Realestock Blog

Moving can be rotten and irritating. The Realestock blogger is moving this week and has spent the better part of the month stressing about details small (running cable to the bedroom) and large (there are NO CURTAINS YET).

If you’re moving soon, enjoy our 10 moving tips:

1. Label boxes in priority order: A-B-C makes moving easy as… well, you get it. Labeling boxes of high priority as A, middling priority as B and low as C means that it’s quick and easy to locate the boxes you need to unpack first. Who wants to unpack the blender, the cookie sheets and the turkey pan you use once a year because the box was labeled ‘kitchen’ before finally finding the ‘kitchen’ box you really need right away – the one with the coffee maker!
2. Pack early: Nobody like packing. However, starting a month early on infrequently used items (books, seasonal ornaments, etc) means you can pack two boxes a day. That will equal 60 boxes in a month - far better than trying to pack 60 boxes in a weekend.
3. Be Generous: (to your local charities) Moving is the perfect time to get rid of old items you never use or that your children have outgrown. Instead of paying to move them, and then returning them to dusty disuse, donate old clothes, toys, knick knacks and kitchen supplies to those less fortunate and give the items the second lives they deserve.
4. Plan your space: Take a detailed floor plan of the new space and measurements of your furniture. You’ll know ahead of time if you have room to take large pieces (such as beds and desks) and if you’ve already worked out a preliminary floor plan, it’s much easier to start slotting the big items into place.
5. Unpack the bed first: if nothing else, you will need to sleep in your new home!
6. Don’t try to get it done in one day: Make your first priority handy things like kitchens, workspaces and the bedroom. If all your art isn’t up on the first day, it’s not the end of the world. Form before function should be the unpacking mantra.
7. Pack an overnight bag: Making your toothpaste & pajamas easy to find will greatly reduce your moving stress – nobody want to be in a rush to unpack because they can’t take a shower or change their underpants until they do.
8. Keep children and pets in mind: moving is stressful for kids and animals – try to set them up a safe, quiet area where they can safely be out of your hair while you unpack.
9. Don’t fret over your diet: Pizza and beer are well deserved and guilt free after a day of schlepping boxes. Never forget that!
10. Recycle & clean: find the local recycling depot before you arrive at your new home so you know where you can take your empty boxes and discarded packing material. Nothing drags out the feeling of moving more than living with stacks of empty boxes and waste you don’t know where to take.

Photo: Powerhouse Museum

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Disclaimer: by redecorate I don’t mean throw everything out and buy thousands of dollars worth of furniture and accessories. I mean take a step back, asses your space, re-organize, edit, re-paint, change accent colours… just try something new. Who truly says “my home is perfect just the way it is” anyhow?!

1. Winter’s got you depressed enough already – this will take your mind off it.
2. It’s the perfect excuse to purge clutter.
3. Your space doesn’t seem to work right – it’s not inviting/clean/functional enough.
4. You loved those totally on trend grey walls for about 2 weeks, but now you’re regretting them intensely.
5. You’ve recently gotten a new pet/baby/roommate.
6. You’ve outgrown your action figure collection… maybe it’s not something you want to display so prominently anymore.
7. You’re going stir crazy and you’ve got cabin fever. Redecorating the cabin might help…
8. Moving furniture is great exercise for the mind and body – you use spatial planning abilities to determine where it should go and you get a great workout lugging it around.
9. You’ve been dying to try bringing a pop of colour into your space.
10. Too many things you own are neither beautiful, nor useful.
11. You’re eyeing some new home accessories, but you follow the strict 1 in, 1 out policy. Things need to go before more stuff comes in.
12. New year, new look!
13. You’re moving – you can reassess your style and start fresh at your new home.
14. Your space lacks a strong focal point.
15. Your space just doesn’t make you happy when you’re in it.
16. Your house doesn’t feel like a home.
17. You’re constantly reading design and real estate blogs plotting ways to improve your home – you’re probably full of great ideas!

