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    <title>Linda Linfoot (www.lindalinfoot.com) : Blog</title>
    <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/</link>
    <description>This page contains the blog.</description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:28:56 PST</pubDate>
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      <title></title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/172/</link>
            <pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2009 09:03:22 PST</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/172/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<span style="font-size: 19pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Make sure your lender passes this test <br />
BEFORE you give him your business.
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><em><span style="font-size: 17pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">11 Critical Questions to Help You Choose The Right Mortgage.</span></em><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"><font size="3">Hello my name is Linda Linfoot</font></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"><br />
<span>&nbsp;</span>As an independent mortgage agent, I work for you NOT the banks. This checklist is just one of the ways I can help you get a better deal on your next mortgage, refinance or renewal. Before you even pick up the phone to call a lender, give some thought to your financial situation and needs, both today and in the future. No lenders can provide the best mortgage for you without understanding your needs. And they&#39;ll never understand your needs unless you can explain them clearly and specifically.
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">What I&#39;d suggest is that you sit down with your spouse and consider some of the following issues. Only then will you be able to answer the questions any responsible lender will ask in order to help you choose the right mortgage, rate and features.
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">How long are you planning to live in this home? 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">How are your finances likely to change over the next few years? 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Which are you more comfortable with: mortgage payments that always stay the same OR payments that rise and fall with the </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Prime rate</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">? 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">How soon would you like to be mortgage-free? 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">When will your children be entering college or university? 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">When are you thinking of retiring? 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">OK, now that you have your needs and goals in mind, you&#39;re ready to start making some calls. As I said, any responsible lender will ask you a lot of questions in order to narrow down the options and select the right mortgage for you and your family. But if you want to make sure you&#39;re getting the very best deal available after all, that&#39;s exactly what you deserve! You have to ask some questions too.
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Today&#39;s mortgage market is very complex, with more choices than ever before, innovative new features being introduced every day, and unexpected conditions and fees hidden in the fine print. The best way to protect yourself is to go through every item on this checklist with each lender BEFORE you go any farther.
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">What&#39;s the APR (annual percentage rate) on this mortgage?</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> Be skeptical of the first rate you&#39;re quoted. Always ask if it&#39;s the annual percentage rate.&nbsp;The APR&nbsp;is usually higher because it includes the additional fees involved in procuring a loan. And don&#39;t always believe the APR quoted in ads. Lenders often use bait and switch tactics: they&#39;ll quote a low rate to get you in the door, but it may not include all the points and fees, or it may be almost impossible to qualify for. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">How much of a down payment will I need?</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> Most mortgages require a down payment of somewhere between 5% and 20% of the loan amount. The higher your down payment, the more attractive your rate and terms will be. However, you may not be able to afford a high down payment. If you can&#39;t manage a down payment of 20% or more, your mortgage is required to be covered by default insurance, which will involve paying an insurance premium. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">How much extra will it cost to lock in my interest rate?</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> As you know, mortgage rates are changing all the time. If rates rise between the time you apply and your closing date, you can pay thousands of dollars extra over the life of your mortgage. Most lenders will let you lock in the rate you discuss at the time you apply so there are no surprises later. But there&#39;s often a fee for this, so find out how much it might cost. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Are you going to charge any discount points?</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> Some lenders charge prepaid mortgage interest points that can have a big effect on the cost of your loan. Ask for full details. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">What are the guidelines I need to meet in order to qualify for this mortgage?</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> Every mortgage has requirements that relate to your employment, income, down payment, credit history, assets and liabilities. Insured mortgages often have easier qualifying guidelines than conventional loans. &ldquo;Non-conforming&rdquo; mortgages for people who require more relaxed guidelines usually carry higher interest rates. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Can you give me an estimate of my closing fees?</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> Every mortgage involves fees that are paid to the lender and other companies involved in the financing process. Ask for a realistic estimate of what those fees will be, based on the specific mortgage details you&#39;re talking about. Any lender that can&#39;t provide an estimate should be viewed with suspicion. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">How much will it cost to pay out this mortgage before the term is up?</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> Sure, you may not plan to pay out your mortgage early, but what if you need to move or refinance unexpectedly. Some mortgages with low rates have HIGH </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">prepayment penalties</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> which make getting out of the mortgage VERY expensive. If your plans could change, it may make sense to pay a slightly higher rate and get a more affordable prepayment penalty. Be&nbsp;sure to ask about the terms and conditions of any prepayment penalty. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">What documents will I need to provide? </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Every mortgage requires you to provide some documents. But the number of documents can vary. As the name suggests, &ldquo;Full Doc&quot; loans require full documentation of income, assets, debt payments, credit history, etc.&nbsp;&ldquo;Low Doc&rdquo; loans require a minimum of documentation. However, you normally have to have very good credit and a large down payment to qualify for a Low Doc loan and they can also carry a higher interest rate. Make sure you find out all the details. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">How long will it take to process this mortgage? </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Once your mortgage application is approved, it can take from two weeks to two months (or more!) to process and fund the loan. Because you&#39;re going to be on a deadline (the closing date of your house), ask the lender for an accurate processing timetable. This will also help you decide whether you need to lock in your interest rate. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">What are some of the things that could slow the approval process?</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> Nobody likes surprises, especially lenders! If the information you&#39;ve provided is complete and accurate, there should be no delays. But changes to that information can really make a difference. If during processing, your income changes, you take on a new debt, you get married or divorced, or an undisclosed credit problem comes to light, there will be delays. Make sure you know exactly what the lender needs, so you don&#39;t accidentally leave anything out. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol"><span>&middot;<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Can I contact any of your existing clients?</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> It&#39;s easy for a lender to tell you how great the service is. But the only way to know for sure is to talk to some previous customers. If the lender is hesitant to put you in contact with actual customers, ask to see some recent client satisfaction surveys. The more willing the lender is to share client opinions with you, the more confident you&#39;ll feel in proceeding. 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Use this checklist for each lending institution you contact, whether you speak over the phone or in person. It&#39;s a good idea to do all this research on the same day since mortgage rates can fluctuate daily. Be sure to record the company name, contact name, type of mortgage quoted, interest rate, etc. along with all the answers to the questions.
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><u><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">OR &hellip;</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"><br />
</span><u><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">you could let me take care of everything for you</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"><br />
</span><u><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">AND end up with a better deal!</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">If you have the time, energy and patience to do this research on several different lenders, you&#39;ll likely end up with a reasonably good mortgage. But if you want the ABSOLUTE BEST mortgage for your specific situation and goals, why not get professional help?<br />
As an independent mortgage agent, I have access to dozens of lenders and hundreds of mortgages AND I know exactly what to look for. After analyzing your needs, I can shop the market for the rate and features that will achieve everything you want, at the lowest possible cost. And since I&#39;m normally paid by the lender, there&#39;s NO CHARGE to you for my expert, objective service and advice.
