Rise and shine, Langley foodies! 🍳☕ Looking for the perfect morning pick-me-up? Look no further! Here are the top 4 breakfast spots in Langley that will kickstart your day with a whole lot of flavour and fun. 🎉

1. Gratia Bakery: Located in Walnut Grove, indulge in delectable sandwiches, paninis, pastries, and quality coffee. Sip on rich espresso or aromatic tea while enjoying a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. 

2. Egg Bomb: Get ready to detonate your taste buds at Egg Bomb! 💥 All-day breakfast & lunch served with a bang. Delicious coffee, tea, and more. From eggs galore to extravagant toast, they’ve got your cravings covered. Boom your day with flavour!

3. OEB: Discover OEB Breakfast Co at the Courtyard in Willowbrook Mall. They're transforming breakfast into an art form. 🌞🍳 With chef-driven innovation, they offer classics and one-of-a-kind creations. It's more than just food; it's a story. Join OEB for an ever-evolving breakfast adventure that leaves you soul-full. 🥞🍽️☕ 

4. Hot & Toasty Cafe: Start your day sizzling at Hot & Toasty Cafe in Langley City! 🔥🥞 This cozy neighbourhood gem is all about crêpes, both sweet and savoury, topped to perfection. Plus, they serve a mean cup of coffee to complete your morning experience. Where crêpe dreams come true! ☕🍴

Whether you're a pancake aficionado or a coffee connoisseur, Langley's breakfast scene has something fun and scrumptious for everyone. 🥞☕ Get ready to rise and dine in style! 🌅 #LangleyEats #BreakfastBliss #MorningFuel

Are you new to Langley? Or wondering why Langley is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Lower Mainland?

Langley Township was one of the fastest-growing municipalities in B.C. during the last five years according to the Census, and Langley City wasn't far behind.

1. Fort Langley National Historic Site Welcomes You

For all my history buffs: travel back in time to the 1800s at Fort Langley, the birthplace of BC. Visitors can learn more about Fort Langley's role in the fur trade and gold prospecting era by exploring the re-constructed timber buildings, complete with costumed interpreters and live demonstrations. Children can dress up, explore the Children's Play Area and participate in the Xplorers program. It is open year-round and fun for everyone! Once you are done, I implore you to walk around Fort Langley to see the local shops, bakeries, restaurants and so much more!

2. Visit Backyard Vineyards

Calling all wine-lovers! Since 2009, Backyard Vineyards have been producing award-winning varietals, blended, and bubbly wines from 100% BC grapes grown on-site in their own vineyard and created tastefully with fruit selected from the Fraser Valley and South Okanagan. Book a tour or check out their calendar on their website for awesome events such as trivia nights, art painting and live music!

3. Explore the Canadian Museum of Flight

Aviation enthusiast? Fly no further! 25 aircraft on display. Located at the Langley Airport features static and flying aircraft, including a Handley Page Hampden from WWII (which happens to be the only one on display in the ENTIRE world). The museum encourages hands-on interactions so that you can get close to many different aircraft. You are welcome to swoop in for a visit or book a guided tour to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

4. Drop by the Barley Merchant

Attention all beer buffs: this is a stop you don’t want to miss! The Barley Merchant is a proud supporter of independently BC-owned breweries , cideries, wineries, and distilleries. A huge tap list that proudly showcases products from our own beautiful province. Not to mention, their food menu is absolutely delicious – they make their own beer cheese and flatbreads with the local beer on tap. Bonus: live music every Tuesday. Sip back and relax!

5. Putter over to Belmont Golf Course

I couldn’t leave out the golfers! Opening in 1992, this full-length championship course, features six par threes and four sets of tees, making it perfect for golfers of all skills/experience. An absolutely stunning golf course with gorgeous views of the valley and mountains. In fact, Langley is a host to many gorgeous golf courses so take your pick!

If I still haven’t convinced you that Langley is a great place to visit. Shoot me a message, I have tons more cool things to do in historic Langley.