Photo credit: Matt Hutchinson

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Interior design can be very, very boring. I’ve spent many hours trolling home design websites and I’ve seen countless posts and comments advising people to hide action figure collections and children’s toys. Everyone is embracing grey, mid-century lines and  ultra-modern designs... The only problem with this? It’s totally boring!

While I’m a fan of clean lines and a clutter free environment, I hate, hate, hate it when everyone is telling you to make your house look the same - cold, sterile and too modern. Where’s the personality? Where’s the sense of fun? Shouldn’t design be for the people who live there, not the people who just visit?

Basically, I want some whimsy and creativity to come back into our homes, and it looks like British Architect Ab Rogers has answered my call.

He’s designed what he calls The Rainbow House. It’s a West London Townhouse with some actual personality - a rainbow of colours, secret passages, rotating beds and even a secret slide to take you from the master bedroom to the living room in a “blast of joy”. It’s a dream come true for kids and adults who still think like kids. The Sunday Times called it “a playground for adults”, and I can’t think of a better description.

As you can see from the picture, it's bright, but not insane. The colourful blasts of the house are counterbalanced by lots of white, lots of crisp design and a fairly good dose of minimalism. It's the restraint that really helps the colours and the crazy design stand out and it's a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Great design that's not afraid to have fun, take risks and do things that are a little bit weird. We need more of this in my opinion.  

Of course, talking about The Rainbow house doesn't do it much justice - watch the video at Plastolux, or read the original Sunday Times article here.

So, while your cup of tea might not be ultra clean design broken up by delightful pops of powerful colour, I assure you, that some of us in the world - who still appreciate a little whimsy in our lives, are head over heels in love with the Rainbow House.

If you do think you’re brave enough to embrace the Rainbow, the townhouse can be rented for the princely sum of £3,500 a week. Not cheap, but isn’t it a small price to pay to re-capture some of the thrill of childhood?

Picture: The Sunday Times

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A combination of low property prices and increased overseas investment from Asian investors seems to be heating up the Japanese investment property market.

Japan was just one of the countries seriously affected by the global economic downturn in 2009, and that downturn was reflected in reduced demand and dropping real estate prices. The urban land price in Japan’s six largest cities dropped by almost 8% in 2009, reflecting the flood of Japanese real estate investment funds leaving the market in the wake of the recession and a sharp decline in building permits following the adoption of tough new building regulations at the end of 2008. In 2010, the price of residential land in Japan fell 3.4%, still dipping, but much more slowly. 2010 marks the 19th straight year of property price declines in Japan, a still-lingering after effect of the spectacular 1980s real estate bubble collapse. 

However, the Japanese economy is looking up – thanks to a combination of stimulus and tax reforms, the economy in Japan is starting to improve and has shown moderate growth. Low interest rates combined with attractive expected annual income yields of 4.5% – 5% a year have caused a new influx of foreign investors from other Asian countries. 

While still priced relatively highly, Japanese property is seen as a very stable investment despite dropping prices. Asian investors were much less hard hit by the global crisis than their American or European counterparts, giving them money to invest in assets like real estate. However, the booming Asian markets in Beijing, Singapore and Hong Kong are much more high risk, and have lower rates of return due to the volatile level of growth in those areas.  Adding in the unpredictability of possible financial policy shifts from the Chinese government to tame the extreme levels of speculation and inflation in the Chinese real estate market, and Japan’s steady and stable market becomes much more attractive.

In 2010 Asian firms made over $370 million dollars of real estate investments in Japan, almost doubling the amount of deals made in 2009.  As more middle class Chinese look to invest and diversify their assets, the prestige and safety of owning Japanese property is bringing more and more investors into the market.

Sources: Asian Investors Shop in Japan, The Wall Street Journal; House Price Falls in Japan Accelerate, Global Property Guide

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Everywhere you look online, there are Christmas decorating ideas, top five gift lists, and dozens and dozens of other people’s homes decorated up to the nines to make you feel back about your own home. If you’re feeling tired, overworked, under-rested and downright uninspired to do anything resembling creativity, don’t despair – I was feeling the same way. Rather than write another generic holiday to-do list blog post (because nothing will get you out of a funk faster than a list of MORE CHORES...) I thought I would curate a list of inspiring Christmas ideas. Take them, leave them, search for more. These pretty things and ideas might just snap you out of your holiday malaise.

