MLS® systems: morethana marketingservicedodisellshomes.com/_media/Documents/REBGV Reports...tive on the earlier of either the comple-tion date or the date thatyou paythe balanceofthefundsintrust

F1advertisement ||Wednesday, March 5, 2014 | BreaKInG neWs: VancOUVersUn.cOM

Julie RamiRez2013 MedallionClub Rookie of

the YeaR

Congratulations 2013 Greater Vancouver Medallion Club qualifierseach year the real estate Board of GreaterVancou-

ver (reBGV) celebrates the distinguished achieve-ment of its top-producing members on the Mul-tiple Listing service (MLs) with the Medallion andPresident’s club awards.The 2013 Medallion club qualifiers are selected

from the top 10 per cent of the nearly 11,000 Great-er Vancouver reaLTOrs® participating on theMLs®.

The President’s club qualifiers are selected from thetop one per cent of 2013’s top-producers. This sup-plement is a celebration of the 2013Medallion clubqualifiers and their clients.The reBGV is proud to also recognize the Life

Members of the Medallion club. These realtorshave successfully achieved Medallion club statusfor 20 years. The realtors pictured here attained Life

Member status for the first time in 2013. We salutetheir long-time success and remarkable achieve-ments within the real estate profession. Finally, wewould like to congratulate this year’s Medallionclub rookie of the year winner, Julie ramirez withKellerWilliams elite (Maple ridge office).

Brenda Cheng Murphy Costello RomeoDi Pietra Antony D. Filippelli James P. Hampton

Trevor Inglis Geoff Jarman Ken Johnston Austin Kay Peter Lam

Schumann Li GerardMajor Phil Moore LyndaTerborg Dodi Thorhaug HansW.Wong

The public knows the term Mul-tiple Listing service (MLs) bestfor generating exposure for

homes listed for sale. housing marketinformation originating from the MLssystem has long been recognized asthe most reliable and comprehensivedata available for those looking to buyor sell a home.

Butwhat are theMLS systems?The public website www.realtor.ca is

the most popular and comprehensivereal estate listing website in canada.each month, over five million uniquevisitors go to www.realtor.ca and viewmore than 131 million pages. Butwww.realtor.ca is not an MLs system.It’s an advertising vehicle throughwhich realtors provide the publicwith access to information aboutproperties listed on MLs systemsacross canada.The idea of a ‘multiple listing service’

was born from the need to create aninfrastructure through which real es-tate agents could compete and coop-erate at the same time. It’s variouslybeen called a ‘listing exchange’, ‘coop-erative listing service’, and today’s ‘MLs’(a brand which was owned by the realestate Board of Greater Vancouver andgiven to the canadian real estate as-sociation in 1962 for use by the real es-tate profession across canada).The MLs® evolved to become a com-

plex system of rules and regulations(including processes for dealing withcomplaints and arbitration), profession-al standards, educationandcodeof eth-ics – all to provide a framework for howrealtors could cooperatewhile compet-ing. Thus, listing data may be seen as aby-product of a system developed byBrokersandrealtorsovermanydecadesto enable realtors to work together inthe interest of their clients.For nearly a hundred years, the real

estate Board of Greater Vancouver hasbeen gathering and sharing data to

help ensure a functioning and effec-tive real estate market.To participate on the MLs, realtors

must meet professional developmentrequirements and adhere to a code ofethics and rules of cooperation. Theymust also, among other things, carryerrors and Omissions Insurance andfollow an established process for ar-bitrations.The arbitration process for realtors

is an example of how the MLs frame-work puts the public first. If there’s adispute about commissions paid orany other issues between realtors,the process recognizes that the clientshould get what they want first. anylingering issues, between the cooper-ating realtors, are to be adjudicatedafterward.Many alternate systems and services

exist today to market homes for sale.The MLs goes far beyond a listing ser-vice. It’s a well-regulated infrastruc-ture designed to help the public safelynavigate the home buying and sellingprocess.The value of MLs system data rests

in the quality and accuracy of the in-formation. Government, economists,financial institutions, appraisers andothers all rely on MLs data. This is be-cause realtors who submit the listinginformation, and MLs staff at real es-tate boards who conduct quality con-trol, are trained and educated in thecomplexities of real estate.“Today, MLs data serves as the foun-

dation of our property taxation sys-tem by providing reliable information,backed by professional accountability,to government bodies responsible forassessments in our province,” sayssandra Wyant, president of the realestate Board of Greater Vancouver.realtors know how to describe a

property accurately and what in-formation must be disclosed in anMLs listing. For instance, if there is arestriction on the use of a property,something called an easement, this

information must appear in the MLslisting.“sellers and buyers often decide

to work with a realtor because theywant expert guidance through acomplex process. For this importanttransaction, people want to selectsomeone they are comfortable work-ing with and who offers the servicesthey are looking for at a price they canagree on. The MLs system providesconsumers a vast range of choices,”Wyant says.The marketing power of the MLs

system is another output of this infra-structure.

