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

CHECK OUT THE LATEST SNAPSTATS VIDEO FOR THE FRASER VALLEY

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Check out the latest SnapStats for the Fraser Valley. After the affects of the Covid19 pandemic bought things to a halt in March and April, we started to slowly see a recover through May with a huge surge of market activity in June! Sales in June 2020 were up 115% over May 2020. The latest SnapStats indicate that we are in a sellers market** and we are once again seeing multiple offers and listings being sold within days of hitting the market.

For more information on the current Real Estate market, call or email Garry Voigt 604 789 2140 or info@garryvoigt.com.

**The accuracy and completeness of the information is not guaranteed. In providing this information SnapStats® or Garry Voigt do not assume any responsibility or liability. More info at snap-stats.com .

 

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.

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.

 

 

Check out the March 2020 SnapStats for the Fraser Valley.

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The typical ‘Spring Market’ made a great start in March but the need for social distancing meant we had to make some big changes on how we do business and that was bound to have an impact on sales. Take a look at the SnapStats Video for the Fraser Valley – March 2020.

For more information on how we have adapted our business and the current market, call or email Garry Voigt – 604 789 2140, info@garryvoigt.com.

 

CHECK OUT THE LATEST SNAPSTATS FOR THE FRASER VALLEY FOR FEBRUARY 2020

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Check out the latest SnapStats for the Fraser Valley for February 2020. Sales are up and there has been a slight increase in sales prices indicating that we are in a ‘Sellers Market’. We are once again seeing multiple offer situations not only in condos and townhomes but also single family homes. Inventory is low and there are a lot of buyers out there!!

Contact Garry Voigt today for more information 604 789 2140 or info@garryvoigt.com

 

This report data was captured on March 2, 2020 from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board MLS® . Refer to our YTD reports for sustained periods of the Sales Ratio % . The accuracy and completeness of the information is not guaranteed. In providing this information SnapStats® or Garry Voigt do not assume any responsibility or liability. More info at snap-stats.com .

BANK OF CANADA REDUCES THE BENCHMARK INTEREST RATES BY 50 BASE POINTS

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The Bank Of Canada today announced that they were reducing the benchmark interest rate from 1.75% to 1.25%.

The outbreak of Cornavirus is having a negative impact on the global economy and according to the Bank Of Canada “a material negative shock” to Canadian and global outlooks.

The slash in the interest rate, coupled with the relaxation in the street test could me more borrowing power for buyers. The market is already hot right now with many buyers once again finding themselves in multiple offer situations. Now is definitely a good time to list!

Contact Garry Voigt for more information 604 789 2140 or info@garryvoigt.com.

Click on the links below for more information.

Globe and Mail

 

SOLD – JUST 2 DAYS ON THE MARKET – 2 BED – 2 BATH TOWNHOUSE – LANGLEY

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31 5388 201a Street. SOLD in just 2 days! The market is hot, inventory is low and there are lots of buyers out there. There has never been a better time to list your home!! If you want to get the conversation started and learn about we can help you get top dollar for your home call Garry Voigt today 604 789 2140!

 

JUST LISTED – 2 BED- 2 BATH TOWNHOME IN LANGLEY CITY

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Welcome to THE COURTYARDS. This light, bright 2 bed, 2 bath has some great upgrades & designer features. The kitchen & dining room, with gorgeous wood effect floor tile, open onto a sunny SOUTH facing deck, overlooking the QUIET courtyard. Modern dining room light fitting plus crown molding on the main floor. The large living room features a cozy fireplace with slate stone surround & large wood mantel. Upstairs you’ll find a huge laundry closet. The large master has a wainscoting feature & mirrored closets + organizers. Another designer touch – reclaimed wood feature wall in 2nd bed.  BONUS 3 parking! 1 on pad out front and 2 covered in tandem garage, fenced south facing patio off garage. Tons of street parking 5 mins walk to Linwood Park & Nicomekl  Elementary. O/H Sat/Sun Feb 15/16 2-4PM

BC SPECULATION TAX – IT’S TIME TO DECLARE

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It’s that time of year once again when the BC Speculation Tax letters will be dropping into your mailbox.

Who needs to declare?

  • All residential property owners in the TAXABLE REGIONS must apply.
  • If a property has more than one owner, a separate declaration must be made for each owner.
  • Even if the other owners are family members or part of an estate, each owner needs to complete a declaration.

The Government claims that ‘99% of British Columbians are exempt’ from the tax so have your letter ready and LOG ON HERE to start you declaration.

The tax amount has changed from 0.5% to 2% for homeowners who are not exempt. To find out who is eligible for the exemption, check out the BC SPECULATION TAX website or call 1-833-554-2323.

Remember you must declare by March 31st 2020 in order to qualify for the exemption.

Contact Garry Voigt for more information 604 789 2140 or info@garryvoigt.com