Make your own holiday gift boxes by using colourful die-cut paper.

Apartment Therapy to the rescue with some classy gift ideas.

Nothing says festive like one strong, bold colour choice according to Martha Stewart.

Make your own modern, homey stockings with some felt and simple sewing.

White porcelain branch candle holders are a modern take on a seasonal tradition.

Holiday decorations don't have to be all glitz and glamour. A little DIY TLC can set the mood.

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With property prices going up and the push to denser, more urban living, the baby boomer dream of living in a sprawling suburban rancher is not only out of date, it’s undesirable for many people. Small space living has many benefits – less cleaning, cozier, more intimate spaces and central locations, but it can have many drawbacks too. Too much stuff can make a home look cluttered, overstuffed, dark and messy, but not everyone wants to live in a sparse, ultramodern condo where the only “colour” is grey. Small spaces don’t need to be empty, they just need to be organized!If you’re blessed with a small space, there are plenty of resources online to help you create a home that’s harmonious, well decorated and inspiring. We’ve compiled the ultimate list of small space tips that will help inspire you, no matter what your personal taste might be. 

1. Lighting REALLY Matters:

A dark room can be cosy – or it can be claustrophobic. When you have small rooms to work with, bringing in light can really open them up. Soft light from lamps (keep your shades scaled to the room) and windows can fill a room with light, and recessed and track lighting makes the most of limited space. 

2. Colour:

Many people will say dark colours are totally inappropriate for small spaces, but for everyone who tells you not to go bold in a small space, there are two examples that will refute that rule. The important thing to remember in a small space is that a little goes a LONG way, and no matter how you decorate, and what colours you choose, the look should be consistent throughout the space – this tricks the eye by making all the spaces blend together, giving the impression of one larger space, rather than many small ones. While dark colours and intricate designs can overpower a small wall, a large bold piece of artwork, or bright accents on pillows and rugs can make a room pop and add much needed personality and visual interest. A house of white and cream may look larger, but it won’t be very interesting to many people.

3. Kill your Clutter:

As a person on a one-lady quest against needless clutter, this is a personal topic for me. Too many small things crammed into a space makes you think that the room just can’t hold everything in it. Cutting clutter doesn’t mean you can’t display the things you love – it just might mean you can’t do it all at once. Try:

o Rotating you collections. Change up what you have displayed according to the season, or even your moodso Storing out of site. A neatly labeled box holds DVDs and video games just as well as a shelf. Bonus – storage doesn’t have to be plain – choose bright boxes to inject fun and colour into your décor.

o Edit! Consider replacing three small knickknacks with one large décor piece. There’s nothing wrong with only keeping pieces your really love for your small space! Even if your aunt did give you an expensive (but not particularly nice vase for Christmas) there’s no reason to display it if you don’t actually like it.

o Review all your possessions twice a year to make sure you’re only holding onto the things that you actually use or love. There is no shame with selling unwanted things on craigslist or donating them to a charity if you want them out of your house.

o Ditch artificial flowers. They look tacky, they pick up dust and are better replaced with real plants or flowers.

o Say goodbye to having too much stuff! Cramming too much furniture into a small space can make it seem like a storage area instead of a home. Remember that stuff is just stuff – it’s not memories. Evaluate everything you have in your home and see if you could possibly live without it. Chances are you could!

4. Create Openness:

Many small apartments maximize space by having large mirrors on the walls. They reflect light and create an illusion of a much more open, much bigger space. Consider splurging on some mirrors for your own space to copy this effect. If you can, remove doors you rarely or never need to close – the door itself takes up space, and cuts the flow of the room. Something as simple as replacing heavy curtains with lighter ones in the spring and summer can make a room look lighter and more open.

5. Learn to Love Double Duty Furniture:

Small spaces mean that rooms have to serve double, or even triple purpose. Consider a sofa that pulls out so your living room can double as a guest bedroom. Use a vintage sideboard for an entertainment unit and use the drawers to store media and other items you don’t need to use every day.  Create a bench with storage underneath to double as seating and storage.