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">I hope you&#39;ve found this checklist useful. It gives you a really good idea of what&#39;s involved in getting the right mortgage. If you choose to use this checklist to do it yourself, I&#39;m glad I&#39;ve been able to provide assistance.<br />
However, if you&#39;d like to make the whole process faster, easier and more affordable, please call me at : </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Phone: 604-765-8873</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"> to set up your FREE no-obligation consultation. I&#39;ll sit down with you, analyze your requirements and set up a program tailored to your abilities, goals and comfort level. Call me today!<br />
Sincerely,
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span> 
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			<td width="624" style="width: 468.05pt; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3; padding: 0cm"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"><span>&nbsp;</span>Linda Linfoot<br />
			<span>&nbsp;</span>604-765-8873<br />
			Email: <a href="mailto:linda@globalmortgagecorp.net"><span style="color: windowtext">linda@globalmortgagecorp.net</span></a><br />
			PS: If you&#39;ve found this report useful, can provide several other FREE reports on a wide range of important financial issues. View them at your convenience by visiting my website: <a href="http://www.lindalinfoot.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none">http://www.lindalinfoot.ca/</span></a> 
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"><br />
			<br />
			<br />
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
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]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>Consumer Tips when Buying a House</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/169/</link>
            <pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:10:01 PST</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/169/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>
<a href="/files/content/document/1856.pdf">Consumer Tips when Buying a House</a>
</p>
<p>
Features: 
</p>
<p>
5 Very Important Reasons To Buy a House<br />
5 Tips for Home Buyers<br />
5 Home Buying Mistakes<br />
5 Things You Must Do Prior To Selling Your Home<br />
5 Ways to speed up the Sale of your House<br />
A few tips on pulling together a down payment<br />
Can I Buy a Home with damaged credit?<br />
Fixed vs. Adjustable<br />
How do you prepare a house to sell?<br />
Make your home more appealing with these low cost tips<br />
How are Pre-qualifying and Pre-approvals Different?<br />
How Many Homes Should I Consider Before Buying?<br />
How to Pull Cash Out Of Your Home<br />
Important Readiness Checklist for Homebuyers<br />
Listing Agreements aren&#39;t all the Same<br />
Exclusive Right to Sell Listing Agreement<br />
Exclusive Agency Agreement<br />
Open Listing<br />
What Exactly is an Interest Only Home Loan?<br />
Mortgage Brokers vs. Mortgage Bankers<br />
How Landscaping Will Improve the Value of Your Home
</p>
<p>
For more FREE no obiligation reports visit <a href="http://www.lindalinfoot.ca/">www.lindalinfoot.ca</a> 
</p>
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>Today&apos;s Housing Market</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/167/</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:04:08 PST</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/167/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<div id="storyheader">
<div class="headline">
<h1>Making sense of today&#39;s housing market</h1>
</div>
<div class="subheadline">
<h2>The local slowdown should not be confused with the collapse in the U.S.</h2>
</div>
<div class="byline">
<span class="name">By Dave Watt</span><span class="timestamp">December 5, 2008</span> 
</div>
</div>
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<div id="story_content" class="para14">
<div class="col_480">
<div class="col_460">
<div id="storycontent" class="para18">
<div id="page1">
<p>
In recent months, economists have had the unenviable task of trying to calculate the direction the housing market is likely to take, factoring in things like unemployment rates, population and immigration figures, economic growth, mortgage rates, and that most nebulous of criteria, consumer confidence. 
</p>
<p>
They agree that the decrease in housing sales and prices bears little relation to the economic indicators in British Columbia. What has changed is public perception of our financial security, triggered by the troubled global financial markets. 
</p>
<p>
As realtors, people are asking us to help make sense of the housing market. 
</p>
<p>
Sellers are asking if the market value of their home is decreasing. Buyers want to know if they should wait for further price reductions. Homeowners not in the market to buy or sell want to understand the impact on their equity, which may affect decisions like plans for renovations. 
</p>
<p>
Investors are asking about short-term impact -- is it a good time to buy, renovate, and re-sell for a profit? And long-term impact -- is quality real estate now available at lower prices? First-time buyers want to know how much they need for a down payment, whether they can afford the monthly mortgage payment, and if they can get financing in these uncertain times. There are no easy answers. Around the Lower Mainland&#39;s kitchen tables, realtors are helping people assess their individual situations. 
</p>
<p>
Circumstances cause each of us to make decisions despite uncertainties related to global economies and politics. Someone gets a job in another city. A family must consider estate planning for a parent. A young couple wants to start investing in their own home, rather than renting. 
</p>
<p>
Our MLS statistics and housing price index (HPI) tell us that, since May, residential home sales and prices have been decreasing. After five years of unprecedented growth in home values in the Lower Mainland, that&#39;s not particularly surprising or necessarily unwelcome. 
</p>
<p>
Between 2003 and 2008, the HPI benchmark price of a detached home in Greater Vancouver increased nearly 70 per cent to $761,000 from $449,000. Condominiums over the same period increased 82 per cent to $387,000 from $213,000. 
</p>
<p>
Left unchecked at this rate, by 2013 the benchmark price of a detached home would top $1.2 million and condos more than $700,000. 
</p>
<p>
Current trends offer moderation to a market where affordability, for much of this decade, was eroding, making home ownership unattainable to an expanding segment of our community. 
</p>
<p>
Since May, residential home prices have declined 12.8 per cent, resulting in an 8.3-per-cent year-to-date price reduction for detached, attached and apartment properties across Greater Vancouver. 
</p>
<p>
These moderating home prices should not be confused with the U.S. housing downturn. Since 2005, prices in the U.S. have been edging downward owing in large part to imprudent subprime lending practices. 
</p>
<p>
The local real estate market is not immune to global economic challenges; however, Canada&#39;s disciplined lending structure has kept the mortgage landscape steady in these uncertain times. 
</p>
</div>
<div id="page2">
<p>
While the current rate of foreclosures in the U.S. is nearly five per cent, only 0.28 per cent of mortgages in Canada are in arrears, a proportion that is not only low but steady, according to the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP). 
</p>
<p>
Low prices are not the concern as much as the view that prices are falling. Buyers are waiting to see of the real estate market has hit bottom. 
</p>
<p>
Identifying the &quot;bottom&quot; of a market is difficult, given that certain variables must remain constant to attain real savings. 
</p>
<p>
For example, interest rates must remain low and that perfect house must remain available at an acceptable price. 
</p>
<p>
Most of us sell a home and buy a home within the same market; while we may be selling at a lower price, we&#39;re also buying within that lower-priced market. 
</p>
<p>
Deciding to buy or sell a home should be a milestone moment based on your financial and personal circumstances, and the market conditions within your neighbourhood of choice. For those whose finances allow it, there are excellent opportunities in today&#39;s housing market. This is a good market for long-term investors. 
</p>
<p>
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver has existed for nearly 90 years and witnessed numerous market cycles. Sales increase and decrease. Prices go up and down. Historically, the values at the peak of the next cycle inevitably surpass the ones before. 
</p>
<p>
Dave Watt is president of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. 
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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          </item>
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      <title>GST On Home Purchases</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/165/</link>
            <pubDate>Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:07:15 PST</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/165/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: justify">
Until, or if, the federal government changes the GST, you will be required to pay it if you buy a new home that&#39;s newly constructed or substantially renovated.
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: justify">
The good news is that you may be eligible to claim a rebate for a portion of the GST or amount you pay on the purchase price or cost of building your new home if you meet one of the following:
</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify">
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	You buy a new or substantially renovated home and buy or lease the land from a builder. 
	</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	You buy a new mobile home, new floating home or new modular home from a builder or seller. 
	</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	You buy a share in the capital stock of a co-operative housing corporation. 
	</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	You construct or substantially renovate your own home or hire another person to do it. 
	</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	Your home is destroyed in a fire and is substantially rebuilt. 
	</p>
	</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: justify">
If you merely redecorate or add an addition without substantially renovating your existing home, you do not qualify for a rebate.
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: justify">
Builders from whom you purchase your new or substantially renovated home, mobile home, or floating home can pay or credit you with the amount of the rebate for which you qualify. If they do, they are responsible for sending the rebate application to Revenue Canada.
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: justify">
Should you decide to apply directly to Revenue Canada for the rebate, you must use the appropriate form available from any Revenue Canada Excise/GST district office.
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: justify">
The rebate applications involve the purchase of a new single unit residential complex or a residential condominium unit from a builder. To apply for the rebate you need to meet all of the following conditions:
</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify">
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	The builder sells both the building and the land the home is on. 
	</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	The home is intended as the primary place of residence for yourself or a relation. 
	</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	The purchase price of the home (both building and land) is under $450,000. 
	</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	Ownership of the home is transferred to you after the construction is substantially completed. 
	</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	You or a relation are the first occupants, or you sell the home and transfer ownership before anyone occupies it. 
	</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px">
	You pay GST, or GST is included in the price of the home. 
	</p>
	</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: justify">
You have up to four years to claim your rebate from the date ownership of the home is transferred to you.
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: justify">
Buyers purchasing such homes priced up to $350,000 will qualify for the maximum rebate of $8,750, or 36 per cent of the GST paid on the purchase price, whichever is less.
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: justify">
For homes priced at more that $350,000, but under $450,000, the rebate is gradually reduced. There is no rebate for homes selling for $450,000 or more.
