by andrew | Jan 24, 2020 | Other
What makes BC feel like home to you?
Enter our March Contest!
Show us what home is BC means to you. Capture your favourite #homeisBC moment on Instagram, use the hashtag and tag us to win a $1,000. See below for full contest details.
A home is what you make it, it’s where you rest your head, connect with your family, and what comforts you. Home is where you grow, play, create and work. It’s where you sail the ocean, hike the mountains, and cruise the cities. And our home is BC.
Home is BC – Winner Announcement.
What does home is BC mean to you?
During March 2020, people from around the province have shared their love of BC by capturing their favourite #homeisBC moment on Instagram.
Thanks to the more than 200 pictures posted only on Instagram, we could explore BC and keep dreaming about going outside.
From those amazing pictures, we’ve chosen the photo below released by @mywhiskeygirl!
A beautiful moment from a photo taken in Squamish, BC.
We Work Here
We Live here
Home is BC
Home is where we work with our friends, neighbours and clients. Where we help clients for their lifetime whether they move into their first place, over to a bigger space or downsize when the timing feels right. We know that one size does not fit all, and every region has something different to offer.
Now it’s your turn! Capture a home is BC moment and share it with us.
How do you describe BC to a tourist or your out-of-town family? Illustrate that feeling of BC pride or capture a favourite moment of what makes you feel at home in this province?
How to enter:
- Head to Macdonald Realty on Instagram (@macdonaldrealtybc) to view the official contest post.
- Like the official post and tag a friend who would love to participate in this contest.
- Post on your social media a photo that represents “Home is BC” for you.
- Tag and follow @macdonaldrealtybc and use the hashtag #HomeisBC
Full contest details below.
Macdonald Realty Contest Rules & Entry
IMPORTANT: Please read these Official Rules before entering the Home is BC contest. By entering the Contest, you agree to the terms of these Official Rules.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
ELIGIBILITY: The contest is open to residents of British Columbia. Entrants must have a public Instagram profile so @macdonaldrealtybc will be able to access the post and photos must be of original content. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Multiple entries allowed.
ENTRY PERIOD: March 2nd – March 31st, 2020
HOW TO ENTER:
- Head to Macdonald Realty on Instagram (@macdonaldrealtybc) to view the official contest post.
- Like the official post and tag a friend who would love to participate in this contest.
- Post on your social media a photo that represents “Home is BC” for you.
- Tag and follow @macdonaldrealtybc and use the hashtag #HomeisBC
PLEASE DON’T: Post including photographs that may have copyright violations, offensive, inappropriate content or defame any person, or otherwise, infringe on any person’s proprietary rights.
PRIVACY POLICY: All the photos shared on social media with the tags #HomeisBC and/or @macdonaldrealtybc can be shared by Macdonald Realty on its social media channels during or after the contest period (as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn). By entering this Contest, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to this privacy policy.
PRIZE: $1,000 Visa Gift Card
WINNER SELECTION: Winners will be selected in a voting period by the marketing team of Macdonald Realty after the final day of entry up to one month after contest ends.
by Macrealty Marketing Team | Jan 20, 2020 | Other
Thinking of buying your first home in 2020? We understand that it might be the biggest purchase you make. Together let’s eliminate some stress from the process with these essential tips from the team at Macdonald Realty.
Macdonald Realty’s Real Estate Agents
1. Asses your financial situation
This is a critical first step in the home-buying process. You don’t want to start house-hunting and fall for a home you can’t afford. Understanding your credit score is important not only because you will want to make sure it is accurate and free of errors as it will be checked before getting your mortgage approved.
What else is important to be considered? Two other crucial factors are income and, of course, your down payment.
Most mortgages are long-term commitments: Keep in mind that you may be making those payments every month for the next 25 years.
Are you expecting a raise soon or changing jobs? You may want to consider if you will have more buying power in a few short months and wait the grace period for getting approved after you move.
Are you self-employed? There are different qualifications needed for different types of income earners, make sure you talk with a mortgage broker on your options.
As a first time home buyer there are some programs to help you increase your down payment which will help your mortgage payments and buying power.
1. First Time Home Buyers
The First-Time Home Buyer Incentive helps people across Canada purchase their first home. The program offers 5 or 10% of the home’s purchase price to put toward a down payment. This addition to your down payment lowers your mortgage carrying costs, making homeownership more affordable.
According to placetocallhome.ca these are a few criteria to determine your eligibility for the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive:
- you have your minimum down payment
- your total annual qualifying income doesn’t exceed $120,000
- your total borrowing is no more than 4 times your qualifying income
- you or your partner are a first-time homebuyer
- you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or non-permanent resident authorized to work in Canada
READ MORE!
