Many Canadians have been living in the same rental unit for years with no intentions to move. You know the old adage: “if it’s not broken don’t fix it!” But for many renters, the change in the work environment has caused a change in their home needs. And so they need to move. Are you among those who want to move or need to change your living situation? Have you considered building your very own starter home?

Here at SilverBeam homes our speciality is building you the home that will meet your needs. While 50% of Vancouver residents are tenants you don’t have to be a part of that statistic if you think it is time for a new page. 

With current home prices skyrocketing beyond the reach of the average Canadian your best options right now would be rent or build. But if you choose to rent, there is a lot of competition out there. Good news though if rental is still your only option. Government support for rental building construction has returned, and we expect to see construction throughout 2021. 

Immigration’s Effects on Housing Affordability

With record levels of immigration our unaffordability problems are further compounded. Even though there was a slow down of immigration in 2020 due to the pandemic with a number of COVID-19 restrictions being lifted we can expect the inflow to rise again. And new residents are typically renters. So from immmigration alone we could be looking at a rental demand of approximately 39,000.  

Historically, the British Columbia rental market is provided by “Mom and Pop” rentals. These idnividuals invest their home into small rental projects as a way of making an extra income or even their only source of income. 

Do you think buillding could be the right move for you to make right now? Give us a call and let us help guide you through the process. 

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Are you considering purchasing a Condo but have a pet? Let’s explore the pet policies and help you make the decision to build instead of buy. Yes, that’s right! If you don’t want to get rid of your furry friend, many condo management is making it hard for you to buy. Even in developments where there are already pets, we are seeing new policies banning new pets from entering the building. 

It is very troubling to start searching for a home, only to be turned around time and time again because you have a pet. Many feel like they are now in this no-win situation. But is it really a no-win situation? What if we told you, you had another option? Would you be interested in hearing about that? The next option would be to build your home from the ground up! While you may think that is a lot of work and will take a lot of time, we are here for you. We are equipped to help you smooth sail through every step of the process. 

You don’t want to leave your pet behind, and do you really want to buy into a residential community where they are already clamping down on pets? Why not get your very own home where you and only you set the rules? 

How We Help You Every Step of the Way 

We understand how important it is for your home to be a place of solace. We want to help you meet that goal by building a home that is just as unique as you are, and that meets your needs exactly. So whatever your needs are; in this case, a pet friendly custom home, we have what you need. 

We organize the process so that you have full control. The process is initiated with a consultation where we take your feedback into account and find out what you really want your home to do for you. We allow you to freely share your thoughts and aspirations. Then we offer our expert opinion to help you see how your masterpiece can come to life. 

Our next step after consultation is, to begin with, the design services. We will help you to gather all necessary documents and put together an application package. We will help you with the drafting of legal submissions. These are to be included with every application when building a custom home in Vancouver. 

When your application has been filed, we will help you through interviews and such until the final decision is made. Once the permit has been granted, we can now move into the more exciting build phase when your home will come alive in front of your eyes. Want to find out more about our process? Give us a call, we would love to hear from you, and more importantly, we would love to help you build your dream home. Don’t let the current market stress you out in a never-ending search. Let us help you get into not just a home, but the home that really meets all your needs. 

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If you’ve never heard of color psychology before, welcome! Colors are known to have a very powerful effect on the way we feel. That is why there are decor professionals with the title of “Color Consultant”. Color can lift your mood or it can make one feel miserable. The colors in your home are no exception to that rule. The color of a room is one of the first things your unconscious mind takes notice of, and when it comes to your home, these colors can be the first thing you see when you wake up and the last thing you see before going to sleep. 

In recent times, people have been spending a lot of time at home, and so more people are turning to color to make their homes more inviting and more relaxing. We have seen an increase in the use of colors such as terracotta, orange, teal, dark blue and green to create feelings of depth. This is for many a drastic change from the paler, more muted shades used in the designs of yesteryear. 

Green is one of the colors that is getting the most popular, the fastest. It is getting especially popular in kitchens as well as in bathrooms. The green we are talking about is a very modern and refined green. It is the type of green that is inspired by food ingredients, softer vegetation and dark tree foliage. 

How Color Affects Mood

Each color has its own wavelength, and as such each color will stir up a different feeling.  Colors in the red and yellow family can provide feelings of comfort and warmth, or they can irritate and cause feelings of anger. It all depends on your mental health and the setting you are in. 