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: justify">
<strong>Example A</strong> - Purchase price/fair market value (not including GST) is under $350,000
</p>
<table border="0" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Purchase price</td>
			<td>$200,000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GST paid (6% of purchase price)</td>
			<td>$ 12,000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GST rebate ($12,000 x 36%)</td>
			<td>$ 4,320<br />
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify">
<strong>Example B</strong> - Purchase price/fair market value (not including GST) is over $350,000
</p>
<table border="0" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Purchase price</td>
			<td>$400,000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GST paid (6% of purchase price)</td>
			<td>$ 24,000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GST rebate</td>
			<td>$ 4,375</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calculation:</td>
			<td>$450,000 minus $400,000 (purchase price) =</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>$50,000/100,000 X $8,750 = $4,375</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
]]></description>
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      <title>2009 BC Land Assessments</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/163/</link>
            <pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:32:23 PST</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/163/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<a name="LETTER.BLOCK16"></a><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Landcor Data Corporation Responds to the 2009 BC Assessment Freeze Announcement</span></strong><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"><br />
<br />
<strong>NEW WESTMINSTER, BC, Nov. 7</strong> The Government of British Columbia announced on November 1st, 2008 that the BC Assessment Authority will not be issuing new property tax assessments for 2009, but will lock in the 2008 assessed values. In this effort to &quot;avoid confusion, anxiety and unnecessary assessment appeals&quot; many lenders, legal professionals and homeowners find themselves wondering what measures to use next year when valuing properties. <br />
<br />
Though Landcor Data Corporation utilizes the BC Assessment property roll as the data source for many of its products, their flag-ship product, the Property Valuator does not rely on assessed value to produce a market value estimate. Landcor uses an appraisal based methodology that incorporates more than 30 property characteristics to identify recently sold comparable properties used to calculate current market value. Rest assured the accuracy of the Landcor Property Valuator will not be compromised by this latest BC Assessment announcement.<br />
<br />
In fact, the Property Valuator will be one of the few accurate and cost-effective methods of obtaining the current market value of a property in BC this coming year. As many lenders and legal professionals rely on property assessments in low risk property valuation scenarios, Landcor&#39;s Property Valuator will serve as an alternative report without delaying transaction times or incurring substantial cost increases.<br />
<br />
Landcor is also looking to release an alternative product to fill the property assessment void in 2009 that will be made available at a lower cost than the Property Valuator.&nbsp; Stay tuned for more information regarding this new and innovative product in the months ahead.<br />
<strong>&nbsp;</strong><br />
<strong>About Landcor</strong><br />
<br />
Landcor Data Corporation is BC&#39;s premier real estate data and analysis provider, serving lenders, legal professionals, real estate professionals and consumers since 2001. Working closely with the BC Assessment Authority to leverage government issued information to help businesses and consumers make informed real estate decisions and mitigate risk, Landcor Data Corporation relies on registered sales data from BC Land Titles and Survey Authority. This data is complete and final and does not utilize pending sales agreement information made available through Realtors.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</span>
]]></description>
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      <title>The Informed Buyer-Seller Issue 11</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/161/</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:02:56 PST</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Real Estate">The Informed Buyer / Seller</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/161/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<a href="/files/content/document/1819.pdf">The Informed Buyer-Seller Issue 11</a>
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      <title>215 6888 SOUTHPOINT Drive, Burnaby South, British Columbia</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/159/</link>
            <pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:28:36 PST</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/159/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just sold this <em>Condo</em> at 215 6888 SOUTHPOINT Drive, Burnaby South, British Columbia .</p>
						<p>View this <a href='/75' title='215 6888 SOUTHPOINT Drive, Burnaby South, British Columbia'>recently sold Condo</a> or see all my <a href='/Properties.php'>home sales</a></p>]]></description>
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      <title>Housing Price Decline</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/155/</link>
            <pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:10:58 PST</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/155/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
<strong><font size="6"><span style="font-size: 18pt">Residential housing price decline</span></font></strong> 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
<strong><font size="6"><span style="font-size: 18pt">creates buying opportunities</span></font></strong> 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
VANCOUVER, B.C. &ndash; <span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; cursor: hand; border-bottom: medium none" class="yshortcuts">November 3</span>, 2008 &ndash; Housing price reductions across Greater Vancouver over the last six months have eliminated price gains witnessed in the first quarter of 2008. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
The <span style="cursor: hand; border-bottom: #0066cc 1px dashed" class="yshortcuts">Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver</span> (REBGV) reports that residential benchmark prices, as calculated by the MLSLink <span class="yshortcuts">Housing Price Index</span>&reg;, declined 8.8 per cent between May and October 2008, resulting in a 3.9 per cent year-to-date price reduction for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver between Octobers 2007 and 2008. In May 2008, the overall residential benchmark price was $568,411, compared to $518,668 in October 2008. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
&ldquo;Home sales are not keeping pace with the positive economic conditions in BC,&rdquo; said REBGV president, Dave Watt. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a direct result of a loss of consumer confidence in the overall market. Accordingly, today&rsquo;s housing market is characterized by moderating home prices and wide selection. It&rsquo;s definitely a buyer&rsquo;s market.&rdquo; 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 55 per cent in October 2008 to 1,364 from the 3,028 sales recorded in <span style="cursor: hand; border-bottom: #0066cc 1px dashed" class="yshortcuts">October 2007</span>. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
Active listings totalled 19,257 in October 2008, a three per cent decline from the 19,852 active listings reported in September 2008.&nbsp;New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased one per cent to 4,867 in October 2008 compared to October 2007, when 4,819 new units were listed. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
Sales of detached properties in October 2008 declined 56.5 per cent to 493 from the 1,133 sales recorded during the same period in 2007. The benchmark price for detached properties declined 4.7 per cent from October 2007 to $695,962. Since May 2008, the benchmark price for a detached property in Greater Vancouver has declined 9.8 per cent. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
Sales of apartment properties in October 2008 declined 52.7 per cent to 647, compared to 1,368 sales in October 2007. The benchmark price of an apartment property declined 3.5 per cent from October 2007 to $358,359. Since May 2008, the benchmark price for an apartment property in Greater Vancouver has declined eight per cent. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
Attached property sales in October 2008 are down 57.5 per cent to 224, compared with the 527 sales in October 2007. The benchmark price of an attached unit declined 1.4 per cent in Greater Vancouver between October 2007 and 2008 to $448,152. Since May 2008, the benchmark price for an attached property in Greater Vancouver has declined 6.4 per cent.
</div>
]]></description>
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      <title>UPDATED: Thornhill Heights Open House!</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/153/</link>
            <pubDate>Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:35:02 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/153/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<p><em>Please note the change for this upcoming openhouse.</em></p><p>We are proud to announce that this Sunday, November 2, 2008, 12:00 PM to  5:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 10374 McEachern Street  in Thornhill Heights, Maple Ridge.
This is an opportunity to visit this excellent Detached House for sale in beautiful Thornhill Heights. <br />
Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this <a href='http://lindalinfoot.com/72'>Thornhill Heights Detached House for sale</a>.<br />
As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at  if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.<br />
Linda Linfoot <br />
Park Georgia Realty Ltd.</p>]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>Thornhill Heights Open House!</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/151/</link>
            <pubDate>Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:28:46 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/151/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>We are proud to announce that this Sunday, November 2, 2008, 12:00 PM to  5:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 10374 McEachern Street  in Thornhill Heights, Maple Ridge.
