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High-Performance Homes – All the Rave

by Bevony on 14 August 2019 Comments Off on High-Performance Homes – All the Rave

Everybody is into energy efficiency these days and as such, high-performance homes are in high demand. High-performance homes offer more than your typical energy efficiency via many means.

If you are looking for a new home; a high-performance home, you will want a team of experts. Here at SilverBeam Homes, we can help you create a house design that meets high-performance standards. We can deliver higher energy efficiency at lower costs. Our team has been building high-performance homes for a while. The team here includes architect, structural engineer, builder and energy consultants. They all work together to ensure that your design meets all your needs for energy efficiency.

SilverBeam High-Performance Homes

We ensure we consult the BC Energy Step Code for all new construction as much as possible. We do this because the city plans to get all high-performance houses by the year 2032. Along with this roadmap, there are several industry criteria and certifications. These relate to the construction and categorization of high-performance homes. There are several BC municipalities where companies such as ours have to build according to Step 3 of the Step Code. This way new homes have to provide at least 20% less energy usage than homes built before the BC Building code.

Reputable certifications that are out for energy-efficient homes include;

  • The Net Zero Home Labelling Program through the Canadian Home Builders’ Association
  • The Passive House Canada certification

The latter can be attained by implanting the Passive House Planning Package. Following this plan allows for lower energy costs, higher quality air levels and a more consistent temperature indoors. According to the CHBA, net-zero homes are as much as 80 % more energy efficient. This when you compare them to typical new homes even those using renewable energy systems.

Building a high-performance home requires an approach that is coordinated. Here at SilverBeam Homes, we have that approach. We can help you create your high-performance home with the use of our airtight envelope. We create homes that are airtight with each door and window being energy star certified and each slab of wall or roof is well insulated.

Myths about High-Performance Homes

If you do a little research about high-performance homes you will come upon two myths:

  • They are unattractive
  • They are expensive

The truth is each company in the building industry now understands the importance of creating products that are aesthetically pleasing while ensuring they are energy efficient. As such you can have a modern and aesthetically pleasing home at an affordable price that is considered a high-performance home. Your high-performance home can still have style features such as cantilevered floors – it is all in the design and the choice of elements used for the construction.

With an integrated approach, our team of professionals can create for you a home that is energy efficient but still aesthetically pleasing. All key advisors in the team set clear objectives based on your needs from the beginning. This ensures your home is built in the most economical way to match your budget. Step 5 of the BC energy code will be the standard in 2032. We understand how important it is to start building homes now that are following the code.


You are building a home for the long term and we know just what specifications to use. We can ensure that years from now, your home is still compliant with all high-performance specifications. Here at SilverBeam homes are created to be socially and environmentally responsible. Our aim is to bring our customers into the future with our ability to create high-performance homes. Homes that will lessen greenhouse gas emissions, saving the environment and helping you to spend less money on bills.


Give us a call today, let us help you build your new high-performance home.

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BevonyHigh-Performance Homes – All the Rave

The SilverBeam Process

by Bevony on 9 July 2019 Comments Off on The SilverBeam Process

If you are looking to build a home we are your full-service construction service company. We offer our customers a design-build process encompassing all the steps from design to handing over the keys to your new home. We have all the necessary staff members to devote all the expertise necessary to make your dream of owning a home a reality.

OUR TEAM

We have a team of professionals with a number of different job titles. You have designers, consultants, carpenters, and site supervisors, all trained or skilled personnel along with the administrative staff necessary to keep it all together. Not only do we have professionals on our team but we also have associates in the industry to help you reach all the people you need to reach as it relates to owning a home.

With a versatile team, we cover a wide array of services to ensure that all your needs are met right in our offices from start to finish.

OUR PROCESS

Our process starts out with a consultation where you let us know what you are looking for. We will then provide our expert opinion on how we can meet your needs. We provide you with information on estimated timelines and projected costs.

The next step in the process is the design service. This is when our creative team gets together and designs concepts. We take into consideration the needs you deemed essential in our consultation and other lifestyle information you supplied to us. These concepts are presented to you and upon your approval, we move forward to the final step in the design services process.

At this point, we create preliminary drawings and can create a detailed estimate. This is the part of the process where you the homebuyer will get into a cost agreement so we can begin building your home.

With your contract in place, any additional drawings and documents necessary will now be completed. These include section drawings, elevations, spec documents and more. This additional documentation are used to get a permit from the city and then we move to the build process.

Once all paperwork is done and approval granted, the construction crew is chosen and prepared. Then the real magic happens.

Here at SilverBeam Homes, we pride ourselves in offering top quality customer service to our customers. We keep you informed every step of the way and ensure that your home project comes off the ground exactly how it is supposed to.  Let us help you get the keys to your new home. Contact Us Today!

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BevonyThe SilverBeam Process

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

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

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