Brain Exercise

Have you ever thought about differences between two things that almost aren't comparable? I use to think about stuff like this all the time. It seems to me that it's like a warm-up for my brain and it keeps it sharp.

Today I have been thinking about Toronto and Calgary. Specifically about the difference between Toronto condos and Calgary suburbs. I live in Vancouver, so finding out facts and comparing them was a little tricky, but I've done it. Now I have let my brain exercise and I can move to other stuff - this time important.

Try to exercise your brain as much as possible!

Christmas Markets - A Sentimental Looking Back

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love Christmas markets.

The whole feeling of it, you know, the atmosphere, people mostly happy and the little chit-chats here and there...

Today I was thinking about how Christmas comes and goes and it occured to me, that maybe even when Christmas 2011 is a thing of the past maybe I can look back at some of the best Chritmas Markets of this year.

So here they are:

Talinn Christmas Market

Skellefteas Christmas Market

Essen Christmas Market

And something about Christmas Shopping!

Visit to Toronto

I haven't been to Toronto a long while, so I decided to visit this business Mecca of Canada and I must say that I'm pretty happy I'm living in Vancouver.

As a Vancouver real estate agent working in the Vancouver housing market my whole life, I find there is a lot to love about Vancouver and hate about Toronto. As a Toronto visitor, I think there is a lot to like about Toronto, but a even more to love about Vancouver (when you get home). If you're visiting Toronto, it's easy to be astounded by the sheer volume of concrete, steel and especially glass. The downtown is just overwhelming. Vancouver has a quite a lot glass and steel buildings, but Toronto is a far larger and higher city and has a condo boom going, so there's no point in comparing the two.

Sure, there are more opportunities for a real estate agent in Toronto as there are in Vancouver, but I think working in Vancouver real estate is the happier option. You work with a city by the ocean and close to great mountains. The value of real estate is greatly influenced by the natural surroundings, so Vancouver is clearly winning here over Toronto. This can also be seen on the high prices of homes in Downtown Vancouver. This area is very popular among wealthy Asian immigrants, so the price keeps going up. Let's hope it won't influence other sellers to make price hikes, as I would like to see a lot of happy home buyers this coming year.

Study finds More Roads to Increase Overall Traffic and Do Nothing With Density

Today I came across a very interesting blog post about a study about the solutions to traffic density. This very intriguing study reveals that more roads leads to more traffic. That's not something completely illogical, yet somehow all of us would say, that traffic jams could be put to an end by building more roads. What these researchers discovered is that, with all other variables accounted for, when you build more roads, you get exactly as much additional traffic as you get roads.

So now you're thinking that the study must suggest that we should rely upon mass transit instead. Not this time. What these honest researchers found out is that more transit has no effect whatsoever on traffic density. Additionaly, the study suggests that the cost of building highways is higher that the profit that society receives from this act. These are very serious findings, but to make further conclusions, I would say more studies will be needed.

Interaction Design - Young Danish Couple Making a Difference

Sometimes you stumble on something completely unexpected in the vast world of internet, something which really makes your day. When randomly browsing and looking for something, the sheer volume of trashy sites and dishonest people writing blog posts and comments makes you sick. And then you encounter something pure, a site that is so clearly designed and run by the most honest and giving people you could imagine, that you just have get in touch with them.

Maybe this was an exaggerated introduction. Nevertheless, I want to share a story about a wonderful project which I much appreciate.

If you want to become a real designer, you have to study a lot, inspire yourself and constantly be on the lookout for new trends and other designers who come up with interesting concepts. Of course, enrolling into a design course at a college is one of the best ideas when you dream about a design career. If you have enough talent, there is a plethora of choices in Canada, public or private.

Not all people are lucky enough to live in Canada. Imagine the talent that is hidden in the rest of the world, in the third world countries. Imagine there are NO courses for you to attend, because you simply don't have the money to pay the tuition.

