The data for March 2022 is out, and across all property types we are still seeing increases in listing prices. Comparing the March 2022 numbers to March 2021 numbers, there has been a 21% increase in listing prices for all property types. To further break this down, we can go into property type. For detached homes, we are seeing a 24% increase in selling price. For Townhomes, we are seeing a 31% increase in selling prices, and for Condos/Apartments there is a 17% increase. With these prices, we have seen decreases in buying compared to the same period in 2021, so overall the data shows a 24% decrease in home buying. Detached home sales have decreased by 34%, Townhomes sales have decreased by 29%, and Condos/Apartment sales have decreased by 14%. 

March 2022 Benchmark Prices in Metro Vancouver 

March 2022 saw home prices in Vancouver breaking an all time high. Vancouver is now seeing its 12th consecutive month of price records. In March of 2022, the benchmark price for a home in Metro Vancouver was $1,360,500. This reflects a 3.6% increase from February’s benchmark price of $1,313,400. March 2022 is also the 16th consecutive month that the benchmark home price has risen over a month to month basis. The last decrease we saw in the benchmark home price for Vancouver was November of 2020. It then dipped ever so slightly to $1,044,400, coming from $1,045,900. 

Metro Vancouver is still the most expensive housing market in Canada, having held this title for more than 30 years. The Benchmark 

March 2022 Benchmark Price Comparisons 

The benchmark price for Vancouver is also higher than the average home price in Toronto, which is $1,299,894. This has seen a slight drop from previous months. Toronto once had the most expensive housing market title for the month of February in 2022. There are slight price increases compared to the previous months. 

Over the past year, we have seen price increases of 25%, inching to $2,118,600 seen in March 2022. The 3.6% increase over the benchmark price in February represents a monthly increase of $73, 800. In the past year, the benchmark price for detached homes in Vancouver has gone up by $418,400. This gain is more expensive than the average home price in Edmonton, which was at $414,788 in March 2022. 

The prices of townhomes have also surged year over year and month over month. Prices are staying above the 1 million mark after passing that level in December 2021. The condo and apartment prices were lagging behind with a 17% increase, which is an increase none-the-less. 

We saw the highest year over year benchmark price growth from homes in Maple Ridge. Their prices went up to $1,275,300, up by 37% year over year and 5.3% month-over-month. 

In West Vancouver, we saw the highest benchmark home price in Metro Vancouver. The price came in at $2,677,500. West Vancouver also saw the lowest annual growth in home prices, with a year-over-year increase of 7.7%. The number of listings has reduced over last year, with a decrease of 16.6%. In March 2022, the 6,673 listings represented a year-over-year decrease of 19.5%. 

This month’s home sales stand at 4,344, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 24%. With these numbers, Vancouver’s sales-to-active-listings ratio is 56.9%. So this means that the home sales for this month are making up a larger section of active listings. 

Vancouver’s housing market saw one tailwind in the 2021 update. Homebuyers in Toronto, Victoria and Vancouver now can benefit from the 5 or 10% down payment incentive that is paid by the Federal government. Persons with a household income up to $15,000 can benefit from this. 

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We are currently in a seller’s market, so if you are considering selling your house, it could be just the right time to do so. But maybe you are not ready to sell right now, maybe you need some improvements before you list the home. Even so, when should you list your home for sale?

We have seen the housing market in Vancouver constantly in a state of flux. We’ve seen high supply and little demand prompting a drop in price, and more recently we have seen a market with more buyers than sellers, causing bidding to escalate prices. 

When you are selling, you want to list your property at the right time of year. You don’t want your house to sit too long on the market, and you definitely want it to go for a great price. 

The Importance of Timing for Home Sales 

Here are some of the things people consider before buying. This data reflects previous home sales. 

• Convenience – homeowners tend to be more eager to buy when the weather conditions are pleasant. 
• Competition – If you don’t have a lot of listing competition, you can list your home at a higher price. 
• Interest rates – When interest rates are lower, chances are you will have a larger buyer’s pool.  