“Using the MLs gives unmatchedexposure to properties for sale,”Wyantsaid.“If you’re selling your home, a list-ing on MLs will be shared with otherrealtors for the broadest distributionpossible. If you’re buying a home, MLswill have the largest pool of homes tochoose from.“Through the MLs system, the re-

altor who represents a seller is invit-ing all other realtors to offer thathome for sale to their buyers. sellerstherefore have all the realtors in theircommunity seeking buyers for theirhomes. For buyers, it’s a one-stopshopping experience,”Wyant said. “By

having realtors agree to share theirinventory with one another, a moreefficient marketplace is created,”If the MLs system did not exist, sell-

ers would have to choose an individ-ual real estate brokerage to list theirhome and only that brokerage wouldhave the information about it and theability to show and sell it. If the MLssystem did not exist, buyers wouldhave to go from realtor to realtor toview the listings of each individualbrokerage.

(MLS® and Realtor® are registered marks owned andcontrolled by the Canadian Real Estate Association.)

MLS® systems:more than amarketing service

TheMLS® is awell-regulatedinfrastructuredesigned to helpthe public safelynavigate thehome buying andselling process

F2 || advertisement

Deciding to buy or sell a home is amilestone moment in one’s life.It’s also likely the largest financial

transaction most people will ever be apart of. Given this, it’s important to gointo this process knowing all of the costsinvolved in buying or selling a home be-yond the asking price of the property.Here’s anoverview:

Buying costsMortgage costs•Mortgage company’s lawyer or notary• Appraisal, if applicable• Land title registration fee• Mortgage loan insurance and applica-tion fee - if youget ahigh-ratiomortgage(where you pay less than a 20 per centdown payment) you will have to buy themortgage loan insurance from CMHC ora private company. For fee descriptions,

please go to: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/moloin/moloin_005.cfmLegalornotary feesandexpenseswill like-lyapply toassistwithdraftingdocumentsandensuringthetitleof thehomeis trans-ferredproperly andwithout incident.• To obtain a title search for a propertycosts between $8 and $11 depending onthemethod that you search.• Land title registration fee is approxi-mately $75.To better understand the land title pro-cess and system in the province, visit TheLandTitle and Survey Authority of BritishColumbia (LTSA)website atwww.ltsa.ca.

ProPerty transfer taxThe Property Transfer Tax (PTT) is

charged at a rate of 1% on the first$200,000 of the fair market value of theproperty, and 2% on the remainder. Forexample, if the fair market value of the

property is $150,000, the tax is 1% of$150,000 or $1,500. If the property’s fairmarket value is $250,000, the tax is 1%of $200,000 ($2,000) plus 2% of the re-maining $50,000 ($1,000) for a total taxof $3,000.

ProPerty transfer tax exeMPtionQualifying first-time buyersmay be ex-

empt from paying the PTT of 1% on thefirst $200,000 and 2% of the remainderof the fair market value of a home pricedup to $475,000. There is a proportionalexemption for homes priced between$475,000 and $500,000.

Pre-PaidProPertytaxesorutilitybillsYou will need to reimburse the sellers

for any prepayments.

goods and serVices tax (gst)When you buy a newly constructed

home, you must pay the 5% GST. Youmay be eligible for a GST rebate if youbuy a new home priced up to $450,000.The rebate is equal to 36% of the GSTpaid on the first $350,000 of the price ofthe home. There is a proportional rebatefor homes priced between $350,000 and$450,000.

bc transition taxThe BC Transition Tax is a 2% tempo-

rary tax that you must pay if you pur-chase a new residential home. It applieswhen:• ownership and possession take place

on or after April 1, 2013 and before April1, 2015;• the construction or substantial reno-

vation of the new home was 10% ormore complete as of April 1, 2014; and• the GST in respect of the sale of self-

supply becomes payable on or after

April 1, 2013 and before April 1, 2015.

aPPraisal feeBefore your lender approves your

mortgage, you may be required to havean appraisal done. Sometimes yourlender will cover this cost, if not, you areresponsible. The fee ranges from $150to $350.

HoMe insPection feeA home inspection is a report on the

condition of the home that can alert youto any potential issues such as moistureproblems, pyrite, radon gas or urea-formaldehyde. Pricing can vary depend-ing on your area of service.Pricing is usually based on the square

footage of the house. The fee typicallyranges between $500 and $700, de-pending on the size and complexity ofthe inspection. Some inspectors mayhave surcharges for a crawlspace, base-ment suite, age of house, mileage, etc.

HoMe insuranceTo be safe, make the insurance effec-

tive on the earlier of either the comple-tion date or the date that you pay thebalance of the funds in trust.

surVey feeYour lendermay require an up-to-date

survey of the property. If the seller doesnot provide the document, youwill haveto pay to have one done. The fee typi-cally ranges between $150 and $350.

