Real Estate News & Articles

BC's Property transfer tax a bad law that needs to be fixed

2008-07-23

Sun Is it fair, I asked B.C.'s revenue minister, to charge property transfer tax on someone's own assets -- on improvements they've long since paid for, and paid the sales tax on -- when, after a period of leasing, they finally buy the land…

Economy 'losing steam,' bank says

2008-07-22

Dollar predicted to reach $1.06 US by end of '09 Eric Beauchesne Sun OTTAWA -- The weakening U.S. economy, the strong Canadian dollar and competition from offshore companies are draining the energy out of the Canadian economy, according to …

Big Facebook redesign to give users more control

2008-07-22

Eric Auchard Sun Photograph by : Reuters SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook Inc. is making sweeping changes to the world's largest social networking site, aiming to give users more control and to curb new forms of spam, company officials said late on…

Economy hobbles Calif. Town

2008-07-22

Town's bankruptcy filing may be a bad sign for other cities Edward Iwata USA Today The credit crunch has really hit home in Vallejo, Calif., population 117,000. It's seeking bankruptcy protection after failing to win concessions from police…

Autism in adults finally getting attention

2008-07-21

Official criteria for diagnosing autism spectrum disorders apply specifically to children, not grownups Sharon Kirkey Sun Was the young doctor autistic? He didn't think so: "I don't walk on tippytoes or get hypnotized by Wheel of Fortune," …

Hi-def radio gets cool reception from consumers

2008-07-21

Chuck Taylor Sun The Delphi MyFi Photograph by : XM NEW YORK - Digital high-definition radio is hitting some key milestones in terms of pricing and features, but building enough momentum to spur broad consumer adoption remains a tall order.…

Twitter took off from simple to 'tweet' success

2008-07-21

Jefferson Graham USA Today Twitter co-founders Jack Dorsey, top, and Biz Stone pose on the roof of their San Francisco offices. The signs they're holding replicate Twitter chatter. That question is the rocket fuel for Twitter — a hot …

Tips on buying a condo assignment

2008-07-21

Other The B.C. office of the superintendent of Real Estate has issued an updated information bulletin for those buying assignments for a new condo or other residential property. The alert is provided to consumers for information purposes on…

Be sure that CRA applies your remittance to the proper taxation year

2008-07-21

Ouch! That tax letter can sting Ray Turchansky Province The Canada Revenue Agency has been known to remit payments to the wrong tax year. Canwest News Service file photo One part of Canada Revenue Agency's job is to confirm or correct the a…

Be sure that CRA applies your remittance to the proper taxation year

2008-07-21

Province The Canada Revenue Agency has been known to remit payments to the wrong tax year. Canwest News Service file photo One part of Canada Revenue Agency's job is to confirm or correct the amount of personal income tax you are supposed t…

Appraise, then read fine print on insurance policy coverage

2008-07-20

Tony Gioventu Province Dear Condo Smarts: Our strata corporation is having a tough time figuring out what we're supposed to do with our insurance. The insurance agent has told us they can provide us with a co-insurance clause that covers up…

Google promotes Nanaimo on its latest 3-D Earth software

2008-07-20

Darrell Bellaart Province Per Kristensen, the City of Nanaimo’s chief of technology, is pleased that Google Earth is promoting Nanaimo on its website. NANAIMO -- The city of Nanaimo is consolidating its title as capital of Google Eart…

Vancouver Active Listings up 48% in 2008 to 20,889 listings or 6 month supply - Sellers must price property right or it will not sell

2008-07-19

Sellers adding properties to the market faster than purchasers are snapping them up Derrick Penner Sun Moshe Cohen-Ravid put his west-side Vancouver home on the market a couple of months ago and has since reduced the price by $82,000 to $1.…

Google Maps enters into an agreement with Port Alberni to provide high resolution imagery on Google Earth

2008-07-19

Internet service will provide full aerial views Marke Andrews Sun The view of Port Alberni with the province's high resolution imagery provided to Google on the left and previous default imagery on the right. Tourists, residents, industry e…

TWENTY-TWENTY Kitsilano, Vancouver Sales centre: 2636 Arbutus

2008-07-19

Kitchens, storage an eye-opener for 20-20 prospects Sun With much to show and tell, Liana Fung, at the Twenty-Twenty model, is one of the sales centre’s sales assistants. 'A beautiful residential area of Kitsilano, with mature trees' …

FIRST HALF MLS SALES DROP 22%; PRICES RISE 9.6%

2008-07-19

Home thoughts Sun FIRST HALF MLS SALES DROP 22%; PRICES RISE 9.6% Number of B.C. homes sold through MLS, first six months of this year: 42,907 % change from the first six months of last year: -22 Average selling price, first six months of t…

New to town? It's good to remember that you share your paradise with others

2008-07-19

Imposing big-city ways on a small town rarely appreciated Suzanne Morphet Sun These buildings are pointers to a fitting-in opportunity is small-town B.C. They are all buildings in which the ‘volunteer-volunteer-volunteer’ advice…

Inflation surge on the way

2008-07-18

Central bank expects peak increase of 4.3% Eric Beauchesne Sun Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney said Canadians will be paying more to drive their cars, heat their homes and eat in the upcoming year. Photograph by : Chris Wattie, Reuters …

Tempting array of flavours

2008-07-17

Peaceful, yes, with creative cuisine to liven anyone's tastebuds Mark Laba Province Charlie Huang, owner of the Peaceful Restaurant with some of the Northern Chinese-style dishes that will intrigue and satisfy. PEACEFUL RESTAURANT Where: 53…

Rehab resorts for Crackberry addicts

2008-07-17

Four hotels in the Canadian Rockies offer freedom from electronics for $500 a night Sarah McGinnis Sun The Fairmont Whistler Resort is offering relief to anguished Crackberry addicts from all over the world. Photograph by : Fairmont CALGARY…

TiVo to begin streaming YouTube videos

2008-07-17

Paul B Sun A TiVo box is seen in an undated publicity photo. TiVo and RealNetworks are set to announce an agreement on Tuesday that will allow TiVo subscribers to listen to songs from the Rhapsody digital music service on their televisions,…

Choose your wireless device (and plans) with care

2008-07-17

Gillian Shaw Sun The HTC Diamond Touch HTC Diamond , $150 with a Telus Mobility three-year contract. Telus and Bell Mobility are hustling out alternatives for Apple's new iPhone 3G, although they're bound to be a tough sell with one million…

Bluetooth: After you've cut the cord, start piling on accessories

2008-07-17

Marc Saltzman Sun Bluetooth is a smart technology that's making our high-tech lives less wired. Most commonly seen in a wireless headset for a Bluetooth-enabled cellphone , it lets you chat hands-free up to 30 feet (about 10 metres ) away. …

No housing bubble in Canada, finance minister says

2008-07-17

Country healthy despite 'turbulent times' Carrie Tait Sun Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty speaks to the media in Calgary on Wednesday. Photograph by : Leah Hennel, Canwest News Service CALGARY - Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty s…