Real Estate Talks

Demonizer: Did you read the article? Because if you did, the premise was that realtors had an unfair advantage with respect to assignments and being able to flip properties. I think it's a very dangerous game that was played out extensively in markets like Phoenix and Arizona, but it's not fair to p...

Standard of living should matter. Say you make $20k / year and buy a house for $100k. You put 10% down and can make your mortgage payments but there isn't a whole lot left of disposable income. Your job is secure, but salary increases are basically pegged at CPI. Other than feeling "rich", what diff...

Cdn $ down 15% annually. If that means a corresonding jump in prices, then I'm 190k wealthier this past year. How much do you have to eat or travel before you erase that 190k? See what I mean bro? Let the good times roll If you try to travel or buy anything interesting, you have to pay like 40% mor...

So are you saying that it might be industry or development that produces wealth and it's not just land that is the basis for all wealth? If you believe "real estate" can be simply interchanged with "land", then your previous comment about townhouses and condos doesn't make much sense.

Agree he should buy sooner rather than later (***not professional advice here - no liability if I am wrong!**** :) I am not sure buying a house in Langley/Surrey is the best for him if he works in Vancouver/Richmond. He will need to factor in commute times and tolls. While a home in Langley or Surr...

Actually, I don't follow your logic: if ETB was extremely lucky, what corlation does that have to making his / her responses adequate? But I'll humour you and try to explain why I posted. I thought the original post was a bit silly: comparing prices in one currency based on how another currency perf...

Then why do I feel rich ? I'm confused. I think I'll go back to renting, 'cause I had it so good then lol You feel rich? Do you live rich? Imagine if you sold 2 years ago, invested in San Francisco, you would have realized a 30% appreciation in value and a 40% increase in currency exchange. With th...

I know some "successful" people who are lumped with HMOs. And let's not forget the endless paperwork and bureaucracy set up around their healthcare. But so what? If all you (general you) care about is money and a very narrow definition of success then have at her, the US will fit your values. But I...

So misguided: high income people in the U.S. dont pay any medical premiums - it's covered by their employers. The best and brightest get the best benefits. I don't mean any offense, but "average" is awarded in more socialists countries like Canada. Shooting in Southern California today, killed 14 pe...

Prices at similar levels, but; 1) incomes significantly higher 2) more potential to grow your income 3) joint income tax filing (huge deal for a married high income earner) 4) mortgage interest write off (big deal for big mortgage / high income earner) From a career / Finacial standpoint, it's hard ...

From personal experience, getting a work visa in the US is neither "easy" nor is it overly "difficult", that is if you qualify. The H1B visas are not that difficult to obtain for many jobs: just need an employment offer and fail into the proper classification. Lots of nurses, teachers, engineers, et...

building in vancouver especially a teardown is very costly upgrading service lines (ripping up roads), etc. whereas raw land with no service can be developed en mass by the acre with open field with some trees for a single home there are tons of hoops and hurdles they make you jump through and are ...

the city of vancouver is one of the worst for this. taking years to do anything which in turn makes the construction and even demolition of a teardown a very slow process. Maybe you have some personal experience with this, but I've seen houses on the westside of Vancouver go up for sale on a Friday...

regarding the british hoarding of the west van lands, it isn't common knowledge that there are thousands of acres still left to develop. In fact by the way the media speaks, there is no land left at all especially in West Van but now it is revealed (or at least reminded) the british have hoarded th...

I guess people new to the area may not know about the British Properties or who (and how) the Lion's Gate Bridge was built. I would say it's pretty common knowledge for anyone who grew up in the lower mainland though. I think it was even taught in elementary school. I don't understand what you are t...