Timing is definitely everything, and with the housing market, time of year is very important. The housing market sale price can be affected by seasonality as much as 10%. 

The Best Time of Year to Sell

The best time to sell houses is during the early spring or early fall. Selling during spring is very advantageous. People start looking for homes in spring, in the hopes of moving in by or during summer. Then, in the fall, the rush of summer is over and there are fewer competing listings. 

The weather is pleasant in both spring and fall, giving you a prime opportunity to list your home. The temperatures are not too cold nor too hot for moving in and doing initial yardwork. But you can still sell your home in the winter. It likely will take longer to finalize a sale, since people are less likely to move when it’s cold outside. Families with school aged children may find it difficult to move in the middle of the school year. 

Many people believe the summer is the best time to sell, but this is usually a very competitive time. In Vancouver, it is typically in the summer that sellers list their homes.

When you decide when to list your home, what is your next step? Will you be looking for your next home or are you considering building? If your answer to the latter is yes, give us a call. We are in the business of building homes from the ground up specifically to meet your needs.  

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2021 was the second year of the global COVID-19 pandemic.  This has changed the way that Canadians live, and also has changed where they live.  There are currently more than four million Canadian workers working from home.  This change in work environment has given them the freedom to change their plans on settling in major urban centers.  Persons are now looking to settle in smaller cities where they can afford more square footage for their money.

A recent report from Statistics Canada shows that people are migrating to the East Coast more so than the prairies and metropolitan areas. Another report by U-Haul based on its customers is showing Canadians moving to smaller towns like Alberta and Rural Ontario. 

Alberta is the Top Province for U-Haul Movers

U-Haul’s report is based on customer data, and they are seeing a rise of 33% in one way U-Haul trucks arriving in Alberta. Within the province, the top city and destination seems to be Calgary. The arrival of new residents in the city has caused an increase in home prices, as the demand rises above the supply. In January of 2022, the average cost of a home in Calgary was $510,701.  This reflects a year-over-year increase of 8%. 

Most Moved to Cities in Ontario 

Wild Alberta took the prize for the most moved province of Canada. Ontario was also high on the list. Here we saw smaller communities receiving the newest residents. We believe that in the sky high prices in the greater Toronto area, many homeowners move to smaller communities.  In these smaller communities, individuals find more affordable homes and more square footage for their money.

 There has been a change, you know what Canadians are looking for in your homes. People are moving away from open floor plans, I know, seeking homes with dedicated spaces for work, relaxation and exercise.

A recent Zolo survey showed that 34% of Canadians wanted a change in the size or layout of their homes after living through the COVID pandemic and its ensuing restrictions. We think this is one of the major driving factors in choosing where people want to move to. These smaller communities offer more square footage and space for their home offices at a more affordable price than their current place of residence. 

Top Moved to Cities As Per U-Haul’s Data 

City	Approximate Average Home Cost	% More Affordable Than Toronto
North Bay	$478, 000	56
Belleville	$546,000	50
Greater Sudbury	$458,000	58
Kingston	$578, 000	47
Owen Sound-Port Elgin	$555, 000	49
Sault Ste. Maire	$269, 000	75
Chatham	$457, 000	58
St. Thomas	$707, 000	35
Sarnia	$539, 000	51
Brantford	$758, 000	31
Orillia	$748, 000	32
Peterborough	$814, 000	26
Cornwall	$397, 000	64

Affordable Cities Seeing Home Price Increases

The search for more affordable housing has increased the demand in these smaller towns and cities, and so the house prices here are starting to crawl up as well. We are seeing this sort of domino effect in a lot of the smaller towns and cities, and coupled with high prices is a dwindling supply. 

It is hard to predict the future, especially with the unknown of the virus and with the effects of inflation. What we do know is that cities like North Bay and Calgary are posting large year over year gains in prices. Other urban centers like Halifax and Moncton are seeing price appreciation as well. 