This is an opportunity to visit this excellent Detached House for sale in beautiful Thornhill Heights. <br />
Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this <a href='http://lindalinfoot.com/72'>Thornhill Heights Detached House for sale</a>.<br />
As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at  if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.<br />
Linda Linfoot <br />
Park Georgia Realty Ltd.</p>]]></description>
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      <title>&amp;quot;8 Closing Costs to be Aware of When Buying A Home&amp;quot;</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/149/</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:37:52 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/149/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<a href="/files/content/document/1759.pdf">&quot;8 Closing Cost to Be Aware of When Buying a Home&quot;</a> 
]]></description>
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      <title>Subprime Mortgage</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/141/</link>
            <pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:41:55 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/141/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<div align="justify">
<div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Tahoma&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;"><br />
The fallout from the subprime mess south of the border has been filling business pages for months with stories of foreclosure epidemics, real-estate market meltdowns, lenders and investment banks going under and a global credit crunch. But what exactly is at the root of it all, and why has Canada not caught the subprime virus like we do most other economic ailments of our largest trading partner? Forthwith, an explanation.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
First off, what the heck is a subprime mortgage?<br />
No, it&#39;s not a mortgage offered at below-prime interest rate, though that&#39;s a common misconception. The term &quot;subprime&quot; instead describes the borrower -- a person who doesn&#39;t meet a financial institution&#39;s criteria for a loan and so wouldn&#39;t qualify for a standard mortgage. Perhaps the client has a lousy record for paying off debts, or lacks regular employment. Subprime borrowers are often low-income people, the elderly and new immigrants. Wags have coined an acronym for those who most benefited from the subprime craze -- NINJAs, or folks with No Income, No Jobs or Assets.<br />
&nbsp; To account for the risk, subprime mortgages come with hefty interest rates. However, to persuade people that they can, in fact, afford them, those rates typically kick in only after a year or two at an introductory low (or teaser) rate. The mortgages dangle other lures, such as loan amounts that exceed the value of the home (you need some cash for the furniture, after all!). Some even work like reverse mortgages, meaning the homeowner gets monthly payments that are added to the principal. The sales pitch is that the surging housing prices would allow borrowers to refinance their loans at higher values, keeping their payments affordable indefinitely.<br />
&nbsp; Why did everyone fall for this?<br />
&nbsp; Well, up until 2005, the pitch worked beautifully. Real estate was on a tear, with home prices in cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas and Miami rising by up to 30% a year. When you&#39;re on a roll -- especially in Vegas -- it&#39;s easy to forget that your luck could run out. So homeowners, dazzled by their homes&#39; values on paper, enthusiastically tapped into home-equity lines of credit, jacking up their principals to the sky. The fact that mortgage interest payments are tax-deductible in the U.S. only bolstered the subprime market&#39;s growth by spurring people to become homeowners while offering little incentive for paying off the loans.<br />
&nbsp; The subprime industry was getting rich as well. For those selling them, subprime loans came with cushy commissions, creating fierce competition for the business. Those issuing them, meanwhile, bundled the mortgages into complex stock market securities peddled to others, and so no longer had to fear if the borrowers defaulted. Aggressively marketed, irresistibly priced, subprime mortgages comprised an incredible one-third of all mortgages in the United States by last year.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; So what ended the party?<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; As the real estate market started to slow and then slump, the proverbial chickens came home to roost. With values of their homes reversing course, by early this year one-tenth of American homeowners found that what they owed on their mortgages exceeded what their homes were worth. Unable to afford the higher rates kicking in after the teasers expired, more and more people defaulted. Now, as many as two million U.S. homeowners may lose their homes. In a recent report, Benjamin Tal, senior economist with CIBC World Markets, concluded, &quot;The price appreciation in the U.S. housing market over the past two years was, in many ways, artificial -- boosted by aggressive lending and irresponsible borrowing.&quot;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Do we have subprime mortgages in Canada?<br />
&nbsp; Yes, we do. More and more, in fact. They&#39;re typically called &quot;alternative&quot; mortgages and tend to cater to the self-employed and immigrants without Canadian credit history to qualify for loans. From no-money-down to cash-back mortgages, the volume of such exotic products has more than doubled in the past five years.<br />
&nbsp; So how come the same disaster hasn&#39;t unfolded in Canada?<br />
&nbsp;Because our market has developed differently due to regulation, immaturity and plain old timidity. The reasons are manifold.<br />
&nbsp; Lending practices: In Canada, it&#39;s difficult, expensive and impractical to buy a home without any down payment. Anyone who puts less than 20% down on the home can&#39;t qualify for mortgage insurance by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. or Genworth Financial, and such uninsured, high-ratio mortgages charge substantially higher rates. Banks and other mainstream financial institutions also won&#39;t provide a mortgage that exceeds a home&#39;s purchase price. Even alternative lenders have tended to eschew some of the worst American excesses, such as super-low teaser rates and loose income criteria for borrowers. Option adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), which allow homeowners to change their monthly payments, sometimes not even covering the interest, haven&#39;t seen much uptake. According to Paul Grewal, head of the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals, &quot;We have not seen the aggressive lending practices common south of the border.&quot; Backing his assertion is the fact that mortgage defaults are today near all-time lows, hovering around half a percent.<br />
&nbsp; Subprime infancy: The subprime mortgage industry in Canada is very young. Only five percent of mortgages fall into that category, compared to about one in five U.S. mortgages. (We&#39;re more risk-averse in general; only 22% of subprime borrowers in Canada use variable-rate mortgages that are susceptive to interest rate gyrations, half the ratio seen in the U.S.) In a report, CIBC&#39;s Tal also points out that there is little connection between Canada&#39;s real estate boom and subprime loans. &quot;Granted, some of those exotic mortgages are now being offered in Canada, but their share in the market is too small to have any material impact,&quot; he writes.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; Real estate market: While most of Canada (Alberta excluded) didn&#39;t get the crazy price increases some U.S. cities saw, it&#39;s also not getting the same dramatic decline. Housing prices have been easing and most observers agree the boom is over, but continuing strong employment, a healthy stock market and low interest rates create little reason to expect the bottom to fall out any time soon. This is in part because our market has been largely driven by renters becoming owners rather than by investors looking to cash in on quick flips.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; Still, could we catch the subprime bug?<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; According to Garth Turner, federal MP and author of a new book, &quot;Greater Fool: the Troubled Future of Real Estate&quot;, &quot;Absolutely, without a doubt, that contagion is spreading to the Canadian real estate market.&quot; Pointing to dropping home prices and sales volume, and tightening lending criteria among financial institutions, he suggests that signs of a real estate market meltdown are &quot;all around us.&quot;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; However, most economists and observers are more sanguine, believing a Canadian version of the subprime mess is possible but it&#39;d take a much less severe form. Both federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and the Bank of Canada have recently worried aloud about the growth in long-amortization and no-down-payment mortgages. Forty-year mortgages now represent up to a third of new mortgage business at some institutions. And because such a large portion of our net worth tends to be locked in our homes, many Canadians certainly are exposed to risks if house prices plummet or interest rates soar.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;Still, for once, we can take heart in the fact that our more boring, prudent ways will likely save us from the disaster down south.&nbsp;</span> 
</div>
</div>
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      <title>Economic Highlights</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/137/</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:41:51 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/137/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<strong><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000">
<p align="left">
N<font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000">ORTH </font></font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000">A</font></font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000">MERICAN </font></font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000">&amp; I</font></font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000">NTERNATIONAL </font></font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000">E</font></font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000">CONOMIC </font></font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="5" color="#810000">H</font></font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="4" color="#810000">IGHLIGHTS</font></font></font> 
</p>
</font></font></font></strong><font face="SymbolMT" size="3"><font face="SymbolMT" size="3">&bull; </font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">The 2008 federal budget gave birth to arguably the most dramatic change in Canada&rsquo;s savings</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"> 
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system since the introduction of the Registered Retirement Savings Account (RRSP). 
</p>
</font></font><font face="SymbolMT" size="3"><font face="SymbolMT" size="3">&bull; </font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is simply a tax exempt savings account which is available to</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"> 
<p align="left">
any individual aged 18 and over. At this point, the maximum contribution is $5,000 a year&mdash;a 
</p>
<p align="left">
figure that will be indexed to inflation in multiples of $500. Unlike RRSPs, TFSA contributions are 
</p>
<p align="left">
not tax deductible, and the investment earnings are not subject to income tax. Any unused TFSA 
</p>
<p align="left">
contribution room can be carried forward, and amounts can be withdrawn at any time. So in 
</p>
<p align="left">
many ways, TFSAs are RRSPs in reverse. 
</p>
</font></font><font face="SymbolMT" size="3"><font face="SymbolMT" size="3">&bull; </font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">How popular will the new scheme be? And to what extent will Canadians utilize the $120 billion annual</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"> 
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TFSA contribution room that will be available to them starting next year? Where will the money come 
</p>
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from? Will it be new money or will it be transferred from other accounts? 
</p>
</font></font><font face="SymbolMT" size="3"><font face="SymbolMT" size="3">&bull; </font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">In this context, looking at the experience of similar plans in other countries might be a good starting</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"> 
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point. In the US, &ldquo;Roth IRA&rdquo; is a similar tax-free scheme, but it is much more restrictive than the TFSA since contributions are limited only to employed individuals and are restricted to only low- and midincome earners. It is also a pure retirement plan as individuals cannot withdraw the money before the age of 59. The British Individual Savings Account (ISA) is much closer to the TFSA&mdash;with the main difference being that the British plan imposes some restrictions on the cash/stock distribution held in ISA balances. In this sense, the Canadian TFSA is somewhat more flexible since it does not face such limitations. 