Maintenance and utility feesThere are costs associated with chang-

ing account holder names and serviceaddresses for utilities.There are also costs associated with

doing maintenance work on your newhome, such as servicing your furnaceand cleaning the ducts.

selling costscoMMission feesWhat does it cost to hire a Realtor you

may also ask? There is no set commis-sion rate in the real estate profession.Most Realtors are paid after ownershipis transferred. Fees are typically paid tothe real estate company by the lawyeror notary in the transaction, from thesale proceeds.Compensation is always agreed to be-

forehand between you and your Realtor.There is no such thing as an average com-mission. The commission paid dependson the services provided by your Realtor,which can vary significantly dependingon your needs as a client or the businessmodel employed by the Realtor.

coMMission fees and tHe gstThe 5% GST is applicable on Realtor’s

commissions and fees, however the 2%BCTransitionTax does not apply to com-missions and fees.

WHendoesacoMMissionbecoMePayable?The standardMultiple Listing Contract

provides that commission is payable onthe earlier of the following:• Completion date under the Contract

of Purchase and Sale; or the actual datethat the sales completes.

otHer selling costs to consider• Adjustments, may include property

tax adjustments• Final maintenance and utility costs• Lawyer or notary fees and expenses –

attending to execution of documents• Costs of clearing the title, including:• Discharge fees charged by encumb

rance holders• Pre-payment penalties• Insurance – shouldmaintain until the

latter of either the date when you re-ceive the proceeds of sale or when youvacate the property• Moving fees

What other costs are involved beyond the price of the home?

WeDneSDAY, MARCH 5, 2014 | BReAKInG neWS: VAnCOUVeRSUn.COM

CongratulationsTo our 2013 Award Winners

RE/MAX Crest Realty WestsideMember of MetroVancouverProperties.com RE/MAX International Childrens Miracle Network Award 2013

• 3215 Macdonald St. 604-732-1336 • #2-1012 Beach Ave. 604-684-6155 • 1428 West 7th Ave. 604-602-1111 • 1355 Homer St. 604-602-4545

Individual Performance Team PerformanceRookie of the Year

Paul AlbrightonPersonal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club 5 Years

Stuart BonnerCompany #1 Individual#1 Overall PerformanceRE/MAX Chairman’s ClubMedallion Club Life MemberRE/MAX Hall of Fame AwardRE/MAX Lifetime Achievement

Nicola CampbellRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club 2 Years

Les TwarogCompany #3 IndividualRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club – 21 YearsRE/MAX Hall of Fame AwardRE/MAX Lifetime Achievement

Sonja PedersenRE/MAX 100% ClubMedallion Club – 9 YearsRE/MAX Hall of Fame Award

Michael DowlingRE/MAX 100% ClubMedallion Club 3 YearsRE/MAX Hall of Fame Award

Chris MalkinRookie of the YearRE/MAX Executive Club

Sylvia FierroPersonal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club 13 YearsRE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award

Joseph LeongPersonal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club 6 Years

Brian MacDougallPersonal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX 100% ClubMedallion Club 1 Year

Team Hammer & Watkinson#2 for Company Team PerformanceMark Hammer - Team LeaderBob Brattston - Team MemberKathy Watkinson – Team MemberPhil Watkinson – Team MemberRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club – 14 years (Kathy), 13 years (Mark)RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award

Paul AlbrightonPersonal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club 5 Years

Marion PatrickPersonal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club 12 yearsRE/MAX Hall of Fame AwardRE/MAX Lifetime Achievement

Garrett RobinsonPersonal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club 15 yearsRE/MAX Hall of Fame AwardRE/MAX Lifetime Achievement

Maria SenajovaRE/MAX 100% ClubMedallion Club 1 Year

Jessica SmithRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club 3 Years

Katayoon WebbRE/MAX 100% ClubMedallion Club 7 YearsRE/MAX Hall of Fame Award

Corey ZachRE/MAX 100% ClubMedallion Club 2 Years

David ChenRE/MAX 100% ClubMedallion Club Team LeaderMedallion Club 1 Year

Ben ChimesPersonal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club Team Member 2013Medallion Club 4 YearsRE/MAX Hall of Fame Award

Michael RampfPersonal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club 7 YearsRE/MAX Hall of Fame Award

Kevin RedlRE/MAX 100% ClubMedallion Club Team Member

Kyle RomanRE/MAX Executive ClubMedallion Club Team Member

Rob ZwickPersonal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Chairman’s ClubMedallion Club 5 YearsRE/MAX Hall of Fame Award

Steve JamiesonRE/MAX Western CanadaManaging Broker of the YearAward Recipient 2013

Peter RaabRE/MAX Platinum ClubMedallion Club 5 YearsMedallion Club Team Member

Rob Zwick & Ben Chimes Team#1 for Company Team PerformanceRob Zwick Personal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Platinum Club , Medallion Club 5 Years &RE/MAX Hall of Fame AwardBen Chimes Personal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX Platinum Club, Medallion Club 4 years &RE/MAX Hall of Fame AwardCharles Filer & Kristi Holz - Team Members

Henry SoB.A. (Econ.)

