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UBC real estate is home to many exquisite homes.

The area surrounding the University of British Columbia is picturesque, safe, and full of amenities that will prove advantageous to any family. As a neighbourhood it has a lot to offer, and these advantages are not limited to the students or staff. As an expert in UBC real estate I want you to know that families can enjoy this great neighbourhood and the many levels of community that tend spring up in the presence of a world class secondary institution. UBC has been great for Vancouver, great for the surrounding communities, and it could very well be great for your family.

 

When it comes to figuring out why the areas surrounding UBC and the homes for sale therein benefit from the presence of the university, it’s important to keep in mind the large interests that are invested in the improvement of these communities. As a leading university, UBC is constantly trying to attract academics, students and researchers from Canada and abroad. Part of attracting the best staff and the most impressive students to their institution is making sure that they feel happy and safe on campus in the surrounding areas. Part of this is making sure they have a nice place to live. As a result, the UBC pays close attention to the areas surrounding their campus and invests heavily in their community.

 

With over 58,000 students and over 15,000 staff, you can bet that UBC’s interests are also important to the city of Vancouver and the government of BC. As a result, the areas surrounding the UBC campus have top quality public transportation, great schools, and tons of community events. This is a community that has their needs heard by those with power, who invest heavily in those needs. This also means buyers and sellers can depend on great property values.

 

Families who’s teens may be considering their post-secondary education should definitely be investigating homes and condos for sale near the UBC. Living nearby a university can be a huge benefit to their future. The UBC is one of the top Universities in Canada. Since we all know how difficult those first years of adulthood can be, parents may want to consider ways in which to make their child’s university education easier. The ability to remain living at home during the completion of their degree can relieve financial stress and even help avoid expensive student loans. On top of that, during a period of intense learning that is just as much emotional as it is academic, students can maintain their support network. For many students, this can be an invaluable way to start their adult lives off right.

 

I hope this information helps you see the value in this inspiring and vibrant community!

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Downsize your UBC real estate with these helpful tips.

There are UBC homes for sale that will fit the needs of any family. Still, many families find themselves needing to downsize into a more manageable home for convenience and location purposes. As a professional in the UBC real estate market, I wanted to say that I understand this need, and give some advice based on my vast experience to clients who may want it. Whether you are moving from a spacious house to a small condo or from a single occupancy apartment to a smaller shared space these tips should come in handy.

 

The first and most obvious step is to decide what possessions you want to keep with you and what you feel you can part with. Items that don’t fit into the new space can be donated, thrown out, sold or stored. If you wish to donate them, thrift stores like the Salvation Army can be a great choice for larger items. For smaller necessities like clothes, shoes, and toys, try looking for charities that give these items out for free to those in need. If you want to trash a large item that doesn’t fit in your regular garbage collection, call your local municipality to see if they offer a pick up service. If not, there are often private businesses that will take some items, such as old appliances, for free and refurbish them or use them for parts. Other garbage can be thrown out with the regular collection, but don’t forget to recycle what you can. If you have possessions you can’t possibly take with you but can’t let go of, self storage can be a good choice. Just make certain that the storage facility has a climate that won’t damage your possessions, and that it is thoroughly secure.

 

One space saver that is often overlooked is the size of your furniture. Aside from the obvious concern that pops up when trying to fit a fat sofa through a doorway, having large and bulky furniture can eat up living space. If you have an abundantly large bed or sofa, consider trading it in for something more manageable in the long term. Mounting items like flat screen TVs on a wall can eliminate things like TV stands and open up a room considerably. This and other strategies like high stacked shelving can let you take advantage of vertical room without taking up lots of floorspace. Other tips on decorating a small space to make it aesthetically pleasing can be found here.

 

Don’t forget to consider closet space! If you are looking for a smaller UBC house or condo for sale, that can often mean that you will have fewer closets and less space to store items out of sight. This should be taken into consideration when packing up clothes and other items you wish to keep out of the way. Once again, items you don’t use regularly can be put into a nearby self storage unit for future use.