And then, you find this wonderful website, Interaction-Design, with a whole library of design resources from the world's biggest authorities, most respected designers and college professors. How come something like this became reality? Take a passionate couple, take their dream, sack them, let them live for a few bucks a couple on an island in Thailand for a couple of months, and you have it! Mads Soegaard and Rikke Dam, a danish couple have build the this site from scratch and are now helping hundreds of poor hopefully-future-designers in the pursue of their dream. If you find their cause worthy, donate to the Interaction-Design project!

Monetary Problems Facing The Canadian Monetary Relations

Is there any need for us to worry about the economic instability of our country, isn't the most difficult part over and done with now? This is not the position we are in and now the Canadian economy is facing more worries than the average person realizes.

The Bank of Canada assumes that the drop in economic growth is going to be a short-term problem and that the second half will be marked by more rapid growth. This is based entirely on a plausible but uncertain supposition that levels of energy prices will not rise, and that they’re more likely to decline. The current excuse for the depression, however, is thought to have arisen from events in Japan. A perfectly logical reason, but underneath this problem the consumers are the individuals who influence our economy. Of course, the Japanese issue has an genuine impact on the economy, but the thing is that it is not even close to being the primary reason for the slowdown. The majority of consumers are perplexed by the effects of gasoline prices and erratic job growth.

The Canadian debt to personal means ratio is at present approximately 1.5, a bit higher than the US pre-depression ratio. Another thing in our favour is that the banking institutions are on a lot firmer ground, meaning that if there was a problem with debt, then the banks would still stay strong. It is always a concern to home owners that home prices are going to fall especially during any recession; but at the end of the day the effect on bank profits are not going to be as bad as they were a few years ago. In the US there have been bailouts that influence the US economy, while with the banking situation as it is in Canada we are unlikely to see the same thing occurring here.

The US and Canadian monetary status are closely linked, so trouble facing the US could impact negatively on Canada, including banks and BC property market. So, we can say the Canadian economy is quite healthy but that could fluctuate dramatically if the US economy declines any further. The contagion could hit from Europe, which is currently having some serious problems with Portugal, Ireland, and Greece. Conditions have a way of escalating and drawing other countries in with tightening of credit which could affect the property market, shifts in the equity market and the fall of commodity prices; all with the chance of destroying Canada's economic potential.

Strike A Good Rate For Your Future Vancouver Home Or Condo

Real estate news abounds with reports regarding the Vancouver housing bubble. Many are confused as to whether it is the right time to start seeking a new home. Luckily, if you are looking for a kind of a typical asset and , it seems that it really does not matter terribly.



The Vancouver housing market has been quite lively starting 2010. It started its recovery from a trough and has been mostly on a rise since. In the entire market, each price divison has been showing diverse figures. While units in the most prosperous areas have inflated at a velocity that has been beyond belief, other categories have witnessed moderated trends or mere unrests.

If you are persistent enough, you’ll find that there are still deals to be made on the Vancouver (BC) realty market that treat buyers to great value for a reasonable price. These are not very evident amidst all the fluctuations that is going on in the market. Experienced Realtors® will have chosen these one neighbourhood at a time so that they can share them to the buyers they serve as agents to.

If you are clever to look for your future home with open eyes, and if you’re willing to search for a variety of houses in a variety of locations with an unbiased perspective, very likely you will circumvent the intermittent instances of price excitement that happens in Greater Vancouver for the most outlandish reasons.

Don’t worry, however. The value of your unit will still improve in the future in hand with the moderate-to-positive outlooks. It is merely in the upcoming months, that rapid appreciation is unlikely.

Part 2 Of Selling Your Home - Some Do's And Don'ts And General Advice

1. Colour schemes that are at the extreme side of individual taste need to be removed. Psychedelic walls in the bedroom may bring back memories of when you were a teenager and the children may love the little mermaid themed bathroom, but it's not going to be to everyone's taste and can be quite off-putting to a potential buyer. Be sure to pick a neutral theme, and stick with uncomplicated modifications that individuals can easily renovate and modify themselves when they purchase your home. What you need to bear in mind at all times is that first impressions is potentially the difference between selling your home or not.

