Corina Marin

HST/PPT Calculator from BCREA. This is a very useful link that helps you calculate the exact amount of Property Transfer Taxes and HST (for new properties) payable in a home buying transaction.

http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/sheltertaxes/resources.htm

B.C.'s real estate market may be slowing down, but there is no sign Vancouver's sky high prices are caught up in a bubble that is about to burst, according to a new report

The Central 1 Credit Union report, which was issued on Thursday, forecasts the B.C. market will slow this year and total sales will drop slightly from 2010, but prices will continue to rise an estimated 6.8 per cent next y ...

Today, the Provincial Government received the results of the HST referendum. The outcome was decisive, with just under 55% of voters choosing to extinguish the HST and return the province to a system of taxation using both the PST and GST.
The government says no changes will occur until at least May 2013.

Bank of Canada Maintains Key Rate at 3.00%

 

While the Bank of Canada announced that it is keeping its key policy rate steady, it hinted that a rate hike may be on the horizon as the Canadian economy grows closer to full capacity.  

In a statement the Bank indicated that it expects "growth in Canada to re-accelerate in the second half of 2011."  The Bank estimates that the Canadian economy wil ...

If you’ve been watching rates lately, you may be wondering if you could break your mortgage to save a pile of cash too. The prime rate hit rock bottom in 2009 at 2.25% and it’s only risen slightly, to 3.0%, since then, meaning that depending on the discount you get from your lender, you can get a closed variable rate mortgage from 2.2 to 2.25%. The best available current five-year fixed rate ...

Changes to the rules for Mortgages that take effect March 18th 2011

Changes to the Rules for Government Insured Mortgages
 
Since October 2009, the Government of Canada has been systematically tightening mortgage financing regulations for all federally regulated lenders.  The changes have been made in order to ensure that Canadians are prepared for higher interest rates in the future by not ...

Shelter Tax calculator for BC:
Calculate the amount of shelter taxes owing on a real estate transaction in BC with this tool.

http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/sheltertaxes/resources.htm

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 ...

Top 21 grants and rebates for property buyers and owners

1 Home Buyers’ Plan Qualifying home buyers
can withdraw up to $25,000 (couples can withdraw up to $50,000) from their RRSPs for a down payment. Home buyers who have repaid their RRSP may be eligible to use the pro- gram a second time.
Canada Revenue Agency www.cra.gc.ca. Enter ‘Home Buyers’ Plan’ in the search box. 1.800.959.8287

2 GS ...

CO-OWNERSHIP VERSUS CONDOMINUMS

By Martin K. I. Rumack

Condominiums and Co-ownerships are legal structures that define both the exclusive rights and the shared rights of individuals who purchase a unit/percentage interest in buildings created as one of these types of legal entity.

IMPORTANT FEATURES OF CONDOMINIUMS AND CO-OWNERSHIPS FOR THE PURCHASER

CO-OWNERSHIP

Purchaser acquires owner ...