</p>
</font></font><font face="SymbolMT" size="3"><font face="SymbolMT" size="3">&bull; </font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">But since the British version is so similar to the new Canadian one, it can provide us with some insight</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">into the future trajectory of the TFSA. Note that the ISA was introduced in 1999 and it is now a </font></font><font face="CenturyGothic" size="3"><font face="CenturyGothic" size="3">&#8356;</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">270</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"> billion market ($530 billion). The number of accounts has been rising at a strong average rate of 6% a year. And with the British adult population hardly changed over the past decade, the share of UK citizens that use the ISA has risen to 37% in 2008 from 22% in 2000. The average contribution is close to </font></font><font face="CenturyGothic" size="3"><font face="CenturyGothic" size="3">&#8356;<font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">2,500 ($4,800) out of the </font></font><font face="CenturyGothic" size="3"><font face="CenturyGothic" size="3">&#8356;</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">7,200 maximum contribution allowed.</font></font> </font></font><font face="SymbolMT" size="3"><font face="SymbolMT" size="3">&bull; </font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">Another useful source of information is a recent Harris/Decima* poll which examined Canadians&rsquo;</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"> knowledge, perception and intentions with regard to the TFSA. The results suggest that no less than 52% of Canadians aged 18 and over are planning to open a TFSA. This is not surprising given that 58% of Canadian households hold an RRSP account. Interestingly, almost one-fifth of those planning to open an account will use borrowed money. Furthermore, as opposed to what is assumed by many, more than 40% of Canadians are likely to use new money in contributing to the TFSA. This is consistent with the situation in the UK where more than half of the money invested in an ISA is new money. While the <font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">average contribution to TFSAs is reported to be just over $2,000 a year, 25% of contributors that maximize their RRSP or face a large pension adjustment will maximize their contributions. At the same time, 42% (most likely low-income and young Canadians) will contribute less than $1,000 annually. </font></font></font></font><font face="SymbolMT" size="3"><font face="SymbolMT" size="3">&bull; </font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">The issue of who will contribute is of great importance. While the budget assumption is that two-thirds</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"> of the tax savings in the next few years would be enjoyed by low-income Canadians, the experience in the UK suggests otherwise. No less than 50% of high-income individuals contribute to the ISA&mdash; significantly above the 30% seen among lower income UK citizens. As well, note that individuals over the age of 55 have the higher tendency to contribute to the ISA. There is no reason to believe that the age and income distribution in the Canadian TFSA scene will be fundamentally different than what we see in the UK. </font></font><font face="SymbolMT" size="3"><font face="SymbolMT" size="3">&bull; </font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3">Based on this information we estimate that Canadians will contribute roughly $20 billion to the newly</font></font><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3"> created TFSA in 2009, and will continue to utilize this vehicle at an impressive rate. Note that we assume a relatively modest 3-4% annual return on capital since the duality feature of the plan (investment for retirement as well as a vehicle to finance consumption) suggests that at least in the first few years, a significant portion of the money parked in TFSAs will be in cash and cash-equivalent accounts. This assumption is supported by the Harris/Decima survey. Accordingly, we project that by 2013, the TFSA market will grow to a $115 billion market**&mdash;with a cumulative tax savings for Canadians of roughly $2 billion. </font></font><em><font face="FrutigerLTStd-LightItalic" size="1"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-LightItalic" size="1">
<p align="left">
* Harris/Decima poll taken between April 30 and May 5, 2008, sample size: 2,613. 
</p>
<p align="left">
**We assumed 2.5% inflation rate. We also allowed for a gradually rising withdrawal rate&mdash;reaching close to 10% by 2013. 
</p>
</font></font></em><strong><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="3" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="3" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Bold" size="3" color="#810000">
<p align="left">
Benjamin Tal 
</p>
</font></font></font></strong><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3" color="#810000"><font face="FrutigerLTStd-Light" size="3" color="#810000">
<p>
Senior Economist 
</p>
</font></font></font>
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      <title>#118 10788 139th Ave, Surrey, BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/136/</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:18:35 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/136/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just finished uploading this <em>Condo</em> for sale, <a href='/74' title='#118 10788 139th Ave, Surrey, BC'>#118 10788 139th Ave, Surrey, BC</a></p>
						<p>No GST!!! and No Car Needed!!
This bright corner end unit offers, 2 bdrm, 2 bath in an open floor plan with the privacy of a large wrap around patio. All appliances included - some have never been used!!
This one owner, newer unit, offers warmth from it's natural earth tones. Close to transit, shopping, amenities, and schools.</p>]]></description>
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        <item>
      <title>The Informed Buyer - Seller Issue 9</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/134/</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:01:41 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Real Estate">The Informed Buyer / Seller</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/134/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<a href="/files/content/document/1668.pdf">The Informed Buyer - Seller Issue 9</a>
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      <title>Investing in US Real Estate</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/128/</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:10:06 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/128/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<h4><strong><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Investing in US real estate&mdash;beware of taxes</font></strong></h4>
<p>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">With the recent declines in the value of US real estate and the relative strength of the <span class="yshortcuts">Canadian dollar</span> as compared with the US dollar, it may be an ideal time to buy property south of the border. Those who decide to take the plunge need to consider the tax consequences associated with owning US real estate.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If you buy a US property and rent it out, either on a full-time or part-time basis, under American tax law the gross rent is subject to a 30 per cent <span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; cursor: hand; border-bottom: #0066cc 1px dashed" class="yshortcuts">withholding tax</span>, which tenants are required to deduct and remit to the <span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; cursor: hand; border-bottom: #0066cc 1px dashed" class="yshortcuts">Internal Revenue Service</span>. This is a high tax rate to pay. If you have expenses associated with the property (such as interest, property taxes and utilities), you would likely pay a much lower amount of tax if you were taxed on the basis of your net income from the property, using US <span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; cursor: hand; border-bottom: #0066cc 1px dashed" class="yshortcuts">tax brackets</span> applicable to individuals. </font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Fortunately, US tax law allows non-residents to elect to be taxed on a net income basis. However, to benefit from this election, you must file a US tax return (Form 1040NR), which includes a statement that you&rsquo;re making the election and specific information about the property. </font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Once made, the election is valid for that property for all subsequent years unless you decide to revoke it. However, it&rsquo;s critical that you file Form 1040NR annually to report the rental activity from your US property. The normal deadline for filing your US return is June 15 for the previous calendar year. It can be filed late, but the net income election will only be valid if the return is filed no later than 16 months after the original due date.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If you don&rsquo;t rent out your US property, you still can&rsquo;t ignore American taxes. The US has an estate tax, which arises on the death of an individual, and this tax will apply to Canadians on any US property they own on their death. This tax can be a significant cost for your estate. </font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">While the US estate tax rates are being reduced and exemption amounts are being increased, it&rsquo;s widely believed that these reductions won&rsquo;t be permanent. Planning techniques are available to mitigate your exposure to this tax, and you should consult with your professional advisor before acquiring any US real estate.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">For more information on the tax consequences of investing in US real estate, visit <span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; cursor: hand; border-bottom: medium none" class="yshortcuts">BDO Dunwoody LLP</span>&rsquo;s website (<a rel="nofollow" href="http://listserv.realtorlink.ca/t/10552/235210/588/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5iZG8uY2Ev&amp;x=10f36390" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><font color="#003399">www.bdo.ca</font></span></a>) and read their bulletins, &ldquo;US Tax Issues for Canadians&rdquo; and &ldquo;US <span class="yshortcuts">Estate Tax Issues</span> for Canadians.&rdquo;</font>
</p>
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      <title>10374 McEachern Street, Maple Ridge, BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/126/</link>
            <pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:20:20 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/126/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just finished uploading this <em>Detached House</em> for sale, <a href='/72' title='10374 McEachern Street, Maple Ridge, BC'>10374 McEachern Street, Maple Ridge, BC</a></p>
						<p>Nature at it's best in Thornhill Heights!!
