Blog

Back in the 1980s, NASA did a study to look at which plants were best able to filter the air of the space station! And, if it’s good enough for the space station…

Inventory of single-family homes in the Vancouver Island area dropped yet again in November 2016 to reach a new historic low of 1,034, a 37 per cent decrease from one year ago and dipping below October’s 1,158 available listings. Keep in mind that this is for homes under $700,000 as Vancouver island areas, like Nanaimo, have witnessed an increase of higher end homes entering the market in 2016 resulting in a 5 year high in some price points.

Now that winter has officially set in, the days are shorter, the nights are longer and we are spending more and more time in our homes, its time to practice what the Danes like to call HYGGE.

T’is the season, it’s time to celebrate and if you are hosting a party or gathering this season that means it is time to get organized! Many of us lead busy lives, making time a luxury we can’t necessarily afford, so to help you stay on track and impress your guests we have put together a few holiday entertaining tips.

Many homes built before 1990 contain asbestos, whether it is in old floors, ceiling tiles, roof shingles, insulation, or any number of other places.

In October around 399 single-family homes sold on the MLS® System in the Vancouver Island Real Estate board, compared to 368 last October, an increase of eight per cent. Month over month, sales decreased by 24 per cent from September, which saw 528 unit sales. Nanaimo completed 114 of those sales, and is up about 20% over last year in sales. The reduced sales activity in October is likely caused by typical late-summer cooling and continuing low inventory challenges. Active listings of single-family homes dropped once again in October, dipping to 1,158, the lowest VIREB has seen since the board began tracking inventory levels in 1999.

When lawyers and other real estate professionals talk about “title,” they are referring to who has legal ownership and the right to use a piece of property. Although the idea of legal title can be applied to anything, people most often use it in reference to real estate and automobiles, because those are substantial purchases which can have complicated ownership arrangements.

As home marketing professionals there are days when we have to remind ourselves that it takes time, patience and sometimes a few odd choices before we get it right. Although scouring Pinterest for inspiration decorating is great, we thought it would also be helpful to identify some of the most common blunders.

At DG… we love Halloween! The one night a year you can play dress-up, eat candy, and partake in festive frights. We have rounded up some of our top tips for making the most out of All Hallows’ Eve with the whole family here in Nanaimo.

You’ve heard of all the wonderful, futuristic things virtual reality can do, but did you ever think it could be used to sell your very own home.

The new mortgage rules announced by the Federal Government on October 3, 2016 caught the entire industry by surprise and it’s something we are watching, as to if or when it effects our local market. Our view is that the new rules will make it more difficult and more costly for many Canadians to obtain a mortgage.

When is a home NEW? Newly-Constructed Homes – this is the most obvious category to which the Homeowner Protection Act will apply. Home Warranty Insurance coverage must apply.