I would love to know your thoughts if you have already visited these places! And to stay updated follow my Instagram @soldwithnina

Talk soon,
Nina

1. What is a down payment and how much of a downpayment do I need to purchase a home?

A down payment is the amount of money you put towards the purchase of a home. Your lender deducts the down payment from the purchase price of your home. The goal is to have a 20% downpayment (20% of the purchase price) so that you don’t have to pay for mortgage insurance which can be costly. 

General guideline: 

5% on $500,000 or less

10% for the portion of the purchase price above $500,000 up to $999,999

20% on $1,000,000 or more

2. What can I afford?

You will need to contact a mortgage broker to figure out how much of a mortgage a lender will loan to you. In the meantime, you can play around with the mortgage calculator on my website. 

3. How much will I pay for closing costs? 

It depends on the home, however, a good rule of thumb is 2-4% of the final home price. 

4. What is property transfer tax (PTT)?

It is a tax you must pay when you buy a home in BC unless you are exempt. Click here to see the first-time buyer exemption guideline. The general PTT rate is 1% of the purchase price up to and including $200K; 2% of the purchase price over $200K+ and including $2 million. And 3% of the purchase price for over $2 million+

5. Should I get a pre-approval before house hunting? 

Yes, 100%. This is crucial so that you can stay within budget and avoid any disappointments during the house purchasing process. It can already be stressful - don’t let the numbers be too.

6. Do I really need a buyer’s agent? 

Absolutely! Not only is it a free service for you - we offer consumer protection when it comes to drafting up the contract. We also offer industry resources and information as well as comparable market analysis and real estate advice so that you can make the best financial decision for one of the biggest investments of your life. Stay protected! 

7. How many homes should I view before putting in an offer to purchase? 

When it feels right! Take your time in deciding if the home is right for you. I have had buyers who wrote on the first home and those who needed to see more. Most times all your boxes for needs/wants won’t all be met so it is important to decide what is really a need and a want. Location can’t change but your kitchen cabinets can! 

8. Who signs the contract of purchase and sale?

The contract of purchase and sale is a contract for the sellers and the buyers. The buyers signing will also be on the mortgage/financing and who will have legal ownership over the home. 

9. What is a deposit?

A deposit is good faith money that is put down by the buyer upon a firm agreement of purchase and sale of a home. This is your way of saying “you are serious” to the seller. The amount is typically 5% of the purchase price and forms part of your downpayment. 

*This is extremely important to remember if you are still needing to sell your current home!

10. Will home prices continue to go down?

No one has a crystal ball to give you a definitive answer, however, we do have tools and predictions on what we think might happen. There are too many factors to consider. Prices may go down a little bit more, but that shouldn’t be too daunting if you are holding your real estate long-term. Real estate is cyclical and what goes up, goes back down and vice versa. The most important thing to focus on is finding a wonderful deal and sit back while home prices start appreciating again. 

11. Is now a good time to buy a house? 

The market is ever-changing, even the most informed experts can’t predict when the market will peak or fall. If you are purchasing a home for a long-term investment or enjoyment, you should be protected from short-term changes in the market. Instead, focus on picking a home that fits you and/or your family’s needs. In our current market conditions, there are deals to be made! 

Please reach out with any questions. I encourage discussions on all things real estate. Happy to help, happy to educate!

Don’t miss out on any important real estate news, tips, advice, and investment opportunities by signing up for my complimentary #SOLDWITHNINA Newsletter.

Chat soon,

Your local real estate agent, Nina

As we are well aware, the Spring time is typically when real estate starts to pick back up again and sellers and buyers decide it is time to make a real estate change for various reasons. If you are considering listing your home in the next few months then it is a good idea to start prepping your home now. Here are some top tips to get your home ready to sell this Spring:

1. Think small with renovations

You’re getting ready to move and you don’t want to redo the entire kitchen and bathrooms only to move out soon, so when it comes to getting your home ready to list, let’s look at the small things that can be done, but make a huge difference.