2. Home Buyer’s Plan / RRSPs
The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) is a program that allows you to withdraw from your registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) to buy or build a qualifying home for yourself. If you’re buying with your partner you can contribute $50,000 together from your RRSPs.
2. Get your approval
“Getting pre‑approved for a mortgage before looking at properties gives you a more realistic expectation of what you can afford.” – CREA
According to CREA, a mortgage is a loan, generally used to buy a property. How much you pay depends on how much you borrow (the principal), the loan’s interest rate, and how long you take to pay it back (the amortization period). You can negotiate interest rates and mortgage terms with different lenders.
Assess mortgage products and different types of lenders to see what fits your needs helps you make an informed decision.
What type of mortgage is best for you?
1. Fixed rate mortgages: Your interest rate is locked in for a specified period called a term. Your payments stay the same for the mortgage’s term so you will not pay more if interest rates increase over time.
2. Variable rate mortgages: Rate of interest you pay may change if rates go up or down.
3. Conventional mortgages: Require a down payment of 20% or more of the property’s value. You are not required to get mortgage default insurance with a conventional mortgage.
4. Closed mortgages: The mortgage cannot be paid off early without paying a prepayment charge.
5. Open mortgages: A mortgage that can be paid off at any time during the term, without having to pay a charge. The interest rate for an open mortgage may be higher than for a closed mortgage with the same term.
READ MORE!
3. Determine your down payment amount
Just because the bank approves you for a certain amount doesn’t mean you have to spend it all. Think about what would happen if you lost your job and stay unemployed for three months or if you have any other unexpected financial situations.
Based on CREA’s Homebuyer’s Road Map, you may have to pay penalties if you prepay large portions of your mortgage early or if you break your mortgage due to unforeseen life changes. It is your right to know how lenders calculate prepayment penalties.
“Read your mortgage contract carefully and make sure you understand how penalties will be calculated before you sign.” – CREA
4. Find a real estate agent
If it’s your first time going through the process of buying a home, having a real estate agent by your side is extremely recommended. The agent knows essential information about the current market, fair pricing, neighbourhood amenities and so much more. They are there to guide you through the process and help you make the best decision for you.
The Real Estate Council of BC is the legislated regulatory agency that works to ensure real estate professionals have the skills and knowledge to provide you with a high standard of service.
Real estate professionals have a regulatory requirement to present you with some consumer information before providing services to you. When you become a client, you may be asked to sign a written agreement setting out you and the real estate professional’s responsibilities.
Contact us today to be connected with one of our agents who can help you achieve your goals.
5. Stay positive & open to opportunities
Maybe your first home will most likely look nothing like a multi-million-dollar property, but keep your options open for small renovations or upgrades that could help save money. Don’t concern too much about wallpaper, or lighting fixtures; these are easy to change or update. The things you should be more concerned about are the size and layout of the property, along with the condition of the roof, hot water system and plumbing, etc. — the reason why an inspection is one of the most important recommendations during this process.
6. Found your space, now what?
Buying a house requires a lot of time and effort but we can help you make the home buying process manageable and make the process as easy as possible. There are many things to consider along the process and an agent can help be your guide beyond finding your home. The home buying process is a long map all the way through your possession date!
You can count on Macdonald Realty to help you dream big and help you to make things happen. Visit our website to find more information: www.macrealty.com
by Macrealty Marketing Team | Dec 4, 2019 | Other
We’re excited for the most wonderful season of the year! The holidays are around the corner and we know decorating can be fun and challenging if you want to keep your space simple, contemporary or modern.
Whether you’re into winter land décor or prefer the traditional red & greens, we’ve searched Pinterest for five minimalist holiday decoration ideas that everybody will love! Start setting up early a fun, minimalist feeling for celebrations while crafting a cozy atmosphere at your home to get you in the festive spirit.
1. Bring the outdoors inside
String pinecones across a wall to bring a bit of the wintertime inside. Spray a bit of fake snow to make it extra wintery.
2. Trees of all shapes and sizes
Giving the hint or suggestion of a wintery tree will allude to the season, coordinate with your own colour scheme or let your imagination run wild.
3. Forage for your decor
Decorative branches can be found in some designer store but also at your local park, be sure not to harm the trees. Hang the branch, lay it on your mantel for a forest feeling.
Via “Woods And Weaves”
4. Happiness is simple
You can bring a joyful mood to your home without feeling overwhelmed. Gold ornaments and tiny lights are timeless and will reflect natural shine throughout your home to add that extra sparkle to your decor.