2. A dirty yard: Having a front or back yard that is unkempt can definitely decrease the value of your home. You may have dogs who have turned the garden into dying grass with big holes all over, or children that have run around so much it is just a pile of mud; this means that any potential buyer is going to know that they need to spend time and money making it look good again.

3. Many individuals ignore something like a leaky pipe until it becomes a problem; keep in mind any plumbing problems need to be dealt with immediately. Anything from a leaky tap to a broken pipe could have catastrophic consequences if left unattended. One of the damaging things that can happen to a home is to ignore a plumbing job. This can result in mold in the home which can make a home virtually unsaleable.

4. House Location: Unluckily, there’s not really much you can do about this situation. As a BC real estate professional, my houses are usually in amazing surrounding. The first most important factor of a home purchase for most individuals is where the home is built. Things such as reputable schools, a quiet environment, and close proximity to shopping and public transit are what individuals usually look for. A good example of this is a well-known incident of one neighbourhood with a considerable difference in value between the even and odd-numbered houses. The reason? Well, the odd numbered homes had a major highway and utility lines at the back of them, whereas the even numbered homes didn't, resulting in a price difference of about 10%.

5. Bathroom/kitchen carpets: Carpets soak up moisture which in turn leads to damp and mold, so even though carpets may feel pleasant under foot, they are a breeding ground for germs and are nearly impossible to keep in good condition. Also, carpets in kitchens are likely spattered with various food stains, so you’re usually better off with a hardwood floor or tile in either of these two areas.

My January Article Selections

January passed week ago, and here I come with trio of the most interesting article by Vancouver Homes. Wikinut hosted our article called simply Add this, or that! dealing with the market power of simple home renovations. Another one, this time on Multiply, discussed the Bad Renovation Faux Pas. Finally, second part of our article about Property Improvements was published on Amazines.

Selling Your Home - A List Of Do's and Don'ts And Useful Advice

Few of us are fortunate enough not to need every penny we make out of our home sale; with most of us having to have the money to finance a move. There are many ways in which home sellers unwittingly decrease the value of their property. Your home could well command a higher price by avoiding these renovation traps. The following are a few of the mistakes made and some tips on how to dodge them:

1. One of the main drawbacks as a seller is floor space, a potential buyer is not going to look twice at your house if the rooms look and feel cramped with no space to move. Reorganize your furniture and remove excess items from rooms, so you can create at least the feeling of space, you won't be disappointed. Think about the layout of your house, avoid access trouble to rooms; for example going to the family bathroom through a bedroom.
2. Sloppy DIY:home improvements: Don't forget the sins of the 1970s. For those that remember stone cladding, brick fireplaces and ornamental plaster on the walls; this is a definite turn off for potential buyers. If there is DIY in your house make sure it is not falling apart, but generally make sure it blends well the the house itself. Laminate floors may look good and be simple to clean but they definitely don't suit a Victorian house, just as plump, heavily upholstered furniture and lots of ornamentation wouldn't suit a modern apartment. If you want to add an extension to your home, do not use up all your outdoor space, people like to have an outdoor area they can relax or even have friends over for a B-B-Q.
3. A bad roof: Roofs are expensive to change, and a good roof is thought to be standard equipment in a property. As a buyer, if you walk into a house and see leaks on the ceiling or hear an inspector remark that the roof is bad, you'd probably take that home off your short list right away. Make sure the roof is at least in adequate condition before putting your house on the market.
4. Apart from the kitchen, the bathroom has a large role when it comes to selling any house. Ordinary problems such as broken tiles, an old toilet, or lime scale build-up around the bath will have buyers looking for money off your sale price, or even put them off altogether. A quick fix here and there could pay off greatly
5. Potted plants and flower arrangements: These can make a room look and smell beautiful and fresh, but make sure they are not dying and shedding leaves and petals over the floor and surfaces. As a Vancouver condos realtor I know plants can create a bonus even in a loft. The appearance of dead or struggling potted plants will affect the buyer's perception of your house and the way you've looked after it - they're better off in the garbage bin.

picture by Velo Steve

The Best Articles of December 2010

As in the previous month, I bring you again a brief list of the most interesting articles I have contributed to various web communities.

