Having a lush, green lawn is a prized achievement for many homeowners. It also adds curb appeal and makes a good first impression when you're trying to sell your home. A well- tended lawn shows that you take the time to care for and maintain your property- helping put buyers more at ease as they continue their viewing.

Here are some lawncare tips to help keep your lawn green & healthy through the Spring & Summer

1. Water & mow in the morning or evening to avoid water waste & burning the grass

2. Make sure your grass gets an inch of water per week (most types need this much)

3. Maximize sprinkler coverage by postitioning properly; avoid spraying driveways, etc & wasting water  

4. Don't cut grass too short- longer grass= shade, which helps the roots retain water

For more great tips to help with pests, maintenance, & spot treatment, check out the full article by Homes.com.

Image Source: Home.com

Here's some good news for anyone looking to get into the market (or hoping to attract buyers): The Bank of Canada recently announced that it will be holding interest rates at 1%. For buyers this means that mortgages will be affordable with lower lending rates; for sellers it means that there will be more buyers in the market looking at properties. A win- win for everyone.

For more information, check out the full article on the CREA website here. 

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It's that time of the year to get outside and do some outdoor TLC. As we head into the weekend, here are some Spring Maintenance Tips from HGTV:

- Inspect brickwork & stucco

- Replace & repaint siding

- Clean gutters & downspouts

- Inspect your roof & attic

- Inspect your air conditioning system

For more tips & advice, check out the original articel from HGTV here.

Image Source: http://dailymom.com/nest/homeowners-maintenance-checklist-spring-edition/

We're excited to be hosting this great event this Saturday. Hope to see you there!

Fresh herbs are wonderful to cook with. They're also a great way to add fragrant foliage throughout your garden or potted on a patio or terrace. The great thing is you don't need a lot of space to plant & enjoy herbs; they're also fairly low maintenance. If you've been looking for an attractive, space- saving herb garden, here's a DIY from Martha Stewart just in time to get your herbs planted this Spring.

For materials & instructions, click here.

Image Source: http://www.bonbonbreak.com/stacked-herb-garden/

Spring is officially here and with it, the busy season in the real estate market. If you're considering buying or selling it's always a good idea to know how the market is fairing.

The Fraser Valley market is doing well with detached home & townhouse sales up over the same time last year & condo prices remaining competitive given the amount of inventory available. To get the most recent market information & to read the full article from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, click here.

So you've made the decision to sell. And by now you've probably heard about staging your home- declutter, clean, & de- personalize... But have you considered the little touches to showcase what makes your house a home? In addition to keeping your house clean & show- ready, make sure you showcase the merits of how warm & cozy your house can be. Help potential buyers not only see how beautiful of a house you have, provide them with visual cues to help them envision what it would be like to live there. 

Since we are well into Spring and have the Easter long weekend to look forward to, consider how you can further set your house apart from the competition: Bring some seasonal touches into your home.

Some inexpensive suggestions:

- Vases of bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, & hyacinths make beautiful arrangements and help bring the outside in

- Consider your colour pallette: use accents such as pillows, candles, & other accessories to freshen the look of your home

- Set your kitchen and/ or dining room table as if it were ready for entertaining company; help potential buyers feel like they've been invited into your home as guests

- Arrange some inexpensive planters of annuals by your entryway, front door, etc to make a good first impression and add a splash of colour & curb appeal

- Add special touches such as fresh Spring flowers, candles, and accent towels in bathrooms to give them a spa- like feel

- Remove any decor & accessories that are heavy and/ or reminicscent of Winter; think fresh & bright

Image Source: http://www.stonegableblog.com/2011/03/daffodil-table.html

Can you believe it's already Easter? Where does the time go? With the warm weather & light nights back, why not enjoy this twist on the classic S'more- just in time for Easter.

Simply replace a regular marshmallow with a cheerful Peep. It's also a great way to help use up all of the chocolate that's sure to be lying around after the Easter Bunny has visited.

From Team Steeves, we hope you & your family have a wonderful Easter weekend.

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Buying a home is likely the most expensive purchase you'll make. While a mortgage is inevitable, there are a variety of ways you can pay your down faster, thus saving money in the long term. Here are 3 ways you can pay down your mortgage early from RIS Media:

BIMONTHLY PAYMENT PLANS

Monthly payments are split in two equal amounts; the additional payment mid- month reduces the balance owing for the following month, thus decreasing the interest paid (since the interest paid is calculated based on what is owed on the principal, reducing the principal results in less interest paid over the long- run)

BIWEEKLY PAYMENT PLANS

Payments are made every two weeks, each equal to half the monthly total. This results in 26 annual payments instead of 24, significantly shortening the length of the term. However, there are no intra- monthly interest savings as found with the bimonthly option.

ROLL YOUR OWN EXTRA PAYMENT PLANS

Based on what you can afford financially, make additional payments within the guidelines of your mortgage. You can increase your incremental payments, or make lump- sum deposits to reduce your mortgage faster. This is a flexible option to consider when you have put extra cash aside.

For more details & info, view original article here.

Original post: Alternative Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early

By Jack Guttentag 

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This Saturday we will be hosting an open house at #204-15070 Prospect Ave, White Rock

1-3pm

Come check out this warm 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home.

For more information about this listing, clcik here.

Knowing where to invest money into home improvements to increase value is important. Spending money strategically can mean a better return on investment for you when you go to list your home. Just because you spend some of your hard earned money on renovations doens't necessarily reflect in a higher asking price or increased buyer interest. Knowing what areas to focus on is key.

Here are 10 tips to help you get the most bang for your buck.

Some of these suggestions may seem obvious while others  will surprise you. 

Image Source: http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/remodeling/5-ways-to-add-value-to-home.htm#page=10

When you go to sell or buy a home there are many terms you may not be familiar with. Understanding real estate vocabulary can help ensure you don't miss a thing. Here are the definintions of several common terms from realestateabc.com you may encounter throughout the process.

Adjustible- Rate Mortgage (ARM):

Mortgage in which interest rate changes periodically according to corresponding fluctuations in an index; all ARMs are tied to an index

Appraisal:

Written justification of the price paid for a property; primarily based on an analysis of similar sales in the area

Appraised Value:

Opinion of a property's fair market value, based on an appraiser's knowledge, experience, and analyisis of the property

Assessed Value:

Valuation placed on property due to changes in market conditions, inflations, or other causes

Biweekly Mortgage:

Mortgage in which you make payments every two weeks, resulting in reducing the time it takes to pay off a mortgage compared to monhly payments

Broker:

In the mortgage industry, the term usually refers to a company or individual that does not lend the money for the loans themselves, but brokers the loans to larger lenders or investors

Closing Costs:

Non- recurring costs are any items paid just once as a result of buying a property or obtaining a loan; pre- paid items are items recur over time, such as property taxes

Contingency:

Condition that must be met before a contract is legally binding

Deed:

Legal document conveying title to a property

Depreciation:

Decline in the value of property

Down Payment:

Part of the purchase price of a property that the buyer pays in cash and does not finance with a mortgage 

To view more terms, click here.

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