6. Holiday colour palettes
Red and green are the power colour duo of the season. Create beautiful decorations by combining different elements like flowers, leaves and berries.
Ready to give your home a glow and festive spirit?
Have fun and happy holidays!
by Macrealty Marketing Team | Oct 4, 2019 | Other
New North Vancouver rental apartment building The Saint George offers both modern amenities and a traditional approach
Macdonald Property Management – OCTOBER 4, 2019 05:00 AM
Posted at North Shore News website.
Perhaps you’ve noticed a new arrival to the neighbourhood. Emerging on the skyline as you look to the sunrise, there’s an elegant new apartment development creating a buzz.
Nestled on a welcoming corner lot, two short blocks off Lonsdale Ave on East 18th Street, The Saint George has now risen to its full 6-storey stature — built to provide lovely 360-degree views of all the grandeur the North Shore has to offer. But what truly sets this rental building apart?
In a word: freedom. In another word: family.
As our world seems to change so quickly and pressures can overwhelm, for many it feels like we’re drifting away from valued traditions and the fulfillment of some genuine human needs. Where and how we choose to live can make all the difference in the world, bringing many of the joys of life back home.
The Saint George is designed to be this kind of home. Marrying modern spaces and amenities with traditional values, the 96-suite luxury apartment complex distinguishes itself with one key invitation: you, your children and your pets are truly welcome.
As you know if you’ve ever scoured apartment ads — whether in traditional or digital media — adding “children” or “pets allowed” to your search criteria can potentially reduce your options to nil.
Enter The Saint George.
The Opportunity
Developed by Jameson Development Corp. (in association with Macdonald Commercial R.E.S. Ltd), the focus from the start has been to roll out the red carpet for people of all ages and, in particular, to include children and pets. This family- and pet-friendly culture radiates throughout, right down to the on-site kids’ outdoor play area. However your family is configured, there’s the perfect space for you: choose between one-, two- or three-bedroom suites and even a townhouse if you desire additional room to move. ADA suites are also available.
Macdonald Commercial’s Managing Director Tony Letvinchuk shares, “We are very pleased to collaborate with Jameson to bring this much-needed residential rental building to the North Shore market. It’s a very complex approval process – Jameson has pulled all the pieces together to create a “win-win” for tenants and the community. Our Macdonald Property Management colleagues report very active tenant interest with 1/3 of the building already rented.”
Beautifully appointed with luxurious condo finishes, all smoke-free suites and inclusive of heat, hot water and an on-site caretaker, you’ll find several hospitals and schools are only a short walk or drive away. Access to local amenities — including shopping, restaurants, public transit or your morning latte — could not be easier.
Want to grow veggies for yourself or teach the kids about farm-to-table sustainability? There are garden plots available. Would you like heated floors, energy-efficiency and a move-in incentive tech bundle from TELUS? They’ve got it. How about secured underground parking, electric car-charging stations and indoor-outdoor bike storage? It’s all there for you at The Saint George.
Now since the kids and pets are with you, there will be lots of dishes and laundry to do, right? Within the menu of bonus features, you’ll find your very own in-suite dishwasher and washer-dryer set. Perhaps you just love to cook or workout a lot — either way, they’ve made clean-up easy.
Finally, after a long day at work or play, you can sit back and relax with a glass of wine on your balcony or invite friends and family over to celebrate your new home in the residents’ amenity room.
With its proximity to North Van’s Lonsdale Avenue and a mere minutes’ drive to highways north for your weekend at Whistler or ferries to Vancouver Island, it’s also a snap to connect with points east or south into the city … and beyond.
Freedom, family, fun. Now that’s what we call home. It’s all happening at The Saint George.
What are you waiting for? Your new home is ready for you to come take a look.
THE SAINT GEORGE
North Vancouver’s Newest Community Jewel
Where: 154 East 18th Street, North Vancouver
Walk Score: “Walkers’ Paradise – Good Transit – Very Bikeable”
To learn more and attend an open house, visit macdonaldpm.com/the-saint-george or call 604-714-5740.
You can also follow Macdonald Commercial & Property Management services on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and see what all the buzz is about.
by Macrealty Marketing Team | Aug 28, 2019 | Other
School bells are buzzing all around the country and families everywhere are getting everything organized to ensure that their kids have a smooth transition from summertime to school time. We all know how crazy the back to school routine can get, so here we have prepared a few tips to help you to develop habits to improve your day-to-day responsibilities.
Create a Morning Routine Schedule
Your family’s back to school morning routine will determine the rest of the day. How to improve your morning to be a productive and pain-free time of day?