Selling Home and Renovating Your Property - Real estate market is tough and you want to squeeze 100% of your property's potential. Considering some minor renovations is an option!

Your Property - Minor Improvements - this article continues with the outlined topic of minor renovations.

The 'trilogy' is concluded with Minor Redecoration Can Help Sell Your House.

My Xanga blog brings you Reviving Your House - Part 2.

Do not avoid Renting out a Fully Furnished Property and Buying Property in Vancouver - Informative Guide for US Buyers on HubPages!

Best golf courses in Vancouver part II.

No big discussion - here is the second set of exciting Vancouver golf courses for beginners, but also experienced players.

• Fraserview Golf Course
• Gleneagles Golf Course
• Greenacres Golf Course
• Guildford Golf and Country Club
• Hastings Golf Centre
• Hazelmere Country Club
• Hi-Knoll Driving Range & Mini-Golf
• Kensington Pitch and Putt
• Langara Golf Course

Part 2 of Our Article on Doing Improvements to Your Property

Off-Street Parking - A Problem?

Are all your cars parked in front of your property? - This is very off-putting to people thinking about buying your home. Many people think just because they don't have a garage there is nothing they can do about parking their motor vehicles on the street outside their property. Some councils will allow you to flatten the curb of the pavement next to your house if you don't have room to extend your driveway; of course planning permission may be necessary. An off-street parking area can add up to 10 percent to the home market price.

Swimming Pool/Tennis Court

If you are looking at adding a swimming pool to your home you could find that this throws up some difficulties, such as where your house is and whether it is going indoors or outside. Think about the weather when making your choice, to attract buyers if your climate is cooler then look to install an indoor pool. Even if the pool is heated and has a cover on, if the weather is cold potential buyers know it is scarcely going to get any use, therefore you could find a pool is a negative point. On the other hand if the pool is to be utilized all year, situate it indoors; maybe make a feature by putting in patio doors that lead to a nice decking area. A potential buyer wants to have fun, so an attractive, warm pool is going to look inviting. Building a pool, when done correctly, is going to be something that will add a nice sum of money to the value of your house, about 10 percent.

If you are going one step further for the luxury market, look at a tennis court; but remember these type of luxuries only fit in a few neighbourhoods. As with the swimming pool, a tennis court can add up to another 10 percent to the value of your home.
Both of these additions serve as an indulgence that you can offer the potential purchaser. Of course adding these are going to increase the value of your home, so may price many people out of the market. On the plus side, if they are completed well the price your home goes for could daze you.

Building a Waterside Attraction

My years of dealing Vancouver MLS listings confirmed me one theory. A waterside feature is likely to retain its value. You may find, according to a survey, that it may increase the value by a third, which is brilliant news. Be practical though, you are not going to be able to add a lake to your yard, or a stream running through it, if it is not already there; but a pond could be the answer. More academic definitions of a pond are: areas of water where light penetrates to the bottom of the water body' and 'bodies of water shallow enough for rooted water plants to grow throughout,' You can make a pond extremely basic or you could build one to hold fish and make it feature of the yard with fixtures surrounding it.

Depth, area, water source are all things that need thinking about when planning your pond, as is avoiding attracting mosquitoes and other bugs if the water doesn't flow freely. Professional advice at least, should be asked for before starting this type of job, after all if it is done right it will definitely pay off.

picture by Noel C Hankamer

Best golf courses in Vancouver part I.

British Columbia is a true golfing paradise. There are dozens of great courses for both experienced players and newbies In the first run, we have prepared a list of top 9 Vancouver golf courses - in and around Greater Vancouver.

