JUST LISTED – FULLY RENOVATED – 2 BED – 2 BATH – CORNER CONDO – LANGLEY CITY

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Welcome to BLACKBERRY LANE 3! Here is your opportunity to own a FULLY RENOVATED CORNER UNIT condo featuring beautiful new laminate floors throughout, STUNNING kitchen with white shaker soft close cabinets with under cabinet lighting, new bathrooms, paint, the list goes on! OPEN layout offers a large dining area, GAS fireplace with stone surround spacious 1181 sq/ft unit with a large south east facing COVERED deck. Ample PRIVACY with rooms on the opposite side of the unit. Oversized master features a CUSTOM walk in closet & will fit a king bed, en suite features rainfall shower, custom built linen closet & Frameless glass. Very QUIET building with tons of updates including decks, roof & boiler in 2018. 2 parking, storage locker and just steps to Linwood Park & off leash dog park. Don’t wait

 

Call or email Garry Voigt 604-789-2140 info@garryvoigt.com

JUST LISTED – STUNNING HOME – 1.36 PRIVATE ACRES – SALMON RIVER

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Welcome to 74 Wagonwheel Crescent, one of the most desirable areas of Salmon River. This secluded property features an updated home sitting on a private peaceful  1.36 acre, premium south facing lot – abundant sunshine with no easements or creeks. Easy 5 min drive to Hwy 1. New gutters  and exterior paint. Other updates include: Ensuite  with rainfall shower, hot water on demand and beautiful high end chef inspired kitchen with gas range. Enjoy your morning coffee in tranquility, listening to birds on the massive 624 sq ft cedar back deck. BONUS 24’x34’ Double drive through garage with 10ft doors AND additional adjacent enclosed insulated bonus space with suite potential or more parking for cars. Don’t wait, properties in this area don’t come to market often!

 

For more information call or email Garry Voigt 604 789 2140 – info@garryvoigt.com

JUST LISTED – ABSOLUTELY IMMACULATE – 2 BED – 2 BATH – TOP FLOOR – CORNER CONDO – OVER 1100 SQ – LANGLEY CITYFT

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TOP FLOOR CORNER PENTHOUSE , Gibbons Layne! Meticulously clean, like new condition, this gorgeous unit has a wide OPEN, BRIGHT floor plan, 9ft ceilings & tons of windows for natural light. HUGE 1,152 sq/ft condo has two good size beds on opposite sides for privacy, open kitchen with tons of storage, newer SS appliances, shaker cabinets, eat up island, dining area big enough for 8 people. BBQ on the N/W facing wrap around deck with nice afternoon/evening sun. HUGE living room for entertaining, crown moulding, updated LED lights. Master easily fits a king with spa like ensuite, heated floors, soaker tub & separate shower! Laundry room with storage + a storage locker & 2 PARKING! Central location in Langley city close to shopping, transit, restaurants, parks & walk to Nicomekl Elementary!

For more information call or email Garry Voigt 604 789 2140 or info@garryvoigt.com

JUST LISTED – 1 BED – 1 BATH CONDO – CENTRAL SURREY LOCATION

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311 13344 102a Street. Location Location Location! Welcome to The Village in Central Surrey – NO CAR NEEDED! This 1 bed, 1 bath condo is about as central as you can get but on a peaceful street! Walking distance to the beautiful Holland Park, one block from S.F.U, walk to Surrey Central Mall, Surrey Rec Centre and Sky Train, bus loop and big box stores. Nice open plan living and dining room with newer laminate flooring has large windows with sliding doors onto the good size patio. Kitchen has serving hatch allowing in more natural light and a good amount of counter space. Good size bedroom plenty big enough for a queen bed. Not only is the location great but rentals are allowed, making this condo an amazing investment opportunity or perfect for your first time buyers. Don’t wait on this one!

JUST LISTED – STUNNING 4 BED HOME IN WALNUT GROVE – BACK YARD OASIS

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20552 96a Street – Property like this one rarely comes on the market in Langley! This amazing 7079 sq ft cul-de-sac lot is backing onto picturesque greenbelt in desirable Walnut Grove with a beautiful open view of the creek. Private fully fenced backyard is completely redone with a resort like setting complete with 18×36 kidney shaped INGROUND pool, newer HOT TUB and GAZEBO with built in bar, TV and huge wrap around deck. Sundeck is spacious with custom made benches by the pool and second BAR with built-in fridge and seating area. This beautiful and spacious family home is freshly renovated with 4 bedrooms up, large master bedroom has brand new spa like master bath, custom made kitchen with tons of storage, SS appliances and Air Conditioning. This house has it all! Call Garry Voigt for more information 604 789 2140 – info@garryvoigt.com

CMHC ANNOUNCES NEW CHANGES STARTING JULY 1ST

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CMHC has announced new changes coming on July 1st. You can read the official CMHC announcement here. But here’s a quick summary of the changes:

–       Minimum Credit Score rises from 600 to 680

–       Maximum GDS drops to 35% (formerly 39%)

–       Maximum TDS drops to 42% (formerly 44%)

–       Borrowed Down payments are banned

Do you need to panic?