Diamond MasterMedallion

Club Member - 18 Years

Bringing Home ResultsRe/MAX Real Estate Services

Cell: 604-880-8727

A sincere THANK YOU to myvalued clients and friends for yourcontinued support! A portion of

my fee is donated toB.C. Children’s Hospital

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F3ADVERTISEMENT ||WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014 | BREAKING NEWS: VANCOUVERSUN.COM

1HOME BUYERS’PLANQualifying home buyers can with-draw up to $25,000 (couples can

withdrawup to$50,000) from their RRSPsfor a down payment. Home buyers whohave repaid their RRSPmay be eligible touse the program a second time.

For more information go to CanadaRevenue Agency atwww.cra.gc.caEnter ‘Home Buyers’Plan’ in the search

box or call 1.800.959.8287

2GST REBATE ON NEW HOMESNew home buyers can apply for arebate for the 5 per cent GST if the

purchase price is $350,000 or less. The re-bate is equal to 36 per cent of the GST toa maximum rebate of $6,300. There is aproportional GST rebate for new homescostingbetween $350,000 and $450,000.At $450,000 and above the rebate is nil.

Fo r more in fo rmat i on ca l l1.800.959.8287 or go to Canada Rev-enueAgencywww.cra.gc.ca and enter‘RC4028’ in the search box.

3BC PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX(PTT) FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS’ PROGRAM

Qualifying first-time buyers may be ex-empt from paying the PTT of 1 per centon the first $200,000 and 2 per cent onthe remainder of the purchase price of ahome priced up to $475,000. There is aproportional exemption for homespricedup to $500,000. At $500,000 and abovethe rebate is nil.

For more information go to BC Min-istry of Small Business and Revenueatwww.sbr.gov.bc.ca/business/Prop-erty_Taxes/Property_Transfer_Tax/ptt.htm or call 250.387.0604.

4FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS’TAX CREDIT (HBTC)This federal non-refundable in-

come tax credit is for qualifying buyersof detached, attached, apartment con-dominiums, mobile homes or shares ina cooperative housing corporation. Thecalculation: multiply the lowest person-al income tax rate for the year (15 percent in 2012) x $5,000. For the 2013 taxyear, the maximum credit is $750.

For more information go to CanadaRevenueAgency atwww.cra-arc.gc.caor call 1.800.959.8281.

5BC HOME OWNER GRANTReduces property taxes for homeowners with an assessed value of

up to $1,100,000. The basic grant giveshome owners:• a maximum reduction of $570 in prop-erty taxes on principal residences in theCapital, Greater Vancouver and FraserValley regional districts;• an additional grant of $200 to rural ho-meowners elsewhere in the province;• an additional grant of $275 to seniorsaged65+, thosewhoarepermanentlydis-abled andwar veterans of certainwars.

For more information go to BC Min-istry of Small Business and Revenueat www.rev.gov.bc.ca/hog or contactyour municipal tax office.

6BC PROPERTY TAXDEFERMENT PROGRAMSProperty Tax Deferment Pro-

gram for Seniors.Qualifying homeown-ers aged 55+ may be eligible to deferproperty taxes.

Financial Hardship Property Tax De-ferment Program. Qualifying low-in-come home owners may be eligible todefer property taxes.Property Tax Deferment Program for

Families with Children. Qualifying low-income home owners who financiallysupport children under age 18 may beeligible to defer property taxes.

For more information go towww.sbr.gov.bc.ca.

7CANADA MORTGAGE ANDHOUSING (CMHC) RESIDENTIALREHABILITATION ASSISTANCE

PROGRAM (RRAP) GRANTSThis federal program provides finan-cial aid to qualifying low-income homeowners to repair substandard housing.Eligible repairs include heating, struc-tural, electrical, plumbing and fire safety.Grants are available for seniors, personswith disabilities, owners of rental prop-erties and owners creating secondaryand garden suites.

For more information go towww.cmhc-schl .gc.ca or ca l l1.800.668.2642.

8HOME ADAPTATIONS FORINDEPENDENCE (HAFI)A program jointly sponsored by

the provincial and federal governmentsprovides up to $20,000 to help eligiblelow-income seniors and disabled homeowners and landlords to finance modi-fications to their homes to make themaccessible and safer.

For more information go to BCHousing at www.bchousing.org/Op t i o n s /Home_Renova t i o n sor call 604.646.7055 or toll-free1.800.407.7757 extension 7055.