- instead of replacing kitchen cabinets, paint them white instead

- rather than replacing the whole tub, reglaze it

- put a fresh coat of paint on garage doors, front doors, interior doors, and/ or baseboards

- replace burnt out bulbs and/or update the dining room chandelier

- fix anything broken: appliances, holes in the walls, closet doors, etc

2. Curb appeal matters

First impressions matter! If you are living in a detached home or townhome, perhaps you’d like to pressure wash your driveway, make sure the lawn is manicured and any dead plants are either removed or replaced with gorgeous blooming ones. Make sure to remove any clutter, garbage and anything mouldy. This also applies to the backyard and/or patio!

3. Time for a Spring clean

It’s that time of year… the big ol’ Spring clean. This is actually perfect because now you are even more motivated to get it done. A clean home sells better and looks crisp in photos which is the first online impression that potential buyers see. Take the time to de-clutter, donate and throw away any items you no longer need or use. Do your best to donate if you can! During this process, it is the perfect time to put things in boxes that you won’t use until you move which helps the staging process.

4. A staged home is a sold home

I am a firm believer that it is important to stage your home for sale. Staging homes typically provide a higher sales price. We want it to look like a show home that the potential buyer can see themselves living in. Don’t let the wording, stage, scare you. This is where I come in! I will set you up with my staging team for a consultation on what to move around and put away. In this process, we may bring additional furniture or decor to help stage. Although you have beautiful family photos and a cute pet portrait, the more neutral the home is, the more buyers can see themselves enjoying their prospective new home.

Since the above items take some time to get done, it is great to start as early as possible to eliminate stress.

Good luck with prepping your home and remember, I am always here to help!

The Government rolled out a better way to save for your first home here in British Columbia. In my personal and professional opinion, I believe it is a way better program than the RRSP for first-time homebuyers. So luckily for you, here is the breakdown of what the FHSA is, who qualifies for it and why it is so beneficial to you. 

What is an FHSA?

A first home savings account (FHSA) is a registered plan allowing you, as a first-time home buyer, to save for your first home tax-free (up to certain limits). You will be able to open an FHSA starting April 1, 2023.

Who can open an FHSA?

You must meet all of the requirements in order to open this account: 

• must be 18 years and older;

• a resident of Canada;

• a first-time homebuyer 

How to open an FHSA:

• through your bank, credit union, trust or insurance company;

• you will need your social insurance number, date of birth, and any other supporting documents that may be requested from you 

What are the different types of FHSAs? 

• a depository FHSA

  • an account (with a financial institution) that holds money, term deposits, or guaranteed investment certificates (GICs)

• a trusteed FHSA

  • a trust (with a trust company as trustee) that holds qualified investments such as money, term deposits, GICs, government and corporate bonds, mutual funds, and securities listed on a designated stock exchange

• an insured FHSA

  • an annuity contract (with a licensed annuity provider)

• self-directed FHSA

  • if you prefer to build and manage your investment portfolio by buying and selling different types of qualified investments.

When can you close an FHSA account? 

• the year following your first qualifying withdrawal

• you turned 71 years old 

• the 15th anniversary of making this account 

What is your first qualifying withdrawal? 

All of the following conditions must be met in order to qualify for a withdrawal: 

• you must fill out Form RC725, Request to Make a Qualifying Withdrawal from your FHSA and give it to your FHSA issuer

• you must have a written agreement to buy or build a qualifying home with the acquisition or construction completion date of the qualifying home before October 1 of the year following the date of the withdrawal

• you must not have acquired the qualifying home more than 30 days before making the withdrawal

• you must occupy or intend to occupy the qualifying home as your principal place of residence within one year after buying or building it

How much can you contribute? 

Your FHSA participation room in the year that you open your first FHSA =$8,000.

The lifetime FHSA limit =$40,000.

Please note that the contribution room does not start until you open the account and it will carry over to the next year if not used up. You may open more than one FHSA account so be careful not to over-contribute. 

There is a ton of information and ruling regarding this new account so I highly suggest you read more about it on the Canadian government website and reach out to your financial institution. 

Happy Savings! 

And as always, please feel free to reach out with any real estate inquiries. 

Your local real estate agent, 

Nina Djuric

778.908.1440

soldwnina@gmail.com

If you are lucky enough to have a patio or an outdoor space you can decorate and make your own then buckle up because I’ve got some hot tips to spruce up your patio. Especially if you are on a budget or don’t feel like hiring a landscaper.

