Essential Landscaping Tips and Tricks Details such as landscaping designs and quality craftsmanship in a home can make a dramatic first impression on prospective home buyers. D. Fritz Appraisals Inc. has decades of experience and ideas to help homeowners increase the curb appeal of their homes.  Industry experts agree home landscaping provides an excellent return on investment. From simply edging your front walkway to creating a luxurious backyard paradise, carefully planning your project will yield the best results.  Don’t overlook the power that landscaping can have in a competitiv ..read more

Analyzing Community Features That Impact Property Value When deciding what adds value to a home, today’s savvy property owner thinks beyond an impressive house amenities list.  It may surprise you to discover exactly what things add value to a home in today’s competitive housing market.  Community features and neighbourhood amenities are topping the modern buyer’s wish list. With increasing real estate prices, property owners are demanding more. Does a neighbourhood have sidewalks, mature trees, hiking trails or a dog park? Beyond the conveniences of a house ..read more

What Can Impact the Cost of a Home Appraisal Whether you are buying, selling or looking to refinance your home, you will most likely need a home appraisal.  While an appraisal fee is something you will need to add to your budget or closing costs, the good news is the cost of a home appraisal shouldn’t be a deal breaker. A home appraisal is a key part of the financing portion of any new or refinanced mortgage or loan agreement. It is something most financial institutions will insist on before releasing funds. It’s worth knowing that some factors can impact your final home appraisal costs ..read more

Major Home Renovations & Home Appraisals:  What You Should Know Are you planning house renovations and want to know the best home improvement investments? Or maybe you are planning to sell your house and are wondering about renovations that increase home value the most. Whether you are planning to sell in the near future or not, most people want to be reassured that any major renovations they invest in will be reflected in an increased home valuation. While any renovations that improve the function or look of your home are a good idea, some have a better return on investment value tha ..read more

Uptake of the Missing Middle Housing Initiative is Off to a Slow Start Victoria, BC, has been hailed as ambitious for its adoption of the progressive Missing Middle Housing Initiative in early 2023. The initiative, which was approved in January after more than two years of research and consultation, aims to make it easier for developers to create multi-home developments that bridge the gap between apartments and single-family homes. The ultimate goal is to enable young families that are currently priced out of the single-family home market to achieve the dream of home ownership and remain livi ..read more

Victoria Real Estate Market Update Spring 2023 Victoria Housing Market Predictions for 2023 and Beyond So far, 2023 has seen Victoria, BC’s housing market stabilizing from the extremes of 2022. While sales remain slow and prices have dropped from last year, both are increasing steadily as more inventory comes onto the market. However, experts predict a strong recovery for Victoria Real Estate in 2024, when sales numbers will pick up again as a result of increasing inventory, an easing of financial restrictions and ongoing demand for homes.  Victoria house prices are also expected to start ..read more

How to Use Home Equity to Buy Another House Are you dreaming of owning a second home? Using equity to buy a second home can make your dream a reality. Taking equity out of your home to buy another house can be a financially advantageous option, as it allows homeowners to tap into the built-up value of their primary residence without worrying about saving up for a second mortgage. Home equity is like having money in the bank, but it’s tied up in your real estate. This article will discuss the definition of home equity and taking equity out of your home to buy another house in Canada. What Is Ho ..read more

What to do When Your Property Tax Assessment Seems Too High In early January each year, every home in British Columbia receives its property tax assessment notice through the mail from BC Assessment. Some property owners may be surprised and possibly even concerned with their home property assessment amount. Between 2021 and 2022, house prices in BC rose by an average of 23.3% with the increase even steeper in Victoria.  With BC Assessments predicting that property assessments will rise between 5% and 15% for 2023, it’s no wonder homeowners are concerned about how these cumulative increas ..read more

How Home Appraisers Decide on the Value of Your Property There are many reasons you may need to know the value of your property and for this, you need a home appraisal. Home appraisers are trained to inspect and measure your property and perform comparisons that result in an accurate valuation for the current housing market. Home appraisals are a vital part of the home buying process as they have a big influence on the amount a lending institution will loan the buyer. They are also used to assess the value of the home for home improvement loans and insurance evaluations. Read on for more info ..read more

Online Home Buying Tips For Remote Purchasers The real estate market has changed dramatically in recent years. Due to demand for homes being higher than supply, buyer preferences and buying methods have had to change and more people are resorting to buying real estate online or sight unseen. When demand outweighs supply and quality homes enter the market, they often sell fast. This sometimes generates bidding wars and buyers need to move as quickly as possible, otherwise, they could miss out. In a hot real estate market, you may even have to submit an offer before you get the chance to tour th ..read more