With these significant price gains, these areas are still not as expensive as the Metro Vancouver and Greater Toronto areas. With this, we believe that Canadians will continue to look to smaller cities, as their needs are not being met in these metropolitan areas. Cities like Alberta and Ontario will continue to see new families arriving in the search for more space and more affordability. 

What are your thoughts? Are you in the market for a home? Can you afford one where you currently reside? Have you ever thought of building? If your answer to the last question is yes, give us a call and let us discuss your needs and your budget. We can build your home from the ground up, making your dream of owning a home a reality. 

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Vancouver ranks highly as one of the most livable cities in the world quite often. It has been ranked as the best North American city to live in. With a very scenic location with views of the oceans on one side, while being tucked against the North Shore mountains, it is ideal for those who want milder weather, so they can explore all year round. 

Vancouver House Prices

With a high demand for houses, it is currently a seller’s market. What this means for buyers is waiting longer to close on a home, being bid out of homes, and pushing the dream of owning a home in Vancouver further away.  If we compare home sales prices of 2017 and 2021, we see an increase over each month, and this trend continues to be the norm.

Unless a healthy supply of houses are entered into the market, we can expect these conditions to remain fueled by a high demand. If you must relocate to Vancouver, you can expect to find diverse and vibrant neighborhoods. You will have a lot of nature to enjoy and have almost every cuisine at your fingertips. Jobs are plenty, and you can only expect the best healthcare and education here, so it is a good choice. 

If you choose to make Vancouver your home, you also don’t have to worry about not owning a car, because there are lots of transit options. These include the bus, the sky train and the sea bus. There are also a lot of walkable downtown sites, and others are typically just 30 minutes away by bus or sea bus. This network of public transportation can help to ease some of the expenses that come along with owning a car. 

Best Places to Live in Vancouver 

Vancouver’s most livable communities include: 

• Fairview 
• Grandview-Woodland
• Kitsilano 
• Mount Pleasant 
• Riley Park 
• Shaughnessy 
• South Cambie 

Where Not to Live in Vancouver

Like almost everything on this earth, Vancouver has its downsides. Stay away from areas east of Main Street. Avoid the Downtown Eastside and East Hastings, and these places are known for homelessness, prostitution, crime and poverty. 

Outside of that, Vancouver is a fairly safe place to both live and visit, and buying a house here is worth it if you are planning on living here for the long term. Vancouver has always been a desirable place to live and will always continue to be. 

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There has been a lot of growth in property valuations in Rossland. This small town did not escape the woes of the rest of the housing market. Many people who are not Rossland natives come here in the hopes of buying a more affordable home, but find themselves being priced out of the market still. This can be especially discouraging, especially now with a pandemic and most people not having a 20% down payment. 

What the Price Increases Look Like

Prices jumped 33% from July 2020 to July 2021, reveals B.C Assessments. These numbers were shared in January of 2022. Where we saw a 16% increase in Vancouver for the same period. This jump was a surprise for many, even though there was intense inflation in previous years for the housing market. The increase is being attributed to persons who now can work remotely choosing to make a lifestyle change, because they like the idea of living in a ski resort area. 

In the past, one of the saving graces for Rossland was the difficulty to reach the area. But now with remote work, even though local businesses can’t afford to pay the kinds of wages to support the house prices, purchasers are coming from outside the community, pushing up prices even further. Many parents who are longtime residents of the community are worried that their children won’t be able to afford to live here. Residents feel like the area is beginning to feel like a town for the rich. 

With intense demand driving up prices, some homebuyers are spilling into places like Castlegar, which is close by but still cheaper. We can expect to see a domino effect of prices there going up in the near future too. They have seen a year over year growth of 21% compared to the 33% seen in Rossland. 

Rossland could benefit from new developments, but not all the locals like this idea. They think new development will just lead to more city folk moving into their quiet ski town. But there are some locals that welcome the change. 

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All home loans are definitely not the same. Here’s how you can tell the difference between a good and a bad fit. 

The region is still seeing a strong demand for real estate, and with listings highly priced, many are turning to the new construction market to meet their home ownership needs. Most Condos and Townhomes are sold pre-sale. That means they are sold even before construction starts, or sometimes while construction is ongoing. This is referred to as a presale purchase. 