9CMHC MORTGAGE LOANINSURANCE PREMIUM REFUNDProvides home buyers with CMHC

mortgage insurance, a 10per cent premi-um refund and possible extended amor-

tization without surcharge when buyerspurchase an energy efficient home ormake energy saving renovations.

Formore information go towww.cmhc.ca or call 604.731.5733.

10ENERGY SAVINGMORTGAGESFinancial institutions offer a

range ofmortgages to homebuyers andowners who make their homes moreenergy efficient. For example, homeowners who have a home energy auditwithin 90 days of receiving an RBC En-ergy Saver™Mortgage, may qualify for arebate of $300 to their RBC account.

For more information go to www.rb-croyalbank.com/products/mortgagesor call 1.800.769.2511.

11LOW INTERESTRENOVATION LOANSFinancial institutions offer

‘green’ loans for home owners makingenergy efficient upgrades. VanCity’sBright Ideas personal loan offers homeowners up to $20,000 at prime + 1 percent for up to 10 years for ‘green’ reno-vations. RBC’s Energy Saver loan offers 1per cent off the interest rate for a fixedrate installment loan over $5,000 or a$100 rebate on a home energy auditon a fixed rate installment loan over$5,000.

For information visit your financial in-stitution or go to www.vancity.com/Loans/TypesOfLoans/BrightIdeas andwww.rbcroyalbank.com/products/personalloans/energy-saver-loan.html.

12BCHYDROAPPLIANCE REBATESMail-in rebates for purchas-

ers of ENERGY STAR clothes washers,refrigerators or freezers.

For more information go to www.bchydro.com/powersmart or call1.800.224.9376.

13BCHYDROFRIDGEBUY-BACKPROGRAMThis ongoing program re-

bates BC Hydro customers $30 to turnin spare fridges in working condition.

For more information go towww.bchydro.com/powersmart or call604.881.4357.

CONTINUEDONPAGE F4

TOP GRANTSand REBATES

for property buyers and owners

medallionclub.ca2013 MEDALLION CLUB DIRECTORY >>

Call Sophia WongCell: (604) 657-1328 Office: (604) 942-7211

1st West Realty

Life Member ofMedallion Club

Your Westwood Plateau &Tri-City Luxury Home Expert

Many thanks to all of myclients for all your trustand support.

I look forward to workingwith you in 2014!

Sophia Wong

WILLIE CHAN604.276.2332

www.williechan.com

Thank you to all my clients foryour ongoing loyalty and support.

Congratulations to all my associatesin their Medallion achievements!

Life Member24 Years

.

George Gomory

Thank you to all myclients and BoardMembers for helpingme reach MedallionClub ... I could nothave done it withoutyour support.

MasterMedallion

Cell: 604.765.7653 Office: 604.433.2211www.GeorgeGomory.com

RE/MAX CentralEach Office IndependentlyOwned and Operated

604-218-6329PHONE ME!

WHEN I WIN…YOU WIN!Thanks so much for another great year!

Lola BradfieldRe/Max Hall of Fame!

Seniors R.E.SMEDALLION CLUB MEMBER

RE/MAX CENTRAL REALTY

[email protected]

VAN01164867_1_1

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F4 || ADVERTISEMENT

14FORTISBC REBATEPROGRAMA range of rebates for home

owners include a $75 rebate for upgrad-ing to an ENERGY STAR clothes washer,$300 rebate on an Ener-Choice fireplaceand a $1,000 rebate for switching tonatural gas (from oil or propane) andinstalling an ENERGY STAR heating sys-tem.

For more information go to www.fortisbc.com/NaturalGas/Homes/Offers/Pages/default.aspx or call1.888.224.2710.

15FORTISBC REBATEPROGRAM FORBUSINESSES

For commercial buildings, provides a re-bate of up to $60,000 for the purchase ofan energy efficient boiler, up to $15,000for the purchase of a high-efficiencywa-ter heater and receive funding towardsa new construction energy study.

For more information go to www.fortisbc.com/NaturalGas/Business/Offers/Pages/default.aspx or call1.866.884.8833.

16LIVESMART BC SMALLBUSINESS PROGRAMBusiness Energy Advisors

(BEAs) delivers free energy assessments.Help business owners tap into availableproduct incentives and cash rebates forlighting, hot water, heating and ventila-tion improvements. Help business own-ers coordinateproduct installation.NOTE:this program expires March 31, 2014.

For more information go towww.lives-

martbc.ca/incentives/small-business/index.html or call 1-866-430-8765.

17CITY OF VANCOUVERRAIN BARREL SUBSIDYPROGRAM

The City of Vancouver provides a sub-sidy of 50 per cent of the cost of a rainbarrel for Vancouver residents. With thesubsidy, the rain barrel costs $75. Buyyour rain barrel at theTransfer Station at377 W. North Kent Ave., Vancouver, BC.Limit of two per resident. Bring proof ofresidency. There is also a limited timeoffer for short rain barrels for smallyards. Cost $50.