1. Aquadel Golf Course
2. Birdies & Buckets Family Golf Centre
3. Burnaby Mountain Golf Course & Driving Range
4. Capilano Golf and Country Club
5. Carnoustie Golf Club
6. Central Park Pitch and Putt
7. Eaglequest Coyote Creek Golf Club
8. Eaglequest Golf Club Coquitlam
9. Fraser Golf Centre

October and November on the Web

There has been plenty of good real estate articles (but also some others) published on the web. Here are some of the best. Enjoy!

Remodelling Basement Efficiently

Basement is often the key space to be remodelled. More info can be found also in basement changes article and basement improvement post.

Minor Improvements

You don't have time or capital to cope with big renovations? Nevermind, minor improvements can substantially increase the value of your property.

Adding a Bedroom

Not an easy task, however, only brave one can win!

Moving insurance

You want to move? Well, maybe you should consider moving insurance.

Vancouver golf courses

The biggest and most complete guide of BC golf courses was launched!

Completing Renovations to Your Home

When looking at improving the value of your house, the most cost-effective action to do this is to improve the external. When you enter and leave a house, exterior is the first and last image you will see, so it stands to reason that it needs to look good to a visiting buyer. We all know first impressions are important, this also covers your house. Be analytical when looking at your house, see it as buyers see it. How is the grounds? Is the grassed area short and tidy? Does the house look clean and tidy? Of course, not everything you do to the external area will increase the value, some will just be a nice touch therefore more appealing. Furthermore, a decent first appearance of a house can add as much as 5 to 10 percent to the value.

Door Quality
Your front door is the doorway into your house, so it is going to be one of the first things a prospective buyer will see. If the door needs a face-lift think about replacing it with a glass door that has lead or coloured glass panels, but if it doesn't need replacing but could do with cheering up, decorate around the door. Sidelights will add sparkle and shine both from the inside as well as the outside of the house. Light produces the feeling of space, making a narrow or tiny porch area appear more spacious. Money-wise, you're not looking at a large value-booster, but this little modification greatly affects the first impression of a viewer.


Windows
When viewers look at windows, they not only assess the appeal but their usefulness, too. Have your windows got good insulation is the glass double-glazed? Different glass has different energy ratings, so are your windows energy efficient? All the locking mechanisms need to be in good working order and secure and the glass needs to free from damage. Look at all these issues if you decide to replace your windows. If your windows are little and you are replacing them, think about installing larger windows to let in more light and make inside rooms look bigger. Purchasers buy space and light; who walks into a really dark property and says, 'I love this'.

Landscaping
Landscaping is a big part in the appeal of any house, so if your landscaping looks like it could do with an overhaul look at hiring a professional, or even try improving it yourself with items such as plants in colourful plant pots. Conservatories, gazebos, patios and wooden decks, and their integration with the surrounding garden, are best handled by landscape architects and designers. Paying for a professional is never the cheap way forward, but if you do then you could see your home value go up by as much as 20 percent. Did you also know that a house that has mature trees on the land actually increases the saleability? Numerous organizations have conducted surveys on this; not only did they find it was fact but also if your property is well landscaped and you have mature trees then the value of homes have increased by 7 to 19 percent.. I have number fruitful years in working as a realtor in Richmond BC Canada and saw how small renovations kick started a house in the market!

picture by Robnik

Vancouver Golf Course Guide Ready

picture by R'eyes

Golf, the sport of the businesspeople, constitutes an important part of the lives of many of our clients. It is no longer exclusive only to the select few. Therefore, more and more of us are discovering the beauty in this game. It offers its players active relaxation, but may also be competitive. At Jay Banks, we are glad to predict the hobbies and interests of our visitors and clients even though, to be honest, we take pleasure in playing golf very much ourselves! After a bit of a thought, we set off to create a golf guide about golf courses in the proximity of downtown Vancouver, BC.

Finally, we are positively thrilled to herald the long-expected launch of our fresh and new Vancouver Golf Guide.