This executive style home offers a bright open floor plan with in a natural setting. View the double sided fireplace, heritage doors,maple kitchen, laminate, vaulted ceilings and large bedrooms wrapped in the warmth of earth tones. Privacy is at it's best on the backyard patio. This home is close to recreation, transit and schools. Double garage...10 year warranty.</p>]]></description>
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      <title></title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/124/</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:59:40 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/124/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<a href="/files/content/document/1538.pdf">The Informed Buyer - Seller Issue 8</a>
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      <title></title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/122/</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:48:25 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/122/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
<strong><font size="6"><span style="font-size: 16pt">Month-over-month housing prices retreat from record highs </span></font></strong>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
VANCOUVER, B.C. &ndash; Aug 5, 2008 &ndash; As property listings continue to outpace sales, Greater Vancouver housing prices have drawn back, the last two months, from the record highs experienced in early 2008. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
Since May 2008, housing prices, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index&reg;, across each residential category have declined. Detached properties in Greater Vancouver declined 2.3 per cent through June and July 2008, while attached were down 1 per cent and apartment properties 2 per cent over the same period. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
The overall benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has declined 2.1 per cent since the end of May 2008, from $568,411 to $556,605 in July 2008. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 125%">
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re seeing more price reductions in properties listed on the market, which is having a levelling impact on the housing price increases experienced at the end of last year and into the first quarter of 2008,&rdquo; said Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president, Dave Watt.&nbsp; &ldquo;There was a slight decline in the total active listings on the market in July compared to June, which is a welcomed departure from recent trends.&rdquo; 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 43.9 per cent in July 2008 to 2,174 from the 3,873 sales recorded in July 2007. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 24 per cent to 6,104 in July 2008 compared to July 2007, when 4,924 new units were listed. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
Sales of detached properties in July 2008 declined 44.2 per cent to 827 from the 1,483 units sold during the same period in 20070. The benchmark price for detached properties is up 5.4 per cent from July 2007 to $753,165. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
Sales of apartment properties declined 42.3 per cent last month to 966, compared to 1,674 sales in July 2007. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 4.7 per cent from July 2007 to $381,687. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
Attached property sales in July 2008 decreased 46.8 per cent to 381, compared with the 716 sales in July 2007. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 5.7 per cent between July 2007 and 2008 to $473,953. 
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
View MLS Stats for your area:&nbsp; <a href="/files/content/document/1536.pdf">MLS July Stats</a>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
</div>
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      <title>401 13555 GATEWAY Drive, North Surrey, British Columbia</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/120/</link>
            <pubDate>Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:13:56 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/120/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just finished uploading this <em>Condo</em> for sale, <a href='/70' title='401 13555 GATEWAY Drive, North Surrey, British Columbia'>401 13555 GATEWAY Drive, North Surrey, British Columbia</a></p>
						<p>Proudly developed by Omni Pacific. Walking distance to the sky train, local transit, shopping, SFU &amp; parks, all conveniences of this 3 bdrm bright modern condo. Features include: granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, all window coverings, and laminate/tile flooring. &quot;Earth&quot; colour scheme. Bike storage room. Two parking spots at no extra charge. Call for private viewing and completion dates. Hot water included in strata fees.</p>]]></description>
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        <item>
      <title></title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/118/</link>
            <pubDate>Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:33:09 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/118/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>
<span class="style156"><strong>Presale Transaction Cross Reference List&nbsp; - </strong></span>
</p>
<p>
<span class="style156"><strong>To help answer most presale questions and concerns please refer to the following link below. If further information is required please feel free to contact me at anytime, my specialty is New Development. I look foward to your call.</strong></span>
</p>
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
<p>
<span class="style156"><a href="http://www.udi.bc.ca/udi_consumerinfo.html">http://www.udi.bc.ca/udi_consumerinfo.html</a></span> 
</p>
]]></description>
          </item>
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      <title></title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/116/</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:10:21 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/116/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<h4 style="margin: auto 0cm"><strong><span style="font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">A market shift = a shift in expectations</span></strong><span>
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</span></h4><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,&#39;sans-serif&#39;">Market conditions have shifted.&nbsp;After five years of blockbuster activity and double-digit price growth, market conditions have slowed, and now favour buyers in many areas of the province.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;Residential sales have declined 22 per cent in the first six months of this year, while available resale inventory has grown by&nbsp;54 per cent to 57,000 active listings in June. In the Greater Vancouver board area, where longer-term data is available, inventory is at the highest level since 1998. <br />
<br />
Home price appreciation observed from 2004 to 2007 is less attainable in today&rsquo;s market, and sellers&rsquo; expectations for such gains should be tempered. More generally,&nbsp;in&nbsp;a market favouring buyers, prices generally increase at or below the level of inflation. While the average residential home price in BC increased at a healthy 6 per cent per year since 1981, large&nbsp;gains are often followed by&nbsp;periods of price stagnation.&nbsp;Over-optimistic pricing by sellers will only inhibit the timely sale of properties, adding to inventory levels. <br />
<br />
Buyers have more homes to choose from now than in previous years, resulting in greater freedom to compare the attributes and prices of similar properties in the market before making purchase decisions.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Despite current buyers&#39; market conditions fuelled by housing affordability constraints and economic uncertainty, the economic and demographic backdrop in support of housing demand&nbsp;remains strong in BC. BC&#39;s unemployment rate remains near record lows, while the labour force participation rate hovers near historical highs. Meanwhile, the province remains a favoured destination for new migrants,&nbsp;reflected in the&nbsp;third-highest population growth among provinces during the first quarter of 2008. However, challenges continue in the forestry sector, and eroded consumer confidence may also be playing a role in a pull back of consumer spending.</span><span><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> 
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</font></font></span>
]]></description>
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      <title></title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/114/</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:44:00 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/114/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<h1>glossary of mortgage terms</h1></td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			Mortgage terms and mortgage options have become more complex over the last few years, and at the same time, consumers in Canada are more informed than ever before about mortgage finance. The following information is a guide to some of the mortgage terms you may come across during your mortgage financing. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Amortization Period</strong><br />
			The actual number of years it will take to repay a mortgage loan in full. This can be well in excess of the loan&#39;s term. For example, Mortgages often have five year terms but 25 year amortization periods. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Closed Mortgage</strong> <br />
			A closed mortgage agreement does not provide for payout prior to maturity. A lender may permit payout under certain circumstances but will levy a penalty charge for doing so if such exceeds certain limits, if any, specified in the mortgage (i.e. 15% prepayment provision). An open mortgage allows prepayment / repayment at any time without penalty. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Bridge Financing</strong> <br />
			A special short term loan needed to cover or bridge the gap in time between completing the purchase of one property and finalizing arrangements to pay for it. Usually this is a result of mismatched closing dates. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Debt Service Ratios (GDSR &amp; TDSR)</strong> <br />
			The Gross Debt Service Ratio (GDSR) is the percentage of gross annual income required to cover payments associated with housing (mortgage principal and interest, taxes, secondary financing, heating, and 50% of condominium fees, if any). The GDSR should not exceed 32% of gross annual income. The Total Debt Service Ratio (TDSR) is the percentage of gross annual income required to cover payments associated with housing (GDSR) and all other debts and obligations, such as payments on a car loan. The TDSR ratio should not exceed 40% of gross income. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>High Ratio Mortgage</strong> <br />
			A mortgage loan which exceeds 75% of the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price of the property. This mortgage must be insured and borrowers must pay an application fee and the insurance premium (which may be added to the mortgage) to the insurer. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Interest Adjustment Date (I.A.D.)</strong> <br />
			A date, usually one month before monthly mortgage payments begin, when interest on monies advanced before that date is calculated and must be paid by the borrower. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Joint Tenancy</strong> <br />
			Ownership of land by two or more persons whereby, on the death of one, the survivor or survivors take the whole property. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Loan-to-Value Ratio</strong> <br />
			The ratio of the loan to the appraised value or purchase price of the property, whichever is less, expressed as a percentage. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Mortgage Insurance Premium</strong> <br />
			A premium which is charged as a percentage of the mortgage. The mortgage insurance insures the lender against loss in case of default by the borrower. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>P.I.T.</strong> <br />
			Principal, Interest, and taxes. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Second Mortgage</strong> <br />
			A mortgage placed in 2nd position on property which is already encumbered with a first mortgage. Determination of first, second, third mortgages is by priority of registration (time and date). 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Tenancy in Common</strong> <br />
			Ownership of land by two or more persons: unlike joint tenancy in that the interest of the deceased does not pass to the survivor, but is treated as an asset of the deceased&rsquo;s estate. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<p>
			<strong>Vendor Take Back Mortgage</strong> <br />
			A mortgage which a vendor of property takes from the purchaser usually as part payment of the purchase price for that property. A private first or second mortgage that the vendor lends to the purchaser/borrower. 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><strong>P.T.T.</strong> <br />
			Property Transfer Tax.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title></title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/112/</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:37:39 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/112/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<font size="2">Globe &amp; Mail: July 9th, 2008 KEVIN CARMICHAEL</font> <br />
