2019

All posts from 2019

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Finding the Right Greater Vancouver Neighborhood

by Bevony on 19 June 2019 Comments Off on Finding the Right Greater Vancouver Neighborhood

Homebuyers are now looking beyond the value of the housing structure itself and looking into the quality of life as they consider which neighborhood they want to call their home.

Greater Vancouver has the highest prices in real estate when it comes to Canada. As such homebuyers are looking or more than the value that is within their house. A good neighborhood can be just the edge needed when sellers are looking to attract potential buyers. So what are the features that can cause a neighborhood to stand out more than any other for potential homeowners?

What HomeBuyers Want

According to a report from RE/MAX in 2019 Canadians rank easy access to dining, shopping and green spaces at the top of their criteria for what makes a neighborhood more livable. Other important factors are proximity to preferred schools, work, public transit, community centers, and cultural centers. The report shows that Canadians spend in excess of two-thirds of their time within their very own neighborhood. This rate is a lot higher for baby boomers who want to stay in their neighborhood and have direct access to all or most of their needs there.

Kerrisdale, West End, and Main are the top three neighborhoods as ranked by RE/MAX in Vancouver when it comes to access to parks, green spaces, retail and restaurants, ease of getting around, walkability and access to public transit.

When it comes down to affordability and a good available housing inventory the neighborhoods mentioned include Renfrew-Collingwood, Downtown-Vancouver and Mount Pleasant. As a matter of fact, if you are considering the Renfrew-Collingwood area, we’re here at SilverBeam Homes have houses for you.

It is important to note that these livability factors are often the ones that cannot be changed whereas price and value can change over time either up or down. The livability factors are what makes a home a great place to live.

Top 10 Vancouver Neighborhoods

A fourth-quarter analysis of Greater Vancouver in 2018 showed the top 10 neighborhoods of the time were:

  • Marpole
  • Vancouver West
  • Saunders
  • Lackner in Richmond
  • West Cambie
  • Steveston North
  • Hastings East
  • Collingwood
  • Queensborough
  • Fort Langley

Queensborough has been rated the best neighborhoods for condo and townhouses on a list with other neighborhoods such as Renfrew, South Cambie, Saunders, Pemberton, and Central.

What are your must-haves for a neighborhood before choosing to purchase a home there? Let us help you find the right home, in the right neighborhood. Contact us today and let us start working towards getting you the keys to your dream home.

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BevonyFinding the Right Greater Vancouver Neighborhood

Wallpaper is Making a Comeback

by Bevony on 5 June 2019 Comments Off on Wallpaper is Making a Comeback

Wallpaper is making a comeback and it’s not the type of wallpaper your grandma used.  Modern wallpaper has different adhesive formulas that therefore allow for the paper to not leave residue behind. Not only do you have wallpaper but there are also even stick and peel fabrics. You can find modern wallpaper in a variety of stylish prints, also that is made from new materials. You can find ones made from dimensional fabrics and a wealth of new materials that make not just installation easy but also removal.

Why Choose Wallpaper?

Wallpaper is a very affordable way to transform any of your rooms. It is a lot more dramatic than paint and so you may not opt to have your whole room covered in wallpaper, but it is a great option for that accent wall. You’ll be happy to know that wallpaper is on trend now and has regained its “cool factor”. Wallpaper can be used as a focal point in your room and also can be used to highlight architectural feature for example to accentuate your fireplace.

How to Choose Modern Wallpaper

  • Embrace bold colors
  • Avoid small patterns
  • Texture and pattern are good
  • Customize a wallpaper to go with your room colors
  • Avant-garde patterns
  • Embossed jewel tones
  • Gold Accents
  • Botanicals
  • Clouds
  • Birds
  • Trees
  • Conceptual interpretations
  • Printed grass cloths in colors that are beautiful and highly saturated
  • Botanicals or Florals
  • Create a wall mural

Why We Love Wallpaper in the 21st Century

You can fall in love with the wallpaper trend all over again for a couple of different reasons. It is a great way to add a layer of texture and/ or color and can really put the finishing touch on a space. Depending on the space that you are using the wallpaper in you can use it to appeal to different senses. It can be used to appeal to the sense of touch and also a subtle color or design can be added to a wall where shelves will be installed. This will create layers of not only colors but also materials and will have a pop of color peeking through from between your shelves.

Wallpaper is a great choice for tying in themes, therefore they are great for kid’s rooms. It can also provide an alternative to purchasing a room full of themed furniture and décor items as well. Strategically placing wall coverings, certain areas or architectural details can be highlighted or details can be introduced where there were previously none.

