The sudden discontinuation on July 31, 2009, of the HPO Reconstruction Loan Program by Housing Minister, Rich Coleman and his government was unconscionable. They have now brought consumer protection to an all-time low in BC. In the Fall of 2007 the Homeowner Protection Office received an independent report from McClanaghan and Associates which clearly pointed … Read more
A few years ago I became familiar with a 2005 Port Moody report, “Moody Centre Commercial Market Assessment and Revitalization Strategy Gap Analysis”. The objective of this report was to provide an overview of the market position and redevelopment strategy for the retail component of the Moody Centre Commercial District, “…a relatively large and mature … Read more
Rebate Threshold and Transitional Rules for New Housing The Province is proposing to increase the threshold for the BC HST new-housing rebate from $400,000 to $525,000 to ensure that, on average, purchasers of new homes up to $525,000 pay no more tax due to harmonization than is currently embedded as PST. The government has also … Read more
Inlet Centre Backdrop in Autumn In early 2008 multi-family homes in Port Moody became the city’s main source of available housing stock. Yes, more than 50% of Port Moody’s households are now multi-family. In contrast to other cities, and based on the 2006 Census, Port Moody has a significantly younger citizen profile which means amongst … Read more
Friday, November 13, 2009 – Evergreen needs one more stop, group says By the numbers, Port Moody needs a third station for the Evergreen Line. So says a grassroots group in Moody Centre, which is pushing government officials at various levels for a western stop on the proposed rapid-transit line for the Tri-Cities. The Port … Read more
A Port Moody condominium apartment for sale which I was showing to a woman was advertised as a two (2) bedroom. I discovered upon showing that it was in fact a one (1) bedroom and den. Well it turns out that the developer originally sold these properties as two bedroom units to unsuspecting Buyers (hopefully … Read more
I had the opportunity to review the plans and conceptual drawings for this development being proposed by Harmonix Ventures for Henry Street and Buller Street and fully support the project moving forward. This is in “Area 3” of Moody Centre as it was identified at the Design Charrette in 2007, and as a participant in that particular … Read more
What does being pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage mean to a buyer? There are differences between being pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage and it can affect your ability as a home buyer, as well as the transaction itself. Pre-qualifying for a mortgage typically doesn’t include an analysis of your credit history or an … Read more
As you may well have seen, The Bank of Canada has recently said that they do not plan to increase the Bank of Canada Rate until the end of the second quarter of 2010. As such, Prime is expected to remains at 2.25%; great news for those currently borrowing at floating rates. Prior to September 08 variable rate mortgage at 0.90% … Read more
A mortgage is a loan used to buy a property. As with all loans, how much interest you pay depends on several factors. This link will introduce you to What is a mortgage? For advice on mortgages, the video, “A guide for mortgage virgins” offers invaluable tips. Watch and listen to Doug Melville, Canada’s Ombudsman for Banking Services and … Read more