There are a lot of people who wish to buy properties in far away places of somewhere near to sea shores or villages with beautiful sceneries to look and enjoy. The one main reason for buying lands in other countries or foreign lands is that these properties can be used for enjoyment during vacation along with family and close friends. Same ways, people can leave those properties for rent so that they would get assort of perennial income through the property, which can be again a saving. But, before you buy a property in a foreign land, you will have to know fully about the land in which you are going to invest as well as about the land valuation of the area as ell as should gather information on areas surrounding the property that you want to buy. Gathering proper information about the property that you are planning to buy will make you understand if you are making your investment on the right property.

Real estate in Kelowna is fast growing in these days as it is in the beautiful Okanagan valley in Canada. We can find that a lot of people run to get apiece of land in Kelowna through real estate agents as these places have excellent scenic beauty as well as pleasant climatic conditions that will make anyone feel in heaven.  There are in fact a number of services that are available of real estate in Kelowna that will show you ways by which you can buy a property that looks as the right choice for you. It is always best to know more information on the Real estate in Kelowna and the customer reviews on using the services available so that you will make a wise decision with proper knowledge and you will be well informed about fraudulent service too. Newspapers are one of the best ways by which you can actually get to know information on the real estate in Kelowna. Purchasing a home with the help of the agencies that gives you information and on the real estate in Kelowna can make things easy and achievable.

You may already be a veteran Holiday rental owner or brand new to the industry, either way taking another look at where your business is today is essential to its future success. So how do you make your B&B or vacation rental stand out from the masses? You need a competitive edge and in the hospitality field it is all in the tiny details.

Your first impression whether it by via a drive by, photo or website will make or break that much needed reservation.  In today’s market most reservations come from web bookings, so make sure your site is easy to find your way around, has all the essential info a guest may need to know, rates, location, beds, pet friendly, supplies and equipment, area info and lots of high definition pics showcasing your holiday rental.  Don’t forget to list any special features and tourism info and positive customer comments.  Listing your website on one of the many vacation rental directories is probably a good idea, try to find something niched to your specific market. Are you close to the beachfromt?  Look for a site specializing in this field; it will target a browsers search so that they may find you fast.  One I am quite fond of is www.beach-rooms.com, it is a new and up and coming website, the membership if free for the first year and it could pay dividends down the road.  Whatever website you choose, keep track of how many of your bookings come from the website to see if it is worth your cash in the long run.

I am assuming if you already run a B&B or vacation property that you understand there are certain basic needs that guests are looking for, extreme cleanliness, (you can never be too clean) tidiness, (don’t clutter the space with nick knacks) a nice light filled room, up to date furnishing and bed linens, a high quality bed and of course a warm welcome.  In high traffic tourist areas, this may be all that is required of you, but is it enough for repeat business and great word of mouth, which quite frankly is the marketing jackpot?

Like I said it is all in the details, so make the guests stay memorable, make them feel special and watch your guests grow.   Monetary Budgets vary so the decision is your own as to what you think is worth the cost or will be valued most by your clients.

Lets start with the bedroom, when was the last time you laid down on a guests bed? Do not underestimate the power of a comfortable bed, 2 nights in your establishment equates to 16 hours of use.  I bet everyone can remember at least one experience in a bed that did not pass the grade.  Try your beds out, think about replacing any old, to hard, saggy or stained mattresses, if this is out of the budget for now, consider a nice mattress pad instead.

The pillows should be the best you can afford, mix them up some soft some harder to please every guests taste. The same for the linens, the higher the thread count the more luxurious they feel, but beware the higher the count the more ironing they need.

Fresh cut flowers show a level of personal care, attention and elegance that is so often passed over yet so appreciated, whether they be a centre piece or a few stems on matching bedside tables.  Ditch the dusty houseplants and bring some color, fragrance and life to the environment.

