Helping You Buy, Build, or Renovate Your Home
Bits & Bites by Peter Simpson
Bits & Bites by Peter Simpson for METRO
An Ovation for housing excellence
The finalists for the third annual Ovation Awards have been announced by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association (GVHBA). The awards recognize excellence in new home and renovation design, construction, accessibility, sustainability, affordability, energy efficiency and heritage restoration.
Expert judges from outside the Metro Vancouver region selected the finalists in 41 categories. Topping the list are Kenorah Construction & Design (15 finalist placements), ParkLane Homes (13), My House Design/Build Team (nine), Intermind Design (eight), Portrait Homes (seven), and G. Wilson Construction (six).
Presenting sponsor is FortisBC. Patron sponsor is the Homeowner Protection Office, branch of BC Housing.
Winners will be announced April 28 at the Ovation Awards gala in Vancouver. Visit gvhba.org/ovationawards for the list of finalists and links to their websites.
Digital generation
I had an opportunity recently to attend a presentation by Mitch Joel, one of the top 100 online marketers of the world.
Three statements Joel made resonated with the audience. Today's children will grow up in a world without a keyboard or mouse; 84 per cent of consumers are likely to check online reviews prior to making a purchase; and more grandparents than high school students are on Facebook.
Geez, I need to catch up - I'm still having a hard time saying goodbye to my three-inch floppy disks.
Help for first-timers
With mortgage rates at historical lows, many young men and women, with a little help form the Bank of Mom & Dad, are stepping onto the first rung of the homeownership ladder.
But they need a little help to de-mystify the process, which can be somewhat daunting for neophytes. More than 600 people have registered for the GVHBA's 18th annual free first-time homebuyer seminar April 3 at the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey.
Major sponsors are the Homeowner Protection Office and RBC Royal Bank.
Be an informed homebuyer. Register online at gvhba.org or call 778-565.4288.
Categories: Affordability, Buying