January 2020

All posts from January 2020

Rent to Own Housing Solutions

by Bevony on 29 January 2020 Comments Off on Rent to Own Housing Solutions

Metro home builders are catching on to the rent to own housing solution. The rental vacancy rate in Vancouver is lower than 1 percent and buying a home is a very expensive endeavor. Some of us just aren’t ready for that just yet. There are a number of options available for rent to won in the city though. You will find that on the outskirts of the metro Vancouver area there are a number of places where you can find rent to own homes.

Metro home builders are catching on to the rent to own housing solution. The rental vacancy rate in Vancouver is lower than 1 percent and buying a home is a very expensive endeavor. Some of us just aren’t ready for that just yet. There are a number of options available for rent to won in the city though. You will find that on the outskirts of the metro Vancouver area there are a number of places where you can find rent to own homes.

This is a great idea. Think about it, you don’t have to be paying rent and saving at the same time. Construction of all the units in this project is not complete as yet and is slated for completion in 2021. The projected rent at that time will be $1000 per month for one-bedroom units or $1250 per month for a two-bedroom unit. The one-bedroom units will be 643 square feet and will have buying prices starting at $469,900. Two-bedroom units can be purchased at a starting cost of $649,900.

Qualifying for Rent to Own

  • Must be a first time home buyer
  • Currently, work/live in Port Moody
  • Must live on the premises of the agreement
  • Cannot assign agreement of purchase to anybody else

Due to the many applications they received, they went for a lottery-like selection in March of 2019. Some were excited about this while others weren’t too happy about it.

We consider this to be a great option for first-time homeowners who are not able to afford a home in the traditional way. Panatch has inspired other home builders to offer solutions that are similar to this for persons who would love to purchase a home but may not be able to afford to do so in a traditional way.

In April of 2019, we saw Ledcor offering renters the opportunity to apply 25% of their monthly rent to go towards them being able to purchase a new home in Lanford’s Belmont Residences Project.

SilverBeam Homes is proud to be a part of an industry that allows people the opportunity to make their dreams of owning a home a reality.

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2020 Stone And Tile Trends

by Bevony on 22 January 2020 Comments Off on 2020 Stone And Tile Trends

2020 is seeing a lot of colors when it comes to home design and decor trends. Trends feature punches of indigo blue, minty greens, burgundy, forest green, and black. When it comes to patterns, natural richness and opulent patterns are coming to life. Gone are the trends for neutral stone and ceramic tiles. 2020 will see trendier homes with bold colors, unique shapes, luxurious patterns, surprising textures, and richer veining. 2020 in-home design is all about upping the ante. This was seen in the unveiling of ceramic and stone products from Ciot Inc with its 2020 product line.

There was a time when stone and ceramic products were about functionality, nowadays they serve much more than function. They are making fashion statements in 2020. With the trends that are coming out, your tile and stone ca provide your decor with an elevation in elegance and character. Many of the on-trend options for 2020 mix ultra-stylish looks and natural elements. The trends pave the way for an artful masterpiece and a one of a kind look that will work now and into the future.

2020 Tile Trends

Eye-Catching Color

Minty greens and pale roses; pastels that warm up a room are more suitable for those who are looking for a muted decor. For those not afraid of color, stronger tones will add much character to your room.

Trending tile collections include Colorplay, Crackle, Bowl, Urban Atelier and Let it, Bee.

Striking Finishes

Tiles made with imitation cement boast colorful patterns that are becoming increasingly popular since they have the ability to add visual interest to your home. With neutral textures, you can add a Bohemian or a Mediterranean vibe. For your floor tiles, you can go for a conservative tone on tone choice. Bright and glossy tiles with a lacquered looking finish will also be on trend this season.

Dynamic Shapes

The trend is for a lot of compelling shapes from diamonds, hexagons to fish scales. Anything that can be considered fun and free-spirited is being embraced for their ability to elevate the room.

You will even see computer-generated 3D patterns or effects that will create tile designs that are complex enough to play on shadows, light and provide futuristic palettes.

Large Tiles

Bigger is better for 2020 when it comes to tiles. The new standard tile size is 60 by 60 cm. You can even find large rectangular tiles measuring 60 by 120 cm. These provide a very upscale look and can not only be used on floors but can also be used on walls as well. Using these larger tiles on walls will provide a modern and sleek vibe.

Metallic Finishes

Natural gold, brass highlights, and copper will be on trend this year making for reflective surfaces that will glisten in natural lighting. These are best used as wall coverings. Deeper shades will leave an organic feel.

Distressed Looks

2020 has old looking new again for both walls and floors. Old looking marble floors create a warm charm.

2020 Stone Trends

Stone Wrapping

In this trend, entire rooms are enveloped with sophisticated and elegant stone slabs. This provides a truly one of a kind decor. Imagine an entire kitchen island or entire wall from floor to ceiling complete with stone slabs. Stone wrapping can be used for cocooning floors and stairways etc to provide a striking ambiance.

