How to get complete honesty and integrity when you need help making one of the largest financial decisions of your life.

Realtors can be an incredible wealth of knowledge and support when buying a home. Who you hire is a big decision, and of utmost importance is finding someone who is honest and has integrity.

Here are some suggestions to help make sure the realtor(s) you meet with are not going to try and “sell you something” but instead guide and support your selection process to ensure you get the best possible home for you or your family.

First you have to understand what motivates realtors to stay up late or get up early, miss a party or leave a comfortable chair on a Sunday to find you opportunities and ensure you are informed on the value, zoning, condition and price of the home you are considering buying. The two main motivators I see are incentive and pride.

Commissions are the incentive to entice realtors to show and sell properties. Pride...

Prepare your house for sale

Plans for six months and one year in advance

By Don Burnham, Realtor

Whether you are thinking of selling this spring or a couple years down the road, the sooner we start preparing your house for sale, the better. Please read on for some of the top things I recommend you do. 

Six months from putting your house on the market

If you are thinking of selling your house this spring, here are three things you should be doing right now:

1)      Have a professional paint colour consultation. Hire a trusted colour expert whom, for around $150 will meet with you in your home and decide on how to best paint your home for a top dollar sale. You can ask me for a referral or ask at your favourite paint store for a recommendation.

2)      Freshen or replace your front door, fence and driveway. Get started on your home’s curb appeal.

3)      Start looking for...

It's one thing to know where and what you want to live in and another to get there. You need cash to buy but most of your equity is tied up in your home.

So do you sell first and rent till the right one comes along?

Do you buy first and hope yours sells before you have to complete the puchase?

Do you make an offer suject to the sale of your home and hope your offer doesn't get bumped before your house sells?

Do you arrange financing so you can buy first and sell later?

I can help you decide what the best route for you is and how to make a plan to get you from A to B with the least stress possible.

Don Burnham Realtor

Remax Camosun Westshore

250-516-1510                                           

August 1st real estate statistics show market stability in Greater Victoria. Click here for more 

Please click here for a link to my summer 2012 newsletter,

July 21st 2012
This morning, the Minister of Finance announced changes to the standards governing government-backed insured mortgages:
• the maximum amortization period was reduced from 30 years to 25 years;
• the maximum amount Canadians can withdraw in refinancing their mortgages was lowered to 80 per cent from 85 per cent of the value of their homes;
• the maximum gross debt service ratio was fixed at 39 per cent and the maximum total debt service ratio at 44 per cent; and
• the availability of government-backed insured mortgages was limited to homes with a purchase price of less than $1 million.
CREA has continually stressed the need to avoid changing the minimum down payment. Today’s announcement confirms Canadians will continue to be able to purchase a home with five percent down.

The changes announced today will come into effect on July 9, 2012. Details of the announcement can be found here.

Of note, the VREB REALTOR® Market Survey shows that an average 23%...

The larger than average inventory of homes for sale begs the question: Is it a good time to buy or sell? It probably is a good time to sell if you are going to need to sell in the next six months and intend to purchase again soon, as prices aren't expect to rise in the near term and the selection is great.

Is it a good time to buy ? If you can get a great house in a great location that may not be available six months from now: yes.

It's better to buy a good house in a good location at a fair price than buy a not so good house in a not so good location because it looks like a great price. For one, a big portion of the cost of improvements can be lost in the wrong location.

Call me for more details on what type of property might make a good investment and home in this current market.

Don Burnham 

250 516 1510

email daburnham@shaw.ca