1. Make it hot

Let’s pretend it is not Juneuary and that this is not the reason to be putting in a fire pit, outdoor fireplace, or heater. Enjoy those long summer nights outside huddled up to a fire pit roasting some marshmallows.

2. Add some greenery

Container plants (or shh… even fake ones) impact a space enormously. If you don’t know how to take care of plants – don’t worry – get yourself a succulent. Those things are hard to kill.

3. Light it up

To add ambiance, get yourself some string lights. They come in different styles to match your outdoor theme. If you are not into string lights, try spotlights or path markers. Make them solar or LED.

4. Flooring

This is dependent on your space and what type of theme you are going for but flooring matters! Get yourself some easy-install patio deck tiles or a nice large outdoor rug. It totally changes the layout and is a great way to incorporate a pop of color.

5. Include comfy seating

Outdoor seating is a must! Spruce it up with some statement pillows and a throw blanket. We are going to want to settle in for the night. Perhaps you have enough space for a hammock, a porch swing, or an outdoor egg chair. Make sure it is weatherproof if not covered.

6. Thirsty? Hungry?

A beverage cooler is much needed. If you have everything you need outside then you won’t have to get up to go inside and get it. Fill it up with your favorite drinks and don’t forget water! Also, add a grill or BBQ- everything tastes better when it is cooked outside.

Drop a comment below if you have done these already or what you’re most excited to get done to make your patio an awesome outdoor space for you.

Click here to sign up for my SOLD WITH NINA Newsletter. The next volume is going out in 2 weeks. What you can expect: real estate news, advice, and tips along with a dash of lifestyle news and presale opportunities that you don’t want to miss.

Chat soon,

Nina

You are invited to join us and watch a play named Almost Maine by John Cariani– directed by the lovely Madison McArthur, president of Bard in the Valley.

Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend—almost—in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.

It will be hosted at the Fort Langley Hall on January 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th and on February 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. 

All shows: 7 pm

Sunday shows are a matinee starting at 2 pm.  

Tickets go on sale Nov 20th for $35/each at bardinthevalley.com. Very limited tickets so act quickly! And luckily for you, if you head over to my Instagram @soldwithnina, I will be doing a giveaway for a pair of tickets. In order to enter, you will need to like my post, share to your story and tag a friend in the comments that you would like to go with. That equals one entry - you can only qualify for one entry. The pair of tickets will be for Saturday, Feb 4th and submissions will end Nov 30th. I will announce the winner on my Instagram on Dec 1st. 

About Bard in the Valley

Bard in the Valley (BIV) is a registered Charity with the goal to stage the works of William Shakespeare, with integrity and professionalism at an annual Festival each summer. In addition, every year, BIV offers youth theatre workshops for children, and BIV provides scholarships for families with barriers. This year BIV is doing its first winter production in hopes of raising funds for their summer mainstage show - Cymbeline!

This incredible non-profit organization brings together the community through theatre. I hope to see you there! 

As of January 1, 2023, there is a new real estate policy put in place meant to protect homebuyers. 12 months ago we saw the peak of the market where it was an extremely strong seller's market. Buyers were unprotected because in order to get an offer accepted, there needed to be no subjects or clauses in them. In other words, in order to get an accepted offer, you needed to put in a no-strings-attached, cash offer. 

Fast forward to 2023, the government decided to put in place something called a "Homebuyer Rescission Period (HBRP)". This is mandatory on all resale transactions (some exemptions apply). This is meant to protect you as a homebuyer and provide you with an exit if you need it. It is mandatory, which means it does not matter that you have subjects or clauses in your offer, this runs at the same time. So luckily for you, I have put together a Q&A to help you understand this new rescission period:

#1. What is the Home Buyer Rescission Period (HBRP)?

The HBRP provides buyers with an opportunity to rescind their contract to purchase certain residential properties up to three business days after an offer is accepted with a financial penalty. This rescission period applies to residential real property transactions regardless of whether a real estate licensee is involved in the transaction and cannot be waived by the buyer or the seller.

#2. How much is the rescission fee?

