Our latest e-newsletter HOME with HELM is here! Read about upcoming free senior real estate strategies seminars coming to a senior center and retirement community near you! Included of course market information and our customer of the month! Enjoy reading! 

When you love what you do results happen! As you’ll often hear me say, nothing gives me more energy than a clear purpose. In my vision, I see a community where every older adult and their family are supported with unparalleled care and expertise as they navigate the next chapter of their lives. My mission is to redefine and raise the bar on the real estate experience for older adults and their families, combining traditional values with modern expertise to create a personalized experience.I offer not just options, but tailored solutions that empower people to make confident decisions about their future. If you or know of someone who has questions, considering rightsizing to a home that fits their current lifestyle and is looking for resources, a guide who provides, more than just a move experience, please feel free to share this post and my information. I'm always just a phone call away. 

Just announced this week, what you need to know!

The home flipping tax was announced in Thursday’s 2024 budget and is set to come into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. If you purchase a home and sell it within 2 years you will be subject to a tax up to 20% of the increase in value over that time. The seller will be taxed up to 20% on profits made on a property sold within 12 months. This tax declines to 10% after 18 months.

It will not apply to land or portions of land used for non-residential purposes, and the province says certain exemptions will be allowed for life events such as “divorce, death, disability or illness, relocation for work, involuntary job loss, change in household membership, personal safety or insolvency.”

People selling their primary home within two years of purchase will also be allowed to exclude up to $20,000 when calculating their taxable income.

The tax is expected to bring in about $11 million in revenue in the first half of 2025, and then $43 for the next two full years of its implementation. The province says that money will go directly into building more affordable homes.

Starting April 1, 2024, the threshold to be eligible for the first-time homebuyers’ exemption will be increased from $500,000 to $835,000, with the first $500,000 exempt from the tax. The phase-out range for the complete elimination of the exemption will be $860,000, while properties with a fair market value under $500,000 will be completely exempt. 

Paring down belongings from your or your parent's home, a home that has been lived in for years, often decades can be an exhausting process as there are so many decisions to make. My recent Facebook post shares a few dos and don'ts to help streamline the process. Our latest e-newsletter is out. To receive monthly in your inbox subscribe at info@janethelm.com Ready to start a conversation about rightsizing your lifestyle? Whether you need a little guidance or full move management call anytime. I'm always just a phone call away, Janet

In a world where first impressions can make or break a deal, the art of strategic marketing is a powerful tool to elevate a home’s appeal. At HELM we believe every home has a story just waiting to be told. Who Is the Buyer? Are the Buyers upsizing or downsizing? Is being close to the school of value to the Buyers and needs to be promoted? Will the additional room be professionally staged as a child’s bedroom, guest room, office, or exercise room? Many buyers will drive by the home for sale before calling their Realtor to arrange a viewing. I suggest to my clients to leave the exterior lights on into the evening hours to ensure the home looks inviting during the evening and day. If necessary, I’ll add fresh plants or hanging baskets and a new doormat as those details are always noted by discerning Buyers. We want the Buyers to know the home is as well maintained on the inside as the outside. Ensuring the Buyers’ Realtors have all the information and documents they need so they can quickly and confidently advise their clients to present an offer is also paramount. No detail goes unnoticed or addressed. By designing a customized marketing strategy, including a coming soon campaign, creative copywriting, advertising, open house strategy, professional staging, and professional real estate photography, statistics say that Buyers feel an immediate lifestyle upgrade, and the property’s worth is captured by the hearts of those Buyers!  Considering selling and wondering what your custom marketing plan would be? Ask HELM! Call anytime at 604 730 2600 I look forward to hearing from you, Janet- your Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) and RIGHTSIZING guide! 

Metro Vancouver's housing market shows resilience in 2023, ending the year in balanced territory. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV)  reports that residential sales in the region totaled 26,249 in 2023, a 10.3 percent decrease from the 29,261 sales recorded in 2022, and a 41.5 percent decrease from the 44,884 sales in 2021. Last year’s sales total was 23.4 percent below the 10-year annual sales average (34,272). “You could miss it by just looking at the year-end totals, but 2023 was a strong year for the Metro Vancouver housing market considering that mortgage rates were the highest they’ve been in over a decade,” Andrew Lis, REBGV’s director of economics and data analytics said. Planning a move and would like to have facts, and an up-to-date market evaluation of your home so you can plan your next steps with confidence? Ask HELM! Janet is always just a phone call away. Call her directly at 604 730 2600