For more information go to http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/watersewers/water/conservation/programs/rain-barrel.htm or call 604.736.2250. Othermunicipalities have similar offers.

18LOCAL GOVERNMENTWATER CONSERVATIONINCENTIVES

Your municipality may provide grants

and incentives to residents to help savewater. For example, the City of Coquit-lam offers residents a $100 rebate andthe City of North Vancouver, District ofNorth Vancouver, and District of WestVancouver offer a $50 rebate when resi-dents install a low-flush toilet.

Visit your municipality’s website andenter ‘toilet rebate’ to see if there is aprogram.

19LOCAL GOVERNMENTWATER METREPROGRAMS

Your municipality may provide a pro-gram for voluntary water metering, sothat you pay only for the amount of wa-ter that you use. Delta, Richmond andSurrey have programs and other mu-nicipalities may soon follow. Visit yourmunicipality’s website and enter ‘watermeter’ to find out if there is a program.

Source: Real Estate Board of GreaterVancouver.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE F3

Top grants and rebates forproperty buyers and owners

First-time home buyers received wel-come news in the February 18 provincialbudget.The government announced that

qualifying first-time buyers can now buya home worth up to $475,000 and notpay the Property Transfer Tax (PTT) un-der the First-Time Home Buyers’ Exemp-tion program.The PTT is calculated at a rate of one

per cent on the first $200,000 and twoper cent on the remaining value of thepurchase price.The previous exemption threshold

was $425,000. This change to $475,000will apply to all home sales that wereregistered with the Land Title Office on

or after February 19, 2014.There continues to be a partial exemp-

tion onhomes valuedbetween $475,000and $500,000.

More home buyersWith this adjustment to the PTT ex-

emption, the government estimatesthat, each year, 1,700 additional first-time buyers will be eligible to save upto $7,500 in PTT when they buy theirhome. Government further estimatesthat this measure will collectively savehome buyers $8 million each year.

Advocating for home buyers

For years, the Real Estate Boardof Greater Vancouver (REBGV), theprofessional association of the morethan 11,000 Realtors in the region,has persistently campaigned onbehalf of home buyers against thetax, arguing that the tax hurts lowequity buyers, those least able to af-ford it.During last year’s provincial elec-

tion, the REBGV launched a “Helpreduce the PTT” campaign to raiseawareness about the need for gov-ernment to adjust the PTT thresh-olds to a level that reflects the real-

ity of today’s housing market.The campaign used a variety of

statistics and survey results to high-light the need for changes. This in-formation appeared in a variety ofmedia coverage and across socialmedia.Home buyers have long viewed the

PTT as unfair because it creates barri-ers to home ownership by diminish-ing buyers’ purchasing power. The PTTmust be paid by property buyers eachtime they move, whether they’re trad-ing up to a townhouse from a studioapartment, or buying a similar homein a different location due to a jobtransfer. The tax is also paid each time

a property changes hands in the de-velopment process for a new home –from the raw land owner, to developer,to builder, to ultimate home owner.The REBGV appreciates that the BC

government listened to the real es-tate industry and has made a furthercommitment to lessening the burdenof the PTT on home buyers in thecoming years when economic condi-tions improve.

For details about the Property Trans-fer Tax First Time Home Buyers’ Pro-gram: www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/documents_library/forms/0269Guide.pdf

B.C. government reduces tax burden on first-time buyers

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014 | BREAKING NEWS: VANCOUVERSUN.COM

REBGV ‘s Help reduce the PTTcampaign raised awareness ofProperty Transfer Tax and theneed to adjust it to a level thatreflects the reality of today’shousing market

Congratulations2013 Medallion Club Qualifiers

RE/MAX Metro Realty2899 Commercial Drive - Vancouver604.612.1000

CONGRATULATIONS to theseoutstanding agents

on their success in 2013!We are proud of their professionalism

and quality of the servicesthey provide.

RE/MAX Hall of Fame AwardRE/MAX 100% Club

Medallion Club Member 2013

RE/MAX Platinum ClubMaster Medallion Club – FiveYears2013 Medallion President’s Club

Medallion Club Member 2013 Personal Real Estate CorporationRE/MAX 100% Club

Medallion Club Member 2013

KEN CHAN

CHARLIE KIERS

LEE BRYANT SIMON J. KING

www.remaxmetrorealty.ca

Medallion Club Team Leader 2013Medallion Club Team Members:Andy Mattu, Michael Nam Nguyen

Team Member: Josh Rosenberg

DON MORTIMORE

“THE POWERHOUSE AGENTS TEAM”

Contact us todayto speak with any

of theseaward winningRE/MAX agents

about yourreal estate needs!

