Blog

As a local White Rock Realtor, I often get asked about the benefits of living in this beautiful coastal community. With its stunning beaches, charming boutiques and restaurants, and proximity to Vancouver, White Rock truly has something for everyone. In this post, we’ll explore some of the key benefits of living in White Rock.

Beaches and Outdoor Recreation

One of the most obvious benefits of living in White Rock is access to its stunning beaches. Whether you’re a sunbather, swimmer, or kayaker, there’s something for everyone at White Rock Beach. The promenade is perfect for a leisurely stroll or bike ride, and there are plenty of parks and trails to explore in the surrounding area.

Charming Downtown

White Rock’s charming downtown is another highlight of living in this community. From boutique shops and art galleries to restaurants and cafes, there’s always something to see and do in the heart of White Rock. The area is particularly vibrant during the summer months when events like the White Rock Farmers’ Market and the TD Concerts at the Pier take place.

Proximity to Vancouver

While White Rock has plenty to offer in its own right, its proximity to Vancouver is another major benefit. Whether you work in the city or simply enjoy visiting for its many attractions and amenities, White Rock’s location makes it easy to get to Vancouver by car, bus, or SkyTrain.

Sense of Community

White Rock has a strong sense of community, with many residents taking an active role in local events and initiatives. Whether it’s participating in the annual White Rock Sea Festival or volunteering at a local charity, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and make a difference in the community.

Real Estate Market

Finally, the White Rock real estate market is another benefit of living in this community. With a range of properties available, from waterfront condos to spacious single-family homes, there’s something for every budget and lifestyle in White Rock. And with demand for housing in the area remaining strong, the potential for appreciation on your investment is significant.

In conclusion, there are many benefits to living in White Rock, from its stunning beaches and charming downtown to its proximity to Vancouver and strong sense of community. If you’re considering making a move to this beautiful coastal community, the Biggar Team would be happy to help you explore your options and find the perfect home for your needs and budget. Contact us today to start your search for your dream home in White Rock!

When you have a home to sell in Langley, a condo or even a luxury penthouse in White Rock or anywhere else, you can hire a realtor to ensure you get the best price for your asset, and even deal with all the pesky little details to ensure a headache-free sale.

The Guy Biggar Team has been doing this a while, so we’ve prepared a list to help you get your home in order before putting it on the market. We have a seller’s guide prepared, but we’ll talk in step-by-step terms that you need to tackle and make a sale.

• Your home should give an impressive first appearance
  • Clean up everything inside your home – no stains, dust, or cobwebs
  • If needed, upgrade appliances, cabinet hardware, and light fixtures – minor upgrades can mean a lot
  • Remove your personal stamp and allow buyers to see the potential – the buyer will put their stamp 
  • Declutter and clean everything until it sparkles – clean out closets, garage, basement, and attic
  • Create curb appeal – trim bushes, plant flowers, repair outside areas
  • Don’t forget the backyard/garden – trim, weed, plant, beautify

• Put a competitive price on your home (we’ll help with this part, but here’s a few ways we come up with a price)
  • Compare prices on comparable homes nearby
  • Get a professional appraisal of your home – you get a professional, objective opinion 
  • Create a price band – put a between range price
  • Place your home on the market in spring – this is the prime buying time; fall is the other
  • Decide on your lowest acceptable price (possible discount) and set a timetable for the sale considering other factors (when do you move into your new home etc.)

• Make an irresistible offer!
  • Get a home inspection and include the report in the open house
  • Throw in something extra with the home – maybe it’s an extra appliance like a built in bbq or pizza oven
  • Hire a professional photographer to take photos and create an online portfolio for your home
  • Hire a professional real estate agent and follow their advice

We hope you follow our guide when thinking of selling your townhouse or a condo. If you are interested in selling your Fraser Valley property, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at the Guy Biggar Team has We’ll answer questions and help you with everything around selling your condo, townhouse, or luxury penthouse in Langley, South Surrey, White Rock, or anywhere else.

While owning a house is a dream come true for many, the actual market conditions are not affordable to all. Thus, many people are forced to rent despite their wish to own their own homes. We discussed the pros and cons of buying vs. renting a home, so as an experienced real estate agent, here I’ll discuss the 2023 macro real estate trends that may affect the decision to buy or rent.

Inflation and Cost-Of-Living Expenses

The global challenges we faced in the past few years have brought a rise in living costs and affected inflation. In turn, this has affected all areas of life, and it looks like it will continue to grow in 2023. These factors will probably influence how people approach their living situation, and many will possibly choose to live with roommates or relatives to cut on rent and utilities.