Where to Use Wallpaper

Use wallcoverings in your living and dining rooms so as to create feature walls, in your bedroom to create a headboard wall or in your powder room. You can even include some wallpaper on your ceiling.

Where will you be adding wallpaper to your new SilverBeam Home? Comment below and let us know how you feel about this new comeback of Wallpaper.

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BevonyWallpaper is Making a Comeback

Why You Should Buy New!!

by Bevony on 22 May 2019 Comments Off on Why You Should Buy New!!

With housing prices falling, purchasing a brand new home is a great investment or those who can afford it. A more buyer favorable housing market means more ROI for you which is always a good thing when purchasing anything and especially housing.

But there are a number of hidden costs involved when purchasing a property – you say.

You may find that more affordable homes can be the older ones, with an older structure there is a high chance that this home will need you to get some amount of work done to get the home up to code. At this point, you may see how something that seems like a great deal can turn out to actually not be. You don’t want to purchase a home that ends up being a money pit and that is reason # 1 to Purchase a Brand New Home – you will get Value for Money. What are things to look out for when looking for your new home?

Location

With new construction, this typically means you are getting a brand new home in an up and coming area. This can mean a lot of benefits which include;

  • Good school districts
  • Low crime rates
  • Great roads
  • Nice parks
  • Nice sidewalks

New Appliances and Warranties

When purchasing a new home, we here at SilverBeam Homes provide a warranty on the property. We do this because we are certain of the quality of our homes and all the materials, techniques and technology that we use to build you a strong, safe home for you and your family. Also, any appliances included with your purchase have never been used and so you don’t have to worry about them conking out within the first month. And that gives you reason # 2 to buy a new home – Peace of Mind.

A Custom Built Home

Here at SilverBeam Homes, we offer you the option to create a customized home that will intimately and precisely meet the needs of you and your family. This is not something you can get when you purchase an older home. And that is reason # 3 supporting why you should purchase a brand new home – The Ability to Customize the Home. You can choose your location, choose your floorplan and choose your amenities.

Immediate Inventory

When it comes to purchasing a home, it is not always smooth sailing. Statistics show that 1 in 5 homes get canceled at closing. So new homes will often offer you a better price and less stress as closing can be done as soon as the next day. You see in these instances, the builders are motivated to sell. We may even have a discount we can offer if you are willing to close earlier. 

Choose the Seller’s Mortgage Company

Going with the mortgage company that your seller works with can help to streamline the entire process. This makes the builder more comfortable as well as it helps the entire process to go through faster and smoother. You may even get some sort of discount or additional offer that make the deal even a little bit sweeter. Opt to ask for other partner companies that the builder works with. These may be companies you need for other things related to purchasing your new home and getting settled in there.

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BevonyWhy You Should Buy New!!

New Home – What Now?

by Bevony on 15 May 2019 Comments Off on New Home – What Now?

So you bought your first home! Congratulations, we are super happy for you to have reached this milestone in your life. But what do you do now? We know you are tempted to purchase all the home goods at all the home goods and furniture stores but wait, let’s hold off on all of that for right now. Yes, we understand that your new home is a new start and filling it with a bunch of new things feels like the right thing to do. But let’s face it, there are monetary constraints and it makes no sense to put yourself into debt with a house full of brand new items. So what do we suggest should be the new purchases for your home? Keep reading to find out.

1. Lighting

Lighting is a very important factor in every home. In most cases, each room will require different levels of lighting based on how it will be used. Your office may require more lighting than your TV room for instance as well as your bathroom may require more lighting than your bedroom. The fact of the matter is you will need lighting before you attempt to move anything into your new house so let’s start here.

2. Window Treatments

Window Treatments – the jury is still out whether you should take care of lighting before you take care of the window treatments. These window treatments can really add some happiness to an empty room and they can also keep outside eyes from seeing what’s going on in your house while you are unpacking, moving in, sorting out your space. They can also keep the wandering eyes from knowing that your living room is still empty even though you moved into your new home three months ago. I hear you though, you haven’t got the color scheme and design all figured out yet. You can start off with basic window treatments that are only for allowing privacy. Get some drab drapes or some basic blinds until you have your full design figured out.

3. Side/End Tables

Side/End Tables – you never realize just how important these little pieces of furniture are until you have nowhere to place stuff. The great thing about these is even if you haven’t decided on your design theme or color story you can find neutral tables that can later fit into your chosen theme or story. These tables are very versatile and as such provide you with an exceptional bang for your buck since they can be placed in every room in your home.