Your reason for presale doesn’t matter too much. There are some critical elements that can help you enhance your experience when purchasing presale. This is very true, especially when you consider your options for mortgage financing. You won’t find comprehensive financing solutions. So you have to ask all the right questions. The main thing is that you want your mortgage approval to still be valid when the construction is all done. Here are some things to consider when purchasing presale. 

What is the Lender Offering?

You can get one of two options. There is the condition free and final mortgage approval offer, and there is the mortgage pre-approval for purchasing the presale home. There are conditions that come with pre-approval offers, which allow the financing to be reviewed later, so there is the chance that the terms can change. With a final mortgage approval offer, you get peace of mind knowing there will be no changes in the terms of the offer when your construction is finished. 

Validity Length of Mortgage Approval 

The best scenario is to choose a lender that offers a final mortgage that is equal to the length of construction. The best scenario is for the final mortgage to be valid for greater than the length of construction. 

You want to know what happens if there is a delay in construction. Will your lender require you to undergo another requalification, or will they honor the original approval? 

We find that most lenders can only guarantee mortgage rates for up to four months. But there are those that specialize in presale construction financing. These will allow 36 months and beyond, giving you even more peace of mind. 

Review or Requalification 

Not all lenders will offer you unconditional mortgage approval for the long term. They will often ask for updated information, even if they don’t do an actual requalification. They may simply ask for updated income verification or may retrieve an up-to-date credit report. If you can, choose a lender that will not try to requalify you and will keep the initial commitment. 

Additional Benefits

Some lenders offer disability, life and critical illness coverage. If you can get this type of coverage, it is highly recommended, since anything can happen with you and your family as you wait on the completion of your new home. 

If you are considering presale construction, it is important to note that mortgage financing options are different for this market. When selecting your lender, review the above information and make an informed decision. Close on a new home without any unpleasant surprises, by being harmed with the right knowledge from the get go. 

Purchasing a pre sale property can be a great experience, whether you are purchasing for yourself, for a child or as income property. Start off by seeking the advice of a mortgage specialist. 

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The foundation of a house is the concrete base that the house sits on. It is the professionals that get these tasks done, but we understand you could be curious as to how it’s all done. So here we will guide you through the process of the basic steps of building a foundation for your home or garage. 

Types of Foundations 

A foundation ensures that a building will stay in place. There are three general foundation types. There are differences in how foundations are made across the region due to climate. Warmer places have slab foundations and crawl spaces, while in other places homes will have basements. 

1. The most common type of foundation is the concrete slab foundation. These foundations are manufactured with poured concrete with reinforced steel bars. The concrete is typically between four and eight inches deep. 

2. Then there are basement foundations that are made with subterranean concrete walls supporting the structure above-ground. These types of foundations offer more square footage, but it is of course more work and requires more material. This makes this type of foundation more expensive. 

3. A crawl space foundation is made with concrete footings underneath the ground. There are short concrete walls extending one foot above the surface, and the house rests on these. 

Any type of foundation that makes use of concrete must have secure footing. The footings serve as a support for the foundation, which supports the house. A foundation is designed based on the soil conditions and the size of the building, which it will support. The dimensions and the depth of the footings are then based on the type of foundation, as well as other factors. These other factors include: 

• Water tables
• Frost line
• Flood zones
• Stability of soil 
• Type of soil 
• Drainage of site
• Slope 
• Local building codes

Building the Foundation 

Foundation size and footing calculations have to be done before any excavation can be done. Forms for the footings are made with pressure-treated lumber. Rebar is installed within the forms. The forms are staked into the ground, so they will stay in place when the concrete is poured. Once the concrete has cured, the forms are then removed. 

The next step all depends on the type of foundation that is being built. Mortar and cinder block can be added on top in courses until you reach the top of the foundation. Or a concrete wall can be cast with the use of wooden forms similar to those used when making the footings. It is very important that all of these walls are level and plumb. 

