Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy Chinese New Year from the Bettina Reid Group. Wishing everyone a prosperous year during the year of the Dragon!

I came across an article in the Province today that's not very positive for Vancouver residents but I think helps to promote the real estate market for the lower mainland. Vancouver has become less and less affordable for 1st time buyers and young families, as the article put it there's only a few homes to choose from under $300,000. Whereas our communities here in the Fraser valley offer a wide variety of homes to choose from in and around the $300,000 price range from condos to townhomes and occasionally detached homes depending on where in the Valley you are looking. We have come across many buyers in the last couple years that have been looking to get out of Vancouver in order to buy an affordable home. The further into the Valley you go the more home and property you can get for your dollar.

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Will%20young%20homebuyers%20goodbye%20Vancouver%20good/6033342/story.html

I blogged about "Dine out Vancouver" last year and intended on experiencing this exciting festival...but of course busy with work and family it didn't quite happen. But I thought I would share the link for others to enjoy and hopfefully hubby and I will get a chance to take part this year.

From what I hear the restaurants book up fast, so book early.

http://www.tourismvancouver.com/dine/search-restaurants/

If you get a chance to check out any of the festival, let us know where you would recommend.

I help out each year at Hillcrest Elementary in Cloverdale where both of our girls went to elementary school. That is where I 1st heard about the McBurney family and what they are going through.

Every parents worst nightmare is losing a child...they are meant to out live us not the other way around.

Kade McBurney is a grade 1 student that attended Hillcrest Elementary school before he became too ill to go to school. He has been diagnosed with inoperable cancer. I was touched by the outpouring of well wishes that seemed to go through the halls of Hillcrest while I was there. Not a day went by where I didn't hear about someone helping out the family. From what I could tell the community support has been incredible. I was touched by the support of such a small community.

The support continues as local Cloverdale resident and business owner Clare Materi and her business partner prepare for tomorrow's fitness-a-thon to help raise money for the family. Their goal is to raise enough money to help cover a couple months worth of mortgage payments as the McBurney family has taken time off to spend it with Kade. The fitness-a-thon runs Saturday January 21, 2012 from 8am-2pm.

For more information visit the the Live 2 Play Fitness website:

http://www.live2playfitness.ca/index.html

This morning my husband mentioned that I should watch a segment on "The View" regarding a family that has changed their lifestyle to "Zero Waste". They literally only collect a mason jar full of garbage within a year. It is pretty amazing. My husband knew that I would be interested as I am always looking for ways to be environmentally friendly. We have one garbage bin and some weeks have only one small bag in our bin. Whereas we recycle just about everything we can. We have 2 recycle bins a large and a small one. We are usually the only ones on our cul-de-sac with our recycle bins over flowing. I am amazed as you drive through the neighbourhood just how many people don't recycle or recycle very little.

Well as much as I would like to have my family become "Zero Waste" I am not too sure that I could go to the lengths this family has gone. But I truly do commend their efforts. If everyone even took on a few of the things they have done to get there, our world would be on the right track.

Like many of us have started doing...they use grocery totes when shopping. As much as the retail stores don't like it, I try and keep a few of my totes specifically for non-food items. They don't like it because they lose the advertising as we walk through the malls...but oh well! I do like that many stores have started providing totes to put your purchases in or at least have gone to paper bags.


To read more about the Johnson Family's "Zero Waste" living visit their website: http://thezerowastehome.com/

They use the 4 R's starting with "Refuse" - they try not to accept anything that comes in packaging, by providing their own packaging for just about everything...including bringing clean glass jars to the grocery store to purchase their meats, cheeses etc.

By doing that they "Reduce" their waste consumption from the source.

By providing their own containers they "Reuse" as much as they can...including buying the majority of their clothing from thrift shops and re-inventing ways to wear them.

Because of their efforts they have very little they need to "Recycle".

