Rare Opportunity

And now a little something for anyone looking for a great condo in Vancouver…

Rarely available, top floor beautiful and bright 1 BDRM & DEN at the GREENWICH on 5th. Highlights include 10 ft ceilings, wood floors throughout the home, a skylight in the kitchen, gas fireplace and a large west facing balcony. This quiet home has an open kitchen with stainless steel appliances, gas range and a breakfast bar. The den makes a great home office or flex space.This reputable building is Polygon built with Rainscreen technology, brick and vinyl siding and large overhangs. 2 pets and rentals welcome.One parking and the suite has a spacious in suite storage room. Fantastic location-walking distance to the shops on 4th Ave, Kits Beach, Granville Island and Broadway. Open Sat. Aug 18th 3PM-4:30PM.

Learn more:
http://www.juliemillerhomes.com/listings.mobi/Details/380/410-1858-5th-ave-w-greenwich-on-5th-vancouver-west-british-columbia#viewdetail

Tips for a seamless transition from outdoor to indoor entertaining

(NC)—As heartbreaking as it may be to store away the patio furniture and citronella candles for the winter, there's a lot to be excited about when it comes to moving entertaining indoors. Take this opportunity to breathe new life into the spaces you've neglected during the summer months. You can make a successful transition from outdoor living to embracing and reviving your indoor spaces with these simple tips:

Create stunning and simple centrepieces using late-blooming fall flowers like mums, sunflowers, and black-eyed susans for an elegant, vibrant touch that takes no time, and very little money.

If your budget allows, consider replacing your dining room table. “Because it's often the biggest piece of furniture in a dining space, replacing your dining room table can immediately change the whole look and feel of the room,” says Meredith Heron, interior designer and blogger at meredithheron.com. “A table that can be extended to fit a larger crowd is a great investment and you won't regret it once you're hosting the entire family for Thanksgiving dinner.”

A simple bowl of fruit is a quick way to add the drama of bright colour to any kitchen space. Lemons, limes, oranges, or any other colourful fruit will immediately inject some personality into the space. Even better, by using what's currently in season, you'll never have to commit to one particular hue, so you can change the accent colour in a snap.

Showcase your cocktail making skills while keeping out of the chef's way with a separate faucet from deltafaucet.ca, such as the Addison bar prep faucet with Touch2O Technology. Choosing a stylish faucet with a pull-down wand will add not only a touch of elegance to your kitchen, but will provide a quick update as well as added functionality, ideal when entertaining thirsty guests.

Blankets and throws not only pull the look of your room together, but are functional too. Consider taking them outside to snuggle up and gaze at the stars on those wonderful fall evenings when it's still comfortable enough to enjoy the great outdoors.

Saving for a larger down payment really pays off

(NC)—When you're buying a home, starting with a large down payment can really pay off. Sometimes saving for a large down payment means postponing your purchase, but the long-term benefits can be worth the wait. Farhaneh Haque, director of mortgage advice at TD Canada Trust, explains some of these benefits:

Pay less interest:

The larger your down payment, the less money you borrow to finance the purchase of your home, so you'll likely pay back the loan sooner, paying less interest in the process than with a smaller down payment. Additionally you may qualify for a lower interest rate because your loan-to-value ratio will be higher (meaning the amount you borrow compared to the value of your home), which your lender will look favourably on.

Avoid additional costs:

With a down payment greater than 20% of the purchase price, you can avoid having to pay for mortgage default insurance, which generally ranges from 0.5% to 2.90% of your mortgage principal amount.

“Over time the financial benefits of a larger down payment are significant. By saving diligently, you can pull together a sizeable amount in less time than you may think,” says Haque. “According to recent TD Canada Trust research on homebuyers, two-thirds said it took them less than four years to save up a down payment of 10% to 20%.”

There's more information on how to start saving for a down payment and prepare for homeownership available at www.tdcanadatrust.com/homeownership.