4. The Necessities

The Necessities – now we cant list these out for you as these are different for each family. You will need to take stock of all home items you already own and first get those into space. Remember you can always change out into new things later, but for right away we want you to take all functional items that are still working and move them into your new space. Its all about making responsible fiscal decisions. Choose necessities that you don’t currently own and start with those purchases first.

While we understand that each homewoners needs are different going into their first home this list is a great place to start. It wont be a complete list for many and there may even be unnecessary things on there for some but it gives you a good idea to start off your new home purcashing or wish list with.

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BevonyNew Home – What Now?

Co-Ownership of Vancouver Homes

by Bevony on 1 May 2019 Comments Off on Co-Ownership of Vancouver Homes

After a 2018 survey, it was found that residents of Metro Vancouver wanted to see a reduction in the cost of homes. Fast forward to May 2019 and we can safely say that they have been granted their wish. Even so, there are some people who simply cannot afford to purchase a home.

If you are one of those, you don’t have to worry about giving up on your dream of owning a home. Co-ownership of a home can provide you and a friend or family member the ability to meet your dreams. What is co-ownership and how can you go about getting a co-owned home?

What is Co-Ownership?

With co-ownership of a home, there is a difference from that of a shared home as in a husband and wife situation. With co-ownership, you can split the homeownership percentage however you find necessary for your situation. So it could be split 50/50 or it could be split 30/70. A co-ownership even allows you the option to have separate mortgage payments. This is one of the high points of this type of arrangement. Especially if you are going into this deal with a friend. In such a case it is understandable that you will need a clear separation. This includes separation of ownership and expenses related to the new home.

Challenges of Co-Ownership

Co-ownership can help you find a way to own a home but it can also have its downsides. Though you get to explicitly determine how much percentage of the house each owner gets there are challenges. It will be hard to draw these lines physically in the home space. This is due to the fact that many homes are not designed for co-ownership and as such there will be a lot of shared areas. The best way to forego this challenge is to choose to build your co-owned home from scratch. That’s where us here at SilverBeamHomes come in. Check out our process and get in touch with us so we can help make your dream of owning a home a reality.

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BevonyCo-Ownership of Vancouver Homes

Vancouver House and Condo Price Trends

by Bevony on 24 April 2019 Comments Off on Vancouver House and Condo Price Trends

Are you wondering where house and condo prices in Vancouver are heading? If you are looking to find a new home, then you will be happy to know that these prices are mostly going down. If you are looking to sell your home then this may not be the best news for you. the truth is that house prices have doubled in the last 10 years which equates to price increases of an average of 7% per year while our incomes have only increased on average around 1.5%.

House prices dropped in the summer of 2016 after the foreign buyer tax was introduced but the prices later recovered. The drop back then was a shallow drop and when you think of you, you really wonder just how volatile the market is. The truth is that prices in the Metro Vancouver area have already dropped by 12% which works out to approximately $192,000. While this drop may seem very significant just by looking at the numbers the truth of the matter is that this drop still leaves house prices out of reach for a lot of residents of Vancouver. Residents of the Westside and West Vancouver have been the hardest hit but there have been significant declines in East Vancouver and Richmond as well.

What About Condo Prices?

Within the same timeframe of 10 years, there has been a decline in the prices of Condos as well. This downturn had continued on the downward trend until last summer. While there was a decline in Condo prices it was not as notable as the decline in prices of houses.

What does this Mean for the Market?

With a market like this, buyers have a better chance of getting more house for their money. Sellers, on the other hand, will have to lower their prices to remain competitive and to increase their chances of closing a sale. First-time buyers who have been saving up for buying a home will be happy about the current market statistics but those who don’t have a sizeable amount saved up could still be second guessing buying a home at these prices.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to how much money you make and how much you have saved to help get your home. There are many people who remain in a good position no matter which way the market goes and there are those can just hope and pray that the market continues to show a decline in the price of homes.

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BevonyVancouver House and Condo Price Trends

Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets for a New Look

by Bevony on 17 April 2019 Comments Off on Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets for a New Look

You can transform your kitchen without paying out a load of money to completely renovate the room. The most cost effective and time effective way to give your kitchen a fresh new look is to reface your kitchen cabinets.

What is Refacing?

When you reface your kitchen you still make use of the existing footprint. You will remove the old drawers and doors and replace them with brand new ones. The visible exterior of the cabinets is covered with a material that will match the material on the doors and drawers/. This way the cabinets in the rest of the kitchen will match your new doors and drawers. You will have a fast turnaround time when you choose professionals to do the work.