<font face="Arial" size="2">OTTAWA</font> <font face="Arial" size="2">&mdash;</font><font face="Arial" size="2"> The federal government says it will no longer guarantee 40-year mortgages, one of a handful of measures aimed at guarding against a U.S.-style housing bubble.</font> 
<p>
<font face="Arial" size="2">The Finance Department said Wednesday in a news release that the government will guarantee no mortgages with durations longer than 35 years. The government also will demand a minimum down payment equal to 5 per cent of the value of the home.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial" size="2">&ldquo;Today&#39;s announcement marks a responsible and measured approach by the government to ensure Canada&#39;s housing market remains strong and to reduce the risk of a U.S.-style housing bubble developing in Canada,&rdquo; the Finance Department said.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial" size="2">The government hastened to emphasize that Canada&#39;s housing and mortgage markets were performing much better than in the United States.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial" size="2">Canadian housing prices are in line with economic factors such as low interest rates, rising incomes and a growing population and the demand for residential housing remains buoyant at more than 200,000 housing starts a year, it said.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial" size="2">The percentage of bank mortgages in arrears is also stable at 0.27 per cent, the lowest levels experienced since 1990 and well below the highs of 0.65 per cent in 1992 and 1997.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial" size="2">&ldquo;The historically prudent and cautious approach taken by Canadian financial institutions to mortgage lending, combined with a sound supervisory regime, has allowed Canada to maintain strong and secure housing and mortgage markets,&rdquo; it said.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial" size="2">It nonetheless noted &ldquo;accelerated financial innovation&rdquo; in the mortgage markets since the fall of 2006, for example, allowing loans up to 100 per cent of the value of the house and increasing amortization periods to 40 years from 25 years.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial" size="2">The government will now require a consistent credit score for mortgages it backs, and a minimum level of loan documentation standards to ensure evidence of the reasonableness of property values and the borrowers&#39; income.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial" size="2">In addition, government guarantees will not be allowed for high-ratio mortgages where amortization is not required in the first few years</font> <font face="Arial" size="2">&ndash;</font><font face="Arial" size="2"> e.g., mortgages that begin with interest-only payments.</font>
</p>
<p>
<font face="Arial" size="2">Finally, it will set a maximum of 45 per cent on a borrower&#39;s debt-service ratio</font> <font face="Arial" size="2">&ndash;</font><font face="Arial" size="2"> the proportion of gross income that is spent on debt service and housing-related fixed or essential payments</font>
</p>
]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>Mortgage Amortization</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/110/</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:52:01 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/110/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>
<strong><font face="Arial" size="6"><font face="Arial" size="6">A</font></font><font face="Arial" size="5"><font face="Arial" size="5">mortization &ndash; Longer or Shorter</font></font></strong> 
</p>
<strong><font face="Arial" size="5"><font face="Arial" size="5">C</font></font></strong><font face="Arial" size="2"><font face="Arial" size="2">hoosing the length of your amortization period, which means the number of years you will need to</font></font><font face="Arial" size="2"><font face="Arial" size="2"> </font></font><font face="Arial" size="2"><font face="Arial" size="2">
<p align="left">
pay off your mortgage, is an important decision that can affect how much interest you pay over the life 
</p>
<p align="left">
of your mortgage. 
</p>
<p align="left">
Historically, the standard amortization period has been 25 years. However, shorter (10 or 15 years) 
</p>
<p align="left">
and longer (up to 40 years) time frames are also available. 
</p>
<p align="left">
A shorter amortization saves you money as you will pay less in interest costs over the life of your mortgage. Your regular 
</p>
<p align="left">
mortgage payment amount would be higher than if you had selected a longer amortization, as more of your payment goes 
</p>
<p align="left">
towards paying down your principal balance. However, the benefits are that you build the equity in your home faster and are 
</p>
<p align="left">
mortgage free sooner. 
</p>
<p align="left">
A longer amortization provides you lower monthly payments and because of this it is appealing to many people. However, it 
</p>
<p align="left">
does mean that more interest will be paid over the life of the mortgage and you will build the equity in your home at a slower 
</p>
<p align="left">
pace. 
</p>
<p align="left">
The chart below shows the impact of various amortization periods on the monthly mortgage payment and total interest costs 
</p>
<p align="left">
(over the full amortization). It is important to be aware that the total interest costs increase significantly if the amortization 
</p>
<p align="left">
period exceeds 25 years. 
</p>
</font></font><strong><font face="Arial">
<p align="left">
Example<font face="Arial">: Extended Amortization &ndash; 5 Year Fixed Rate Closed Mortgage</font> 
</p>
</font></strong><strong><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="#0035ae">
<p align="left">
Details 25 Year 40 Year 
</p>
</font></font></font></strong><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae">
<p align="left">
Mortgage Principal $150,000.00 $150,000.00 
</p>
<p align="left">
Default Insurance Premium @ 90% LTV $3,000.00 $3,900.00 
</p>
<p align="left">
Total Mortgage Principal $153,000.00 $153,900.00 
</p>
<p align="left">
Monthly Mortgage Payment (P &amp; I) 
</p>
<p align="left">
(5 yr Term @ 6.00%) 
</p>
</font></font></font><strong><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae">
<p align="left">
Monthly payment reduction from 25 Year Amortization 
</p>
</font></font></font></strong><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae">
<p align="left">
$978.91 $838.90 
</p>
</font></font></font><strong><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae">
<p align="left">
$140.01 
</p>
</font></font></font></strong><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae">
<p align="left">
Interests Costs for Full Amortization 
</p>
</font></font></font><strong><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae">
<p align="left">
Additional Interest Costs for the Full Amortization over the 25 Year 
</p>
<p align="left">
Amortization 
</p>
</font></font></font></strong><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae">
<p align="left">
$140,668.98 $248,753.29 
</p>
</font></font></font><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#0035ae">
<p align="left">
<strong>$108,084.31 </strong>
</p>
</font></font></font><font face="Arial"><strong>You have the flexibility to shorten your amortization period. <br />
</strong><font face="Arial" size="5"></font><font face="Arial" size="5"><font face="Arial" size="5"><strong>R</strong></font></font><font face="Arial" size="2"><font face="Arial" size="2">egardless of which amortization period you select when you originally applied for your mortgage, it does not</font></font></font><font face="Arial" size="2"><font face="Arial" size="2"> 
<p align="left">
<strong>mean you have to stay with it throughout the life of your mortgage.</strong>
</p>
<p>
<strong>It makes good financial sense to re-evaluate your amortization every time you renew your mortgage.</strong>
</p>
</font></font><font face="Arial" size="5"><font face="Arial" size="5">
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
</font></font>
]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>Issue 7</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/108/</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:20:06 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Real Estate">The Informed Buyer / Seller</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/108/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<a href="/files/content/document/1486.pdf">The Informed Buyer / Seller Issue 7</a>
]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>Homebuilding Ahead of Last Year</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/106/</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:16:21 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/106/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>
Find CMHC May Stats for housing starts in your area....
</p>
<p>
&nbsp;
</p>
<p>
<a href="/files/content/document/1476.pdf">Homebuilding Ahead of Last Year</a>
</p>
]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>#123 10707 139th Street, Surrey , BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/105/</link>
            <pubDate>Sun, 08 Jun 2008 06:12:02 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/105/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just sold this <em>Condo</em> at #123 10707 139th Street, Surrey , BC .</p>
						<p>View this <a href='/57' title='#123 10707 139th Street, Surrey , BC'>recently sold Condo</a> or see all my <a href='/Properties.php'>home sales</a></p>]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>Issue 6</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/103/</link>
            <pubDate>Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:32:38 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Real Estate">The Informed Buyer / Seller</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/103/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>
<a href="/files/content/document/1475.pdf">The Informed Buyer / Seller - Issue 6</a> 
</p>
<p>
Features: 
</p>
<p>
&quot;Top 5 to Impress Home Buyers&quot; 
</p>
<p>
&quot;Be Pet Smart&quot; 
</p>
]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>Issue 5</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/101/</link>
            <pubDate>Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:29:35 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Real Estate">The Informed Buyer / Seller</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/101/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>
<a href="/files/content/document/1473.pdf">The Informed Buyer / Seller Issue 5</a> 
</p>
<p>
Features:
</p>
<p>
&nbsp;&quot;Uncommon Tips for Making Your Home Show Better&quot; 
</p>
<p>
&quot;Under What Conditions&nbsp;Should You Accept a Conditional Offer?&quot; 
</p>
]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>32 22280 124TH Ave, Maple Ridge, British Columbia</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/91/</link>
            <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:27:38 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/91/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just sold this <em>Townhouse</em> at 32 22280 124TH Ave, Maple Ridge, British Columbia .</p>
						<p>View this <a href='/69' title='32 22280 124TH Ave, Maple Ridge, British Columbia'>recently sold Townhouse</a> or see all my <a href='/Properties.php'>home sales</a></p>]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>#L-105 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/85/</link>
            <pubDate>Sun, 25 May 2008 05:22:03 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/85/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just finished uploading this <em>Condo</em> for sale, <a href='/65' title='#L-105 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC'>#L-105 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC</a></p>
						<p></p>]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title># L-104 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/83/</link>
            <pubDate>Sun, 25 May 2008 05:13:40 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/83/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just finished uploading this <em>Condo</em> for sale, <a href='/63' title='# L-104 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC'># L-104 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC</a></p>
						<p></p>]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>#208 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/81/</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 15:14:04 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/81/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just finished uploading this <em>Condo</em> for sale, <a href='/61' title='#208 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC'>#208 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC</a></p>
						<p></p>]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>#118 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/79/</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 12:55:21 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/79/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just finished uploading this <em>Condo</em> for sale, <a href='/59' title='#118 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC'>#118 13555 Gateway Drive, Surrey, BC</a></p>
						<p>Proudly developed by Omni Pacific, this 1 bdrm condo is close to all transportation including the sky train station....shopping, SFU, hospital, parks and library only minutes away.