However, as more and more people work from home, many could be forced to look for larger units, leaving studios and one-bedroom apartments sitting longer. Also, we are seeing a prominent trend of millennials and Gen Z people entering the housing market, who have different preferences than their parents, so there is no saying how this trend will conclude.

People Are Still Transitioning to Suburbs

Another trend I must mention is the trend of people moving away from large cities to the suburbs and smaller towns. This was at its strongest during Covid, but the work-from-home trend will continue, which will most probably slow down the real estate market in densely populated cities and spark it up in the suburbs. We still talk to buyers for our Fraser Valley listing that want to move to the suburbs, and just live near the highway or future sky train lines to keep the door open for occasional travel into their urban offices.

Inflations impact on mortgage rates

Buyers are sensitive to interest rates as it impacts their payments. Rates coming down strongly depends on the inflation level, and it seems inflation has peaked and is starting to come down (were already down about 2 percent from the peak). Ideally inflation will get back towards the Bank of Canadas 2-3% target towards the end of this year. The moment the inflation loosens, people will start feeling more confident in taking loans or mortgages, so we can expect a rise in buyer demands throughout 2023, and many agents are already noticing a slight uptick now.

Please note that these are just my views on the possible market trends in 2023 based on my experience, expertise, and market knowledge. No matter how the real estate trends in 2023 continue, I’ll be here for you, whether you want to buy or rent your new home. Please get in touch with me if you wish to purchase or rent a home in the Fraser Valley.

Every adult has probably asked whether it is better to rent or buy a house, and here we’ll discuss the pros and cons of renting or buying a home. As a realtor, I have a lot of good info to look at both sides of the argument, and notice the pros and cons of each, and believe me when I tell you there are pros and cons to both. Let’s get to the point – here is an overview of the reasons to rent and the reasons to buy a home.

Reasons to Rent a Home

When it comes to renting a home, some good points are working in favor of renting a home, but there are also some downsides. Now, it all comes to your needs in the moment, so here we list the reasons in favor of renting a house:

• It can be cheaper to rent a house when interest rates are high like they are now
• It is easier to move to a new city or area when you rent a home
• It does not come with maintenance obligations
• Depending on where you live, it might help you to build your credit and improve your credit score 

The downsides to renting a home are as follows:

• You can’t paint or remodel many parts of the home
• You don’t get the option to accumulate wealth in the form of home equity 
• You don’t own anything, even though you are paying a monthly cost

Reasons to Own a Home

Even though buying a home involves higher initial costs, it usually is a more lucrative decision in the long run. Here are the reasons in favor of owning a home:

• You get to own a more considerable portion of your home with every mortgage payment
• You get creative control over the property: you can renovate, paint, and redecorate at will
• You get to accumulate wealth and get tax deductions
• When you pay off a large portion of your home, you can refinance your mortgage and use the money as you see fit
• You get maintenance obligations and choices, and you can fix stuff yourself without having to report them to the homeowner’s association

Now, there are downsides related to owning a home, like:

• You don’t have the freedom to move without selling your home
• You need a higher initial investment to purchase a home

Well, there you have it, guys, a short outline of the main reasons for owning a home vs. renting a home. However, the actual decision is up to you, but you can always contact me for info and advice on the pros and cons of buying a home in Langley, White Rock or elsewhere. 

Yes, it is possible to narrow down all property under a single term like real estate, which serves a broad purpose. But, properties are differentiated based on their style, use, and features. Here we’ll outline the most common types of locally available properties you will find in the Fraser Valley and the surrounding areas.

Condominium + Apartments

Better known as a condo, it is a private residence located in a residential building, complex, or community. The condo is privately owned by an individual who either lives there or has a say in who can live or rent the unit. Also, a condo can have different layouts and features depending on its owner.

Townhouse

Townhouses are usually narrow, multilevel houses attached at least on one side to other townhouses. These can be privately owned or rented, usually have shared common areas like a pool, park or rec center, and usually come with upkeep done by a management company.

Single House

A single house is a single, detached house unit with a lot of freedom regarding construction, style, and the number of floors. The single house usually has a more considerable lot, with a larger front and backyard area and its own amenities that the owner adds.

Cottage

A cottage is a cozy house, often in a rural or semi-rural location, with a smaller square foot area and larger front and backyards. It often has a great many amenities and sophisticated furnishings. It is usually privately owned and used as a summer/winter/holiday residence or a rental property.