For slab foundations, a layer of compressed gravel is necessary to be added to the perimeter of the foundation to ensure proper drainage. You also need to add a vapor barrier along with a layer of sand. Wire mesh is needed for reinforcement, then concrete poured in the defined area after you have placed your necessary conduits for electrical work and plumbing. Porous, clean backfill is used in the space between the complete foundation and the excavated dirt. Surface level ground is graded to form a slope to take water away from the house. 

Building the Foundation for a Detached Structure

The general outline for building a home’s foundation is similar to that of building one for a detached garage. You always want to obtain the necessary permits for any type of foundation or construction you are doing.  Then you can follow the necessary steps found here: 

• Lay out the foundation area and mark the perimeter
• Ensure the absence of underground utilities
• Follow building and safety codes to dig out dirt for the footings and slabs
• Build forms for footings and slab
• Install Rebar
• Pour concrete footings
• Pour concrete for the slab 

Did this information provide you with insight into the process of building a foundation? Because if it did, we would love to know. Therefore, let us know in the comments! And when you are ready to build a home, let SilverBeam Homes become your homebuilders of choice! Contact us today.

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Some new measures have been proposed by the provincial government. The aim of these is to protect the rights of consumers during the buying process. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we all watched the housing and mortgage markets heat up to unprecedented levels. One of the most common occurrences is condition-free offers. 

Competition is high, and there were bidding wars everywhere. Many potential buyers are submitting offers without financing. This trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down, and we expect to see it remaining fierce throughout the end of this year. 

The provincial government in British Columbia took steps to address the situation. The legislation allows buyers to back out of a sale. This is only allowed in a “cooling-off” period. 

The legislation is nice, since people know they are protected while making such a big decision as purchasing real estate, which is also investing in their future. This is especially necessary during a time like this, when the housing market is heightened. People want peace of mind, and an assurance that they are making the right choices. 

When We Can Expect The Legislation?

The legislation is expected to arrive in Spring of 2022 at the earliest. In the meantime, the steps for changing the current system remain unclear. 

The intention of the move is to provide protection for consumers during purchasing processes. Some think this measure may stoke the BC housing market further than it already is. Realtors believe it will complicate the buying stage of the process, making it more difficult. If anybody can walk away at any time, it will make it hard for the realtor to make sense of the quality of what they are offering/listing or receiving. 

At the buyer end of the spectrum, if buyers don’t have to show financial conditions, we can find other bidders increasing the purchase price or the size of a down payment. This will be bad for the already high house prices on the market. 

Lenders have been slow to react and make adjustments. But they are aware of how commonplace, condition-free offers are, and that they are increasing in the marketplace. 

If you want to own a home your alternative to buying is building your own. Here at Silver Beam Homes, we can help you with this dream. Call us today.

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Canadians Seek to Grow Wealth Outside of Housing

The housing market across the country has soared to heights that so many of us cannot reach. Buying a home is entirely unaffordable for the majority of Canadians and for many others the debt that a mortgage incurs is simply not justifiable. Many potential buyers are using their down payment for investments such as art and stocks so they can appreciate their wealth. 

Canadian stocks are very advantageous today because they have high free cash flow yields. The real estate market is offering the opposite of this. People are finding investment opportunities in index funds of natural resources and financial. Both are expected to do well even during inflationary times, like we are experiencing now. 

The risk of rising interest rates makes it even harder for some people to justify a mortgage. Consider a rate increase that could make a million dollar mortgage hard to carry. And what does one million get you in this market anyway? Depending on location, it could be only a one bedroom apartment. Yes, for many, renting is now better than owning. Along with trading stocks, there are also cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens – NFTs that make investors money. There has also been a boom in digital art. 

In December 2021, the average cost of a Canadian home was $713,500. That price was up by 17.7% from 2020. Costs have risen even higher in more populated areas of the country. In Vancouver, the average cost is $1,910,200. Clients who were waiting on prices to drop find the market is now completely out of their reach. Any house currently under 2 million will have a bidding war when it hits the market. 

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