Bringing some form of unity to your business adds a touch of professionalism and shows you take it seriously, consider creating an logo or illustration that depicts what your property is hoping to portray, use this illustration on business cards, website, the sign in front of the property, stationary, it can even be stitched or ironed onto pillow cases and towels.  It is a way of branding your business and creating a special connection.

Handcrafted or specialty soaps also really add the personal touch, buy a block from your local market or storekeeper, cut it into smaller pieces to lessen waste and save money.  A nice idea is to wrap the soap in parchment paper or material and tie with a ribbon or wax seal with your property logo or name and present as a gift, remember all in the details.

Chocolates, a bottle of wine, slippers to take home, a fruit basket, soap, a sprig of lavender, shells from the local beach, discount tickets to a local attraction, the choices are only limited to your imagination but a speciall gift can and will make your guests feel wonderfull, make them smile and create a sense of wellbeing towards their stay.

If you are supplying breakfast especially if you are a B&B property take extra care with the meal, throw out old ideas of what is everyday boring and get inspired.  Turn breakfast into an experience, for you this may mean local organic fare, breakfast courses or simple food presented with a sense of style.

Extra Steps

I will be the first to confess that some of the extra steps outlined below are not overly realistic but they can be done and if nothing else they may give you a few inspirations.

One of my favorite B&B experiences was coming home after a day of sightseeing to my room, the fireplace had been lit and a thermos of hot chocolate and a plate of baked cookies was waiting for me, pure decadence and a very nice touch.

Or the time in Canada when I stayed in a little cabin for two, the owners had enclosed the deck and placed a claw foot tub outside.  An Outdoor shower or hot tub would also be just effective.

A chandelier above the bed, up to date magazines and a selection of bestsellers, a fluffy throw draped across the bottom of the bed or over a cozy rocking chair, built in speakers in all rooms including the bathroom, power shower with massaging heads, a sauna, a flat screen TV in the bathroom to watch from the tub, a sauna, wireless internet, spa services, I could go on and on…

Get networking with your local Spa to offer in house treatments or team up with local artisans, potters or wineries to offer themed weekend packages.

Hopefully if you have read this far you are gaining some new ideas that could be of value to you.  My aim is to help your business stand out from the pack.  The more pleasurable you make the over all sensation the higher your odds of repeat business and great references. Best of luck to you.

The Winter olympic games like the Summer olympic games are held once every 4 years. The last Winter olympic games were held Torino in Italy in 2006. This flag is now on display at the Vancouver town Hall where it will remain until the Opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter olympic games. These Winter olympic games that may be known as the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver and its nearby resort city of Whistler, UK Columbia between February 12th and 28th 2010.

Vancouver’s International airport which is found in Metro Vancouver has direct air links with various major cities around the globe as well as several Canadian towns.

Preparing for the Games

Both the host towns of Vancouver and Whistler have been undergoing intense preparations for the games in the shape of creation of new sporting, transport and infrastructural facilities to welcome the numerous participators, officers, members of the world media and spectators who will be traveling to Vancouver for the games.

Participating Countries

The list of participating counties includes nations having a long practice of winter sports like Austria, Norway, Denmark, USA and Great Britain and also several others nations like Kenya and Thailand who are not typically renowned for their winter sports exploits. In fact, the games will feature many firsts like the 1st time participation of the Western African nation of Ghana. The debutant Ghanaian team will feature 34 year old Ghanian skier Kwame Nkrumah – Acheampong who is sometimes known as ‘Snow Leopard’ and who will be competing in the slalom and giant slalom skiing events. In a similar way the team of the Islamic Republic of Iran will for the 1st time field a girls skier at the 2010 Winter Games.