Color Infusion

Warm whites now have ints of gold and grey while burgundy, jade green, rose and icy blue makes a comeback as suitable choices for all types of rooms. You will also find black mixed with gold and white veining to provide an ultra-chic and mysterious appearance.

Bright & Bold Veins

You will find marble with active wine red veins taking over grey veining. You will also see bright blues and emerald greens making these surfaces work of arts in and of themselves.

Natural Richness

Imagine finishes that look like raw materials from mother nature to include concrete looks, terrazzo look and marble looks inside.

Whether you are using tile or stone you can get away with combining finishes, colors, and patterns in 2020 to create an extremely on-trend and unique room. The trend is seemingly holding its own and is expected to hold its own into the future of design and decor.

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Why You Need an Interior Designer for Your Custom Home

by Bevony on 15 January 2020 Comments Off on Why You Need an Interior Designer for Your Custom Home

If you are considering building a custom home in Victoria, we can help you with everything you need. We have a team of professionals that can help make your dream a reality. Among the team members are capable and expert Interior Designers. They can take your vision and turn it into a reality when we are done building your home.

An interior designer can help to bridge the gap between your vision and the home. This way, we the builders know exactly what the end product will be like. When you have this input early on in the building game it ensures a better quality build in the end.  A designer can ensure that your needs and wants work for you and your family. While also ensuring they work with the building restrictions of the area, the geography of your lot and any municipal bylaws that may apply along with any neighboring homes close by. 

What Does an Interior Designer Do?

An interior designer is not the same as an interior decorator, but the two are often confused. The interior designer does a lot more than an interior decorator. They are involved in the build process whereas an interior decorator is involved after the completion of the building. The interior designer ensures that design spaces are safe, functional and finished in a way that is aesthetically pleasing according to the homeowner’s vision. 

An interior designer will work very closely with the team of architects, engineers and the contractor that is building your home. They will ensure that the spaces that are being created will meet all of your needs. An interior designer can work with you to give you an idea of what different colors and textures will look in a room. They can inform you of how these colors, spaces, lighting, and furniture can all work together. 

Your interior designer will be reading blueprints. They will be knowledgeable of all the latest trends. They are aware of municipal building bylaws. An interior designer is up to date with local building codes and know about the universal accessibility standards. An interior decorator does not require knowledge of all these things to do their job.

Why You Need an Interior Designer?

If you are renovating or building a new home from the ground up you will find that having an interior designer can be very advantageous. That is why when you hire SilverBeam Homes you are hiring a team that includes a skilled interior designer to assist you all the way. Our designer will be your liaison between the build team and yourself. This will help to ensure that your vision does not die in the hands of the builders. Here is how you can benefit from having our interior designer on your side. 

Stay Within Your Budget

We all understand the importance of staying within your budget. Our designer will not only help you to stay within your budget but will also advise you on ways that you can save money. With their knowledge of building codes and average material costs, they can even help you stay abreast of what is best if you ever want to resell your house later on down the road. 

Our designers have years of experience and they can use that experience to help you to prevent costly mistakes. They know about how materials will stand up to the BC climate and geography and have a wealth of knowledge to impart so you can make the best decisions when spending your money.

Save Time

When building a custom home you want to get it done right the first time. The whole point of a custom home is so you don’t have to have things redone. Your designer can help you save time by ensuring that your design works for now and for the future of your family and what those future needs may be. An interior designer will ask the questions that matter at all the right stages to ensure that obstacles are seen from afar and dealt with so they don’t mess up your timeline. 

Get Honest, Expert Opinions

It can be so easy to get overwhelmed in the design process as there are many choices. When you work with a designer they can narrow down these choices so that the ultimate decision is a lot easier to make. As a neutral third party, they can make the process of decision making even easier.

Protect Your Interest

When you are working with a professional interior designer you are less likely to get ripped off. They will work with their usual suppliers and partners to provide you with all you need. This way you don’t even have to be very involved in the sourcing of suppliers and supplies.

Get You Better Deals

With a track record of success, an interior designer will have their regular suppliers as mentioned above. As such they may be able to get you deals you would not get otherwise.

When you are creating a dream home, you need to have an interior designer on your team. We understand the importance of this professional and we want you to understand this as well. Now that you have purchased the land and you know what you want your layout to be like, it is time to talk to an interior designer. Let us get you to the next step in creating your custom home here at SilverBeam Homes.

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Getting a Mortgage When You’re Self Employed

by Bevony on 8 January 2020 Comments Off on Getting a Mortgage When You’re Self Employed

As a self-employed individual, you work hard. However, you may have already experienced hardships in obtaining credit, whether it is for a credit card, any type of loan or a mortgage. This is especially true if your business is new. Why? Because as a self-employed individual you won’t have a standard regular income that a regularly paid employee will have, some institutions will see you as a high risk. There are, however, institutions that have special lending programs just for you.