Our guide is designed as a portal where people of Greater Vancouver can find and exchange information about this game. We are taking a unique approach, aiming to deliver news pertinent to both leisure and “family” golf players and more seasoned players seeking variety. We also tailor the guide so that anyone thinking about moving to Vancouver or elsewhere within Greater Vancouver can find information about the quality of golf around the new address. We invite everybody to enhance the informativeness of the Vancouver Golf Guide by sharing your personal experiences from the fairways and ranges. Also, do leave us a comment if you would like us to review a particular facility.

We are actively communicating with the managers of the courses and ranges, so that we are able to collect for you the clearest and latest information. Moreover, we are are looking for recreational golfers who like to play the game regularly to help us review (test-play) the courses of Vancouver. Our final objective is to compose the best golf guide of Greater Vancouver on the web!

Our guide currently encompasses 53 facilities including driving ranges and there are more coming up soon. In addition, we determinedly enhance the content for all the entries! Visit us often and we are sure our guide will make your golf experience in and around Vancouver and in Greater Vancouver still more pleasing!

Considering Completing Real Esate Renovations? - Basement

With proper renovation, your basement can be turned into a real gem and gain important competitive advantage for your house on any market.

When buying a home, most buyers are worried about the issue of water in the basement. Insulating the area against the weather and making sure it is dry if definitely a positive point for your house. Water in the space or even just damp, could be a disadvantage if you wanted to sell your house.

One great way to invest in your house is to hire a basement remodelling tradesperson to help you take advantage of the unused room in your basement. Most basements cover a large area that can be adapted for other things and are often unfinished. With such promise, isn't it a shame to waste this opportunity

The basement is going to take a lot of work to remodel, but at the end of the day it will be worth it, both in cash and in satisfaction of a task well done. To begin with the ceiling is going to give you the most concern Most basement ceilings are not as high as the other ceilings in your house This can be dealt with by building the ceiling around your ventilation and air conditioning.

Flooring for a basement is something you also need to think about, most specialists will advise you go for carpet. When getting your carpet, go for the thicker carpets, and be sure to buy quality under-padding. The thickness of these materials will go some way into protecting your feet from the hardness and cold of a concrete floor. In the main part of the property, the flooring is normally supported by wood rather than concrete so less damage on your feet.

Putting in a Home Cinema or Gymnasium
These features are normally considered as being nonessential, although they will help to sell your house more quickly if the potential buyers are willing to pay extra for them. Although, if done correctly, both of these features can add from $30,000 to $60,000 in a large country property, according to various agents. If you want to set up a home gym or home cinema room, then renovating your basement would be an ideal time to plan this project.

Installing a room cinema system is not as easy as most of us think. If you are starting from a vacant room, think about different designs and ways to set the system up, seek professional advice if at all feasible Now for the basics to complete this room, the 27" plus HDTV will be your first purchase, followed by the stereo unit, DVD or video player; make sure these are all surround sound capable, surround sound speakers and comfy chairs and that's just to start with.

Adding a gymnasium in your basement is a great idea and doesn't require much organization. There are some obstacles though, so you would need to think about the following:

• Comfort - rubber mats on the floor and maybe a couple mirrors on the wall
• Noise proofing (solves itself if you put your exercise equipment in your finished basement)
• A hi-fi system for music while you exercise is always a decent idea
• Air circulation of the area would need to be dealt with

The rest is up to you to pick what gym supplies you'll include. Research is the key to a decent home gym, so visit convenient stores, visit a gym and browse the Internet. Seek help from people who sell and use this equipment on what sort of brands to purchase, the different machines on offer and prices.

Writer is Vancouver Lofts broker, creator of BC Home Renovation Series

picture by JAGwired

Refurbishing Bathroom

Along with the kitchen remodelling, the bathroom is just as essential a room to improve the value. Therefore, if you are thinking about revamping your bathroom, there are a few things you will want to think about. Here are some ideas to support you upgrade your bathroom and add extra value:.