Here are a couple more great articles on Zero Waste: The Ultimate Guide to Zero Waste  , Moving Toward a Zero-Waste Lifestyle and How to Seriously Lessen Your Carbon Footprint When You Move


This year I would like to try composting and I love the idea of worm composting (Vermicomposting). I only wish #Surrey would adopt the same program that #LangleyTownship has. They offer a workshop for their residents to take on how to use one of these bins properly and effectively and even offer a "Worm composting party" if you want to invite 8 more people to learn how to compost. What a great idea and they will come out for free! The cost of the worm kit is only $30.

For #Langley Township residents check out their website for more information:http://www.tol.ca/CurrentNewsInitiatives/Initiatives/HomeComposting.aspx

We would love to hear if your family decides to take the "Zero Waste" challenge or what you do to be environmentally friendly. If you have any other ideas that are simple and easy to do, please share them!

We moved here almost 7 years ago from Ontario to get away from the cold and the snow....-20 C with the windchill is not fun at all. It wasn't back east and it's no better here in BC. Then to add another 10-15cm that we are expected to get, and to top it off with freezing rain. All I can say now is ....Drive careful, if you don't have to go anywhere tomorrow it might be a good idea to stay home and make it a long weekend!

The Bank of Montreal recently came out with a 5year fixed rate of 2.99%. The lowest we have seen from Canadian banks. A few of the other major banks are looking at matching the rate or offering something similar.

We have had a number of people asking us about what we think. Everyone should be very careful before getting too excited about the rate and make sure they sit down with their mortgage specialist and ensure they go over ALL the details. There are a number of restrictions and I always caution getting involved with so many restrictions as you never know what the next 5 years will bring.

If you want more information about this rate. Please give us a call and we would be happy to refer you to a mortgage specialist who can help.

We all have them...old bras that sit in the back of the drawer and never get worn. You don't know what to do with them because you can't just donate them to a thrift store and if you're like me you feel guilty throwing them in the garbage. (I like to recycle or give away as much as I can.) 

Yvonne, the owner of Malary's in #Cloverdale will be heading to Mexico soon to help out more than 500 breast #cancer survivors. They will take these bras and remove the underwires, sterilize and retro-fit them. Not only that but they will go down with wigs, hats and even prosthetics for all of the women.

What a great cause!

If you have any old bras, hats, or wigs please drop them off to Yvonne at Malary's Fashion network - 5755 176St in Cloverdale.

For more information on the cause that Yvonne is a part of visit the following link:

http://www.cancerdemamaclinic.com/

Residents of #Surrey can expect to pay when inquiring about properties.

This will mainly affect Realtors and others in the housing industry. As a realtor in order to our due diligence we will inquire about properties whether for Sellers or Buyers in order to verify information. What has previously been a free service is soon going to cost us.

As of Feb.15, 2012 everyone will have to pay $18 when looking to find out the age, square footage or final occupancy date of a piece of property. As well as having to pay for a copy of the Survey certificate.

We can understand the need to cover the city's costs as far as Survey certificates and perhaps could even handle a small charge for the other information. But $18 seems like they are gouging us. Recently I was pulling information and survey certificate from the city of #Abbotsford and was shocked that we were being charged $35 for a survey certificate. Even though we are paying less here in Surrey, I still think it is too much. Whereas the Township of #Langley still offers free information....how long before it will cost us there too?

We'd love to hear your opinion... City of Surrey charges for property information

I want to give a special thank you to Yvonne and the rest of her staff from Malary's fashion network in #Cloverdale. She was kind enough to open up her shop for myself and a few friends, family and colleagues. We all enjoyed ourselves and came out with a few great new pieces from her shop to add to our wardrobe. But I think the hit of the night was learning and then experiencing Yvonne's "Tab bras".