6. Maximize what you have:

Instead of filling your house with 6 small bookshelves, consider taking an entire wall and turning into into a storage area with floor to ceiling bookshelves, cubbyholes and places for everything. You’ll get rid of unnecessary furniture, and create more space for the things you want to hold on to.  Go vertical by putting up high shelves to store books and items you don’t need often.

7. Scale Furniture and Appliances appropriately:

Not enough space in your tiny kitchen? Consider buying a small fridge or stove, or even ditching the microwave to open up space. Bigger isn’t always better in a small space – furniture that’s too big or crammed into too small an area just looks muddled and hinders your ability to physically move around it.

Photos & Inspiration: Apartment Therapy; Re-Nest

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International property investment has increased significantly in 2010, with nations like Brazil and Australia leading the way.

International commercial real estate investment in 2010 is expected to reach up to $290 billion dollars – up almost 40% over 2009 levels.  In the US, surging capital markets have seen a significant pickup in activity, with gateway cities on the coast seeing the greatest gains.  In the US, transactions are predicted to total between 85 and 90 billion dollars by the end of 2010, a stunning 90% gain over the numbers for 2009.

In the residential markets, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia are leading the way in house price increases, posting price gains of as much as 34% over 2009 numbers. Not everywhere is as rosy however. Commercial real estate is down in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and severe house prices declines continue in Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Iceland, Russia, Poland, Croatia, Spain & Slovakia.

According to GlobalPropertyGuide.com there is still opportunity in the markets, and here are their picks about the best countries to focus on, and who to avoid:

In Latin America

• Interest rates are in long-term decline, due to better Central Bank policies
• Economies are booming
• Tourism is rising
• The residential property boom that began 3 years ago continues
• Rental yields - critical indicators of the health of property markets - are still high
• Latin currencies are rising

Selections for investors: Peru, Panama, Brazil, and Chile Possible: Colombia

In the US

• The economy is recovering
• The dollar is rising
• Residential property valuations are attractive in some states, and are already attracting investors

Selections for investors: states whose property markets fell dramatically during the crisis, beginning with Florida

In Europe

• Property markets have not sufficiently adjusted from their 15-year rise. Residential property yields are poor throughout Europe.
• The panic over the Greek and other deficits shows no side of abating
• The Euro is falling. Currency depreciation should somewhat offset increased fiscal stringency - a positive.
• There are buying opportunities for opportunities for non-Euro buyers, but of themselves residential properties are not an appetizing investment in most of Europe.

Selections for investors: Turkey, because of its young population, the opening to the East, and its competent government. Possible: Hungary, because its incompetent government may provoke a crisis which would make its low prices and excellent yields even more attractive.

In the Middle East and North Africa

• The Middle East is in a cycle, led by the Gulf. Recovery may take a while, but the underlying dynamic of petro-dollars, pegged currencies, and high domestic inflation, which tends to push property values up. As yield-oriented investors, we are more interested in the marginal markets, but we expect investors to begin to be interested again in the Gulf soon.

Selections for investors: Egypt, Jordan. Possible: Morocco. Note: Egypt and Jordan's property markets have been hard-hit by the crisis. But in both countries' capitals, there are generous yields. Morocco has less attractive yields, but a long term tourism trend.

In Asia

• Property is over-valued in most countries in Asia, with few exceptions

Selections for investors: Malaysia Possible: Thailand. Malaysia is very stable, and has reasonable returns and Thailand has excellent yields. Prices have been falling, because of the political uncertainty. Developers want to reduce risk by unloading stock. Opportunity knocks.

In the Pacific

• Avoid. Australian residential property is quite overvalued, and interest rates are rising. In New Zealand there is less overvaluation, but less opportunity for growth as well.

Sources: NuWire Investor and GlobalPropertyGuide.com

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The rest of the world is just starting to see a real estate recovery, but China is way ahead. According to Bloomberg, four of the country’s top banks have stopped lending to real estate developers to tame surging home prices. The Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corp, Bank of China and the Agricultural Bank of China have all met their allotted government lending targets for the year.

