in 20 ... Full Article...

Greater Vancouver saw a typical, solid month of residential home sales on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in April, in contrast to the near record pace witnessed in the two preceding months. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver reached 3,225 in April 2011, an 8.2 per cent decrease compared to the 3,512 sales in April 2010 and a 21 per cent decline compared to the 4,080 ... Full Article...

Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate target at 1 per cent OTTAWA –The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent. As anticipated in the January Monetary Policy Report (MPR), the global economic recovery is becoming more firmly entrenched and is expected to continue at a steady pace. In the United States, growth is solidifying, although consol ... Full Article...

OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent. The global economic recovery is proceeding broadly in line with the Bank’s projection in its January Monetary Policy Report (MPR), although risks remain elevated. U.S. activity is solidifying and remains supported by stimulative fiscal and monetary policies. Ongoing challenges associa ... Full Article...

Both the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister have mentioned in recent speeches their concerns over mortgage lending practices in Canada. Specifically, they are worried about the minimum down payment required to purchase a home, currently at 5%. As the world economy improves, or at the very least as governments around the world borrow more money, interest rates are likely to rise. The government is concerned that as rates increase Canadians will lack the equity in their homes to weather the ... Full Article...

December Stats Real estate market stable at year-end The Greater Vancouver residential housing market entered three distinctive phases in 2010. Continued buoyancy from the post-recession recovery began the year, followed by a summer lull and, throughout the fall, a sustained period of stability. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that total sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in 2010 reached 30,595, a 14.2 per cent decrease from the 35,669 sales recor ... Full Article...

December Stats Real estate market stable at year-end The Greater Vancouver residential housing market entered three distinctive phases in 2010. Continued buoyancy from the post-recession recovery began the year, followed by a summer lull and, throughout the fall, a sustained period of stability. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that total sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in 2010 reached 30,595, a 14.2 per cent decrease from the 35,669 sales recor ... Full Article...

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent. The global economic recovery is proceeding largely as expected, although risks have increased. As anticipated, private domestic demand in the United States is picking up slowly, while growth in emerging-market economies has begun to ease to a more sustainable, but still robust, pace. In Europe, recent dat ... Full Article...

VANCOUVER, BC - Greater Vancouver home sales have remained steady over the past four months, indicating stability in the residential housing market. With the MLS® sales to active listing inventory ratio indicating a buyers’ market, properties appropriately priced are selling. According to the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI), the benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver over the last 12 months has increased 4.6 per cent to $579,349 in October 2010 from $553,70 ... Full Article...

Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate target at 1 per cent OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent. The global economic recovery is entering a new phase. In advanced economies, temporary factors supporting growth in 2010 - such as the inventory cycle and pent-up demand - have largely run their course and fiscal stimulus will shi ... Full Article...

New Housing Price Index - October 13, 2010   The New Housing Price Index (NHPI) for Canada increased 0.1 per cent in August following a 0.1 per cent decline in July. New home prices in Canada exhibited more stability than many analyst expectations given the implementation of the HST in July to Ontario and BC. Compared to August 2009, the NHPI was up 2.9 per cent across the country.   The NHPI also increased 0.1 per cent in Vancouver during August compared to July. Year-over-year in August the N ... Full Article...

September home sales in Greater Vancouver were consistent with activity experienced in the preceding two months across most categories. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that the number of residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,220 in September 2010. This represents a 0.8 per cent increase compared to August 2010 and 37.6 per cent decline from the 3,559 sales in September 2009. In comparison, last month’s residential sales represent a 40.1 per ... Full Article...

Low Mortgage Rates Boost August Home Sales Vancouver, BC – September 14, 2010. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province declined 35 per cent to 5,590 units in August compared to the same month last year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, MLS® residential unit sales in the province increased 7 per cent in August from July 2010. The average MLS® residential price climbed 4 per cent to $487,804 in Aug ... Full Article...

OTTAWA –The Bank of Canada today announced that it is raising its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent. The global economic recovery is proceeding but remains uneven, balancing strong activity in emerging market economies with weak growth in some advanced economies. In the United States, the recovery in private demand is being held back by high unemployment a ... Full Article...

Buyer’s market conditions continue in Greater Vancouver Conditions in the Greater Vancouver housing market continued to favour buyers in August. Since April, prices have edged down slightly as the number of sales and the number of properties coming on to the market have been declining. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that the number of residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,202 in August 2010. This represents a 36 per cent decline from the 3 ... Full Article...

  Home Buyers in the Driver's Seat Vancouver, BC – August 12, 2010. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province declined 42 per cent to 5,784 units in July compared to the same month last year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, MLS® residential unit sales in the province declined 19 per cent in July from June 2010. The average MLS® residential price climbed 6 per cent to $491,832 in July compared to t ... Full Article...

August 4, 2010 REBGV Stats Homebuyers and sellers less active in July Home sales activity in Greater Vancouver was quieter last month than most Julys over the past decade, with residential sales, prices, and the number of homes listed for sale trending downward in recent months. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that the number of residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,255 in July 2010. This represents a 45.2 per cent decline from the 4,114 sa ... Full Article...

