Living in the UBC area provides homeowners with access to so very many forms of outdoor recreation. This is no more true than with respect to golf. Golf is not just a sunny day sport over here, it is a lifestyle. Every home in our domain is minutes away from beautiful courses to accommodate varying levels of tastes and talents. Whether your swing resembles that of Arnold Palmer or Derek Jeter (do you have a baseball swing?) you can find your place on the green in UBC. In this week's blog post I am referencing a few points of interest for you and your household to enjoy come tee time.

Golf in the UBC Area

Play - Located on the University Endowment Lands, the University Golf Course is the best public course in Greater Vancouver. No membership is required to play the expansive course, shaded by tall pines, firs, and lush growth at every turn. The forested fairways are long and narrow, completing an 18-hole par-72 course that is perfect for all levels of skill and patience. Golf carts are available to maneuver the course but the casual landscape and warm spring, summer, and early autumn weather beckons players to walk from hole to hole instead, and most people do. For tee-times, green fees, and additional information visit the UBC Golf site here.

Drive - While great practice for improving your par score, a driving range is also popular for those looking to whack the ball to release post work or study tensions. At the University Golf Course the 20 covered stalls and 30 sun kissed mats offer driving bliss through the entire year. The range is also stocked with 30,000 new range golf balls to ensure your drives remain true through each and every swing.

Experience - For those of you seeking a golf experience off of the course then you're on the right track when in the UBC area where the BC Golf Museum and Hall of Fame stands off of West 10th and Blanca. This sport/lifestyle based museum houses the best collection of its kind in Canada. A walk through its heritage halls details the arrival of golf in BC (via Europe), its historical rise in popularity in the province, and its permanent place in the leisure and recreational landscape of our beloved region. The displays and exhibitions within the museum include everything from vintage clubs and antique bags to books and photographic accounting of the history of golf in BC. I can't imagine a better golfer's paradise than a warm summer day out on the UBC green completed by a casual yet engaging stroll through the BC Golf Museum and Hall of Fame in the early evening.

If you and your household consider golf a big part of your lifestyle and you are in the market for a new home then I encourage you to contact UBC Homes today. Perhaps we can discuss your real estate needs over a round or two.

Some of you have started the new year with a winter wedding. Others may be exchanging vows this Valentine’s Day weekend (congrats to all by the way!). The next big life transition that often arrives after a marriage is finding a new home, especially if adding a bundle of joy (or two, three, four?) is on the near horizon. In the spirit of this coming romantic weekend, or for any of you getting hitched in the future, I have decided to use my UBC real estate blog to provide you with a few casual tips to help guide you through the process of finding a new home together as newlyweds.

5 Tips for Newlyweds Looking for a New Home

1. Get Rid of Your Cumulative Debt

It can be tempting to start the house hunting fresh out of the gates but do yourself a favor, be patient, and pay off your debt first. With your combined incomes (when applicable) you can accomplish this quite possibly within the first year of your new union. Once you’re working with a cleaner financial slate, you can find a home and mortgage that works on your terms.

2. Consider Future Income

You may be combining incomes as newlyweds but before you take on that long term mortgage ask yourselves if it will stay that way. Many newlyweds start a family and buy a new home around the same time. When doing so, they often assume that after maternity/paternity leave both will return to the workforce. However more often than one may assume the initial “stay at home” parent becomes a long term “stay at home” parent. They realize they prefer to focus on raising their children – it can be tough to leave a one year old in the hands of daycare. All of a sudden your dual income becomes one, weighing a bit heavier on your finances.

3. Consider School Catchment

For those newlyweds with a family on the horizon moving into a favorable school catchment is essential when considering a new home. The UBC area for example is one of the most popular school catchment districts of Greater Vancouver, offering access to some of the best educational institutions around, from kindergarten to secondary school to post-secondary school.

4. Consider Community

School catchment alone does not a good neighborhood make, for newlyweds planning well in advance. Find your new home in a community that suits both your current and future lifestyle. Everything from the shops, cafes, entertainment, and indoor/outdoor recreational access is important to your quality of life. You’re integrating your entire life as a couple into the community, make sure it’s a good fit for you both.

5. Select a Real Estate Agent Specializing in Finding Homes for Newlyweds and Young Families

There are real estate agents that get into the game only to make a buck. There are others that enjoy more than the career aspirations of it all. There's an intangible reward that comes with finding the perfect home for a young couple that may very well make their new abode a place where many generations of their lineage will grow up. Finding a real estate agent that has worked with newlyweds, young couples, and families is essential to the success of your new home purchase. Having served the family friendly UBC real estate community for many years I am sensitive to the needs of newlyweds and young families considering a home in the area. Feel free to contact UBC Homes anytime and we can start with a casual conversation about taking the next exciting step in your life together.