According to the Chinese Statistics Bureau, property development is up over 36.5% year on year, with lending in the first 10 months of the year topping 3.81 trillion Yuan (about 574 billion US dollars). All four state owned banks have denied the report, saying they are still lending to developers at a normal pace. Two of the banks have reported they are still lending if the projects are of high quality, but did not give further details on what that might mean.

Fueled by stimulus spending last year, the Chinese economy has gone into overdrive. China aimed to lend 7.5 trillion Yuan this year, but had lent over 6.9 trillion Yuan before November. Regulators are starting to worry that the surge in credit could drive the Real Estate boom into a bust, and have begun working to reign back the real estate industry.  In April, the Chinese government raised minimum mortgage down payments and interest rates, and tightening lending controls. On Monday, the country announced new limits on foreign real estate investment. Foreigners will be limited to owning a single residence, and companies will only be allowed to purchase properties they intend to use. 

Overall, China’s rapid growth has predictably lead to some rapid inflation. Food prices have seen double digit jumps, and inflation is sitting at 4.4% right now, and the government is battling to keep it from spreading to other sectors.

Sources: Bloomberg, Business Week, Market Watch

Photo: Peter Morgan

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The price of a new house in Canada rose slightly, prompting more and more people to worry that Canadian homes may be overvalued.  According to Statistics Canada, the housing price rose 0.2% in September, greater than the originally forecast increase of 0.1%.  Rapidly increasing prices over the past decade, including the 2009 recession had  increased speculation recently that Canadian housing could be caught in a bubble.

Montreal and Calgary lead the price increases, as developments in new areas brought slightly higher construction costs, which were passed onto the consumer.

In spite of bubble fears it's important to note that housing prices rose in only 10 of 21 Canadian cities, and housing starts fell 9.2% - the lowest rate in over a year, and the sixth straight month of declines.

In a move not typical for BC prices, Vancouver and Victoria actually contributed to keep the increase down, as both cities - typically known for their white-hot, and according to some skeptics, overvalued property prices - saw a 0.4% decline in housing prices between August and September. In Victoria, home of Realestock, prices have declined slightly both month over month, and year over year - a new home costs 0.6% less now than it did 1 year ago.

Overall though, the average price of a new house in Canada is still 2.7% higher than it was in September 2009, with the strongest year on year gains the cities of Toronto, Montreal, Oshawa and Vancouver.

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Since October 25, homeowners looking to sell in Canada have a lot more options under their belt. The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has approved a sweeping change to the MLS system that they’ve so tightly controlled since its inception.

Under a new agreement between the CREA and the Federal Competition Bureau, Canadian realtors can now place properties on the MLS for a flat fee – and leave all the other work of actually selling a property to homeowners. This allows for much more consumer choice than the previous commission model. Homeowners will be able to pick and choose what they want realtors to do for them – instead of ordering the set dinner, you can order your realty services from the a la carte menu.

"By allowing [a realtor] to just post and not have to represent, then you inherently give your consent for them not to be full-service. It opens up the possibility for consumers to have a clear choice of services for different prices," said Tsar Somerville, Director of the Centre of Urban Economics and Real Estate at the University of British Columbia. 

What’s the incentive to go a la carte, or just have a realtor post a listing on the MLS for you? Big savings – buyers agents fees average at 2.5% of the property, and seller’s agents fees range from anywhere between 4 and 6%. Paying a flat rate up front can save many thousands of dollars down the line and allow homeowners to undercut their competition, knowing they’ll be keeping all the profit for themselves according to Garry Marr, Financial Post Columnist. 

Whatever the outcome, not everyone believes that the real estate game will change – some people are betting most homeowners will go with the expertise of full service realtors instead of picking and choosing their services. “Quite honestly, I think [the impact] is going to be quite minimal,” said Jake Moldowan, President of the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board.

Sources: 

Real Estate Listing Deal Opens Doors for Sellers, Sympatico.ca; Sellers Skip Realtors for Flat MLS Fee, The Province; Real Estate Renovated, The Calgary Herald

Image: TheTruthAbout

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