Sporting Events

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will feature eighty six medal events in fifteen sporting disciplines. The Paralympic Winter Games will include 5 sports Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Biathlon, Ice Sledge Hockey, and Wheelchair Curling..

many of the 2010 Winter Games venues are located in central Vancouver and include the Canada Hockey Place ( Ice hockey ), Vancouver Olympic Center, ( Curling and Wheel chair Curling ) the Pacific Coliseum ( Figure Skating ) and the UBC Thunderbird Arena ( Ice Hockey and ice sledge hockey ). Venues in Whistler include the Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler Creekside and the Whistler Olympic Park.

except for these sporting venues, the games will also feature several non competition venues like the BC Place Stadium located in downtown Vancouver that may be the location for the Opening and Closing rites for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the Opening ceremony for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

The hosting of the rites in an indoor locale will also help the organizers in conceptualizing, creating and hosting a spectacular show which is rumoured to feature state of the art lighting, projection, sound and CGI effects as well as all types of performers, dancers and athletes who will showcase the colourful history and culture of Canada.

The Games venues can be simply accessed by Vancouver’s wonderful public transport system which consists of public buses, Sky Train ( light train ), Sea Bus ( passenger ferry ) and the West Coast Express ( rail service ). The Canada Line, a new rapid rail service linking the Vancouver waterfront to Richmond and Vancouver global airport will also become functional in mid- 2009 well in time for the games. VANOC wants the Games to be environmentally sustainable and are encouraging spectators to only employ Vancouver’s wonderful public transport to gain access to the numerous events of the Games.

2010 : Vancouver Rental houses for the Olympic games

together with the diverse sports and infrastructural facilities, VANOC is also involved in creating accommodation facilities for the numerous athletes, officers and accredited media personnel for the 2010 Winter Games.

These rates further vary according the dimensions of the home being offered and the proximity of the home to the Games. One bedroom homes in Vancouver now have an asking rate that range between approximately $464 upwards per night while houses with more than 4 bedrooms have an asking rate of roughly $1,500 upwards per night. In Whistler, the asking rates for rental houses is higher as in certain areas there is a deficit of supply and here rates are as high as $484 per bedroom night.

Though this deposit is refundable it noticeably adds to the price of your accommodation at the 2010 Winter Games.

Bill Board Websites jammed and over crammed full of houses will lead to a ton of disappointment for 2010 Vancouver Whistler accommodations.

vacation home rental internet sites also offers a wide variety of vacation rentals but there are internet sites where the owners and the renters are real unlike any other channels who offer houses which are not attested or confirmed. This increases the transparency of the rental process as both the owner and the renter are assured that they’re entering a real agreement. – For first time travelers spending tons of money on accommodations this is something to seriously consider.

How does the rental process at one of the better Vacation Home sites work? Having decided on a rental, the renter then pays the rental fees into a trust account that is maintained by a law office kept by the company. The rental fees are then held in this account to be dispersed to the owner only after the renter has vacated the premises. This process ensures that you are not sending your rental cash to an unknown unverified entity that will misuse the funds and trick you out of your cash. The rental process also doesn’t need you to plunk down a big damage deposit for your rental ; instead all renters have to purchase a $39 insurance plan which covers home owners up to $3000. This rental process instituted by guarantees the interests of both the renters and the homeowners. The method is transparent, trusted and comparatively cheap as well .

The base line here is that if you are just one of hundreds of houses on a domain for 2010Rentals and the site in not being promoted with Facebook, Google, Yahoo, AdWords etc… In countries beyond BC look elsewhere!

This place is a primarily a vacation spot. There are many recreational facilities available. All these facilities are reasonably priced and are close by. Kelowna airport allows you to travel easily to other major cities. It is also connected to Vancouver by the highway. The beautiful surroundings place along with the recreational facilities makes it a great vacation spot.

Since it is primarily a vacation spot, many people like to buy vacation homes there. Before buying any property it is best to make a thorough survey about the properties available. Browse the internet and get all the details about Okanagan. Find out what are the places you would be interested in buying. You can contact the website where you find the place that you like. Get in touch with them. They will send you the digital photos.

Go personally and check out the homes you are interested in. Get all the information you want in advance and then go there. Once you have seen the home, negotiate the price. Choose a real estate professional to help you through the deal.