 

I hope these tips help you downsize with ease!

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UBC real estate is conveniently located near transit.

 

Calculating the new costs your family’s budget will face after moving is an important step in the planning process that prevents unpleasant surprises during an already tumultuous time. Your transportation costs are always going to be a part of that plan, because everyone needs a way to get around. Luckily the UBC real estate area has lots of access to Vancouver’s high quality roads and public transportation. Moving around the city by car, bus, sea bus (boat), and sky train is a breeze, but there are costs to consider. Here is some information about getting around UBC with grace and ease.

 

The cost of owning a car can vary from city to city, and there are even differences to be found among Vancouver’s different neighbourhoods. For instance, gas costs an average of $1.20 CAD per litre in other places, but the Vancouver metro area tends to run closer to $1.40 CAD per litre. So the total cost of gas will vary depending not only on how much you drive but where you go. Insuring a car in the UBC area costs an average of $2600 a year, though this will vary greatly with different makes and models. Maintenance and auto repairs cost an average of $1000 per year. Parking should also be considered, especially if you will be spending lots of time on campus where parking passes are almost always required. If you are looking at UBC condos for sale, make sure you establish whether adequate parking is included or not.

 

If keeping a car sounds like a hassle, don’t fret! All UBC homes for sale have access to world class public transportation, and owning a car is often unnecessary. Vancouver’s public transit system is even split into zones, so you don’t need to pay for more transportation than you need. There are three zones that make up Vancouver, but the UBC campus and surrounding neighborhoods conveniently reside entirely in Zone One along with much of the metro area. A  one zone monthly pass costs about $90.00 CAD per month, whereas a 3 zone pass costs about $170 CAD. Passes can be upgraded on the fly if you need to go somewhere outside the zones specified, so don’t stress about needing to head somewhere outside your zone. If you are using public transport as your primary form of transportation, a monthly pass can save you some money. There are even student discounts available!

Public transportation also has the advantage of helping to keep the city’s air clean. Vancouver is a very environmentally friendly city, and the public transport system is built with the greener denizens in mind. If the environment is something you care about, you can take pride in using fewer resources during your commute and pleasure travel.

 

I hope this information helps you navigate your move and your travel afterward with ease.

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The University of British Columbia and the surrounding area is a stunning community that is a delight for families. As a result, it’s not a surprise that the UBC real estate market is flooded year round with households that include school-aged children. Luckily the area includes world class public schools as well as a leading post secondary institution. However a move can be hard on kids when they need to switch schools. As much as parents try not to interrupt their child’s education with a relocation, sometimes it simply cannot be avoided. Here are some tips to help you have a smooth move mid school year.

 

The first step to moving during the school year is to plan, plan, and plan some more. Having a solid understanding established between yourself, your child’s old school, and their new one is the key to making sure your child doesn’t fall behind or feel undue stress during the transition. Make sure both schools know exactly when your child will be attending, and try to speak to their teachers personally. Teachers at the old school can give you information regarding what they have covered thus far in class, what your child struggles with, and what they excel at. This is all information that will be helpful to your child’s new teacher after the move. Teachers are invested in the children they teach and tend to spend a lot of time with their students, so they are also a great resource for keeping tabs on the emotional and social effect the move has on your child.

 

Speaking of how your child feels about the move, make sure that they are as up to date on the plan as they are capable. Try to make a schedule that they understand and stick to it. When you are looking at UBC homes for sale, try and show them pictures and ask their opinions. Kids can feel helpless and frightened of the unexpected during a relocation, so try and keep potential surprises to a minimum. If it’s at all possible, a visit to their new home, community and school prior to permanent relocation can be very helpful. If properly arranged, children can even have a chance to meet their new teachers, administrators, and classmates.

 

Attending a pre-season parent-teacher conferences or any PTA-like function is a great way to meet families and maybe even arrange play dates that can help your child have a friend on their first day. You can also pay attention to potential connections within the community in your new neighbourhood, thought his can be a little more difficult to wrangle before the move takes place. It’s a bit easier if you are looking at UBC condos for sale, since the shared physical space can make meeting neighbours a cinch.

