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Showing posts from July, 2017

China & Canada - Money, Politics, Real Estate

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CBC asks if the housing bubble will pop as a result of tightened capital controls? Will China’s tightened capital controls pop the housing bubble? China imposes further restrictions to control capital flowing out of the country This month, the limit on foreign currency transactions in China was lowered to $9,000 to increase scrutiny on investment money flowing out of the country. Promoting some to fear this could be the catalyst that finally causes Canada’s bloated real-estate prices to collapse. Obviously there will always be support for  real estate in Canada … forever expanding till the end of time (just our universe). “International shoppers are ‘relatively minor players’ but there are a lot of other things going on in the Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle or San Francisco housing market that have continued to propel housing prices upward,” said senior economist Aaron Terrazas, of Zillow, a real estate market research company based in Seattle. China caps capital But what if buyers from C

Add Value To Your Home Using Apps

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By Sam Fox Whether you are comtemplating a complete home makeoveror merely wanted some ideas to improve your nest, ther is an app for that – many actually. Apps That Will Change The Way You Decorate Envision all of your home improvements, in just a few taps. Color Capture Free, available for iOS and Android Best Paint Color Picker For those always inspired by colors on the go, snap them with Benjamin Moore’s Color Capture app, and it’ll produce its matching paint color, along with coordinating shades that you can save and pick up swatches of later. Users note that the real paint color is usually a little darker than the app’s display, but it’s a great jumping-off point to get to the perfect hue. Chairish Free, available for iOS Best for Unique Antiques If you have your heart set on a particular vintage piece to complete a space, your best bet in actually obtaining it is by using the Chairish app. A dedicated buyer-and-seller’s marketplace for high-quality, pre-loved furniture, Chairis

Bubbleology - The new religion of 2/3 Canadians who believe Housing Bubble is Real

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Apparently as many as 2/3 Canadians have converted to a new religion known as “Bubbleology”. To the faithful Bubbleologists, Housing Bubble is the mighty Devil and his coming is imminent. Because certain unscrupulous profiteers have provoked the wrath of the Lord. However, Housing Bubble is no Armageddon, it’s not the end of the world yet. It’s just that there will be great suffering among ordinary folks whenever Mr. Bubble Housing comes visiting. They believe the time is nigh, they believe the Great Suffering will take place in 2018, that’s when proponets of the “Great White Short” will be laughing their way to the banks… Open living area designed in a circular fashion and semi-enclosed by rotating glass panels in this home located in Hollywood Hills.  A Canadian Housing Bubble? Two-Thirds Say It’s Real Nearly half of Canadians are worried about what interest rate hikes will do to their mortgage payments. A majority of Canadians say there’s a housing bubble, but only a minority believ

Stunning Interior Design Ideas That Will Elevate Your House To A Greater Height

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Given how much time most of us spend at home, it’s a shame most of us live in small, boring homes or apartments. If home is where the heart is, these interior design ideas will ensure that your heart stays happy! Some of these interior design ideas are grand, sweeping, expensive installations, but for those of us without the money to spare, there are smaller ideas too that are still doable and will give your home a unique and personal touch. And for those of us who live in city apartments, there are also plenty of ideas that will help you save space! Bright, open kitchen features dark grey cabinetry, skylights and a rustic wooden table serving as a workspace in this 1927 craftsman heritage home in West Vancouver. Kitchen and dining area uses contrasting colors and textures to create a sense of separate spaces in this loft apartment in TriBeCa. My dad just showed me this picture of his darkroom he created in his basement in 1975.  Living room, as seen from the kitchen, features large, m

How to improve your home's value

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By Handy Joe Did you know, patios can increase your home’s value by 10 percent or so? Now that it’s summer, you’re busy making plans for vacations and backyard barbecues. While you’re at it, you might want to also consider remodeling projects that will increase your home’s value. Investing a little time and money in your residence now can seriously pay off if you decide to put it on the market down the road. Improving your home is an investment, and not knowing where to spend your money for the best value is a common issue for many homeowners. It’s important to consider your needs in the present and plan for the future, as in, how will this improvement pay off in the end? Knowing how to invest your money into your home is a valuable lesson—literally. Outdoor Living After the brutal winter, you’ll surely want to spend as much time outdoors as you can. If you enjoy being outside but you don’t feel like you have a place to do so, consider upgrading your outdoor space with a deck or sunroo

Use Home Improvement Apps To Increase Your Home's Value

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By Handy Joe Thinking of increase your home’s value with remodeling? Right on. But be strategic, because not all updates increase an appraisal. The next thing is you may want to consider to make use of apps to help with your DIY remodeling projects. While apps can’t replace a full set of tools, only a fool would wield a crowbar much less a power saw before designing, measuring, calculating quantities of materials, ordering supplies, or finding qualified professionals to handle the job. Smartphone apps for home improvement help primarily with the planning and designing phase, making them handy first installations for any home remodeling project. What can you do with home renovation smartphone apps? look for inspiring remodeling ideas measure your space calculate the number of tiles you need find the perfect paint color locate an interior designer who speaks to your style rearrange the furniture without dragging it around hang a mirror even if you don’t own a level The following home ren