While refacing is not new as it has been around and in use for many years, it is now becoming a very popular choice because of the affordability of the option. It is a great option for small and large kitchens alike and the process of refacing can be done with a variety of cabinets as well. Once the cabinet’s main structure is sound structurally the refacing can be done successfully. If your cabinets are not structurally sound then you will have to completely redo them as refacing won’t work for such a situation. In such a case it just makes good sense to get completely new structures and not just simply reface.

Image by Solomon Rodgers from Pixabay

Refacing experts note that in around 80 percent of cases there is no need to change the footprint of a kitchen. Even kitchens as old as 40 years old will have good solid cabinet structures. And older kitchens can still look more modern with a simple refacing of the cabinet instead of an entire gutting of the old kitchen.

Homeowners are very aware of the affordability and the aesthetic benefits of refacing and so now refacing are increasing. There are many options for homeowners to choose from including wood grain finishes, over 40 matte colors, high gloss colors, and more than 20 different door styles to provide even the most unique taste with something they can love. With so much variety it is easy for homeowners to find a customized refacing solution which is what most homeowners are looking for – a kitchen outside of the cookie cutter closet.

With homeowners value space and organization these days pull out drawers and cabinets are a big hit. Customers can change their drawers and cabinets and can create their dream kitchen without paying the amount it would cost for them to completely re-do their kitchen. Refacing is no longer about simply repainting or refinishing the old doors and putting them back in place. It is about creating a kitchen space that is aesthetically pleasing and functionally meeting the needs of the family that dwells within the house. You can change to soft close hinges, install pot and pan drawers, extend your cabinet boxes, add crown molding and so much more with a modern kitchen refacing.

When you choose your refacing experts they will allow you to choose your colors and style and typically will have the job done in a week if all goes right on your part. More elaborate refacing and changes can make the process longer and also the schedule of the expert you choose will affect how quickly you can have our new kitchen up and running. Most professionals will provide you with a free in-home estimate to include assessments of the current conditions of your cabinets.

Remember that the professionals know what is in style and they know how to meet your needs once you voice those needs to them. Why not talk to experts on refacing today, so you can get your kitchen looking brand new without the price tag of a full-on kitchen renovation.

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BevonyReface Your Kitchen Cabinets for a New Look

Common Mistakes Homeowners Make when Selling their Home

by Bevony on 10 April 2019 Comments Off on Common Mistakes Homeowners Make when Selling their Home
Home For Sale

When you consider putting your home up for sale you want to also make some other considerations even before you start thinking about what you are going to price it at. There are a lot of steps involved in putting a home up for sale and each is very important to the success of the venture.

The different steps include;

  1. Preparing
  2. Listing
  3. Making Repairs
  4. Finding a Buyer
  5. Navigating the Closing Process
  6. Moving out
  7. Turning over to the new owners

These steps don’t necessarily have to be in the above order as sometimes you may move out prior to doing anything else on the list. There may be times as well where you get to number 5 and may have to go back to number 5 or even number 3. Yes it is a very complex process and there will be hiccups along the way but if you know what the most common mistakes are then you can avoid some of those hiccups.

Mistakes to Avoid!

Underestimating Selling Costs

There are expenses associated with selling your house that you will have to pay upfront. You can expect to pay 5 to 6% in agent fees but your expenses will be much more than that. Estimate expenses to be around 10% of your selling costs and keep this money handy for any costs that may need to be covered.

If you will be moving into a new home prior to selling your home you will need to add those expenses into your selling cost expense category as well.

Setting a Price that is Unrealistic

You will hear the term “fair market value”. This ensures that sellers are listing at prices that buyers can afford. You don’t want to out-price your self of the buyers market.

Considering Only the Highest Offer

The highest offer, of course, is always going to be the most exciting one but not always is the best option. There can be problems with high bidders down the line just like with any other bidder. Consider contingencies that are included in higher offers such as mandatory home inspections etc whereas someone with a lower offer may not have those contingencies. Some contingencies can really increase the amount of time your house spends on the market and can increase your selling expenses notably.

Making Costly Renovations or Ignoring Major Repairs

Buyers will be turned off if you are selling a home with a long list of items and areas to be repaired. On the other hand, you can turn away buyers if you have made too many costly renovations that caused a major increase in the price of your home. When it comes to these two, it really is all about balance.

A well organized home is welcoming and allows a potential buyer to imagine themselves already living in the space.

