All Blog Entries by Bryce Hansen

High-end family home with all the extras! 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom home backs onto greenspace. No expenses were spared when the buyer was designing this home, with a custom stone floor to ceiling natural gas fireplace,  top of the line LG appliances, stamped concrete cement pad the full width of the house in the back yard, as well as an 12 x 14 detached shed fully wired with double full-sized doors, built to the same quality as the rest of the house. The back yard was professionally landscaped and is completely private, yes you have neighbors, but they do not see you, you do not see them. The front yard was designed for low maintenance in mind, giving you stress-free upkeep. This home has large rooms with a bright open concept. There are 2 bedrooms upstairs,…

Contrary to popular belief, as the buyer in a real estate transaction, you do not actually pay a real estate sales representative’s commission. The real estate agent actually earns a percentage of the brokerage commission, which is laid out in the purchase contract and is calculated from the price of the house. This commission is paid for by the person who is listing their home for sale. Essentially, you get the support and knowledge of a buyer representative for free – which is a great reason to utilize a REALTOR® when you’re looking to invest in Comox Valley real estate.

If the aspect of their professional services being free to you as a buyer isn’t enough to influence your decision single-handedly, here are five more reasons a real estate…

On July 1st, 2020 The Canadian Housing Mortgage Corp. (CMHC) executed their announcement to change the borrowing rules for homebuyers. If you’re in the market to purchase Comox Valley real estate and especially if you’re a first time home buyer, you’ll want to review these changes that may have impacted you directly. Here’s a closer look at the CMHC changes – and some tips to help you get organized for obtaining a mortgage pre-approval:  

Understanding Debt Ratios
Gross Debt Servicing Ratio (GDS) and Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDS) are the two key metrics used to qualify you for a mortgage. GDS is calculated by totaling your estimated housing costs and dividing it by your gross annual income. TDS is calculated by totaling your GDS with other…

We’ve all heard the horror stories that can happen if you don’t do your homework when choosing a trades professional. Like the contractor that demoed a kitchen, never to be seen again; or the pool company that accepted a homeowner’s deposit but keeps pushing back the installation date.

We want to make sure these disasters don’t happen to you when you’re looking for assistance with those big renovation projects around your home. Use these 5 tips to help you find the best trades professionals in the Comox Valley that can help with your home renovations – and increase the likelihood of your complete satisfaction!

All in Good Time
One of the biggest considerations when hiring professional trades companies is your timeline. Do you need the project…

Whether you want to stage your house for a successful sale, add a touch of modern décor to your Courtenay home, or simply stop your neighbours from being able to see what you do behind closed doors, investing in window coverings could be the solution you’re looking for.

As a seller, there are plenty of variables that contribute to selling your house quickly – and for top dollar. Taking your home to a polished completion helps a potential buyer to see value from both a completed task and investment standpoint too. Within the Comox Valley real estate market, there’s a playful balance between two main factors when it comes to great window treatments; 1) fantastic functionality and 2) desirable decoration.

FANTASTIC FUNCTIONALITY

When it comes…

Moving can be a huge task to tackle if you’re foregoing the route of hiring a professional moving company. An independent move delegates all of the responsibility from packing, purging and delivering to you and your dedicated team of friends and family. Even when movers are involved, there’s still some parts of the process the pros are not able to do. These five tips will help make your upcoming move easier on your little ones – and yourself!

Prepare a Plan for Moving Week
To have things run as smoothly as possible, get a plan of action ready ahead of time. Create a timeline for the whole week before your move-in date, so you know what to expect and you have some strategies in place. Consider which rooms to pack on what days, the logistics for…

Be sure to check this corner unit on the 1st floor, 933 sqft 2 bedrooms, 2 bathroom condo in downtown Courtenay, located by the airpark!

A River runs thru it...This house is a must-see, check this out! This property is hitting the market today!

It’s no secret that homes with attractive curb appeal command higher asking prices and spend less time sitting on the market. With so many ideas on the internet to boost your home’s curb appeal, you may be wondering which projects pump up your real estate’s value best? Though there aren’t specific values connected to certain improvement projects, here are some of our favourite financially-savvy ways to boost your home's equity with a little summer upgrade;

Squeaky Clean
Before you make the decision of whether or not to paint the facade of your property, turn to the tried and true method of a deep clean of your exterior with a pressure washer or some good-old-fashioned elbow grease. A bucket of hot soapy water and a long-handled bristle brush will likely…

Check out this new listing located in East Courtenay. This home is 1980+ sqft with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with plenty of room for the in-laws, or for a large family. Central to CFB Comox, beaches, Crown Isle Golf, Rec/Aquatic Centre, shopping, schools, NI College & new hospital.