Secure your Home when on Vacation

Most of us do not realize that June, July and August, when homeowners are away on vacation somewhere, burglaries go up nationwide, anywhere from 10%-18% according to the FBIs latest figures. Most of the increases are seen in the month of August each year. 28% of burglaries are made WITHOUT ANY FORCE, meaning that the burglar(s) got in through an open door, or window.  Leaving your lights on timers, a radio playing and a neighbor picking up your newspapers and mail significantly helps.  There are 1.2 million burglaries each year.  Nine out of 10 home break-ins could have been prevented if homeowners knew how to burglarproof their homes, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Most insurance company’s will provide money saving tips on how to lock and secure your home while you are on a 5 minute run to the store, or a three week vacation in the mountains.

Home Prices Holding Up for Now

According to experts, one of the remarkable aspects of today’s real estate market nationwide, is the strength of the median price, up slightly over a year ago. The median price in July, 2010 was $182,600, and when you factor in the slowdown in sales volume, since the home buyer tax credit ended, the resiliency in pricing is a positive one. Homes are priced at a level that seems to match closely with the household’s ability to pay, and according to experts, that’s a reasonable place for home prices to be at the present time.

Choosing An Experienced Vancouver Realtor

Here are five mistakes first time home buyer often make:

• Choosing an inexperienced Realtor. Be sure you choose an experienced Vancouver Realtor
• Lack of funds
• Not asking enough or the right questions
• Procrastination on the offer
• Taking resale value into consideration

Relocation Tip

When relocating always check out the neighborhood schools and the neighborhood itself during the day, on weekends and evenings. Even talk to some of your potential neighbors.

This might seem obvious, but I have seen over and over where the last consideration is the school system.   They purchase what they consider to be the perfect house and regret later their decision because of poor schools or noisy neighbors.

I can guide you to a point, but ultimately it needs to be your decision.

What is simple definition of a condominium?

Condominiums come in many shapes and styles. So when shopping keep the following in mind.

A condominium is a collection of individual homes (Townhouses)  or “apartments”  In all actuality, the entire complex is the condominium and each living space is a unit of the condominium. But we have come to call each unit a condo.

Individual home ownership within a condominium is ownership of only the air space confining the boundaries of the home. Typically these boundaries will include the drywall surrounding a room, allowing the homeowner to make some interior modifications without impacting the common area.

Anything outside this boundary is held by the homeowner’s association which was established at the time of the condominium’s creation. And it is that Homeowners Association that is responsible for the upkeep. This upkeep of the landscape and buildings along with the amenities are paid for by Homeowner’s Association fees.

For many young professionals and  retirees this is the choice of lifestyle. It is a much more carefree style of living with no worries about any outside maintenance concerns or costs and the advantage of many outdoor activities such as swimming and sometimes golf courses.

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