Real Estate News & Articles

Hackers turn up heat against Microsoft - Outlook, Powerpoint & Word documents at risk

2006-10-16

COMPUTERS I Powerpoint 2003 weaknesses posted on Net BRIAN KREBS Sun The cat-and-mouse game that Microsoft Corp. and hackers have played for years has escalated, just as the software giant was addressing some of the biggest problems facing …

Family status trumps bylaw

2006-10-15

Tony Gioventu Province Dear Condo Smarts: We live in an owner-occupied condo building of 58 units. Our strata has never allowed rentals, and until recently no one has ever attempted to challenge the bylaw. That being said, we have two resid…

B.C. real estate: Up-and-coming areas to invest in

2006-10-14

House hunters put off by the out-of-reach prices in Vancouver's overheated neighbourhoods are finding good values in communities outside the buying frenzy Derrick Penner Sun In Maple Ridge's Albion area, buyers can find new four-bedroom hom…

More people moving to B.C. than away from it, report says

2006-10-14

But the high cost of real estate remains a deterrent Michael Kane Sun Andrew Newman works on top of the Marine Building, where the view is just one of the perks of living in Vancouver. Photograph by : Ian Lindsay, Vancouver Sun Andrew Newma…

Tech Toys: Sheep-leather headphones for the well-heeled

2006-10-14

Sun 1. Canon PowerShot G7 digital camera, $875, available now. Sporting a retro look -- complete with a black matte finish and a leather-toned (whatever that is) grip and analog-style (in other words, you can get your fingers on it) ISO spe…

Choice is no challenge for folks able to buy

2006-10-14

Peter Simpson Sun I admit it; I am an incurable housing junkie. In the business I may be, but I can't get enough information on new homes and renovations. Housing affordability is definitely a challenge these days -- and a thorny topic for …

Will house prices finally wilt a bit?

2006-10-13

Housing is not immune to the laws of supply and demand. When people won't or can't buy, prices come down Harvey Enchin Sun When the cost of owning a two-storey detached home in Vancouver consumes 78.2 per cent of pre-tax median income, you …

Northern B.C. real estate booming

2006-10-13

All indicators point to prices fuelling the fire Fiona Anderson Sun Real estate across northern British Columbia continues to boom, as the hot economy pushes up prices and home sales. The value of sales covered by the B.C. Northern Real Est…

Inspections save old wiring

2006-10-13

Brian Morton Sun PowerSafe founders Brian Cook (left) and Rick Pow (right) flank Michael Doebeli. Photograph by : Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun University of B.C. mathematics professor Michael Doebeli faced a costly dilemma earlier this year, wh…

Website's goal is to show all of us how to be journalists

2006-10-13

NowPublic relaunches with new tools to help get your words and photos online Peter Wilson Sun Mark Schneider, news guy for NowPublic (left), and Michael Tippett, co-founder, at the site for their new offices. Photograph by : Bill Keay, Vanc…

Website's goal is to show all of us how to be journalists

2006-10-13

NowPublic relaunches with new tools to help get your words and photos online Peter Wilson Sun Mark Schneider, news guy for NowPublic (left), and Michael Tippett, co-founder, at the site for their new offices. Photograph by : Bill Keay, Vanc…

Gateway a national priority

2006-10-12

PM: Trade with Asia at core of improving roads, ports Ian Bailey Province STEPHEN HARPER Prime Minister Stephen Harper yesterday cast the Pacific Gateway strategy as a national priority. Harper, capping a two-day visit to Vancouver, promise…

Vancouver's new-home prices rise 2.5% from July to August

2006-10-12

City's price index is up 7.9% year over year, Statistics Canada reports Sun The market for new houses remains strong in Vancouver, with Statistics Canada's new housing price index rising 2.5 per cent from July to August and 7.9 per cent yea…

Flying Tiger - Beyond the 'special tea'

2006-10-12

Modern restaurateurs are transforming Asian dining by offering new, dynamic beverages to complement fine food Tara Lee Sun The Lotus Cocktail, on the menu at Wild Rice on West Pender. New Asian cocktails combine both Western and Eastern ing…

High-risk mortgages gain popularity

2006-10-12

Province TORONTO -- High-risk mortgages are spreading like wildfire in Canada, new data show, but the country is not in danger of a U.S.-style overexposure -- at least not yet. Non-conventional mortgages -- loans at high rates to homeowners…

Slight building dip welcomed

2006-10-11

With demand remaining strong, a slower pace won't have any impact on costs Ashley Ford Province Lower Mainland housing starts have dipped for the second month in a row, but there is nothing to be alarmed about, industry insiders say. And th…

Vancouver 'on threshold of new era'

2006-10-11

Details of $591-million federal investment in Asia Pacific Gateway corridor scheme to be revealed William Boei Sun The federal government is expected to put its money where its mouth is today after again declaring support Tuesday for B.C.'s…

Housing starts fall for second month in row

2006-10-11

Vancouver region faced a 35-per-cent drop in September Fiona Anderson Sun Housing starts in the Vancouver region fell 35 per cent in September, the second month in a row that starts have dropped, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing…

Company to insure 40-year mortgages

2006-10-11

Genworth Financial to make ownership more affordable Michael Kane Sun Genworth Financial announced on Tuesday that it will be insuring 40-year mortgages in an effort to help more Canadians afford a home while expanding their choices. The ex…

Microsoft names five flaws

2006-10-11

Sun SAN FRANCISCO -- Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, reported five "critical" security flaws that hackers can exploit to take over users' personal computers. Microsoft identified 10 security holes in its Windows compute…

Canadian firms at risk of computer security breaches

2006-10-10

Peter Wilson Sun warning I Canadian businesses are good at keeping up with digital security -- both online and off -- but they're often doing it on outdated operating systems, and that means they can't keep themselves safe with the latest t…

Canadian firms at risk of computer security breaches

2006-10-10

Peter Wilson Sun warning I Canadian businesses are good at keeping up with digital security -- both online and off -- but they're often doing it on outdated operating systems, and that means they can't keep themselves safe with the latest t…

Online maps take the guesswork out of travel

2006-10-10

Paper might be passe but now you have to be able to navigate the Internet, and getting there will just be a few clicks away Andy Riga Sun I love poring over my maps -- street, country, provincial and state maps, even subway maps. Collected …

Life Insurance is a better option than banks Mortgage Insurance

2006-10-10

Province TORONTO -- Canadians looking to wrap up new-home purchases might find that life insurance is a more flexible and less pricey alternative to mortgage insurance obtained through a bank, say personal-finance experts. While most agree …