Not necessarily as there are 3 insurers in Canada.  So far CMHC is the only one that has announced any changes.  It is possible that the other 2 mortgage insurers (Genworth & Canada Guaranty), won’t follow at all, or they’ll only follow some of the rules.  In fact, it might be a good competitive advantage for them not to follow all of the changes (unless mandated by the federal government).  We may hear from the other 2 insurers early next week.

What does each change mean?

No More Borrowed Down payment – This isn’t really a big deal at all, as virtually zero lenders participated in this program, and the way this program worked it was pretty much an un-used program anyways.  In fact, as you read this, you likely didn’t even know this program was still an option.

Credit Score Requirement – CMHC now requires a minimum 680 credit score (for 1 borrower). Previously it was 600.  CMHC says that less than 6% of their mortgage applications this year had scores below 680, so it should not really affect a lot of CMHC buyers anyways…but it will affect some.

35/42 GDS/TDS – This is without a doubt the biggest announced change, and it could potentially have the largest effect on the lower end of the real estate market.  This could affect an average borrower anywhere from 12% or more on their borrowing power.   For example if you qualified to borrow $500,000 before, your maximum mortgage is now reduced to about $440,000.

Why are they doing this?

This only affects people buying homes after July 1st.  And it will mostly affect the purchasing power of the youngest, the lowest income and lowest down payment buyers.

It won’t affect any of the following types of mortgage borrowers:

–       Any buyer with over 20% down payment

–       Any buyer of a home valued more than $1 Million

–       Rental property purchasers

–       Anyone refinancing their mortgage

–       Anyone renewing their mortgage.

So, it only affects a very small portion of home buyers in the lower mainland.  Unfortunately this could meant that it’s the first-time buyers that are hurt the most.  Those same first-time buyers that were hurt the most from the mortgage stress test.

If you’re preapproved, and you’re intending to buy a home with less than 20% down payment, you definitely need to speak to us about how this might affect you.  It might put some urgency to buy a home before July 1st.

10 WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE HELPING OUR CLIENTS SAFELY BUY AND SELL HOMES

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Thinking of putting your home on the market? You’re not alone. As of May 25th, new listings in the Fraser Valley have increased by over 46 per cent compared to the same period in April.

And last month, even though transactions were down significantly compared to April of last year, on average on a daily basis, 23 families in the Fraser Valley relied on the guidance and advice from their REALTOR® and purchased a new home, while on average, 47 sellers per day listed their home.

Chris Shields is the President of the FVREB. “Housing needs do not stop during a pandemic. It’s why we were declared an essential service early on and why the real estate industry was included in BC’s phased reopening for businesses.”

“We have been working hard since the beginning of the lockdown to serve our clients in innovative and effective ways that limit personal interaction yet showcase homes and facilitate sales,” added Shields.

If you are currently considering buying or selling a home, here are the top ten actions REALTORS® are taking to meet WorkSafeBC’s new guidelines to serve the public:

  1. DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
    Your Realtor will communicate with you through telephone, email, or video/teleconference. During this period, Realtors have been connecting virtually with their clients more than ever through FaceTime, Zoom and other videoconferencing technologies.
  2. DOUBLING THE VOLUME OF LISTING PHOTOS ON REALTOR.CA
    As you search Canada’s most-viewed real estate website, you’ll notice that Fraser Valley listings may display up to 40 photos now, up from a previous maximum of 20. This allows your Realtor to provide more visual depth and detail for your listing.
  3. VIRTUAL HOME TOURS
    In April, Realtor.ca introduced a new feature that allows Realtors to showcase listings by integrating video and 3D tours from multiple popular services. Since mid-April, traffic to Realtor.ca has increased by 14 per cent and inquiries to Realtors have increased by 25 per cent.
  4. LIVE STREAMING OPEN HOUSES
    Realtors are now scheduling and promoting live stream open houses using popular platforms such as Facebook Live, Instagram Live, Zoom and YouTube. They walk through the home videoing each room describing while you watch live and in real time. “What’s behind that door?” They’ll show you.
  5. E-TRANSACTIONS
    No sharing of pens and much more efficient. For many years, Fraser Valley Realtors have guided their clients through the completion of MLS® contracts electronically using PDF and e-signature technology.
  6. E-DOCUMENTS
    If you haven’t sold your home in a while, you may not be aware that strata documents, land title documents, floor plans and others are available digitally. Your Realtor will email them to you.
  7. SAFE IN-PERSON VIEWINGS
    When a client is serious about a purchase, they (and their home inspector) must see the home. Per WorkSafeBC’s reopening guidelines, Realtors are working with their buyers and sellers to ensure that in-person viewings adhere to stringent safety protocols including physical distancing; handwashing and sanitizing; the use of masks, gloves and shoe covers; viewings by appointment only; limiting the number of viewers and allowing time to disinfect between viewings.
  8. DISINFECTING REALTOR/CLIENT HIGH-TOUCH SURFACES
    When appropriate, Realtors are taking extra precautions to ensure that high-touch areas such as keys, lockboxes, doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons, etc. are cleaned and disinfected.
  9. ENSURING REAL ESTATE OFFICES ARE SAFE TO VISIT
    Like many businesses, numerous local real estate brokerages are in the process of reopening and are aware of the government’s stringent public safety guidelines including physical distancing policies, personal protective measures, and disinfection protocols.
  10. NEW PROVINCIAL REAL ESTATE STANDARD FORMS TO PROTECT CLIENTS
    A new Notice & Acknowledgement form is available for use by your Realtor during the COVID-19 pandemic. It alerts clients of changes to the real estate practice and supports your safety by helping you make informed decisions.