Purple is quite the interesting color, and it is also a very complex one as well. It embodies a lot of the warmth of red, while also embodying the coolness of blue. It is considered to be calming as well as uplifting, and is linked to expanding awareness and encouraging creativity and spirituality.  Too much purple though can aggravate depression in those who are already suffering from this or other forms of mental issues. It is a great option for children’s rooms, as well as for the rooms for teenage girls. It is great for these age groups due to its ability to simulate creativity, and is believed to thereby stimulate academic ability. Because it contributes to serenity, it is also ideal for use in hyperactive and highly animated children’s rooms. 

Break from the Monotony with New Paint Colors

With a year behind us of many restrictions, a lot of us are having a lot of gray days. If you are looking for a way to break up the monotony in your home, but can’t afford a Reno project, changing your paint color is a great way to make the change.  The best part is you don’t have to paint an entire wall. You can easily start off by doing an accent wall and adding small decor touches to pull the color into the room in other ways outside of the paint on the wall. 

What color do you think would look great in your living room? Let us know in the comments!

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A divisive city council vote on 4/27 has left Vancouver property owners with a larger share of taxes to pay this year. The changes also provided commercial and industrial property owners with a shift in the amount of taxes they will have to pay, a downward change. The decision created a shift in property taxes of $3.6 million from businesses to homeowners.  

How the changes affect Business and Residential Property Owners

This is being looked at as a way for the biggest companies in the city to save money while passing on the expenses to residents. But these arguments were not able to sway the decision. So if you own residential property in Vancouver, you will end up paying some extra money on taxes this year. Businesses on the other hand will be saving around $46 annually for properties valued at $1 million. This will help small businesses that are struggling, but larger businesses will benefit by paying less taxes, even though they can more than afford it. 

How Much More will Homeowners Pay?

What residential property owners will pay comes down to the value of their property. For a residential property valuing $1 million, the tax will be $11. 

Who Does the Tax Shift Benefit?

If the city did a progressive tax shift, this would be the better option, but it is not what has been dealt. Some smaller businesses will benefit it, but a lot of the businesses that will also benefit are really not in need of the break. It should be that those that have the means to pay be caused to pay more. This move does not seem well-intentioned at all. 

Why the Shift?

There has been a boom in the expansion of residential properties. While commercial properties have been negatively affected due to the pandemic. They say the shifting of taxes is a way to properly manage the city’s growth. 

We can all agree on one thing, the shift needs to be depoliticized. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments below. 

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Lumber prices have been on the rise since 2020 when the pandemic struck and sent many countries into lockdown. As more people are spending time at home and needing a home that meets their needs, there has been an increase in demand. With a lack of supply, the industry is struggling, and prices have tripled and even quadrupled in some instances. These record lumber prices are adding thousands of dollars to the costs of building new homes, as the customers are the ones left to stand the costs at the end of the day. 

The Ministry of Forests, lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Development has a weekly forest product database with information tracking prices. In mid-September of 2020, a basic spruce, pine and fir 2×4 cost $960 USD per thousand board feet. In 2019, the annual average for the same was approximately $372 USD. 

President of the B. C Council of Forest Industries, Susan Yurkovich, notes that across the province, a number of lumber mills had closed down in the early parts of the pandemic. And this is what causes a lot of the pressure on supply. 

Effects on the House Construction Industry

The house construction industry is still holding on and doing well. People are spending money on their houses as they start to remodel their homes, make repairs, etc., as they are spending more time at home and need their home to meet different needs now. Equally, people are looking for new houses as their needs change, and they need their homes to be equipped to meet the needs of working from home, homeschooling, etc. 

This has caused an increase in demand in an industry that is already lagging in providing for the previous demand. While it will definitely take some time for inventories to refill, we are looking to the fall when there is typically a reduction in demand as the province heads into winter. Hopefully at this time, the supply can catch up and prices can fall. 

Current New Home Prices – Highest in the Past 3 Years

With low supply and increased prices, building materials are hard to source. Either because they really aren’t available, or the prices are so high. The cost of new homes has increased more than the last three years in just one month due to the high prices of building materials brought on by the pandemic. 

Statistics Canada reported their New House Price Index shows an increase for newly-built homes. Since May 2017, there has been an increase, but this has been the biggest one seen. 