Back in July 2011, CTV did a report about how most women are wearing the wrong bra size. In fact they said "While British Columbian women spend millions of dollars on bras, experts say up to 90 percent of them are still wearing the wrong size".
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110726/bc_steele_bra_sizing_110727/20110727?hub=BritishColumbia

I don't know know how many times over the years that I have had conversations with friends and family about how our bras are uncomfortable or dig into our shoulders or how the straps drive us crazy because they are always falling off our shoulders....

Well everyone one of us were fitted for the "Tab bras" and we all watched each and every one of us come out of the changeroom a transformed woman. Literally everyone got an immediate lift, that only cost them the price of the bra....lol Some were amazed at the difference, others noticed a change int heir breathing, it truly was an exciting experience.

The reason I arranged this evening with Yvonne was because of the design and benefits of the "Tab bra". They are designed without elastics or underwire. They will not shift and the straps won't fall off your shoulders. They are available for women of all sizes big or small. From 28" - 42" and up to cup size KK. Most shops I have seen before wouldn't even do a fitting for a small breasted woman. These bras are designed for women of all sizes. They are also considered a medical orthopedic bra for women with prothesis after having had a mastectomy.

Aside from everything else one of the main reasons I wanted the bra was to help improve my posture by relieving the strain on my back and neck. I cannot say enough good things about them and already feel great wearing my new bra!

If you are looking for a place to get a good fitting check out Malary's in #Cloverdale and ask about the "Tab bra" in the mean time visit their website for more detailed information. http://tabbra.com/index.html

By now everyone should have had their BC Assessments come in the mail. Surrey and White Rock residents saw their tax assessments go up between 7-8%. Whereas Langley City only increased by 1.5% and the Township almost 3.5%. I have had a few calls from Surrey clients upset with their tax assessments having increased as much as much as they did. I thought it was worth reminding everyone that if they are unhappy with their tax assessments they should ensure they file their complaints by January 31, 2012. If you are thinking of appealing and decide to mail in the complaint it must be postmarked by January 31, 2012 as well.

For more information on your BC tax assessment and how to file a complaint visit the following link:
http://www.bcassessment.ca/Pages/default.aspx

Some advice I received from a colleague (that used to be on the panel) below if you are thinking of appealing

The most specific things you should know:

People do not do themselves real favours by being represented by realtors or other professionals;  the Panel is made up of individuals [usually not related to the industry!!] whose job it is to provide the link between the Mass Assessment that is required by BCAAuthority, and the specifics of their home or property.  It is NOT a formal Court anymore.

The belief that the Assessment has (Increased 'too much' or Is too high) isn't an acceptable argument. The question is how the property differs from the mass of this category and neighbourhood.

Examples:
Does the home stand out as different from its comparables??  Is it the only rustic log house on a tiny no view lot, in a neighbourhood of architect designed, elegant view homes on acres?
There you would need to confirm at the hearing that BCAA did not take that into account, and with Photos illustrating the differences between theirs and their neighbours, the point can be made by an individual and the panel will likely order a change in the assessment.  Photos are so key!!!

Is the home in disrepair?  Bring Photos showing this, and Estimates of repairs required, and a Cost to Cure reduction will be assigned

But truly, the individual is best to represent themselves.  You can certainly help by pulling stats and info! But given that heartstrings are available to be tugged, and photos will tell the tale   ...because the Panel is there to ensure fairness, you really want them to be the presenter, if they can.   The hard part is to get the Homeowner to understand that the assessment does not consider the value NOW, but its value AS AT last July 1.  So, if you pull comparables, make sure the sales were as close to July 1 last year [the Valuation date] as possible.  Of course, listings are irrelevant.  Sales only will provide comparables.

Last, you want to look at the Comparables BCAA will provide and see if they do compare!  [size, style, condition, views, location (Watch this one!!!!) and so on]

Good luck for those appealing!

Why is it after catching a cold a week ago, that just when I am should be starting to feel better...I seem to be getting worse. Feeling miserable today...not feeling very creative today but didn't want to break my streak of blogging.