Being a Remax realtor in Vancouver offers insight into the wants and needs of the city. Global shifts, market trends and new, emerging needs. Whether its exploration into laneway homes or coach-houses, Fraser Condos, 2 bedrooms on Main Street and East Vancouver townhomes, Matt Henry is constantly aware of the pulse of the city and its residents desires.

The newest kid on the block to watch now is the significance of the home office!

Home offices have become coveted real estate, with a new demand from so many professionals adjusting to working from home.  The Matt Henry Team @ Remax gives insight into how this current upswing is adding to property value: 

“Main Street real estate and the surrounding East Vancouver areas of Cambie Street and Cedar Cottage, continue to be highly desirable places to live.  Now we are seeing a new factor adding to their importance; space for a home office.  A year into the pandemic, we are at a time when some peoples’ jobs have gone completely remote for the foreseeable future, so if you’re a homeowner ready to sell and you have that great little nook, alcove or spare room that could be perfect for a home office, you’ve just added to your point of sale greatly. Even for owners looking for renters, this same principle applies. Real estate ties itself to the trends and right now we are seeing a real need for that extra little bit of space to work at home.” - Matt Henry.

So this is great, for people selling but what about people who are renting? Is there benefit on their side too? Well in short, yes. As people shift from heading out to the office to now working from their homes, they can look at writing off workable space at tax time.  We encourage everyone to check with your accountant or investigate through the Canadian government’s website for how to proceed.

These are unpredictable times and we’ll take the wins where we can. Although working from home is causing adjustments beyond what we realized, we are now able to see benefits from this change for both sellers/buyers and renters alike.

As always, the Matt Henry Team @ Remax is here to work with you, helping you to achieve your Vancouver real estate goals.

Matt Henry Team | homes@matthenry.ca | matthenry.ca | Instagram | facebook

Buyers Market has arrived!

Prices are down, inventory is up, now may be a great time to buy.

Current projections from the Bank of Canada, and many Economists alike, are suggesting that interest rates are going to remain low heading into the Fall season, which could level out the really high market prices we’ve been seeing for a while.  Our regions exceptionally high prices have dropped since the peak.

“This isn’t to say rush into hasty purchases, say’s Matt Henry of Remax Select Realty, but rather be aware that you can take more time to really look and evaluate your options. There will be lots of inventory to go through coming up in the next few months and prices will be a lot more attainable for people wanting to make a move or get into the market.  Be aware to not step out of your means either.  Just because you can get a low interest rate you still need to be mindful of keeping within your budget as to not put yourself in a pressure position should the interest rates fluctuate in the next few years.”

But, as it stands now, it seems the buyers will have an advantage on price, rates and availability so if you have been waiting on the right time to get into the market, now just might be it.

Is it time to consider a joint purchase?

In the ever-changing ebb and flow of Vancouver Real Estate, a new trend is starting to emerge that serves as both an excellent investment option as well as an entry point into the market. Welcome to the table, the Joint Purchase option.

“From an Investment standpoint, it makes total sense”, says Matt Henry, Vancouver Remax Realtor. “You get a small group of like minded people who are essentially treating this as an addition to their existing portfolio mix. As far as longevity before seeing returns, this is relatively short as groups can see profit in 2-3 years”.

“But”, he says “this is also a great play for entry into the marketplace. Which a lot of young, successful Vancouverites are still struggling to break into, despite having great careers and even some capital saved up. You could essentially use the profits from the sales in this kind of joint purchase situation and add that to your savings. From there, many first time buyers are now in a position to put a down payment on their dream home.”

The process seems fairly simple, so long as you have someone like Matt Henry onboard. He comes ready to vet each person in the group to ensure a cohesive endeavor. He will mediate for the group in times of personality conflicts or emotions on the buy/sell part of things. He has the leads on homes suited for this venture, lawyers, developers, stagers and anyone else needed to ensure a smooth transition from purchase to sell to profit.

So whether it be a sound investment deal to step up your Portfolio, or an opportunity for you and some friends to all get into the Vancouver Real Estate Market, perhaps a Joint Purchase might be right for you.

For further information on Joint Purchase please contact the Matt Henry Team at Remax Realty Vancouver*

Tips for settling into a new neighbourhood

Moving to a new neighbourhood can sometimes leave us feeling a bit like a fish out of water. Fortunately the Matt Henry Team has compiled our top 3 tips that can help ease you into your new space!  Whether your Vancouver Realtor has helped you into a condo on Main Street, a Laneway in East Vancouver, a Coachhome in the Fraser Valley, a townhouse in Mount Pleasant or a home in the Cambie area, these helpful hints can get you settled in and feeling at home in no time!

1)     Be a tourist (on foot) in your new neighbourhood!

The “on foot” is the key part of this step as walking is where we really get that birds eye view of our surroundings and we can literally stop and go as we please, with no hassle of finding parking! Take notes as you go to create a list of funky shops and new eating spots you and your family can try out.  Once a week choose a new place from your list to explore and before you know it familiarity will quickly bring comfort.

2)     Throw a party!

Inviting your friends and family to come celebrate with you in your new space is a great way to begin forming new memories that will last a lifetime! Cherish these firsts’ as they will add to the joy you feel in your new home.  It is proven that the places in which we experience moments of happiness are places we want to return to time and time again.  Beginning with a celebration is a sure way of laying a foundation of vibrant energy in your new space. Who doesn’t want to go home to that!

3)     Ask, ask, ask!

Talk to the locals in your new area.  Ask them their favourite cafés, watering holes, best produce markets, fish shops, florists.  Then go see those places for yourself.  We are creatures of comfort and the more we familiarize ourselves with our surroundings the quicker they begin to feel authentically like our own.  Plus, with all that conversing you might just make a new friend or two!

As we specialize in Main Street Real Estate in East Vancouver our team is always happy to share our favourite spots and tips. If you’ve recently moved, re-located, or are looking into a new home in this area please feel free to reach out to The Matt Henry Team at Remax for some great local knowledge!