You should check out whether the real estate professional represents the buyer, the seller or both. There is a difference. In British Columbia, the real estate professionals have to say it in writing as to what their relationship is with the buyer and the seller. A seller’s agent will keep the interests of the seller first. A buyer should not tell him anything that he does not want the seller to know. A buyer’s agent must keep the interests of the buyer first and the buyer should not disclose to him what he does not want the seller to know. When the real estate agent represents both, he is a dual agent. He has a duty to both and has to keep their interests in mind. He should sign the Limited Dual Agency Agreement and disclose his position to both of them.

When you are buying property, the agent should give you all the information that you want. He should let you know how much you can pay for the home and tell you the difference between pre-qualified for a mortgage and pre-approved for a mortgage. He should also brief you about the main things needed in a home and what you might want to have. He should help you to judge the houses that you see. The agent should also give you the local standard contract for purchase.

After getting all the information, you can see the property and contact the real estate professional. He will help you in settling the deal. Many Americans and Canadians prefer investing in vacation properties. With its recreational facilities and beautiful surroundings, Okanagan is a place to live in part time at the present, and a place to stay after retirement. Having a vacation property is a status symbol and gives a sense of achievement. So, check out the available places to buy in Okanagan.

However from both a financial and property owner’s perspectives if you are planning on taking that big plunge to research, purchase and invest in a summer or second property there are a number of both practical and logistical considerations to delve into.

First of all as with any real estate the key words are location, location and location. It is basic and more than important to do your research on defining the geographic areas on where both your ideal and practical location of your summer cottage or property may be. You may love the Whiteshell , but find after several jaunts that the 1 ½ hour jaunt out of Winnipeg seems a lot longer after repeat trips and end of the weekend summertime traffic jams on the highways – all with other working spouses on their way back for the Monday start of the work week. It may seem fine once or twice; it may even seem fine for an occasional early morning drive in to work. However in your case a closer, yet less scenic cottage setting – say at Gimli or Winnipeg Beach. Also take into account if you have recently moved your regular home as well. What was now a short jaunt to the lake of 40 minutes from the perimeter may now have added to it an hour jaunt across the city as well? Be realistic with the location of your cottage. Ordinary practicality is the key – not only to you but also for the family. On the other side of the fence if your employment is as a teacher – and you or your spouse have the summer months off then a cottage at Lake of the Woods – may be very practical. On top of that the long distance may increase your solitude and keep unwanted guests away. It’s not a short or easy jaunt to their cottage after all. Especially now when people add in gas prices for the highway trip to the equation of their costs of a day at the lake.

It can be said in summary that a summer vacation cottage, camp or year round vacation property can be great. It can be a most relaxing haven away from home in the city, the city with all its hustle and bustle as well as the office and its pressures. Cottages are often for family. Often children have their best memories, in retrospect of the fun times spent with their friends and family at the lake during summer vacations. A vacation property is a big investment now and for the future not only in a financial sense but also for peace of mind and the time and recreation that the family can share together. Take the time to evaluate your summer vacation cottage property or year round second property fully and with practical measures in mind. Its well worth the time spent. After a vacation property is a real estate purchase.

Buying your first vacation property – be it a family summer vacation camp or perhaps a more elaborate upscale lakeside chalet or condo is a dream that often comes to light during weekend or summertime visits to friends or family who are so equipped. Spring and summertime is such a short season that a getaway retreat – that is far away from it all – and provides solace away from the demands of the city, the office and the business is more than desirable – from a multitude of standpoints – be fishing waterskiing or hunting spot, recreation, a family gathering and outing place – or just plain fun and relaxation.

However from both a financial and property owner’s perspectives if you are planning on taking that big plunge to research, purchase and invest in a summer or second property there are a number of both practical and logistical considerations to delve into.

