Family News

WE'RE SO EXCITED! ..SPRING IS HERE! The sun is starting to peek out more, we are seeing some green sprouts in our garden, and the is snow climbing back up the hill. And this week we are going to jump back on our bikes! I (Reece) am 6 weeks out of my second knee surgery and am so grateful to be able to move without pain. Slow and steady :o)

It's so great to see people's expressions and smiles as we go to a Restaurant or game, work out at the gym, or go to church. There is still a real mix of feelings everywhere .... anticipation and relief, apprehension and hesitation. Is this the end of a 2 year pandemic ... let's hope! At the same time, how do we hold onto hope when the people of Ukraine are experiencing such devastating trauma ... these are really crazy times, and we need community and people we trust to dialogue with and make sense of things.

We hope you are all adjusting in your own time. We can hardly wait to see you in person!

I (Reece) read a great quote that encouraged me on how I might respond to all of the uncertainty . . .

C.S Lewis- written in 1948 after the dawn of the atomic age.

In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”

In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation.

. . . . . .

the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.

— “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948) in Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays C.S. Lewis

So we hug our grand babies, love each other and our kids and hang on to hope that all will be well!

Spec Tax declarations are due !

Everyone who owns a home in BC, whether it's your primary residence or a revenue/ rental property needs to fill out a declaration by March 31, 2022

You will have received a declaration in the mail in January or February- sent to the home owner, or to both of you if you are both on title
go to GOV.BC.CA/SPECTAX
You'll need the declaration code/ letter ID and your SIN # to fill in the online forms
It's quite straight forward ... just note that an exemption needs to be declared for all owners on title (not just one)

** The BC Government requires that all home owners fill out this declaration

let us know if you have any questions!

REFRESH YOUR HOME FOR SPRING!

Need a few easy and clever ways to freshen up your home and air out the cobwebs?

click below for some inspo!

SPRING INTERIOR STYLING TRENDS TO TRY

Market News

As you can see, we continue to experience a robust Real Estate market, and an EXTREME SELLER'S MARKET - there are an over abundance of buyer's, a limited supply of homes, and rising building prices. Listing prices are more of a starting point to negotiate up from, than down, and multiple efforts to purchase are the norm ... But don't despair! We have had several clients this last month sell and buy in the same market. Increasing prices of homes to buy mean that your home that you need to sell is also increasing in value. Shawn says, "a rising tide floats all boats ", so what works against you, will also work for you, both in price and speed of transaction.

Here are a few methods that have been working for us to both BUY & SELL.

1- Get pre-approved by your mortgage broker and get a rate lock to lock in your qualifying mortgage rate.

2- Get your home completely ready to sell ... we can help you with specifics on what needs to be done in your home to get ready. We can even get all marketing materials in place - professional pictures, floor plans, drone shots, measurements, etc. This way you are ready list in hair trigger mode.

3- You could list your home, conditional upon finding and securing a suitable home to buy if you have a realistic expectation of a home in sight.

4- You can also wait until you find a home. Engage us as a Realtor with a personalized search, and let the SWProperties team look for homes coming soon so we can get a head start and find a home you want to buy!

Engage Shawn as a Buyer's agent, for getting advice on the property, price, due diligence, and offer strategy- representing you in what could be a single offer, or most commonly now, a multiple offer on the property. There are different approaches and strategies for both of these situations.

5- Conversely you purchase a home with a long closing time, to allow you time to sell your home

6- Talk to your bank or mortgage broker and get approval for interim or bridge financing

We have proven practises and methods that will guarantee the best dollar in the least amount of time.

In this market, it's getting an accepted offer on a home to buy that takes time, patience, diligence, strategy, boldness and shrewdness!

If this all seems overwhelming or confusing- drop Shawn a text or call him at 250-870-7771 and he can chat specifics to your situation.

As always, we are here to help you protect and promote your interests, strategize and negotiate the changing waters of Buying and Selling, and answer your questions!

Helping you and your friends and family and those you refer is our pleasure! We look forward to hearing from you!

2022...together we got this...let's make it a great year!

all our best,

Shawn & Reece

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