Property Transfer Tax exemptions - April 1, 2024

New 2024 budget measures from the government of BC:  For many, buying a home is the largest purchase they will ever make, and property prices are making it harder. Every little bit helps, and Budget 2024 aims to give people the financial boost they need to bring buying a home within reach, including: Increases to the threshold for the First Time Homebuyers’ Program so it reflects today’s market: Qualifying first-time buyers can benefit when they purchase a home worth up to $835,000, with the first $500,000 completely exempt from the property transfer tax. That could mean as much as $8,000 in savings. An estimated 14,500 people – twice as many as before – will now be eligible for support to buy their first home, helping them move out of the rental market and freeing up rentals for others. People buying newly built homes worth up to $1.1 million will also see lower costs through the newly-built-home exemption. To help lower the cost and encourage the construction of more rental units, eligible purpose-built rental buildings of four or more units will also receive a property transfer tax exemption until 2030. Raising these property transfer tax exemption thresholds and incentivizing building of new rentals and homes will save more people more money, an estimated $100 million per year. For information on PTT including a calculator, click here. Property Transfer Tax Exemptions  In principle, BCREA supports reduced property transfer taxes for first-time home buyers and people purchasing newly constructed homes. However, while we're in favour of measures that increase first-time home buyers’ abilities to purchase properties, it's critically important that housing supply is increased so they aren’t caught in bidding wars to acquire those homes. More detail is needed on property transfer tax exemption for purpose-built rentals to understand its impact on housing attainability for British Columbians READ MORE on BC REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION bulletin Real Estate Lawyer Dylan Taylor explains in these videos how this will work: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5gOHo4LRNd/?igsh=MWs2eXlwcDR4cWMwOA== https://www.instagram.com/p/C5la6XZLoyZ/

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BC MLS Search System Instructions & Your Relationship With a Real Estate Professional

Here's some tips on using your MLS Matrix Portal including Marking Favourites, Accessing Floor Plans & Sales Prices, Marking Notes. If you have not already been set up for this access, please contact me to get set up. Viewing Notes To view notes your agent might have left on a property, select Messages in the top navigation bar and then click on the Property Notes tab.      Writing Notes To leave notes in Matrix, go to the full property page and scroll down to add in a note. Your agent will be able to see any notes that you leave.    Marking Favourites To favourite a property, click the heart icon on any property.   Viewing Sale Prices For properties that are pending or sold, you can view the sale price.  Scroll down on the property page to view the price the property was listed at as well as the price it sold for.   Viewing Floor Plans and Other Supporting Documents On a listing, click the document icon to view floor plans and any other supporting documents attached to the listing.    BCFSA - Disclosure of Representation in Trading Services (Your Relationship With a Real Estate Professional)   Please let us know if you have any questions.  

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Buyer Information - Your Victoria Real Estate Agent - Buying a Home in Greater Victoria

Homebuyer Guide: From Dream to Keys in Hand Introduction Embarking on the journey to homeownership is an exciting and significant milestone in life. Whether you're a first-time buyer or seasoned homeowner, the process can seem daunting. Fear not! This comprehensive guide is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the homebuying journey with confidence and clarity. You can read our full Home Buyer Guide here. Step 1: Assessing Your Financial Readiness Before diving into the world of real estate listings, it's essential to assess your financial readiness. This step will guide you through creating a budget, saving for a down payment, and understanding your credit score's impact on mortgage eligibility.  If you would like to apply for a mortgage, you can contact me to get started. For a list of recommended Mortgage Agents you can visit this page. For tips on improving your credit score you can visit here. Step 2: Setting Your Homeownership Goals What does your dream home look like? In this step, we'll help you define your homeownership goals by considering factors such as location, property type, size, and amenities. You'll learn to distinguish between must-haves and nice-to-haves, setting realistic expectations for your home search. Step 3: Exploring the Market Armed with your budget and wishlist, it's time to explore the real estate market. From online listings to open houses, we'll discuss effective strategies for finding properties that meet your criteria and narrowing down your options.  You can search options with limited information here (but gives you a full set of active MLS listings) You can search more detailed information on MLS properties for sale in your area here. You can search new construction and pre-sale homes that may not yet be on MLS here. Find out how to use the MLS Matrix system & Your Relationship with a Real Estate Professional.  You can be set up on this priority system - if you have not already been set up please let me know and we can send you a link. Get to know the schools in the area, if that is important for you.  Visit this link for information. Here's how to view crime statistics/maps for the Victoria area. You can learn about the various neighbourhoods in the Greater Victoria area here. BC Secondary Suite Incentive Program Understanding Leasehold Interests New Rules for Short-Term Rentals Step 4: Making an Offer Found the perfect home? Now it's time to make an offer. This step will walk you through the negotiation process, understanding purchase agreements, and navigating potential contingencies to ensure a smooth transaction.  Here is a link to a video that will explain more about understanding the contract of purchase and sale. Step 5: Securing Financing Understanding mortgage options and securing financing is a crucial step in the homebuying process. We'll cover different types of mortgages, the pre-approval process, and tips for finding the right lender for your needs. Step 6: Home Inspections & Insurance Before closing the deal, it's essential to conduct home inspections and appraisals to ensure the property's condition and value. Learn what to expect during these processes and how to interpret the results.  You can find out more about home inspections here. You can find out more about insurance and inspections here. You will also want to have a real estate lawyer review Title for you before removing subject conditions to be sure nothing on Title will be of concern.  You can find more about choosing a real estate lawyer here. Strata Home Owner Resources Step 7: Understanding Purchase Taxes Understaning the taxes will be important as they can impact purchase cost and carrying costs.  In BC there is a Property Transfer Tax which you can find out more about here.    There is also a Vacancy Tax which you can find out more about here. Flipping Tax and Property Tax Exemptions you can find out more information here. Newly built home exemption GST/HST New Housing Rebate First Time Buyer Tax Incentive Step 8: Closing the Deal Congratulations, you've found your dream home! In this step, we'll guide you through the final steps of the homebuying process, including closing costs, signing paperwork, and receiving the keys to your new home. Conclusion With this guide as your companion, you're well-equipped to embark on your journey to homeownership with confidence. Remember, buying a home is a significant milestone, but it's also an exciting adventure filled with endless possibilities. Happy house hunting! About Real Estate and Mortgage Agent Diana Winger Read Testimonials about Diana Winger

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