The Pandemic and House Prices 

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a very big impact on the Canadian housing market on a whole. It initially brought reselling to a halt. Demand came back slowly, and sales rose, with many homes starting to sell way above asking. The demand then started spilling into the new house market, and so the demand for wood, drywall, tubing and wiring has risen. 

Because many places have physical distancing measures in place, many people have diverted their summer vacation savings towards home improvements, renovations, and finding a house that will meet their new needs better. 

Suburban areas with room for new builds are seeing a high amount of demand. New house prices have risen by 1.8% each month. For 2020, the index was up 2.1%, which is the highest it has been in two years. 

What Will High Lumber Prices Cause?

Data agencies expect a record high of lumber prices this year that will increase the cost of a single family home between $5000 and $10,000. Because of the increase in home demand, there is expected to be an increase in lumber and other building related supply prices. 

Here at SilverBeam Homes, we try our best to keep costs down, while still providing customers with top quality houses and workmanship. How much house can you afford? Get in touch with us and let us give you a quote. 

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Let’s take a look at the latest trends in kid’s bedroom decor and nursery decor. Here are some third party reviews and recommendations to change up your child’s room and create a new look and feel.

Even though you are decorating a child’s room, you really always want to start with you, the parent/caregiver. Most often, it is the mothers that have a vision of what they want the space to look and feel lie. 

Consideration for Nurseries

As it relates to a nursery, you always want to have window coverings as a key consideration. These are to be considered, not only for their esthetics but also for their function. You want window coverings that are highly effective in keeping light out so your baby will get more sleep. A baby that gets more sleep will be a gift to the entire family. 

When considering nursery, furniture choose flexible options that are versatile enough to adapt to your child’s needs. Modern furniture tends to be minimalistic in nature. 

Space saving furniture is another great choice. These allow you to maximize your space, which is important especially if you don’t have a lot of space to work with in the beginning. Also consider multipurpose furniture as well. So find a crib that also has a changing table and some amount of diaper storage. There are also storage cribs that feature drawers where baby clothing, bedding, receivers, burp cloths etc can be stored. That will free up space as it may reduce your need for a dresser or chest of drawers. 

Space saving and multipurpose furniture also allow for a cleaner and tidy look which will make a room more inviting. This can give both you and your baby a way to be at ease while in space. 

Considerations for Older Kids Rooms

When it comes to older kids you want to balance the options with mature materials and colors. For whimsical fun pieces you want to limit these to accessories. Just keep in mind that as they grow, their tastes will change and you don’t want to be updating their rooms every year.  

Choose items that are sophisticated with a modern design and you can always add a splash of color. You can take into consideration your kid’s tastes when choosing an accent color. You want to at the same time balance out rugged pieces that are kid friendly but not too childish in appearance. 

Equipping Kids Room for the New Normal

With the current pandemic, more people are working from home and kids are also learning from home. So there is a need for activity tables, workstations and multi-functional furniture. Consider a loft bed for its space-saving capabilities. It allows space for a bed and for a work area in one room without it becoming too cluttered. 

Updating a Child’s Room 

If your child has outgrown their room decor you may be able to update their room with small touches. If their furniture is still functional you can simply swap out rugs, bedding, window coverings and even wall paper to update the room to a more mature look. 

After we build your home you want to move into a space that is inviting as well as fully functional. When it comes to kids’ rooms we hope these tips help. And if you would like to hire an interior designer or decorator, then go right ahead. Sometimes their vision and experience will see further than your dreams for your child’s room. 

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There has been a rise in demand for exotic plants in recent times. With travel restrictions everywhere, people are trying to be creative about making their homes more exotic. And so the market for lush, tropical houseplants has opened up. Think plants with big shiny leaves – the type of plant that can transform any space easily.

This transformation is appealing to many of us as we are now spending so much time at home, and would really appreciate a change. Exotic plants add so much texture and scale to a space that it really makes a huge difference to bring even one statement plant into your space. When you place one of these plants in a room they cannot go unnoticed as they are very eye catching. They have a lot of personality and are obvious so the change will not be a subtle one. 

Plants are so magical, they can add a feeling of renewal as well as they can add life. They are constantly changing so you never feel stagnant. This is great for apartment dwellers who cannot have a garden of any sort. 

How to Place Your Plants for Maximum Impact

Place your plants in an intimate corner such as a reading corner or in a corner of your home office. This offers a natural way for you to add a touch of personality to your space.  

