Hi *|FNAME|*,

Summer weather is on its way in and that means that spring is soon on its way out. But wait—Was spring even here as far as a normal spring real estate market goes? Not so much…

May continued the trend that we have been seeing for the whole of 2019 so far and a few months prior, and that trend of course is a very quiet market. In May 2019 the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,517 sales, up 10% from April 2019 and down 14% from May 2018. May 2019 saw 18% fewer sales when compared to the 10 year average, with only 2009, 2010 and 2013 seeing fewer sales in the same month. This is still likely due to the fact that buyers and sellers remain in a stalemate between sellers hoping to hold prices stable and buyers wanting prices to come down.

I often hear people who are considering selling say things along the lines of “the market is too slow right now; we should wait to sell.” I would have to agree and disagree with that statement, depending on the situation.  If the plan is to buy another home, everything is relative and the home that you are wanting to purchase has probably dropped in value as well making your net proceeds from the sale of your home and the purchase of your future home almost a negligible wash. 

If a seller is considering selling an investment property, and there is not an urgent need to do so, I might advise them to hold on for a while if they can. 

The current situation of the market makes now a great time to upgrade to a larger home, as single family detached homes have come down in price more than townhomes and condos, and higher end single family homes have come down more than entry level family homes, making every form of an upgrade more lucrative than the past year or two depending on the specific neighbourhoods you are considering.
If you are looking to sell and move out of the area, and your plan is to do so in the next couple of years, selling sooner than later will likely allow you to sell your home for more money, but again, depending on where you are planning to move to will have to factor in to your decision.

If you are looking at purchasing your first home, it may actually be beneficial to wait a couple of months, however, I would not expect lower prices housing to come down in value by any large amount. Every dollar does count though, and patience might just pay off in this situation!

If any of these situations sound like something you are thinking of doing, I have great news for you. I CAN HELP! And I would be excited to do so!

If you are in the early planning stages or maybe even the pre-planning stage for making a move, it is never too early to get in touch with a great realtor like myself to help answer some of the questions you might have, and even create some new questions that you did not even think to ask!
 

Yet, almost a million and a half properties get burglarized in North America each year. So, how can you prevent that from happening to your home? Here are a few lesser-known home security basics:

• Actually, never hide a key outside. Thieves know all the hiding places. Instead, make sure all family members have a key.

• Two-thirds of home burglaries occur during the day. So, be extra vigilant about making sure doors and windows are locked while you’re out during the day.

• Surprisingly, most thieves are not daring. They are 2.7 times more likely to target a home without an alarm system.

• Thieves will attempt to force entry through sliding-style doors and windows first. Make sure these have a locking bar or extra bolt lock.

• Surprising, 40% of household burglaries do not involve forced entry. The thief is able to slip in through an unlocked window or door.

• Don’t show off possessions! An imported racing bike parked next to the garage, or expensive audio equipment clearly seen through a window, is an invitation to burglars.

• Take a look at the lighting and landscaping around your property. Are there spots where a thief could easily hide? If so, make some changes.

• When planning a trip, have a trusted neighbour pick up newspapers, flyers and anything else that may accumulate at your door.

Your local police department may have more tips and special programs for keeping your home secure. Give them a call.