Sign a will when buying your home

(NC)—For most people, buying a home is a significant milestone and the biggest purchase of their lifetime. While Canadians protect their residences with home and title insurance, many are not addressing who will inherit what may be their largest asset. A survey of more than 2,000 Canadians revealed that a majority of adults (56 per cent) do not have a signed will. The survey was released by LAWPRO's TitlePLUS insurance program.

A will is a legal, written document that sets out the person's wishes about how his or her estate should be taken care of and distributed after death.

“The absence of a clear, signed will can become a divisive and contentious issue at a time when families are already experiencing grief, and can result in a range of complications, from belongings not going to the person they were intended for, to court battles that cost thousands of dollars,” said Ray Leclair, vice-president of public affairs at LAWPRO.

According to the survey results, only 13 per cent of Canadians sign a will when they purchased a home or condo. This is an ideal time to do it, says Leclair, who is also an experienced real estate lawyer.

“Homebuyers already have a lawyer working on the purchase and should be thinking of having wills and powers of attorney drawn up.”

Working with a lawyer to create a will can cost as little as internet access for a year and will reduce the risk of relevant issues not being addressed or of a breach of a technical requirement for a valid will.

Having a will not only ensures assets and interests are protected now and in the future, it can also bring peace of mind and provide greater assurance for loved ones.

A useful resource for homebuyers looking for information on the buying process and what real estate lawyers can do to protect their interests is the TitlePLUS Real Simple Real Estate Guide at www.titleplus.ca.

Home insurance misconceptions

(NC)—For most Canadians, their most valuable asset is their home. And yet too many have only a vague understanding of the insurance policy that covers their house and contents. Unfortunately, many find out too late – when they have an expensive claim denied – that their understanding of their policy is based more on misconceptions than on fact. The experts from Desjardins General Insurance Group (DGIG) would like to help you out by clarifying some of the common misconceptions about property insurance.

Misconception 1 - Your home insurance will cover any type of major loss.

The typical home insurance policy will cover a fire loss, as well as damage caused by lightning, windstorms, hailstorms and even tornados. However, damage from earthquakes is not covered by standard homeowners' insurance. You can purchase special coverage, though the cost can vary considerably depending on the risk in the area where you live. Not surprisingly, earthquake coverage is more expensive in Vancouver than in Winnipeg. Standard homeowners' policies in Canada also excludes flood damage. However, policies generally cover other kinds of water damage, for example from a broken water main on the street or a burst pipe in a house.

Misconception 2 – I will receive full market value for my house if it burns to the ground.

The value of home insurance policies are typically based on the cost to rebuild the house, not to sell it on the marketplace. Replacement costs will include the material (lumber, roofing shingles, siding material, carpet, drywall, etc), the labour costs, architectural services and so on. It is important if you do any renovations or additions to your home, that you let your insurance company know, as this could change the replacement cost of your home.

Misconception 3 – I will automatically get full replacement value for any personal belongings that are damaged.

No, depreciation would be factored in, which could reduce the value considerably unless you had optional replacement-cost coverage. In that case, you would be able to replace the item with a new one with the same or similar features. In addition, valuable items such as jewellery or artwork are usually subject to a payment cap, unless additional coverage is purchased.

Misconception 4 – Renters who don't own any fancy stuff don't need insurance.

Not true. You'd be surprised how much it costs to replace even basic contents, such as furniture, kitchen supplies, clothing, and electronics like computers, TVs and cell phones. Plus, you need to ask yourself if you could afford to rent a hotel for a few weeks if your apartment needed major repairs. If not, then tenant insurance is a must. This insurance protects your property and also covers you in case you accidentally cause damage to the property of others. It's simple, affordable and definitely necessary.

The experts from DGIG advise homeowners to periodically review their insurance policies to ensure their coverage is up to date. If it's been a long time since you knew what was in your policy, take some time today to read it over. Then speak to your insurance provider if you have any questions or concerns. They will also be able to tell you if additional coverage is necessary. For more information about property insurance, visit the Desjardins General Insurance Group website: www.desjardinsgeneralinsurance.com.