Buyers who exercise their right to rescind will have to pay a fee of 0.25% of the purchase price. For a $1,000,000 home, this would result in a $2,500 fee paid to the seller.

#3. What is meant by three business days?

The HBRP provides that the buyer must exercise their rescission right within three clear business days. Business days do not include Saturdays, Sundays or holidays. Holidays are defined within the Interpretation Act.

#4. What properties will be subject to the HBRP?

The policy will apply to the following types of structures:

• detached homes,

• semi-detached homes,

• townhouses,

• apartments in a duplex or other multi-unit dwellings,

• residential strata lots,

• manufactured homes that are affixed to land, and

• cooperative interests that include a right of use or occupation of a dwelling

#5. What are the exemptions to the HBRP?

The following types of properties are excluded from the legislation and the rescission period does not apply:

• residential property on leased land;

• leasehold interest in residential property;

• residential property that is sold at auction; and

• residential property that is sold under a court order or the supervision of a court

• assignment of contracts 

• presales/ pre-construction

Currently, we are in a balanced or buyer's market depending on the neighbourhood, however, when we do eventually see a seller's market again-- do you believe this protects you as a homebuyer? 

Let me know in the comments below!

And remember, I am always happy to help! 

Your local real estate agent, 

Nina Djuric

778.908.1440

soldwnina@gmail.com

One of the biggest fears, rationales, objections, and reasons why buyers and sellers wait is because of timing the market. As you can expect, buyers usually want to buy at the best and lowest price and sellers usually want to sell at the best and highest price. I say the term “usually” because the best price sometimes isn’t what each party wants depending on their personal situation, financial situation, and other factors.

One of the biggest problems with timing the market is that you just simply can’t.

Why can’t you time the market? The problem why you can’t time the market is no one can know when prices have hit the absolute bottom until prices start going back up again, just like selling at the absolute top – you won’t know until the prices have already started to go down.

No one can perfectly time a market, but the good news is that having a real estate agent as your trusted advisor will be one of the best tools to help you find that ideal home with a great deal or on the selling side, get top dollar for your home with the right pricing and marketing strategies.

As a buyer, it is good to ask “Has the market dropped enough now to make a sensible purchase?” Likely yes – are you purchasing a home to flip it in the next year or two, or are you buying a home for long-term investment? Real estate is a cyclical industry and will always rotate from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market and keep cycling.

It is important to know that when real estate is held long-term, you are usually protected from short-term and cyclical changes.

You know the saying: what comes up, must come down and what comes down, must come up! (It’s science – Newton’s law!)

Please reach out with any questions. I encourage discussions on all things real estate. Happy to help, happy to educate!

Don’t miss out on any important real estate news, tips, advice, and investment opportunities by signing up for my complimentary #SOLDWITHNINA Newsletter.

Chat soon.

Your local real estate agent, Nina

Earlier in April, we heard the Department of Finance Canada come together and release their budget to help make housing more affordable and achievable for Canadians. Below I have highlighted their objectives to make it happen:

• First-time buyers:

  • A tax-free first home savings account. Save up to $40,000 – contributions and withdrawals would be tax-deductible. Tax-free in/out.

  • Extending the first-time buyer incentive to March 31, 2025. Read more about this incentive here.

  • Doubling the First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit amount to $10,000.

• Property flippers:

  • Introducing a new rule to fully tax their profits as business income if the home is sold before owning for a full year. This applies to residential properties sold on or after Jan 1, 2023. Exemptions would apply for certain circumstances.

• Protection for ALL buyers:

  • The government will create and implement something called a “Home Buyers’ Bill of Rights” in an effort to ban blind bidding and subject-free offers.

• Foreign buyers:

  • Banning anyone who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident from purchasing non-recreational residential properties in Canada for two years.

• Living with family:

  • To support multigenerational homes, the government is introducing something called a Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit. Providing up to $7,500 in support for constructing a secondary suite for a senior or an adult with a disability. This will start in 2023.

There are a few more important highlights that the budget is outlined to support such as investing in housing for Indigenous communities, rapidly building more homes and support to end homelessness. View the entire list here.

What are your thoughts on the new federal budget for 2022?

Chat soon,

Nina