Will you pick up? 

Make 2023 your year to find your dream home.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us because we would love the opportunity to talk real estate with you!

Buyer Tip

Visit the home multiple times before making your final decision

Don't be that buyer that looks at a home once and makes their decision on the spot. Visit a potential home several times at different times of day to gain a different perspective. This is the place you intend on spending many years in, so you should feel comfortable saying it's right for you.

Buying a home in Victoria’s real estate market can be exciting, but don’t get too caught up in the excitement. To give yourself the best chance of avoiding buyer’s remorse, take your time to make your final decision on buying a home.

If you're thinking of buying and would like some tips or assistance, reach out to us!

It’s that time of the year again! As of January 1st you could’ve found out your 2023 BC property tax assessment. Many of you will probably find the numbers a bit inflated.

“Homeowners across Vancouver Island can generally expect about a 10% to 20% rise in assessment values with a few exceptions," says Vancouver Island Deputy Assessor Jodie MacLennan. While the current real estate market has been trending downwards, it is important to consider that 2023 assessments are based on what your home could have sold for as of July 1, 2022, when the market was performing higher.

WHAT IS ASSESSED VALUE? The assessment authority provides values that are determined in July of 2022. Its sole purpose is to help the municipality determine the amount of property taxes homeowners will have to pay during the year. A common misconception is that a big jump in your home’s assessment directly translates into higher property taxes. If your property’s assessment change is similar to the average change for your property class, your property taxes will likely remain the same.

WHAT IS MARKET VALUE?  A realtor will pull recent comparable sales in order to determine the market value of your property. Ultimately, a market value is determined by what a buyer is willing to pay for your home, and what the seller is willing to accept.

If you’re curious about what your home could sell for in the current market or want a recommendation for a listing price, then reach out for a FREE market evaluation, no pressure and no obligation.

Nowadays, real estate is a hot topic with so much to cover. Everything from the state of the housing market, to tips for first-time home buyers, and trends in home design are covered in REAL TIME podcasts. Queue up, or tune in and listen to the experts in all things real estate share real advice, in real time.

1. Episode 7- Buying and Designing: Lessons Learned in Real Estate with Sarah Richardsonn. This infotaining chat with designer, author, and TV icon Sarah Richardson. The Canadian design expert imparts knowledge from the real estate lessons she’s learned throughout her career as a designer, business owner, and homeowner.

2. Episode 20- The Positive Effects of Universal Design: Brad McCannell discusses the importance of design that accommodates people of all ages and abilities.You’ll discover simple ways to adopt universal design that will not only make your space more accessible, but can help add value to your home.

3. A Conversation About Homelessness in Canada, with Jesse Thistle. Jesse joined REAL TIME in November of 2020 to share his personal experience with homelessness and how Canadians can help prevent it on a local and national scale.

4. Episode 13- Wellness by Design: Tiffany Pratt discusses creating a Home that Brings Joy. If you feel you need a creative spark and motivation to make changes in your space to really express who you are, this episode is for you.

5. Episode 18- The Evolution of Canadian Vacation Properties. Heather Bayerdraws from her 20 years of experience to share best practices for investing in a vacation property, affordability, and the pros and cons of short-term rentals. Get a sense of which buyer bucket you fit into, and how it can affect your plans to purchase a vacation home or turn your existing getaway property into a short-term rental.

If you're thinking of buying and would like some tips or assistance, reach out to us. We'd love to discuss anything realestate with you!

We ranked #2 Top 100 Month to Date (December) Team Residential for Western Canada! 

On behalf of RE/MAX of Western Canada, Island Homes group ranked in at #2 

An outstanding team performance on completed transactions for the month of December 2022(based on paid out commissions in the month).