Make sure you select the right pot size and do some research on the care and maintenance of the plant you choose. You don’t want to overwater them and cause root rot. Once you have root rot, you won’t be able to recover the plant. 

Another common mistake first time plant parents make is to place their plants in direct sunlight by a window causing their leaves to burn. That is not ideal, you want them to be getting enough light, but maybe not so much a full day of direct sunlight. Now after reading that you may think that you should move the plants around. This is another no-no, you don’t want to move the plants around too much, you want them to get used to their surroundings. 

Allergies and Exotic Plants

When purchasing exotic plants you want to tell the person you are purchasing from if you have any allergies. You will also want to ask about the possibility of poisonous plants especially if you have pets or small children at home. An experienced seller can help you find the safest exotic plants for your family and your lifestyle needs. 

Qualities of Plants

Plants are givers, and among their giving qualities is the ability to provide help with mental wellbeing. Plants are natural insecticides, they help to absorb noise, and they produce oxygen. 

If you have never had an exotic plant you want to consider first the space in which you will make its home in your home. Check out the maintenance necessary for the plants you choose and be realistic about what you can manage. And finally, when it comes down to selecting your pot, make sure it goes with your decor. 

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2020 saw the recovery of the presale condo market. Investors return to the market but still not in the spectacular way we saw them returning in 2016 and 2017. Due to the pandemic, prices and sales for condos, apartments, or homes have all defied the predictions. With low-interest rates, we are now in the time of what they are calling the COVID-19 real estate boom. 

But the data that doesn’t show up in the monthly real estate board information is for the new and presale condo market. In this market, buyers are purchasing condo contracts from developers who are then going to build these condos. The market for these sales was just about recovering when the pandemic hit in March 2020. In 2020, the presale and multifamily condo sales were their third-lowest since 2011. In the first quarter of 2020, the market saw 3,800 encouraging sales. But come 2nd quarter the market was paralyzed. 

But in the last quarter of 2020, there was again an increase in presale condo sales when compared to the last quarter of 2019 which only had 2,400 sales which was a drop from 2018,s 4,100 sales. The sales for 2020 were just about 300 less than 2018 thanks to the window of opportunity that opened up due to the drop in interest rates. 

Investors were staying on the sidelines and taking their time to gauge what would happen. They weren’t taking the predictions and were just waiting to see. 

What Does the Future Hold?

The prediction for the future is that the investor buyer is going to jump back into the market. With many new condos lining up for entrance into the market in 2021. So we don’t expect to see prices rising especially for projects for high-rise condos with more units available for sale. Whenever we see travel restrictions, lifting, and immigration resuming we can expect to see more sales as well. For all the people who started the immigration process and then had it interrupted by the pandemic, we will probably see them coming in and needing homes. 

Is a condo your dream home or are you more of a detached home dreamer? Give us a call, we can help you turn that dream into a reality. 

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With the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a boom in real estate with many offers over asking sale prices. This was the trend for detached homes in North and East Vancouver ranging in price between $1.5 and $2 million. In the Fraser Valley area, prices were lower but the trend was the same. This trend is now seemingly moving into houses that are at high prices, particularly since mid-February 2021. Statistics show one house going for sale $700,000 over the asking price and another going $1.6 million higher. 

In a market where demand is high and there are multiple offers on properties, real estate agents and sellers are being challenged to determine asking prices based on recent sales on similar properties. This leads to asking prices that are higher by even a hundred of thousands of dollars. 

At the start of the real estate boom in 2014 to 2018, a home in Shaughnessy sold for $2 million over the asking price. Later in June 2015, a home in West Vancouver that sold for $1.1 million over the asking price. These were just one off sales but after they word sold they set higher price comparable rates and margins for sales of other houses in their respective areas. 

Real estate agents note that the low interest rates along with “cheap money” are currently driving sales prices. Current homeowners are benefiting by refinancing their properties and cashing in on those lower rates. First time home buyers are benefiting from the low interest rates but many are at a disadvantage when it comes to competing sales with this high oversells. Since they can only bid in smaller increments, they are at risk for losing out on a sale easily by someone with a higher spending power. 

Solution for Home Buyers with Limited Income

If you are searching for your home but are finding it hard to compete with the high over-asking on the market we have a solution for you. Here at SilverBeam Homes, we offer you the opportunity to build the home you can afford from the ground up. We have a team of professionals every step of the way. Contact us, so we can see how we can help you make your dream of owning a home, a reality today. 

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