Vancouver has been named the “best place to live in North America”, as well as the “5th best place to live in the world” by the 2014 Mercer Quality of Living survey. As such, it should surprise no one that real estate sales in the city have increased by 44 percent from January to February this 2014. An article from the World Property Channel provides more details:
A total of 2,530 homes were sold in February, up from 1,760 sales in January, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.
“Home buyer demand picked up in February, which is consistent with typical seasonal patterns in our housing market,” said Sandra Wyant, REBGV president. “We typically see home buyers become more active in and around the spring months.”
Today’s report shows home sales grew 41 percent from 1,797 sales in February 2013. The February figure was just 17 sales away from the 10-year sale average for February of 2,547.
“With the market continuing to perform at a steady, balanced pace, it’s important for home sellers to ensure their homes are priced correctly for today’s conditions,” Ms. Wyant said.
If you are interested in purchasing one of the many beautiful homes for sale in Vancouver, B.C., there are a few things you need to take care of before you actually start looking at homes. Here is a short to-do list you need to accomplish prior to contacting a reputable real estate agency like Vancouver Canada Homes:
Organise Finances
Get pre-approved for a housing mortgage, as this can help you establish a budget. You should also list down all your finances to see if you can pull money from your savings or investments just in case you fall in love with a house that exceeds the loan amount you were pre-approved for.
Stability
Assess the way your career is panning out so far. Does it look like you will be staying in the city for years to come, or is there a possibility you will be reassigned to a different city or country? Typically, you should only purchase a home if you know you will be staying within Vancouver for the foreseeable future.
Survey the Neighbourhood
Visit potential homes for sale in Vancouver, BC you are interested in during different times of the day to get a better understanding of what it would be like to live there. Also, take the time to talk to your potential neighbours and ask questions regarding trash collection, traffic, and neighbourhood security.
(Source: Vancouver home Sales Jump 44 Percent; World Property Channel; March 5, 2014)
