BC home owners have received their new BC Assessment notices in the mail and have mixed reactions. Many Greater Vancouver owners are concerned about the drop in their assessed values.

But don't fret; BC assessed values are not related to what your home is currently worth in today ...

Vancouver Property Tax Increase

The City of Vancouver plans to increase property taxes by approximately 9 percent. Council says increased revenue will be used for “an overall plan for the city and a big push to reduce climate-change effects”. Council is expected to add 25 police officers and 30 firefighters ...

Condo owners in B.C. should plan for a significant rise in strata insurance premiums and deductibles.

"Rates are potentially increasing for people in policies now anywhere from 50 to 300 per cent, and deductibles are going from the conventional $10,000 or $25,000 to $100,000, $250,000 ...

What is a Laneway House in Vancouver, BC?

In Vancouver, a laneway house is a small detached house in the back yard of a primary residential house. Typically they are built where the garage would normally appear. In Vancouver, they cannot be strata titled and sold separately.  Some lots ...

According to law enforcement experts, a video-based home security system is significantly more effective than a simple alarm system. The reason is obvious. Burglars don’t want their crimes captured on video, which can then be used as evidence in court.

So it’s no wonder that many homeowners have, or are ...

Following are costs for renovating your Vancouver home in case you’re thinking of selling your home, or perhaps you just need to perform some overdue replacements and/or repairs.

Below are a few quick estimates - View the "Residential Construction & Remodeling Estimate Guide" for a full list of potential ...

You never want to smell smoke in your home and realize there’s a fire. That’s why it is important to be diligent about fire safety. Experts recommend that homeowners be especially careful with the following common household items:

• Portable heaters. Never leave one in a room unattended. Make sure paper ...

This week, the City of Vancouver will begin a phased approach to mailing out the Empty Home Tax Declarations to applicable Vancouver home owners. This form must be filled out and submitted to the city by February 2, 2018 and according to the city "will have their properties deemed vacant ...

You’re at work when the thought hits you, “Did I lock the door when I left this morning?” You check your smartphone, see that you didn’t, and click the “LOCK” button. Now your house is secure.

That’s home automation for you! 

But, is home automation a good idea ...

Bell Alliance has a great article answering the most frequently questions regarding the Vancouver Empty Home Tax which came into effect January 2017. Read their article...