BC

275 1st Street, Courtenay BC (New)

One of a Kind in the Comox Valley! The very best of country, city, and waterfront living. Enjoy the solitude of a large back yard and relax overlooking the Puntledge River, then stroll four blocks to the heart of downtown Courtenay. The domain, a completely remodeled and renovated country/executive styled home. The house sits on a mature, landscaped 1/2 acre lot. No detail has been overlooked. Refinished original oak and fir flooring, coved ceilings, new paint and lighting/bath fixtures. All new electrical and plumbing, including water filtration. Three bed, 1.5 baths, new and existing landscaping that creates a park like setting. Lot is sub-dividable.

BC

What You Should Know About HST Housing Rebate In BC

As you’ve already known that July 1st is the day when the BC provincial government and federal government will combine the 7% provincial sales tax (PST) and the 5% federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) into a 12% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).

People here in BC had talked or complained about this new tax a lot since the day it’s announced back in Summer 2009. Now is the time to start preparing for this change, no matter what. As a rule of thumb, the GST rules that now apply to residential property will also apply under the HST.

New rules about HST housing rebate:

Buyers of new homes will be eligible for a rebate of 71.43% of the provincial portion (7% of the HST’s 12%) of the HST paid on the new home up to a maximum rebate of $26,250. Homes prices at more than $525,000 will be eligible for a flat rebate of $26,250.

The rule is pretty straight forward. But that new rebate of the provincial portion will be for primary residence purchase only. Or if you are a residential property developer or builder, you may qualify for up to $8,663 rebate.

When everybody is talking about the New rebate, people almost forget the Old one. That is the Federal GST new housing rebate, which is 36% of the tax paid on the first $350,000 of the home price. The GST rebate is phased out for homes priced between $350,000 and $450,000.

Here is an example of you buying a new home valued at $1,000,000. If you purchase it now you will get no tax rebate from either BC government or Federal government. And you will pay 50,000 GST. If you purchase it on or after July 1, you will be qualified for $26,250 new housing rebate. But you will pay $120,000 HST.

That’s a big difference! Especially for my potential clients who will most likely invest in properties in Vancouver west side, West Vancouver. Because the housing price is rarely go below $1,000,000 when you invest in single house in those areas.

Another interesting thing about this new housing rebate is…

There is an enhanced provincial New Rental Housing rebate. If you construct or substantially renovate a residential property to rent to tenants, you will be eligible for a rebate up to $26,250 on units priced up to $525,000. There is a flat rebate of $26,250 for units priced above $525,000.

So the interesting thing is: you will not be eligible for any housing rebate if you buy a new property which is not your principal residence and you don’t rent it.

But, if you buy a new rental apartment building and rent all of the units, you will be eligible for a New Rental Housing Rebate for each unit up to a maximum rebate of $26,250 per unit.

Of course, there are always some conditions apply that you want to double check with BC government about new HST rules.

And actually the new HST rule won’t just impact on new home price. Because the overall housing market value, including those previously built homes, will be adjusted to a higher level when the new HST rules apply.

BC

House Construction Up 5.9 per cent in December

According to the latest real estate market news released by Ottawa: House construction rose more than expected in December as Canada’s real estate market continued to show signs of recovery.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said Monday the number of seasonally adjusted housing starts were up 5.9 per cent from November, to 174,500 units. Most economists had expected an increase of between 160,000 and 165,000 units in December, following an upwardly revised 164,800 starts the previous month.

According to CMHC data, urban starts were up 6.6 per cent to 157,100 units in December, CMHC said in its report. Multiple-unit starts totalled 77,700 during the month, up from 72,800 units in November, while single-unit starts totalled 79,400, up 6.4 per cent from the previous month.

Urban construction was up 17.8 per cent in Quebec, 15 per cent in Atlantic Canada, 8.7 per cent in British Columbia and 2.9 per cent in Ontario, the report said. In the Prairies, urban starts declined 3.8 per cent.

Rural starts were unchanged at 17,400 units.

The Bank of Canada may shed further light on whether that strength has pushed Canada into a housing bubble when one of the governor’s advisers talks about the real estate sector in a speech Monday afternoon in Edmonton.

Meanwhile, Statistics Canada said Monday the value of building permits fell in November by 4.6 per cent from the previous month to $5.9 billion. Still, that was 23.1 per cent higher than November 2008 and 62.8 per cent higher than February 2009. The decline was due to a drop in the non-residential market, which offset increases in the residential real estate market.

BC

HST’s Impact On BC House Price Explanation

From July 1st, 2010 HST (Harmonized Sales Tax，12%) will be officially implemented in BC. The biggest and direct impact on the house price in Vancouver BC is that it is definitely going to increase your investment cost of purchasing new home (because before only 5% GST will applied on sales of brand new property). Other than that, it will also cost you more on purchasing all other type of real estates. Angel Wang explained the reasons for that impact on Vancouver real estate market in this video (Sorry, only Chinese in this video.)

BC

Why BC Luxury Real Estate Appeals To Investors (Part One)

The luxury real estate market in British Columbia is characterized by a relatively small market share in total residential sales. However, it boasts some of the most expensive properties in Canada, whose value is derived from the exposure to some of the most beautiful natural landmarks in Canada, popular recreational localities, and particular lifestyles. These properties have weathered the economic downturn well and will remain attractive because of their positioning in some of the most beautiful localities in Canada and the world.

Four areas of British Columbia, namely the ocean-facing Greater Vancouver, White Rock-South Surrey, Victoria, and the inland-located Kelowna, represent the major locales of luxury real estate in the province. These areas boast some of the priciest properties in Canada, with the minimum upper-end price thresholds ranging from $1 million in Victoria and Kelowna to $2 million in Greater Vancouver. Luxury properties in White Rock – South Surrey are those priced over $1.2 million.

Why BC Luxury Real Estate Appeals To Investors (Part Two)

BC

Luxury Real Estate Destination-West Point Grey

When it comes to luxury real estate in Western Canada, the city of Vancouver is the first location that comes to many people’s minds. This city is home to some of the most exclusive residential neighborhoods to be found in the province; these communities have generally come about as a combination of convenient location, scenic views, and nearby defining development. This is the case with West Point Grey, one of the western-most of Vancouver’s neighborhoods and a place where many buyers of luxury real estate have found a home to their satisfaction.

The neighborhood of West Point Grey is bordered on its north side by English Bay, an expansive body of water and an inlet of the Pacific ocean. On its other three sides, Point Grey borders the University Endowment Lands (UBC) , Kitsilano, Dunbar-Southlands and some of the city’s most beautiful parks and recreational areas.

Aside from its location on the shores of English Bay, West Point Grey’s appeal lies in the fact that it is the closest neighborhood to the campus of the University of British Columbia. The quick access to the school make it an ideal location for many of the faculty that work at the facility, as well as the first spot rising stars graduating from UBC are exposed to as their potential new Vancouver home.