News and Notes and Such:

The Canadian real estate market has rebounded to pre 2008 prices making it desirable to international investors. Canada's real estate market has been more stable than the housing market in other countries. Property is very hot right now in both Toronto and Vancouver. In Vancouver, a house recently sold for $100,000.00 above list price. In the US real estate recovery is a little slower. In some places there are still a lot of forclosures to process, in particular California and Nevada. If you are a buyer it is a good idea to get a home inspection from a good inspector. Ask friends for recommendations and ask the inspector for references. Some inspectors even carry insurance in case they missed something big. If you are a seller give your home a good cleaning, paint, and declutter. Women buyers tend to place a lot of importance on kitchens and bathrooms, while men really like garages. If you are updating your kitchen yourself, concrete countertops can be a do it yourself job; although it is very labour intensive, it is quite inexpensive. While granite and marble countertops are the traditional choice, concrete countertops and even sinks are gaining popularity as they have a sleek new look and concrete is a sustainable resource. On the concrete and do it yourself topic, some people even build their own concrete homes. Again very, very labour expensive, but inexpensive compared to traditional wood frame houses and very energy efficient as for heating/air con. There are even houses built out of hay bales!

There are so many great tv shows about real estate. Love it or List it does amazing renovations on owners properties! House Hunters International showcases beautiful, stunning properties all over the world. Urban Suburban shows properties to buyers both in an urban downtown environment and also in the suburbs and weighs the pros and cons of each environment. And don't forget Trading Spaces which deals with renovating on a low budget with a two day time limit.