First of all as with any real estate the key words are location, location and location. It is basic and more than important to do your research on defining the geographic areas on where both your ideal and practical location of your summer cottage or property may be. You may love the Whiteshell , but find after several jaunts that the 1 ½ hour jaunt out of Winnipeg seems a lot longer after repeat trips and end of the weekend summertime traffic jams on the highways – all with other working spouses on their way back for the Monday start of the work week. It may seem fine once or twice; it may even seem fine for an occasional early morning drive in to work. However in your case a closer, yet less scenic cottage setting – say at Gimli or Winnipeg Beach. Also take into account if you have recently moved your regular home as well. What was now a short jaunt to the lake of 40 minutes from the perimeter may now have added to it an hour jaunt across the city as well? Be realistic with the location of your cottage. Ordinary practicality is the key – not only to you but also for the family. On the other side of the fence if your employment is as a teacher – and you or your spouse have the summer months off then a cottage at Lake of the Woods – may be very practical. On top of that the long distance may increase your solitude and keep unwanted guests away. It’s not a short or easy jaunt to their cottage after all. Especially now when people add in gas prices for the highway trip to the equation of their costs of a day at the lake.

It can be said in summary that a summer vacation cottage, camp or year round vacation property can be great. It can be a most relaxing haven away from home in the city, the city with all its hustle and bustle as well as the office and its pressures. Cottages are often for family. Often children have their best memories, in retrospect of the fun times spent with their friends and family at the lake during summer vacations. A vacation property is a big investment now and for the future not only in a financial sense but also for peace of mind and the time and recreation that the family can share together. Take the time to evaluate your summer vacation cottage property or year round second property fully and with practical measures in mind. Its well worth the time spent. After a vacation property is a real estate purchase.

Not surprisingly, this beautiful, lively city, which is hosting the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, offers tourists a wealth of sports and activities, as well as numerous visitor attractions, great shopping opportunities, fantastic food and a superb nightlife, too.

You will be spoilt for choice by the number of things to see and do here. And there are some must-see attractions, including Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver Aquarium, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver Maritime Museum and Vancouver Museum. Or if you prefer, you can go shopping, enjoy a cruise, go whale-watching, take a train ride to Whistler or go skiing.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay during your vacation, a holiday property rental is probably the best option in this area. What’s so good about staying in self catering accommodation is that you’ll be able to come and go as you please, tour around the city and enjoy the sights in your own time.

If you’re a shopaholic, beware! Vancouver is a shopper’s paradise! Check out Robson Street, for example. Meanwhile, the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby boasts the amazing Metropolis at Metrotown, which is a huge shopping centre. You really will be able to shop until you drop here! It also has a fantastic food court, which you will certainly need, in between all the shopping!

If you’re the more adventurous type, you will equally love Vancouver, as it offers many activities which you can enjoy during your holiday here. You can go boating or fishing, cycling, rollerblading, play a game of golf, try your hand at some water sports (including scuba diving, swimming, sea kayaking, windsurfing and white water rafting) or go skiing!

This area is ideal for skiers in the winter months, as the nearby mountains Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour are easily accessible.

If you feel the need for an adventure of a different kind, then check out Capilano Suspension Bridge! Admire the amazing views as you walk across the bridge, which is 230 feet above the Capilano River! There are also lots more attractions here that you can enjoy, including the Treetops Adventure, Totem Park (an interesting Totem Pole collection), Story Centre etc.

Vancouver is an ideal destination for a family holiday. There are plenty of attractions and activities to keep the kids amused during their holiday in this wonderful Canadian city. Stanley Park is one fine example. This amazing 1,000 acre park has many child-friendly attractions, such as the Children’s Farmyard, a Miniature Railway, playgrounds, Vancouver Aquarium, Water Park and more! It’s also a perfect location for a family picnic.

One of the best ways of seeing Vancouver is by taking a walk around the city. There are numerous places where you can go for a stroll, take in the sights and soak up the atmosphere. Stanley Park, for example, is a convenient place for an enjoyable walk.

If you feel the need to soak up some sun, then head to one of the lovely beaches in Vancouver. Some of the beaches you might like to check out include Spanish Banks Extension, Spanish Banks West, Spanish Banks East, Locarno, Jericho, Kitsilano, Sunset, English Bay etc.

