By CBC News
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced new rules Tuesday aimed at preventing homebuyers from getting into financial difficulty when mortgage rates rise. After consulting with major Canadian lenders, Flaherty outlined the latest weapons at Ottawa's disposal aimed at removing some of the speculative froth in the housing market. "There is no...
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Karen Guy, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty
C 250.878.3605
O 250.768.8001
http://www.connectwithkaren.com/
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Valentine's Dessert
Chocolate-Berry Cheesecake
Prep Time: 18 min
Total Time: 3 hours 50 min
Makes: 15 servings
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® chocolate fudge cake mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 container (6 oz) Yoplait® Original 99% Fat Free red raspberry yogurt
1 container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1 can (21 ounces) strawberry pie filling
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 325°F. Grease or spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix and butter with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly; reserve 1 cup. Press remaining crumbly mixture, using floured fingers, in bottom of pan.
3. In same bowl, beat cream cheese, yogurt and frosting on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs until blended. Pour into pan. Sprinkle with reserved crumbly mixture.
4. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until center is set. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled. Just before serving, stir strawberries and blueberries into pie filling. Top each serving with berry mixture. Store covered in refrigerator.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Heat oven to 350°F. At end of step 2, prebake crust about 10 minutes.
yum! ~ and easy too :-)
Karen Guy, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty
C 250.878.3605
O 250.768.8001
http://www.connectwithkaren.com/
Prep Time: 18 min
Total Time: 3 hours 50 min
Makes: 15 servings
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® chocolate fudge cake mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 container (6 oz) Yoplait® Original 99% Fat Free red raspberry yogurt
1 container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1 can (21 ounces) strawberry pie filling
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 325°F. Grease or spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix and butter with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly; reserve 1 cup. Press remaining crumbly mixture, using floured fingers, in bottom of pan.
3. In same bowl, beat cream cheese, yogurt and frosting on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs until blended. Pour into pan. Sprinkle with reserved crumbly mixture.
4. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until center is set. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled. Just before serving, stir strawberries and blueberries into pie filling. Top each serving with berry mixture. Store covered in refrigerator.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Heat oven to 350°F. At end of step 2, prebake crust about 10 minutes.
yum! ~ and easy too :-)
Karen Guy, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty
C 250.878.3605
O 250.768.8001
http://www.connectwithkaren.com/
Monday, February 8, 2010
What the HST means for Home Buyers in Kelowna and West Kelowna
Here is an informative article from the British Columbia Real Estate Association,
Enjoy,
Karen Guy
The British Columbia Real Estate Association and its members are concerned that home buyers and sellers, particularly buyers of new homes, will bear most of the burden associated with the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
The cost of real estate transactions will increase on July 1, 2010 with the introduction of the new HST. The people of BC will be particularly affected since our province has some of the highest priced real estate in the country. Approximately 40% of all real estate transactions in BC involve sales priced over $400,000, the original threshold for an HST rebate.
On November 18, 2009 the provincial government announced the HST transitional rules on housing which includes a threshold increase from $400,000 to $525,000, moving the threshold to above the median new home price in the province. According to the government news release announcing the transitional rules, the limit was increased due to feedback from consumers and the industry. To read the news release and backgrounder click here.
For more information and to see the Residential Housing New Housing Rebates and Transitional Rules for BC click here.
The effect of the HST will also be to introduce a new tax on most services provided by GST/HST registrants in BC. As such, service-providers like REALTORS®, home inspectors, and appraisers will be required by government to collect and remit 12% HST on their fees.
The bottom line is that the proposed HST will increase the cost of buying and selling all property and it will have a much greater impact on the purchase of newly-built homes. Almost 60 per cent of the average family's household income is required to cover home ownership costs. If the HST is implemented as planned, they'll be paying even more.
Karen Guy
West Kelowna Real Estate Agent
http://www.connectwithkaren.com/
Cell:(250)878-3605
Office:(250)-768-8001
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