Cabin

Cabins are usually made from logs and have a rougher, more rustic look and feel. A cabin has fewer amenities than a cottage, is in the woods (primarily), and few have modern conveniences like electricity or running water. A cabin is usually privately owned by people who like to hunt or enjoy living as close to the wild as possible.

Which to Select?

Now you know the basic property types in and around the Fraser Valley area, and you are free to select the one you like that fits your lifestyle. Depending on your needs and habits, you can find what you are after, and the Guy Biggar team is the group to find the perfect property for you.

Anyone who’s ever tried to sell a property has faced the dilemma of whether they should change the listing price to get more offers. But is this the right move for you and will lowering or upping your listing price affect the sale of your real estate property in White Rock, Langley or anywhere else. Let’s discuss when changing your listing price might not work and what you can do to change that and speed up the sale.

How to Tell When the List Price Is Not Working?

While you may think that the obvious answer to this is “Because it has not sold yet,” you would not be entirely correct. If you follow the media’s stories on real estate, you may build unrealistic expectations of selling your home at a much higher than the asking price. That is where an experienced realtor comes in, as they know the market trends and how best to advise you on price and other vital details.

For example, if your property is in an area where the typical sale time is 30-40 days, not selling your property in the first five days from the listing is nothing to be concerned about. Still, an experienced real estate agent can help you discern the possibilities by using various statistics and key metrics like the number of booked showings, feedback from other realtors, views, and offers.

Signs That You Have a High Asking Price

There are three possible indicators that you’ve priced your property too high and might consider lowering the listing price:

• Little traffic and no offers – very few buyers visit your property and make no offers
• Good traffic with low price offers – buyers visit and like your property but make significantly lower offers than your listed price
• Good traffic with adverse comments on price – buyers visits and like your property by having negative comments about the price

A Right and Wrong Way to Change the Listing Price

Now that you know your listing price is wrong, you should consider lowering it. But you can do this in two ways: the wrong and the right.

The wrong way to change the listing price is to lower it in small increments and see how the market reacts. This indicates indecisiveness, and the slight incremental price lowering will not attract buyers. Also, when the buyers review the listing history, they’ll note the price changes and know that the property is overpriced.

The right way to change a listing price is to drop it at once. This way, you convey the right message to the market, and you can attract buyers who have discarded your property because of its high initial price. Also, my incrementally lowering, you may end up ‘chasing the market down’ and selling for less after 6 months of small price reductions, then you could have by just listing at fair market value. 

With the Guy Biggar Team, our customers always get the best possible advice on listing prices, market trends, and everything one may need when buying or selling their property in Vancouver. Get in touch with us today to speak with an expert!

When purchasing real estate, there are several vital aspects to consider. Apart from the basic things like schools, grocery stores, and safety concerns, other vital things make for an appealing neighborhood. Even if these don’t mean much to you now, they could be game changers in the long run.

Here we’ll talk about some primary neighborhood amenities you should consider when purchasing a new home in Langley and White Rock. With the Biggar Team, we’ve got you covered, as we know all the essential things that will help you find the home of your dreams. Here are the main things that positively affect real estate appeal:

Grocery Stores: convenient access to fresh, quality food is vital, so this is one of the things you should first look for in your intended neighborhood. Ideally, you should be able to walk to the grocery store.

Close to Offices: if you work in an office, it would be ideal to be close to your home, so you get a short commute to work and back. 

Schools and Parks: even if you don’t have kids now, you will want to purchase a home near a good school with quick access to a park. However, this also affects resale price, as even if you don’t have kids or plan to move when you have them, you can get a better price when selling a home near a good school.

Malls with Cinemas and other Entertainment: being close to shops and malls is a good thing, especially when these include brand names and offer plenty of variety and other perks like movie theaters. You can easily walk to the movies and back home and enjoy shopping.

Trendy Restaurants: restaurants are another thing to look for when buying real estate, as you should be able to walk or have a short drive to a trendy eatery. Plus, your food will arrive hot when ordering dinner.

Fitness Amenities: fitness is becoming ever popular, so your new neighborhood should have some sort of fitness option very close to your new home. Gyms, pools, and even large fitness centers are excellent things to check for when considering a neighborhood. A golf course is another thing that could be tempting for some.

Additional Services: when we say additional services, we mean things like dry cleaners, easy access to public transport, the doctor’s office, the post office, banks, and the like; these are vital for appealing to real estate properties.

Feel free to contact us for any of your real estate needs in downtown Vancouver and Olympic Village, and we guarantee you’ll be presented with the best options.