Vancouver Real Estate Weekly Update: March 21, 2006

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D’Arcy Harris – Weekly Real Estate Update March 21, 2006
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The way people search for real estate has taken a quantum leap in the last month or so. I haven’t really talked about it here simply because most of the new sites that are out there don’t service the Canadian market (yet). Too bad too, because if they did I would use them myself. Sites like http://www.zillow.com/ (brought to you by the guy who did expedia.com), http://www.trulia.com/ and http://www.redfin.com/ simplify the search process by overlaying the MLS data with a map of the city and offering lots of ways to simplify the process. Other sites are in the works for other cities across the U.S and it’s only a matter of time before Vancouver gets their own. Until then, you’re stuck with RealtyLink.org. Or we could set you up with a personalized search emailed directly to your inbox that’s 3 days ahead of everyone else. Up to you.

Enjoy this week’s newsletter,

D'Arcy R. Harris
Real Estate Broker
Sutton Group - Westcoast Realty
Tel: (604) 771 1637
Fax: (604) 488 0885
darcy@darcyharris.com
http://www.vancouverrealestateinfo.ca/

P.S: If you’re thinking of selling, now’s the time. Sign up for a free comparative analysis of your homes value.

P.P.S: If you are receiving this newsletter from someone else (or reading it on my blog) and would like to sign up to receive it directly, please click here

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Mortgage Hint: Reed Harris, CBM Mortgage Broker
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My goals this month are to Inform, Instruct and Assist you in the home buying process. So I've put together a couple of common misconceptions I hear all the time, to put them finally and permanently to rest! Enjoy.

Misconception: Since I've been with my bank for X-number of years, they will treat me well.

Reality: Your loyalty is one-sided. You may be loyal to your bank out of habit and good marketing, but miss two payments, or overdraw your account and see how loyal your bank is to you. Your account is one of 10 or 15 million at that bank, and its likely that no one knows your name except when you present your card. Some loyalty. For 10 things your banker doesn't want you to know about your mortgage, visit http://www.realestatefinancing.ca/lenderquestions.asp

Misconception: I have to renew with my current lender, or pay loads of penalties.

Reality:When you first bought your home, you probably used a mortgage broker to get 'wholesale' rates. Your lender will probably offer you 'retail' rates - but you should never pay retail. There are services such as http://www.renewalsonly.com/ , which provide renewal specialization. You can switch lenders (and get wholesale rates) at renewal for NO penalty or legal costs. Save interest cost, and its free. No brainer. Download the complete report at http://www.renewalripoff.com/ for more.

Misconception: I'm going to wait till I save a large downpayment before I buy.

Reality: In an upward moving market, waiting is losing. The house you want to buy today could cost you an extra $20,000 more in 6 months. By 'saving for a larger downpayment' you've just lost out on 20k in equity. If you have 5% down or more your rate does not change, so saving for 10% makes no sense whatsoever. Buy sooner rather than later.http://www.realestatefinancing.ca/deadlymistakes.asp

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From the News:
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House prices soar 26.5 per cent in past year “Vancouver and Calgary lead gains in housing prices across Canada during the past year, the Canadian Real Estate Association reported Thursday. The association, using Multiple Listing Service data, said the average resale house price in Greater Vancouver hit $490,004 in February, up 26.5 per cent since February of 2005.”

Cooler housing market expected after rate hike

“BC. housing markets will "cool off and level out" this year as the fifth Bank of Canada interest-rate hike in the past six months creates conditions that dampen economic growth in the province, Business Council of B.C. executive vice-president Jock Finlayson said Tuesday.”

REAL ESTATE FRAUD PACKS A PUNCH

“Real estate industry insiders now peg the average case of real estate fraud at $300,000, meaning years of personal and financial repercussions for those who fall victim.”
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Insider Secrets Revealed:
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Wondering what your home is worth? Probably more than you think! Find out with an Over the Phone Market Evaluation.

I’ve put up all the past newsletters on a blog! So if your dog eats your email, you can always check it out by Clicking Here.

If you are receiving this newsletter from someone else and would like to sign up to receive it directly, please Click Here

Each month, I publish a series of articles of interest to homeowners – money saving tips, household safety checklists, home improvement advice, real estate insider secrets, and much more that DOESN’T fit in this newsletter: Click Here

Would you like to have access to all the new listings that match your home buying criteria, including area, price range and style of home, emailed to you directly? Tired of leafing through hundreds of listings to find what you’re looking for? This is a free service and will allow you to view only the homes that you're interested in seeing. Become a Vancouver Real Estate VIP Buyer and beat other buyers to all the hot new listings.

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Weekly Real Estate Listings
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These are all the current listing out right now; in fact, some of them are so new they’re not even posted on Realtylink ors MLS.ca. Want to get them before they’re even in the newsletter? Sign up for the VIP Buyers Program. If they don’t load, cut and paste the links into your browser. If you want more information about the listings, email me with the MLS number and I’ll send you more info.

Vancouver Lofts:
http://mlslink.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=363071048&s=BRC&t=BRC

Investment and Revenue Properties:
http://mlslink.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=711369919&s=BRC&t=BRC

Vancouver House Foreclosures:
http://mlslink.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=1529938387&s=BRC&t=BRC

Vancouver Apartment Foreclosures:
http://mlslink.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=114797299&s=BRC&t=BRC

If you see any listings that interest you, simply reply to this email with the MLS number and the time that you’re available to view it and we’ll set up a private tour just for you. Or have them emailed to you daily rather than weekly, sign up for the VIP Buyers Program.

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Contact Info:
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I supply this information to you free of charge and without obligation with the hope that when you do decide to buy or sell your home, you’ll call me to help make it a reality.

If I do all this for free, imagine what I do when we’re working together!

I invite you to forward this newsletter on to friends and family.

If you are receiving this newsletter from someone else and would like to sign up to receive it directly, please Click Here.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome, thanks for reading!

D'Arcy R. Harris
Real Estate Broker
Sutton Group - Westcoast Realty
Tel: 604 771 1637
Fax: 604 488 0885
darcy@darcyharris.com
www.VancouverRealEstateInfo.ca

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Quick Over-the-Net Home Evaluation

Become a VIP Buyer and Beat Other Buyers to all the New Listings

Access Vancouver Real Estate Information
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