During your self catering holiday, you will no doubt want to sample some of the delicious food and dine out at one (or more!) of the many restaurants that Vancouver has to offer.

You will also get the opportunity to check out the exciting nightlife during your stay in Vancouver. After all the sightseeing, activities, shopping (or sunbathing!), why not head to a pub, club or other venue for a fun night out? Whether you fancy listening to some great live music, prefer to be dancing the night away or simply want to enjoy a drink, you will find it all in Vancouver.

Vancouver is a great place to spend a holiday, whatever your age and taste. Whether you’re interested in just spending some quality time relaxing or if you’re planning a vacation filled with adventure, you will have fun in this fantastic Canadian city.

Not surprisingly, there are many different types of holidays on offer in this amazing, vast country, too.

Whether it’s an activity holiday, a city break, a wildlife expedition or a family vacation, you will find it all here in Canada!

What’s more, it’s perfect for a holiday property rental, as there is an excellent range of self catering accommodation in this country.

Canada is brimming with interesting and exciting destinations to discover and boasts a huge range of diverse natural landscapes, such as mountains, prairies, lakes and rainforests.

Canada has 10 provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec and Saskatchewan. It also has 3 territories, including Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

There are also many cities and destinations which are popular with tourists, such as Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Halifax, many of which you will no doubt want to visit during your travels.

The capital of Canada is Ottawa and it is a great city to explore. This beautiful city has a wealth of attractions, museums, sports facilities, shops, restaurants and more! Some of the museums include the National Gallery of Canada, Canada Agriculture Museum, Canada Aviation Museum, Canada Science and Technology Museum, Royal Canadian Mint, Currency Museum of the Bank of Canada, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian War Museum and there’s more!

There are also plenty of places in Ottawa to take the kids and keep them happy during your holiday. For example, there’s Pirate Adventures, Midway Family Fun Park, Laser Quest, Saunders Farm and Valleyview Little Animal Farm.

Another city you should visit during your trip to Canada is Vancouver. During your visit, try to see Stanley Park (an amazing 1,000 acre park), Capilano Suspension Bridge (dare you climb across it!), Grouse Mountain, Vancouver Aquarium (which is located in Stanley Park), Robson Street (the famous shopping street) and Chinatown, just to name a few.

Toronto, meanwhile, has lots to offer its visitors, with many tourist attractions and activities to suit all ages and tastes. Toronto Zoo, the CN Tower and Ontario Science Centre are just three of the must-sees here.

Montréal, the largest city in Québec and the second largest city in Canada, is also worth a visit during your travels in this beautiful country. Some of the popular visitor attractions include Parc La Fontaine (a lovely park in the city), The Pointe-à-Callière Museum, Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (The Museum of Contemporary Art, Jardin Botanique (Botanical Gardens), Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal and more!

If you’re looking for adventure and want to get out in the great outdoors during your holiday in Canada, head to the Rocky Mountains. Here you will discover some amazing scenery, fantastic wildlife and a wealth of activities on offer, such as backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, golf and, of course, skiing.

If you get the chance, you should also visit Niagara Falls during your Canadian vacation. You will then get the opportunity to see the famous waterfalls and also enjoy the city itself. There are various exciting ways that you are able to view the Falls. You can admire them from a boat (Maid of the Mist), go below and behind the spectacular Falls (Journey Behind the Falls), stroll alongside the amazing waters (White Water Walk), take a ride in an aerial cable car above the fantastic Niagara Whirlpool (Whirlpool Aero Car) or you can take an exciting helicopter ride and see the Niagara Falls from the air!

There are so many more places to discover in Canada. It is a great destination for everyone and has so much to offer its visitors. Whether you want go on a sightseeing trip, a relaxing break or an adventure holiday, Canada is a great location for an enjoyable self catering vacation.