A second bathroom is one of the trusted ways of adding to the value of your property. Look around at homes for sale and observe how much more they sell for and how much quicker they find a buyer. Even if you don't want to leave the property at the moment, a second bathroom will still make economic sense. A bathroom off the main bedroom is the most desirable for any second bathroom and that is shown in the house value. The parents will be ecstatic having their own personal bathroom space, while the kids will love not having to share the single bathroom. One thing to remember though, is never take away a bedroom to make it into a bathroom, as this would make little economic sense and not boost the price of your property.
The flooring that you put down in your bathroom can do a lot as far as boosting the value to your property. Making the wrong choice can make your bathroom look inferior and unappealing. What kind of look are you wanting for your bathroom? - Gaudy or bold flooring can put off a possible purchaser.

There are many different flooring types and not all of them appropriate for a bathroom. The best choices for flooring, if you want to boost the value, is ceramic tiles or something similar which is clean and doesn't harbour germs. Vinyl, laminate, or carpet do not add or enhance to the value of your house, as they are thought of as floor covering. Hardwood floors are not the better option either, since water will damage them.
The most essential piece of furniture in the bathroom for function and purpose is the toilet. Change the toilet so it matches the rest of the bathroom furniture, if you don't it will stand out and not for the right reasons.

Put in a jet bath, or better still put a jet bath in the bathroom for the main bedroom, a little bit of luxury goes a long way. While functional they can add a touch of style to bathroom and they are definitely relaxing after a long day working. They do not have to be expensive either, shop around and you may find a good bargain.

Keep the bathroom simple and match each item, to give it that unified feel. The bathroom decor should match the rest of the house, a contemporary looking bathroom in a farmhouse style building is going to look out of place. Select a single style for the bathroom and persist with it.

The Refurbishment handbook is delivered by Jay Banks from Vancouver homes, RE/MAX Vancouver.

picture by Limonada

Canada vs USA: Reasons Why Canadian Market is Better Shape

Unknowingly, the market rebounded quicker than anyone expected. In the spring of 2009, Canada saw the about face of the housing market, we observed sales figures continuing to shoot up in the following months. In the winter of 2009/2010, realtors were disclosing sales increases in excess of 100%. At the same time the housing prices even overtook the pre-crash prices.

So why does the Canadian housing market do better than the rest of the world? Let's have a look at the rationale why. Speaking to the specialists, the majority say that this recovery is mainly due to the low interest rates put in place by the Bank of Canada. This low rate supported the Canadian housing market and even though the US attempted to do the same thing, they didn't see the same results:

The Canadian mortgage market was not as riddled with sub prime mortgages as observed in the US market. Approximately 5% (potentially upwards of 10%) of loans in Canada can be assigned to the sub prime class, while sub prime loans in the US took a 22% share of all loans during the critical years, 2006-2008.

Canadian banks are over and over again ranked as the most secure in the world by the World Economic Forum. The way the banks and other financial institutions dealt with the recession is another reason why Canada averted the credit crunch for the most part.

Since last summer our economy has seen jobs arising so although we had a rise in unemployment like the US, it has improved quicker. Also, Canada's social system helped to reduce personal bankruptcies.

To sum up, the Canadian housing market is on a solid footing. Where there is good news, some people look to the negatives and say that a housing bubble completely separate from what has gone on, is getting ready to hit us. From my own scrutiny of the housing market I don't accept this for a minute.

The Bank of Canada promised to keep rates stable until summer 2010. Rates will grow as summer arrives and we have already seen some mortgage rates increasing slightly. Similarly despite not having an official finish date, the window for taking advantage of the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit is slowly dwindling. We also have seen, the shortage of new properties listed, which we have been encountering since the autumn of 2009, is slowly letting up. As Jay Banks from Vancouver Lofts, adds: "There has been an expanding influx of new listings over the last 2-3 months, which has helped to balance the inventory level."

More levelled sales and prices of houses settling at tolerable figures, is probably going to be the outcome of all these points starting to come together.

picture by -AX-