One example of this is a lending program that allows an eligible self-employed individual to qualify for mortgage financing. In such a case, they use what they call “reasonable stated income” to frame the terms of the loan. This is mainly because some self-employed people choose to reduce their personal income in an effort to grow their business or to be beneficial for tax purposes. Under this type of program, you will be able to access a mortgage that allows up to 65% financing of the purchase price. There is also the confirmed down payment that is necessary as well as a good credit rating. With the last two in place, you can own home as a self-employed individual.

Documents Necessary for Your Application

If you are self-employed, here are some documents you will need for your application for mortgage financing.

  • T1 General
  • NOA – Notice of Assessment
  • Financial Statements for Your Business
  • Articles of Incorporation
  • Business License
  • Business Credit Report
  • GST/HST Return Summary
  • Proof of Other Income if any

In addition to these documents, the mortgage specialist you deal with may ask you for other documents that may be unique to the type of business you offer.

Flexible Mortgage Options

Several entrepreneurs are opting for flexible mortgage options. There are a number of these available including the Homeline Plan from RBC. This is not the only place you can find this type of offering as most lenders have this type of mortgage product. These types of plans allow you to access both your personal and your business credit under one umbrella. If you opt for this you can even customize your mortgage financing and leverage the equity on your current home.

Our team of experts here you can find the financing you need if you choose us to be your custom home builders. Give us a call today and set up a consultation. Let’s show you how our team can help you make your dream a reality.

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New Standards for Building Energy Performance throughout British Columbia

by Bevony on 1 January 2020 Comments Off on New Standards for Building Energy Performance throughout British Columbia

There is a revolution happing in code development in British Columbia. The rest of Canada is also seeing this. As a result, there has been an increase in residences being built with better energy performance. There has been a 70% increase in construction over the past two years. This increase is noted by the British Columbia local government. 

The BC Energy Step Code being developed is set to be fully encompassing all new construction in British Columbia for 2032. The code has measurable performances at its root. It, however, does not prescribe specific approaches and materials. It does, however, indicate the lowest performance outcomes that are expected and each of these is grouped into the different steps of the code. Because of that builders now have this guide to using when designing and building new homes.

There are 5 steps that a home can meet according to the code. A step  5 home is the best at energy efficiency because it is the top of the tier. Due to this, the construction industry in the driver’s seat for creating the homes to meet this step code. Different experts from across the industry and at different stages of the home design to build process can help to create more efficient homes. These include architects, builders, and engineers who must all work together for a common goal. 

These professionals are not left to their own devices. They must demonstrate with an energy model how their project will meet the requirements of each step of the code.

Metrics of the BC Energy Step Code

The Range of Metrics used in the BC Energy Step Code includes TEDI and MEUI. There is also, the percentage lower than EnerGuide Reference House. As well as there is airtightness. The latter is expressed as hour at a 50-Pa (1-psf) pressure differential (ach 50).

In December 2017, the government of British Columbia indicated that by 2032 it would need all newly built buildings to meet the specified energy performance requirements. As a result, the code came into force in December 2017. It is not a mere standalone code, it is instead a part of the British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) To meet the requirements, the government developed a directive that is transforming communities in the province steadily.

The BC Energy Step Code is already being used by several local governments. The number is currently growing. Because the local government as shown so much interest in the code, the province has provided alignment with the regulatory requirements and the steps of the code.

With each edition of the code, there is more stringency. As such there are changes in what is required for 2022, 2027 and 2032. This has triggered an increase in training for persons employed for different roles throughout the industry.

How the BC Energy Step Code Works

Each step of the code represents a higher amount of efficiency. Each step of energy efficiency is defined by a particular metric. It has already been made the standard in the bylaws of several communities. Each proposed new project must demonstrate its ability to meet the requirements of the current standard step.

As a result, an energy model must be submitted for any building project. This along with the necessary drawings are used for the application of a permit. The official will confirm if the project meets the requirement and will issue a permit. After the completion of the building, the builder must show that the building does confirm to and meets the standards as specified by the initial documents used to secure the permit to build. 

This is step 1. Each step has different requirements because the protocol allows time for the industry to get up to the task. The highest is Step 5. It is the top step and denotes a net-zero energy ready single-family home. As a result, one can expect the utmost energy efficiency from a home with step 5 designation. 

Increase in High-Performance Projects

Because of there being a buyer’s market, there is a huge rise in construction in British Columbia. Because of the CleanBC program, there is an added boost for new projects being built to the BC Energy Step Code. The CleanBC incentivized program targets Part 3 buildings. It also targets residences that are targeting Passive House Certification.

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