BC Home Sales to Rise in 2011 BCREA Housing Forecast Update - Third Quarter 2010 Vancouver, BC – July 30, 2010. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its Housing Forecast Update for the third quarter of 2010 today. BC Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales are forecast to decline 7 per cent from 85,028 units in 2009 to 79,500 units this year, before increasing 5 per cent to 83,400 units in 2011. “The volatility in consumer demand characteristic o ... Full Article...

Tuesday, July 6, 2010 VANCOUVER, BC – The Greater Vancouver housing market experienced steady activity to begin the summer season. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,972 in June 2010, a decline of 30.2 per cent compared to the 4,259 sales in June 2009, which was the second highest selling June on record. “Activity in June marked a healthy balance between the near record setting pace of June 200 ... Full Article...

Vancouver, BC – June 7, 2010. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its Housing Forecast for the second quarter of 2010 today. BC Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales are forecast to ease back 3 per cent from 85,028 units in 2009 to 82,350 units this year, before increasing 4 per cent to 85,900 units in 2011. “Eroding affordability will trim home sales by 3 per cent this year despite improving economic conditions and related employment growth,&r ... Full Article...

With global markets beginning to stabilize following the recent fears over a Greek debt default, economists say the pieces are falling into place for the Bank of Canada to move off its emergency 0.25 per cent rate on June 1. Economists — and markets — have already pencilled in a doubling of the policy rate in two weeks. But that is only a beginning say analysts who believe governor Mark Carney will keep on hiking rates through the rest of the year. Even the TD Bank, which only a few ... Full Article...

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 VANCOUVER, BC –The Greater Vancouver housing market experienced increased activity in April thanks to a steady balance of home buyers and sellers entering the marketplace. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 3,512 in April 2010, the fifth highest-selling April on record. The figure represents an increase of 18.5 per cent compared to the 2,963 sales in April 2009; 9.1 per cent more t ... Full Article...

Ottawa — Globe and Mail Update Published on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 8:17AM EST Last updated on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 12:44PM EST Finance Minister Jim Flaherty Tuesday announced tighter lending standards for mortgages, saying that while the housing market is healthy and there's no solid evidence of a bubble, the moves are needed to “help prevent negative trends from developing.” Under the new rules, all borrowers will need to meet standards for five-year fixed-rate mortgage ... Full Article...

NEW YEAR BEGINS WITH NEW CELLPHONE RULES - VICTORIA B.C. drivers have one more day before they must abide by a new law that brings in a full ban on hand-held cellphones and texting while driving.  On Jan. 1, 2010, police will begin enforcing changes to the Motor Vehicle Act that mean drivers can only use hands-free cellphones and devices that require just one touch to activate. Fines will begin on Feb. 1, when a driver talking on a hand-held phone or electronic device will be subject to a fin ... Full Article...

Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate target at 1/4 per cent and reiterates conditional commitment to hold current policy rate until the end of the second quarter of 2010 OTTAWA - The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1/4 per cent. The Bank Rate is unchanged at 1/2 per cent and the deposit rate is 1/4 per cent. While significant fragilities remain, global economic developments have been slightly more positive and the global outlook ha ... Full Article...

Vancouver, BC – November 17, 2009. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province climbed 115 per cent to 8,624 units in October compared to the same month last year. Last month posted the highest number of MLS® residential sales for the month of October since 2003, when 8,682 units changed hands. The average MLS® residential sales price in the province climbed 17 per cent to $493,328 from $420,259 in Oc ... Full Article...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 VANCOUVER – Strong demand has led to a steady rise in Greater Vancouver home prices compared to last year. Over the last 12 months, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver increased 6.8 per cent to $553,702 from $518,668 in October 2008. "While home prices have been rising in 2009, they have not eclipsed the peaks reached in early 2008," Scott Russell, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver ( ... Full Article...

Vancouver, BC – October 15, 2009. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province climbed 68 per cent to 8,576 units in September compared to the same month last year. The average MLS® residential sales price in the province climbed 15 per cent to $474,169 from $412,149 in September 2008. "Upward momentum in consumer demand continued unabated in September,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist ... Full Article...

Enormous Bond Yield Increase The 5-year bond yield is soaring over 23 basis points as we speak! It’s the biggest jump in bond rates in over a year and it comes on top of strong gains over the previous few days. The yield is now near an 11-month high, and that means fixed mortgage rate increases are around the corner. If you’re home hunting and wondering if you should lock in a mortgage rate, don’t waste any more time. Protect yourself now with a rate hold or pre-approval. T ... Full Article...

Rising sales and limited listings have returned Canada to a “seller’s market,” with total B.C. home sales this year up nearly seven per cent compared to 2008, according to a Global Real Estate Trends report released Thursday by Scotia Economics. “In terms of trends, sales in B.C. have been picking up since January,” Adrienne Warren, senior economist at Scotia Economics, said in an interview. “And it’s been increasing steadily since. For prices the low ... Full Article...

Friday, October 2, 2009  Buyer demand remains strong while home listings increase Greater Vancouver home sales remained strong last month, with the second highest number of residential sales ever recorded for the month of September. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 3,559 in September 2009, an increase of 3.4 per cent from the 3,441 sales recorded in August 2009, and an increase of 124.5 per cent compared ... Full Article...