– Define a morning routine schedule with set times and who is responsible for what daily
– Prepare at night for the next morning: lunch bags, clothes, backpacks, breakfast – anything that can be prepared the night before is one less thing to do during the morning rush.
Plan the Lunch Bags
Think “out of the lunch box” and have your lunches ideas prepared ahead. You can try:
– Come up your lunch box plan the weekend before. Find great fresh lunch ideas here: momables.com
– Leave the kitchen clean and organized – you will need a lot of space to set out breakfast while packing the lunches and watching the kids.
Create Strategic Places
Sometimes it can be challenging to keep children organized. This is where establishing specific places where everything belongs in your home plays an essential role in your back to school routine.
You can create a homework station, for example, and also some designated spaces to backpacks, papers, projects, forms that need to be signed, etc.
Define a Bedtime
Bedtime is a significant part of the school routine. According to the National Sleep Foundation babies, children and teens need significantly more sleep than adults, as we can see in the table below:
Talk to your children about the importance of having a good night of sleep and try to create a comforting schedule for them that allows plenty of time for each step so they don’t feel rushed. Add storytime to create a moment of togetherness. Bedtime is one of the most challenging times for all families, don’t let perfect be the enemy of good and continue to work on it.
Your Ideal Home
As a real estate company, we can come up with lots of ideas about your ideal home, but only one is really essential when you have a school-age child: live as close as possible to your kids’ school.
A home that’s walking distance from your children’s school is a dream, especially for working parents. You can quickly drop off the kids on your way to the office, without having to worry as much about traffic or worry that you’ll be late to your important meeting at work.
Investing in a new home also means investing in a new community, and our team of expert real estate agents can introduce you to everything about the neighborhood you’ll potentially live-in – partner with an agent and find your dream home today.
Start by searching our listings here at www.macrealty.com – you can also explore the home details – as the example below, the general information, ask the agent to schedule a showing, save to your favourite list of homes, and more.
by Macrealty Marketing Team | Aug 22, 2019 | Other
With so many wonderful homes listed by Macdonald Realty, it was difficult to choose a few to feature.
Let’s get inspired by these six sophisticated and inviting rooms we’ll never want to leave.
Bright & Blue Kitchen
Here is a clean & bright kitchen. The happy blue color invites us to stay here forever. The custom wood cabinetry is classic and we love the way it adds charm and sophistication to this fantastic space.
Listed by Sean Stevens Personal Real Estate Corporation – Price $1,799,000 – Macdonald Realty / MLS® R2389170
Living Room with a Charm
If there’s anything that can make us stop mid-scroll on Instagram or Facebook, it’s a well-designed living room with a touch of blue! There’re so many great little details here, like the blue cushions that don’t compete with the rest of the decor and this amazing fireplace. It is all clean, and the natural light brings this feeling of a cozy home.
Listed by James McKenny – Price $739,000 – Macdonald Realty / MLS® R2397788
A Palette of Wood & Greys
We love when the color palette of a house works so seamlessly through the entire space. This combination of greys and wood tones gives this space a very warm look! The natural light coming through the window boosts all the tones and textures of the fabric and wood grain. The dining table is also gorgeous and these dark modern chairs bring a touch of classic decor to a contemporary space.
Listed by Richie Huang Personal Real Estate Corporation & Lucia Wang Personal Real Estate Corporation & Jerry Y. Wang Personal Real Estate Corporation – Macdonald Realty / MLS® R2398149
Office & Accessories
All the clean colours work very nicely with the white desk! We love the super soft rug draped across the chair. Accessories can make a big difference and can give a home character and personality. The bright floor and pale grey walls could give to this space an almost clinical look; however, everything in this room is perfect. So clean, so natural, so ready to work!
Listed by Julie Phoenix – Macdonald Realty / MLS® R2365716
Open Plan Kitchen & Living Room
This kitchen looks so luxurious with the white lower cupboards and the custom countertop. The living room is also stunning – it looks straight out of a home magazine. Unique!
Listed by Emily Sandhack – Macdonald Realty / MLS® R2391231
Gorgeous Bathroom
The neutral floors and walls really stand out! It’s simple and sophisticated at the same time. This beautiful bathroom has an open feel of a contemporary space. The bathtub adds charm to the everyday routine, with its minimalist yet functional style.
Listed by Lynn Johnson & Vita Kalns Personal Real Estate Corporation & Bruce Warner – Macdonald Realty / MLS® R2390880
Want to see more? Search listings on macrealty.com and find more homes today to inspire you. Partner with one of our agents!