With all of this noted, there are some different opportunities available to a foreign national who is interested in making an investment in Canadian property — either for personal, commercial or investment purposes.

Investment Property in Canada

As mentioned previously, the vast majority of the population of the nation of Canada is situated in a one hundred mile radius from the Canadian and U.S. border. Therefore, when it comes to real property investing, the marketplaces that a foreign national should serious consider is that band of property that lies in those cities and communities within that hundred mile band. By far, this represents the area in which the greatest amount of growth in both the real estate market and the development of other commercial enterprises is being seen in the 21st century.

Commercial properties remain a decent investment when it comes to real estate in Canada. As of yet, most of the major Canadian cities have not been overdeveloped. There remains a decent demand for commercial building space in most of the major Canadian points of commerce. As a result, a foreign national interested in investing in commercial property does have room to maneuver in this day and age.

People with a more limited amount of money to invest might want to consider investing in residential property that can be leased to travelers on holiday or vacation. Tourism remains a strong industry in Canada. As a result, there remains money to be made through the ownership of residential property that can be made available to tourists within the country.

Residential Property in Canada

Like its neighbor to the south, the Canadian residential real estate market significantly varies depending on which community is being considered. Not surprisingly, the costs associated with single family homes continues to rise in the larger and more major Canadian cities. At the present time, the more rural and outlying residential housing market in the country is a bit flat. In other words, if you are looking for bargains on residential property, a foreign national might want to consider one of the more rural or northward lying communities when looking to purchase such property.

Keeping in mind that a goodly share of the foreign nationals who are shopping for and purchasing residential property in Canada are doing so to set up a holiday retreat. Therefore, a more rural setting oftentimes is a welcome choice for such a property investor.

Residential Real Estate – Apartments in Canada

There is something of a boom when it comes to the residential property market as far as apartment units are concerned. With some growth being experienced in some of the more major Canadian cities, the demand for apartments and similar types of multi-family housing units is increasing.

Many foreign nationals who have a desire to experience Canadian life for holiday purposes are snatching up apartment units in different cities in the country. More often than not, these foreigners are making the purchases of such properties in the larger cities at the southern end of the country.

In some more rural areas, the number of apartment units also has been increasing in recent years. Some foreign nationals have taken to investing in these types of operations for investment purposes and have taken to buying shares in apartment complex enterprises.

Holiday Property in Canadian Holiday Resorts

As referenced previously, tourism and travel remains a top industry in Canada. Indeed, each and every year, an ever growing number of men and women are flocking to the Great White North for holiday or vacation purposes. Consequently, the demand for holiday real property has increased significantly, particularly over the course of the past twenty to twenty five years.

Quite like in the United States, investment in holiday property in Canada is taking two different forms. First of all, people — both Canadians and foreign nationals — are buying holiday property for their own, personal use. In addition (and as has been mentioned previously) a growing number of people are buying vacation properties to be utilized for more of an investment purpose. Foreign nationals, for example, can be found buying holiday property which they then in turn lease or rent to other individuals who happen to be on vacation of holiday. For some investors, this has proven to be a very lucrative avenue of real estate ownership.

Specific Steps to Buying a Property in Canada

In Canada, all matters pertaining to the buying and the selling of property is subject to governmental regulation. Once the parties to a potential sale of property have agreed on a price (after negotiating between themselves), a preliminary contract is entered into between the parties. This preliminary contract is known either as an Offer to Purchase or as an Agreement of Purchase and Sale. At the time the preliminary agreement is entered into between the parties, a deposit is made by the buyer.

The preliminary agreement can take one of two forms. On the one hand, the preliminary agreement can be conditional. By conditional, it is meant that certain events need to occur or certain milestones accomplished before a contract can become firm. An example of such a conditional provision would be one to obtain financing. If the condition or conditions within the agreement cannot be satisfied for some reason, the seller will receive most of his or her deposit back.