Features include: Granite countertops, laminate, tile, 9" ceilings, and a mountain view!! Move in this winter.
For a private viewing call Linda today.

Sizes & dimensions are approx.Actual floor plans & sq ft may vary E.E&O.
Assignment of contract.</p>]]></description>
          </item>
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      <title>#123 10707 139th Street, Surrey , BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/77/</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2008 06:44:00 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/77/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just finished uploading this <em>Condo</em> for sale, <a href='/57' title='#123 10707 139th Street, Surrey , BC'>#123 10707 139th Street, Surrey , BC</a></p>
						<p>Newly developed and never been lived in...this home is waiting for your ideas!!
This bright end corner unit offers a large private patio, 2 bathrooms and lots of cupboard space in this open floor plan. A lot of natural light is welcomed in through the extra large windows.
</p>]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>#60, #8, #7,#10,#56,#52,#55,#9 22865 Telosky Ave, Maple Ridge, BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/75/</link>
            <pubDate>Sun, 04 May 2008 09:55:19 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/75/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just finished uploading this <em>Condo</em> for sale, <a href='/55' title='#60, #8, #7,#10,#56,#52,#55,#9 22865 Telosky Ave, Maple Ridge, BC'>#60, #8, #7,#10,#56,#52,#55,#9 22865 Telosky Ave, Maple Ridge, BC</a></p>
						<p>Proudly developed by Pennyfarthing, these townhomes offer high quality craftmanship and finishing. Features include, all appliances, 2" PVC blinds, garage door opener, upgraded carpet, vaulted ceilings in master bedroom, 9'ceilings on main, laminate, tile, granite countertops and granite on island, gas fireplace, gas range, crown moulding on kitchen cabinets, bright open floor plans. Call to see all floor plans available. </p>]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>109 5419 201A Street, Langley, BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/73/</link>
            <pubDate>Sun, 04 May 2008 07:00:13 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/73/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just sold this <em>Condo</em> at 109 5419 201A Street, Langley, BC .</p>
						<p>View this <a href='/53' title='109 5419 201A Street, Langley, BC'>recently sold Condo</a> or see all my <a href='/Properties.php'>home sales</a></p>]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>109 5419 201A Street, Langley, BC</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/71/</link>
            <pubDate>Sun, 04 May 2008 06:59:22 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Listings">Listings</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/71/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[
						<p>I just finished uploading this <em>Condo</em> for sale, <a href='/53' title='109 5419 201A Street, Langley, BC'>109 5419 201A Street, Langley, BC</a></p>
						<p></p>]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>The Informed Buyer / Seller</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/69/</link>
            <pubDate>Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:48:41 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/69/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<a href="/files/content/document/1051.pdf">The Informed Buyer / Seller</a>
]]></description>
          </item>
        <item>
      <title>February MLS Stats</title>
      <link>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/67/</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:34:42 PDT</pubDate>
      <dc:creator>Linda Linfoot</dc:creator>
      <category domain="Personal">General</category>
      <guid>http://www.lindalinfoot.com/ViewBlog/67/</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[<strong><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: maroon; font-family: Helv">February MLS Statistics:
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">The number of residential unit sales continued to decline in February for the second consecutive month. The number of residential units sold in B.C. on the Multiple Listing Service&reg; (MLS&reg;) dropped 9.8% to 6,822. Residential sales dollar volume reached $3.26 billion this month, a 4.5% increase compared to the same month last year, while the average residential home price hit $478,172, up 15.8% compared to February 2007. 
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</span><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Helv">Greater Vancouver:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv"><span>&nbsp; </span>The number of residential units sold in February reached 2,733, a drop of 5.9% compared to the same month last year, while dollar volumes climbed 10.3% to $1.7 billion. The average residential home price reached $623,517 this month, an increase of 17.3% compared to February of last year. 
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</span><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Helv">Fraser Valley</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: blue; font-family: Helv">:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv"><span>&nbsp; </span>The number of units sold in February declined 9% compared to the same month last year with 1,237 units sold. Dollar volumes also dropped 2.1% to $540.3 million, while the average residential home price increased 7.6% compared to February of last year reaching $436,824.
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</span><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Helv">Chilliwack</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: blue; font-family: Helv">:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv"><span>&nbsp; </span>February sales declined 19.9% to 218 units, while dollar volumes reached $69.7 million, a 9.3% drop compared to the same month last year. Despite this, the average residential home price continued to climb in February reaching $319,503, a 13.1% increase compared to February of last year.<span>&nbsp; </span>
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</span><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Helv">Victoria</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Helv">:</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv"><span>&nbsp; </span>Sales in February reached 580 units, a 12.7% decline compared to the same month last year. Dollar volumes also dropped 1.5% to $283 million, while the average residential home price reached $487,696, a 12.8% increase compared to February of last year. 
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</span><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Helv">Vancouver Island:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv"><span>&nbsp; </span>The number of residential units sold in February reached 647, a decline of 10.3% compared to the same month last year. Dollar volumes increased 2% reaching $212.2 million, while the average residential home price rose 13.7% to $328,046.
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</span><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Helv">Okanagan (including South Okanagan)</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">: The Okanagan and South Okanagan markets recorded 721 units sold in February, a decrease of 7.6% compared to February of last year, while dollar volumes remained stable at $268 million, an increase of 0.1%.
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</span><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Helv">Kamloops</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">: Dollar volumes climbed 15.5% compared to the same month last year reaching $73.5 million in February. Sales dropped 9.1% with 229 units sold, while the average residential home price jumped 27.1% compared to the same month last year reaching $321,092.
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</span><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Helv">BC Northern: </span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">Residential sales continued to decline in February with 286 units sold, a drop of 22.3% compared to February of last year. Dollar volumes also declined 4.4% to $63 million, while the average residential home price recorded a 23% increase reaching $220,478.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">
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</span><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Helv">Kootenay:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Helv"><span>&nbsp; </span>The number of residential units sold in February reached 136, a 33.3% drop compared to the same month last year. Dollar volumes also declined 15.8% reaching $41.1 million, while the average residential home price jumped 26.3% compared to February of last year hitting $302,462. 
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			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="74" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 55.15pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">-4.4
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 69.55pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">286
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 69.5pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">368
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 69.55pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">-22.3
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 69.55pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">$220,478
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 69.5pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">$179,234
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-right: 2pt; border-top: #e0dfe3; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; border-left: #e0dfe3; width: 69.45pt; padding-top: 0cm; border-bottom: #e0dfe3; background-color: transparent"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">23
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td width="120" valign="top" style="border-right: #e0dfe3; padding-right: 2pt; border-top: #e0dfe3; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; width: 90pt; padding-top: 0cm; border-bottom: #e0dfe3; background-color: transparent"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">Chilliwack
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="84" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 63pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">$69,652
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="96" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 72pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">$76,810
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="74" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 55.15pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">-9.3
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 69.55pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">218
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 69.5pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">272
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 69.55pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">-19.9
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 69.55pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">$319,503
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="padding-right: 2pt; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; width: 69.5pt; padding-top: 0cm; background-color: transparent; border: #e0dfe3"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">$282,388
			<p>
			&nbsp;
			</p>
			</span></td>
			<td width="93" valign="top" style="border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-right: 2pt; border-top: #e0dfe3; padding-left: 2pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; border-left: #e0dfe3; width: 69.45pt; padding-top: 0cm; border-bottom: #e0dfe3; background-color: transparent"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Helv">13.1
			<p