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F5advertisement ||Wednesday, March 5, 2014 | BreaKInG neWs: VancOUVersUn.cOM

support

a special thanks to this year’s medallion Club sponors

Print media sPonsors:

Platinum sPonsors: silver sPonsors: Bronze sPonsor:

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There is a wealth of information avail-able online to help you make informeddecisions on real estate. Be sure to edu-cate yourself about all of the real estateinformation and services available toyou.While real estate continues to be a

people business, consumers today haveaccess to numerous resources at theirfingertips. You can find a Realtor, find aproperty and connect all the dots in be-tween right from your own computer.Housing market information originat-

ing from the Multiple Listing Service®(MLS®) continues to be recognized asthe most reliable and comprehensivedata available for those looking to buyor sell a home. If you’re looking for themost accurate property listing infor-mation online, make sure the informa-tion you use is associated with the MLSbrand.Here’s a rundown of some of the key

real estate websites:

www.realtor.caThis is the most popular and compre-

hensive real estate listing advertisingwebsite in Canada. Each month, overfive million unique visitors go to www.realtor.ca and view more than 131 mil-lion pages. The home listing informa-tion onwww.realtor.ca streams from theMultiple Listing Service. Realtors providethis service to helpmarket properties onbehalf of their clients.At any given time, there are approxi-

mately 257,000 active Canadian listingson the website, worth an estimated$117 billion. All totaled, 487,578 homeswere sold through the MLS in Canadalast year for a total of $184 billion.Search the site today to learn what’s for

sale in your neighbourhood of interest.

www.rebgv.orgThe Real Estate Board of Greater Van-

couver’s (REBGV) website offers detailedMLS statistics, monthly videomarket up-dates, consumer information and detailsabout government initiatives and differ-ent cost-savings programs available tothe public.Whether you’re buying or selling, you

can review the latest and most compre-hensive housingmarket statistics for theregion each month, accompanied by amonthly video summary of recent hous-ing market trends in Greater Vancouver.The REBGV has also established a pres-

ence in social media with sites on Face-book (www.facebook.com/rebgv) andTwitter (www.twitter.com/rebgv). Thesewebsites are updated with a blend ofinformation from the REBGV, other realestate industry sources and news pub-lications.

www.realtylink.orgThis website is another great resource

for consumers, featuring home listingsfor properties across the province anda wide range of in-depth, walkthrough-style information. You can also use thesite to find a Realtor working in yourcommunity.

www.howrealtorshelp.caBuilt and maintained by the Canadian

Real Estate Association, this site is filledwith a broad range of supporting infor-mation for buyers and sellers. The siteoffers information on a variety of topicsand includes brief videos from their TVad campaign to illustrate examples. Youcan also find handy tools like checklistsfor buyers and sellers andmortgage cal-culators.

www.recbc.caThe Real Estate Council of British Co-

lumbia is the body responsible for li-censing and regulating Realtors in B.C.Their website contains valuable con-sumer protection information, as wellas information on how to become a li-censed Realtor.One of the most popular features on

this website is the Complaints & Disci-pline section, which allows consumersto file complaints against Realtors andinform themselves about recent disci-plinary decisions.

Helpful real estate websites you should check out

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014 | BREAKING NEWS: VANCOUVERSUN.COM

Medallion Club Members!Congratulations to Our 2013

ELENA

SHYSHKINA

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604.

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Thank you to myfriends and clients for a great year.

Looking forward to serving you in 2014!

Dan Goluboff

Dan Goluboffcell 604-377-7616

2013 MedallionClub Member

Top 10% of REALTORS in Greater Vancouver

Dexter AssociatesRealty

David Peerless, Kevin Skipworth, Tony Ioannou and the team atDexterAssociates Realty wish to congratulate this year’sMedallionClub Members for their incredible efforts to attain this level ofachievement in the Real Estate Industry.

CaroleLieberman

Personal Real Estate CorporationMedallion Club Life MemberMedallion Club 21 Years

AlixBrownTeam Leader

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Kuo Chang(Derek) Sun

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AdamPospischilMedallion Club

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LisaMacIntosh

Personal Real Estate CorporationTeam LeaderMaster Member


NewellCottonMedallion Club

Team Member 2013

ChrisSpotzlTeam Leader

Medallion Club 2012 & 2013

MartyPospischilTeam LeaderDiamond Master


ShonaHurst

Medallion ClubTeam Member 2013

MichaelLangdonMedallion Club

Team Member 2013

Kuo Lin DavidWu


DianeKunic-GrandjeanPersonal Real Estate CorporationMedallion Club Life MemberMedallion Club 21 Years

TylerPeerlessMedallion Club

Team Member 2013

MarcusMaia


Medallion Club 2011 - 2013

Main St 604-336-3539Kerrisdale 604-263-1144Yaletown 604-689-8226

Well Done!!Individual

Alix Brown Team

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Chris Spotzl Team

www.dexterrealty.com

Specializing in sellingNewWestminster

homes!Thank you to my family, friendsand colleagues for making2013 a very special year!Congratulations to all

of the Medallion Qualifiers!