Not De-cluttering and Staging Your Home

The way your home looks when a buyer walks through it has a huge impact on the buyer’s decision making process. The buyer walks through your home and pictures their lives there. If you have too much going on, too much clutter, too much furniture, too many toys it can be hard for them to make the connection of their lifestyle and your home. This will deter them from wanting to make an offer. Make sure you clean up the house, put some of your stuff in storage and make sure you go the extra mile on open house days.

These five mistakes can make a big difference in the entire process of selling yoru home. When not done right you can find these stumbling blocks can cause your home to stay on the market longer and can even increase your house selling expenses and thereby will decrease your profits on the home sale. Take heed and ensure you don’t make these mistakes when selling your home.

If you haven’t found your new home yet but are considering moving up in home, give us a call here at SilverBeam Homes so we can help you find the home that is customized to meet the needs of your growing family.

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BevonyCommon Mistakes Homeowners Make when Selling their Home

Vancouver Home Prices for 2019

by Bevony on 3 April 2019 Comments Off on Vancouver Home Prices for 2019

We are well into 2019 and the experts and economists have put together a number of indicators for predicting approximate housing prices throughout the rest of the year for the Vancouver housing market.

The year 2018 we saw a drop in housing prices in Vancouver which was a welcome surprise with housing prices being so high for the last couple of years in this general area. It is important to understand that the housing market here is a very beneficial one not just for home owners and construction companies but also for the economy of the city as well. Therefor it is not just the buyers and sellers that are interested in the housing prices but also the analysts and the economists as well as the lenders.

In February and March we saw first time home buyers getting 20% less to borrow to purchase their first home. This affected entry level units and end user units in the condo market showing how some of even the lower end units are more expensive when you take into account the average income of persons living in the surrounding areas.

Buyers wanting to move up in property benefited from the stress test as they now had to re-qualify for a new loan. When they met the stress test standards they found that got some deals and may even get better terms than the current mortgage they are currently in.

Get Re-Qualified for your next home purchase!

On a whole though, we do see that there are a lot of declines taking place for Vancouver’s housing market. There is projected to be a 26% decrease in prices by summer for homes on the west side of Vancouver. In the same area, detached homes are predicted to show a drop in prices as well. This is a good thing as with a rise in price there is typically a drop in urgency to buy. This is good news to us here at SilverBeam homes as we are excited about the new opportunities you have to get more with your money as the market changes in your favor. We have the skillset, all the tools and the expertise to help you meet your dream of owning a home, wether it is your first home or it is time to move up in house – we can help you make it a reality. Check out our process and let us start helping you today!

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BevonyVancouver Home Prices for 2019

We’re in the Business of Efficient Buildings

by Bevony on 28 March 2019 Comments Off on We’re in the Business of Efficient Buildings

Vancouver is trying to make it with the Greenest City Action Plan. And as we all strive to make this a reality, here at SilverBeams is no different. We strive to do everything we can do as we build homes for you and your family members with the latest technologies and products to help enhance efficiency while ensuring your comfort.

There are a couple ways we can provide you with a more efficient home. And one such way is in the materials that we chose to use in the creation of your home. Today we want to shed some light on what those materials are and how they do make your home more efficient.

In December the city made it mandatory that all builders provide the most efficient homes they could possible supply to the market. We decided we wanted to go the extra mile and make some additional effort to make homes even more efficient than the baseline. the result is not just a more efficient home, but also a healthier home to raise your children, a more comfortable home and a home that will be more affordable to heat during the winter months and more affordable to cool during the summer months.

The regulation that brings this all to life is the BC Energy Step Code. Why is it called the step code? Because it is made up of groups of measurable goals that are grouped in a “staircase” structure which we builders will have to comply with over time. There are five steps for homes and these need to be applied to new homes over time, one step at a time. Some parts of the city of Vancouver are already mandating step 3 for new homes.

Demand is growing and we have heard you the home buyers on the market. we hear you want more efficient homes and we understand all the reasons why. A recent survey of homebuyers preferences revealed that Canadian homebuyers are in the market for homes that feature high-efficiency windows, energy efficient appliances, heat recovery ventilation and overall energy efficiency among other features.

We realize that our customers are educated and know all the benefits of choosing energy efficient homes and lowering their bills. Here at SilverBeam Homes, we know what you want and we want to build that home for you. We offer a number of different options for meeting your specific needs as a home buyer. We want to help you build a healthier home, a better-built home, a more comfortable home. Let us get you started on the journey to owning your home. Give us a call today and set up a consultation.

Want to know more about what we offer before you call? Go ahead and check our process! We are waiting to hear from you.

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BevonyWe’re in the Business of Efficient Buildings

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