What does Title Insurance cover? A title defect arises in a number of ways, but the defect that causes the most concern is real estate fraud. British Columbia has perhaps the most efficient land title system in the world (a “Torrens” system) but there are an increasing number of situations where fraud is committed. This can happen in a variety of ways. With identity theft on the rise, it is ...

You lie on them, your kids play on them, but floors are one of your home's dirtiest surfaces. These three green ideas are the ones experts say work best (without harsh chemicals) – so you can save on cleaning products and save the planet. Carpets Just have your family kick off their shoes at the door. This simple switch immediately eliminates almost all of the dirt, mold, germs and pesticide ...

Mac Bulk Sale is happening again!  Up to 25% off!  Here are the 3 next projects on the list: Cora Towers 555 Delestre Avenue, Coquitlam Legacy Towers 5611 Goring Street, Burnaby Edgebrook 2947 Nelson Place, Abbotsford

Attention all Globe and Mail subscribers.  Contact me for a special Macdonald Realty Special Offer for incredible discounts.  To start, you'll get a complimentary four week subscription to The Globe and Mail plus several other discounted offers.  Contact me for details.

First-time buyers are now the driving force behind a Metro Vancouver real estate market that’s showing increasing signs of recovery, according to a report released Wednesday by RE/MAX. “This survey says that people are confident in their jobs and taking advantage of record low interest rates and the price depreciation that’s occurred,” Elton Ash, regional executive vice-president, RE/MAX of ...

The crew over at BuildDirect.com have been experimenting with laminate flooring at their offices in downtown Vancouver. They installed the indoor flooring outside on their office penthouse deck with the idea of seeing how much damage it can take. Surprisingly the floor took an amazing beating and was in great shape up until the point a pic-axe showed up. Watch this 4 minute video if your inte ...

I recently won a multiple offer situation for my buyer using common sense.  The seller was posing as a potential buyer at his own open house to see the reaction of people going through his home.  Neither my clients or the other people at the open house knew this.  I always tell my clients to be neutral at showings while taking mental notes.  I tell them to criticize and compliment the home wh ...

March 2009 Market Update As many of you may know, the US housing market has been in a severe recession for the past several years. And while the Canadian housing market has recently seen a strong correction over the past 6 months, we will likely not see the same year-over-year pain as our neighbours to the south. There are 3 main reasons for this: (1) Government Tax Policies (2) Loan Qual ...

Property listings decrease, as February sales improve VANCOUVER, B.C. – March 3, 2008 – Residential housing sales in Greater Vancouver rose 94 per cent in February compared to the month before, with 1,480 sales registered in February compared to 762 sales in January, which was the slowest month for housing sales in 25 years. Over the past 10 years, February sales have typically surpassed Ja ...

Time to Jump In? Ultimately, the guiding principle to buying a home is to find a property you want at a price you can afford. For first-time buyers, every drop in price represents another crop of homes that is suddenly available. Buying during a downturn gives you the opportunity to comparison shop and complete your due diligence before making an offer, minimizing buyer's remorse and ensurin ...