Tracey DaviesWebsite: www.traceydavies.comEmail: [email protected]

604.421.7275Cell: 604.761.4138

2013, 2012,2011, 2010

Top 10% of Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver REALTORS®

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• Over $80M in sales in 2013• #2 Team Re/Max Select Properties

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Knowledge - Energy - Trust

TheHepburnReal EstateGroupTheRight Professionals. TheRightApproach

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D�� I��• RE/MAX Hall of Fame, 2013• RE/MAX Platinum Club

Congratulating Our 2013Medallion Club MembersRE/MAX Select Properties5487 West BoulevardVancouver, BC V6M 3W5604.737.8865

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RealtorDavidRichardson.com

• RE/MAX Hall of Fame• RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement• RE/MAX Diamond Award• MLS® Gold Master Medallion Club

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and Mandarin

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• Medallion Club• RE/MAX Platinum Club• RE/MAX Hall of Fame

• Master Medallion Club• RE/MAX Hall of Fame• RE/MAX Platinum Club

• Medallion Club 1st year Qualifier • Medallion Team• Top 10% of all Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver REALTORS®

• Awarded top 1% REALTOR® in Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver 2013• Awarded #1 top sales at RE/MAX Select Properties based on 83 homes sold in 2013

• President’s Club Member 2013• Top 1% of REBGV REALTORS®

2011, 2012, 2013• #1 REALTOR® 2012 and

#2 REALTOR® 2013 atRE/MAX Select Properties

• RE/MAX LifetimeAchievement Award 2012

• 10 years’ experience withRE/MAX Select Properties

• The Colour of Real Estate• Perspective• Dedication• Community• Approach

Medallion Life Member30 years

• 30+years of success, thanks toour loyal clients and friends!

• 11 consecutive years Gold MasterMedallion Club Member

• Top 10% of Vancouver Realtors

“A TRADITION OF TRUST”

• Master Medallion Member• RE/MAX Hall of Fame

• Master Medallion Club• RE/MAX Diamond Award• RE/MAX Hall of Fame

• MLS® Master Medallion• RE/MAX Platinum Club• RE/MAX Hall of Fame

• Medallion Club LifeMember 27 years• President’s Club since 1989• Top 1% of all REBGV REALTORS®

for 25 years• RE/MAX #1 Team

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“When it’s time for you to make a move, put our professionals to work foryou to ensure your success. With The Hepburn Real Estate Group, you justknow they will be there for you, from the moment you meet to the close ofyour transaction – and beyond!”

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“I have a large base of contacts in China. Fluent in Mandarin andCantonese. Top Chinese REALTOR® specializing in the Westsideand Richmond.”

“Greater Vancouver MedallionClub Member Specializing inthe Vancouver West Side”

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604-813-0033www.sharonlum.com

“A sincere thank you to all myclients and friends for yourbusiness and referrals”

“A huge thank you to my family, friends,clients and referrals for your continued andloyal support. I love what I do becauseof you.” Love your nest...

誠謝各位客戶朋友多年支持和推薦

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“I pride myself on providing theutmost service to my clients!”

“Thank you to all our clients and fellow associatesfor the privilege of working with you. Wishing youthe very best in 2014.”

“Thank you to all my clients andfriends for their continued supportand referrals. I couldn’t have doneit without you! My greatest rewardis your happiness.”




Personal Real Estate CorporationPersonal Real Estate Corporation Personal Real Estate Corporation



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604-737-8865www.GabeBandel.com


RE/MAX Lifetime AchievementRE/MAX Diamond Award

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P��W��

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林麗儀

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“A sincere thank you to all my clients and friends for your

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Master Medallion Member Hall of Fame


www.dannydeng.comMaster Medallion ClubRE/MAX Diamond AwardRE/MAX Hall of Fame

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rennie.comexpert living 604.681.8898

*Personal real estate CorPoration. tHis CoMMUniCation is not intenDeD to CaUse or inDUCe BreaCH oF an eXistinG listinG BroKeraGe aGreeMent or BUYer aGenCY ContraCt.

Congratulationsto our President’s &Medallion Club MeMbers.With one of the highest ratios ofMedallion Club members to agentsin the industry, Rennie & Associatescontinues to define itself as one of thetop performing real estate brands in theLower Mainland.

Danny Chow PreC*604.765.2469 • [email protected]

PresiDent’s Club top 1% of all realtors® in Greater Vancouver, recognized by the real estate Board

MeDallion Club top 10% of all realtors® in Greater Vancouver, recognized by the real estate Board

Calvin Kan PreC*604.616.8373 • [email protected]

irene De GuzMan604.720.1996 • [email protected]

reGGie tanzola PreC*604.657.7101 • [email protected]

salina Kai PreC*604.773.7013 • [email protected]

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John tsai PreC*604.603.0277 • [email protected]

ryan wonG604.551.7966 • [email protected]

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