 

If you have a specific school that you would like your child to attend, be sure that your new home is within that school’s catchment area. This is a detailed geographical territory based on home address that helps to decide which child goes to which public school. You can look up listings based on school catchment area here.

 

I hope this advice helps you to have a happy move and a great school year!

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When it comes to selecting among UBC homes for sale, the number of options to choose from can be overwhelming. Your head may be reeling when faced with deciding which would be the best home for you and your family. It helps to focus on the necessities and what you want for your home. Here's a great checklist to keep in mind: 

 

How old is the property?

If you're interested in an older home, take into consideration that the home will likely require more maintenance than a new build. Go through each area in the house so you can identify what needs to be repaired and replaced. While they may require extra TLC, older homes can also offer unique features that are worth restoring. 

 

How many stories is the home?

If you have aging family members, consider carefully whether or not a home with a staircase will be a good fit. Grandparents and toddlers may have difficulties negotiating stairs.  

 

How many bedrooms do you need?

If you are buying a family home, you and your spouse wiill need to consider whether or not you plan on expanding your family. Are there enough "rooms to grow," with space that could convert easily to a nursery, in-law suite for aging parents or an extra bedroom down the road? 

 

What kind of neighbourhood do you feel most comfortable in? 

Do you prefer to have a home inside a gated community? What about your child’s school? Do you want it to be within the vicinity of your home? Before you decide on a home, these are things you have to determine with your spouse. 

 

Will you need parking space for a car?

Lastly, you also have to consider parking space and what city bylaws require for street parking. If you choose a home that doesn't come with its own dedicated parking, this can be an important consdieration. Some neighbourhoods in the UBC area have a shortage of street parking and a first-come-first serve philosophy which can leave you scambling for a spot.

 

Give us a call today so we can help you pick out a home for your family.

 

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Summer is nearly over, and the UBC real estate market is about to move into an autumn swing. In a seller’s market, you want every advantage you can get.

 

While there are certainly many aspects of home sales that remain the same year around, there are also certain aspects of the market that change with the seasons. If you have a house for sale, important to know the specifics of when you are selling. Here are some reasons why buying or selling your home in autumn is an ideal time.

 

Beating the Winter Freeze

Many people also like to buy in the autumn so that they don’t have to deal with the hassles of moving during the winter freeze. This way if there are any minor home repairs that have to be dealt with, they can get those repairs done while the weather is still mild.

 

Prepping for next spring’s landscaping can be ideally done in the fall; any work that has to be done on stairs, fences or on roofing is best done before it gets cold.

 

Sellers Watch Your Pricing

When the market is high, it can be tempting to price your home high to take advantage of buyer interest. This is generally a bad idea.

 

Work with your real estate agent to examine the local market. See what other comparable homes are selling for, and price your home accordingly. Remember that surface renovations aren’t a magic ticket to bidding wars.

 

Buyers Watch Your Budget

Since the fall tends to be such a high-competition time of year, it’s important for buyers to keep their budget in mind when purchasing a new home. With listings coming and going rapid-fire, everyone is looking for a quick turnaround and ideal pricing.

 

Beware of bidding wars. Paying more than you can afford is only going to make your dream home turn into a nightmare; you definitely don’t want more house than your budget will allow.

 

It’s always a good idea to get pre-qualified for your mortgage. This pre-emptive action will help you stay on budget and know the level of loan you can get. It also enables you to act immediately. There is less chance of losing the home if you’re pre-qualified because you can then bid immediately. Sellers will know you are serious about making a purchase if they know you are pre-qualified.

 

When it comes time to purchase UBC real estate, autumn is a great time to buy. Competition is high, as is excitement for the market. Just make sure that if you are a buyer you watch your budget, and as a seller, watch your pricing. Whether you're buying or selling in the UBC area, Sam Huang and his team are the regional experts.

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