A firm preliminary contract is one in which there are no conditional provisions. If a firm preliminary agreement is not fulfilled, financial penalties can be imposed. For example, if the seller does not perform under the contract, he or she will lose the deposit paid. Likewise, some sort of financial penalty will be imposed on the seller if he or she does not perform under the terms of the firm preliminary agreement.

Within the provisions of the preliminary agreement will be established a completion date. The completion date is when all of the conditions in the preliminary agreement need to met. It is at this point that the remainder of the purchase price will be paid by the buyer to the seller. (Obviously, the buyer will need to have his or her financing in place by this point in time.) It is at this juncture that the transfer of ownership of the property from the buyer to the seller will occur.

The money associated with the sale is paid whether through a solicitor or a notary. At this juncture, the buyer and the seller will sign what is known as a Definitive Contract. In the French-speaking province of Quebec, this is called Acte de Vente. In Quebec, the final part of the sale is overseen by a notary (or notaire in Quebec) who is a governmental official. In other provinces within Canada, a solicitor can oversee and handle the final steps of the real estate sales transaction.

In that most people will require financing to purchase property in Canada, it is important to generally understand the lending process in that country. For the most part, mortgages in Canada are so-called full status arrangements. Full status means that the lender will make a thorough and complete investigation of a borrower’s background and credit history.

In Canada, a purchaser of real estate will have to pay about 35% of the total purchase price out of his or her pocket. In many instances, this will be the size of the deposit associated with the preliminary contract to purchase property. The mortgage itself, in most cases, will be for a term of 25 years with the final payment needing to be made before the borrower reaches the age of 70.

Lenders in Canada pay very close attention to a borrower’s available income. Indeed, in most instances, a lender will closely analyze what a borrower will be expected to earn over the lifetime of the loan.

The mortgage loan itself will be secured by the property that is being purchased within Canada. Oftentimes a foreign national will seek to have property in another country utilized to at least partial zed collateralize a loan in another country. In Canada, this is not an accepted practice.

By understanding the ins and outs of the real estate purchase transaction in Canada, an investor will be in a far better position to make appropriate decisions pertaining to the buying and selling of property in that country.

Property Abroad always recommends using a Solicitor or Lawyer.

Condition: Obviously the condition and level of upkeep of your property will have a considerable impact. (Perhaps this is a good time to reiterate the importance of describing and presenting your property in a truthful and honest way. The implications of not doing so can be far-reaching and costly). How much wear and tear do items such as carpet and vinyl have? Do the walls need to be painted? Is the lawn and yard mowed and free of weeds? Is the property neat and free of unnecessary clutter? Time of the year: Demand varies with the time of the year and it may be entirely possible that you will establish not one rental rate but several. The highest rate for the high or peak season, a lower rate for the “shoulder” seasons and the lowest for the off-season. In most areas of Canada the peak season would be considered the summer months (often preferred because families with children generally go on holiday while school is closed); the off-season would be considered the winter months. One exception to this would be ski areas.

Competition: How much are other houses in your neighborhood renting for? No matter what your house is worth, if other similar homes in the area are under priced, tenants will generally rent that home first. Formulas and rules-of-thumb for calculating rents are plentiful. We have found none which are foolproof. However, to give someone contemplating entering the fully furnished property rental business something to work with we offer the following very general rule-of-thumb. The monthly rent a property may attract on a “normal” long-term tenancy rental may be similar to the rent that could be achieved on a “vacation” rental for one week. E.g. A 2 bedroom condo, which may rent for $500.00 per month with a tenancy agreement in place, may rent for $500.00 per week on a shorter-term “vacation” rental.

Remember that you will be incurring expenses on the “vacation” rental that you would not normally incur on the other. Expenses such as electricity, gas, basic ‘phone, cable, cleaning, etc. and other, less tangible, costs like wear and tear on the appliances and furniture.

This may be a good time to mention that there is a lot to be said for being flexible about rental rates and terms. Some owners fix a rate, and if they can’t find a renter who will pay it, the rental stays empty! Far better to get something rather than nothing.