Buying or building your own home?  Looking for a new home?  Find out about your rights, obligations and information that can help you make a more informed purchasing decision.

A great online resource for home (both new homes and previously owned homes) buyers is available from the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) website at www.hpo.bc.ca  On it you'll find the New Homes Registry.  It will enable you to find out if the new or newer home you're buying has a home warranty insurance policy in place and whether or not it was built by a Licensed Residential Builder.  Home buyers can obtain valuable information such as the name and contact number of the warranty provider, the builder's warranty number and whether an owner-built home can be legally offered for sale.

Every new home built for sale by a Licensed Residential Builder in BC is protected by a mandatory third-party home warranty insurance.  Better known as 2-5-10 home warranty insurance, this coverage includes:

two years on labour and materials,

five years on the building envelope (including water penetration), and

ten years on the structure.

Visit www.hpo.bc.ca for this and other excellent information for new home owners, first time buyers and anyone interested in ensuring their home has warranty insurance coverage. 

We live in interesting times.  Many people believe they're troubling and dangerous times.  And they focus on trouble and danger.   Seems to me it makes sense to make the best of where we are and what's going on.   One of my favourite ways to do that is read and implement what I learn from well-written, informative and encouraging books.  

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor is one such book.  Shawn is one of the world's leading experts on human potential, working to bridge the gap between the science of happiness and performance in our everyday lives.   " It's for everyone trying to excel in a world of increasing workloads, stress and negativity.  It's not just about how to become happier at work, it's about reaping the benefits a happier, more positive mindset to achieve the extraordinary in our work and our lives."

If you're having a hard day ( hard week -- hard month?), take a look at what Shawn Achor has to say.  I think it may change things up for you in a major way.

You can read about Shawn Achor and his work at www.shawnachor.com.   

This is a note to say thank you to everyone who contributed to my being named this year's Ocean Park Business Person of the Year.  I sincerely appreciate the gesture.  The work we all do together to promote the growth and viability of business in Ocean Park Village is both a lot of fun and rewarding in and of itself.                                                                                                                                                                                             Learning and working with all of you is amazing.  Thank you!!

Just downloaded the photos for this exceptional White Rock Hillside home.  Custom designed and built by high quality builder, Laurel Ridge Homes, to take advantage of wonderful views of the ocean, islands and Mt. Baker.

These are just a couple of what's in store; check out the additional photos, information and floorplans under New Enhanced Listings.

If you or anyone you know is buying a new home, here are some important highlights to be sure to understand.   This information was sent to me by Morin Law Corporation; check with them or your own personal legal counsel about how this can affect your purchase.

                               HST to GST Transition - April 1, 2013

                                                    Highlights for New Home Purchasers

• On April 1 the basic HST/GST tax rate paid by Buyers of New Homes will change from 12% to 5% (effective on the earlier of the Completion Date or the Possession date) with the exception being Strata Properties regarding giving early possession.
• Buyers will also pay an additional 2% BC Transitional Tax for homes that are at least 10% constructed on April 1, 2013.  This is in effect until April 1, 2015.
• Do you save tax by waiting to purchase until after April 1 if the home is more than 10% constructed on April 1?  Depends on the price.  You must do a calculation including both pre and post April 1 rates (12%/5%), the HST rebate, Provincial Rebate and the 2% BC Transitional Tax.  Generally speaking if the purchase price is greater than $840,000. there may be some tax savings to closing after March 31.
• Contract Disclosure Requirements.  Where a sale is not completed by December 31, 2012, all contracts for the purchase of new homes dated between February 17, 2012 and April 1, 2015 must clearly stipulate how the property will be taxed at Closing.  Sellers had until January 2, 2013 to provide this information to Buyers if the stipulation was omitted.  Failure of Sellers to do this can result in penalties of up to $40,000. per home.  Not clear at this time if failure to stipulate can give buyers a remedy (eg. void the contract).
• Real Estate Commission calculation is simpler that the past change from GST to HST.  The date the commission is payable (normally the Completion Date) is the key date.  Pre-April = 12%.  Starting April 1 = 5%.  There  is no percentage of work calculation needed.