For more information about how the FVREB and its 3,671 members are working to keep real estate transactions safe during the pandemic, see our dedicated page at www.fvreb.bc.ca/about/covid-19-update/

In addition, the province’s real estate licensing body, the Real Estate Council of BC has a COVID-19 page devoted to consumers.

MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE SIGN A PETITION TO KEEP LANGLEY’S DRIVE IN THEATRE OPEN

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More than 10,500 people have now signed an online petition asking the health authority to allow the Langley drive-in theatre to continue after it had it’s allowable capacity cut from 200 to only 50 vehicles.

CLICK HERE to sign the online petition.

There is some confusion as to whether the movie theatre is designated as a ‘drive in event’ (which has a maximum capacity of 50 vehicles) or a ‘drive in theatre’. The theatre previously hosted 200 vehicles with a distance of 20 feet apart. The health authority are also claiming that the theatre’s take out food license is not valid even though it was used all through phase 1 of the pandemic.

To read more, check out the article in the LANGLEY TIMES

 

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED US RISE OVER $4000 FOR THE LANGLEY FOOD BANK

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THANK YOU EVERYONE!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼
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❤️MONEY RAISED FOR LANGLEY FOOD BANK – $4,085 | Tons of non perishable food donations!!!!❤️
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WOW, HUGE THANK YOU to everyone in our community for supporting our Langley Food Bank food drive and fundraiser the past weekends!! The community response absolutely exceeded our expectations. It was incredible how many people took time out of their day to drop off non perishable food donations at the Royal Lepage Wolstencroft Office for those in our community that are in need. We initially organized this mainly as a food drive since we understood that people may not be in a position to donate cash during these uncertain times however the amount of people that wanted to help and donate cash for those in need was incredibly overwhelming. So again we want to give a massive THANK YOU as well for the generous cash donations from our friends, family members, work colleagues and the community to help the Food Bank during this time. Again THANK YOU to everyone who contributed for helping spread the word and for their support. Thank you Royal Lepage Wolstencroft office and the very generous colleagues and Realtors within the office #bestofficeever for their support as well as the other local Rockstar Realtors who supported the fundraiser in the Real Estate community!!! You know who you are!! With your help we raised an incredible $4,085 for Langley food bank and dropped off multiple loads of non perishable food items. You guys ROCK. we rallied as a community to help our community we live in. That’s what it’s all about. We will get through this together ! Cheers
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Special thank you to:
@cotalamarketing for donating the sign
@whitecloudproductions for filming the awesome promo video
@rlpwolstencroft for allowing us to use the parking lot
@langleyadvancetimes for the feature
@langleyfoodbank for helping with everything @ Langley Food Bank

BC PREPARES TO START TO OPEN UP THE ECONOMY AND HERE IS HOW THEY PLAN TO DO IT

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BC’s Restart Plan lays out a series of steps that we will take together to protect people and ensure that our province can come back from COVID-19 stronger than before.

Around the world, governments have taken different approaches to try to bend and flatten the curve of transmission — from complete lockdowns to quarantines and varying intensities of physical distancing.

From the outset, B.C. established clear guidance, transparency and an evidence-based approach as hallmarks of our fight against COVID-19.

Protective measures B.C. has taken have included:

  • Providing physical distancing and hygiene guidelines for people, businesses and essential services to follow
  • Banning mass gathering of more than 50 people to reduce the risk of outbreaks
  • Closing bars, dine-in service at restaurants, and personal service operators, like barbers and dentists, to reduce the risk of transmission
  • Reducing in-classroom learning and child care
  • Requiring travellers to develop and stick to a 14-day isolation plan when arriving in B.C. from abroad
  • Restricting visitors to health care and assisted living facilities to protect some of our most vulnerable people
  • Postponing non-urgent and elective surgeries while maintaining urgent and emergency procedures

Working together we’ve made a lot of progress. These protective measures and restrictions have directly saved lives, but we also know that the public health benefit has come at some expense, including the economic, social and personal well-being of many British Columbians.

Check out the BC Government website for more info.