SOLD! “Janet, I am so appreciative of everything you did and continue to do for me. I’m not sure how I would have managed without you. I didn’t worry about anything.” "Thank you, Janet. Your expert advice, constant support, and communication with my sister were greatly appreciated by myself and my family."
Music to my ears! What a rewarding experience collaborating with H. Managing and navigating the rightsizing process with H took over a year, which included her paring down her belongings, connecting her with a mover, a professional art packaging company, an art appraiser, as well as the preparation and sale of her home. H loves her new home, a decision she made on her terms and timeline. She visited and toured several retirement-living residences and chose one close to her family with the amenities and offerings she was looking for. Most people leave the decision to move or to get help to age safely in place too late, and others end up making decisions for them, and or rushed decisions are made, which makes for unnecessary added stress on everyone. Deciding to stay or move is a huge decision to make. Are you or know of someone considering a move? Have questions about living options? Please call me as I’m happy to share information and resources so people can plan their next steps with confidence. A few resources from our 55 AND BETTER program include: The is It Time To Move checklist, Age in Place Safely Checklist, Moving Day Checklist, Countdown To The Move Checklist, and Guide to Paring Down Belongings. Have you been considering making a move perhaps freeing up equity in your home, tired of the upkeep and maintenance, and or don’t need the additional space? If this is you, or you know of someone you’ll value HELM’S 55 AND BETTER approach.
Deciding when to move, where, how, and what to take, not to take, should you pay for updates in preparation to sell? Well, the entire process can be overwhelming, costly, time-consuming, and stressful! Everyone’s situation is unique and at HELM We custom design your rightsizing plan, tailored to your needs from full project management ideal for power of attorneys to those who expect exceptional customer service and only require a little guidance. HELM is here to support and guide you every step of the way. HELM’s 55 AND BETTER approach streamlines the process, and simplifies decision-making for you, with a no-pressure approach. You are always in the driver’s seat!
RIGHTSIZING is a big change that goes beyond just selling your house. Let HELM be your GUIDE Let’s meet and discuss your unique needs and create your plan so you can simplify your lifestyle and focus on what matters most to you. Call anytime 604 730 2600 

Your 2023 BC Assessment is now available online at https://www.bcassessment.ca. It's important to note that this assessed value may not necessarily reflect your home's current market value accurately. Relying solely on the assessed value may not provide an accurate picture of your home's worth. Assessments represent an estimate of a property's market value as of July 1, 2023, and do not consider renovations or market trends. The market value of your home is the amount a buyer is willing to pay for the property. When determining a market value I conduct a thorough tour of your home, taking into account factors such as location, condition, improvements, renovations, size, lot size, zoning, and other features that may impact its value in the real estate market. If you or someone you know is seeking an accurate home market evaluation, ask HELM. "I am always just a cup of coffee or tea away." Janet

Tis the season, fa la la la la! Is it the most wonderful time of the year? For older adults, it may not be. Unfortunately, for many seniors, the holiday season can be a difficult time of year. Perhaps they are grieving or their children now live out of town. Sometimes there are financial reasons. Buying gifts, food and everything else on a fixed income can create stress, leaving some seniors feeling overextended. Let’s celebrate older adults, give them recognition when you see them, eye contact, and a friendly, “seasons greetings” or “Merry Christmas” is appreciated. A phone call on Christmas and your time is the best gift of all. From my home to yours wishing you a peaceful Christmas and holiday season filled with peace, love, and gratitude.

Are you a snowbird, thinking of becoming one, looking to escape our winters for your dream getaway- permanently or part-time?
If not planned properly your dream getaway could be a nightmare! What you need to know before you jump the pond!
Hello everyone welcome to AT THE ISLAND WITH HELM, I’m Janet HELM, your Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) and rightsizing guide! Lately, I’m getting more requests for living options ideal for older adults outside of Canada! There are so many destinations to consider and paramount information and rules you need to understand and be aware of.
HELM’s 55 and BETTER specialized rightsizing services include guiding older adults to discover the ideal retirement homes outside of Canada that are safe, and easy to navigate. There are so many destinations to consider! How to start? Start with a personalized one-on-one consultation, so we can truly understand your unique needs. Once HELM understands your specific needs, we do the research for you, and custom design a complete guide, which includes connecting you with like-minded Realtors hand-selected by me, as well as legal and trusted professionals and resources to ensure you receive the same exceptional service you’ve come to expect from HELM!
Are you ready to escape Canadian winters, find a cottage by the sea, pied-à-terre in New York or Paris,

or fill in the blank……….! ask HELM to be your rightsizing guide! As you know I’m always a cup of coffee or tea away! #snowbird #canada #piedaterre #NY #Paris #likeminded #MEXICO #PALMDESERT #PORTUGAL #PANAMA #askHELM #guide #seniorsrealestatespecialist #janethelm #janethelmrealestate #janethealmrealtor #50plus #55ANDBETTER
#vancouver #westvancouver #northvancouver
#squamish #burnaby #portcoquitlam #coquitlam #portmoody
#anmore #pittmeadows #mapleridge

 

 

'Tis the season for holiday scams! Fraudsters are looking to take advantage of the increased activity, shopping, and stress of the festive season. Seniors are targeted more frequently because they tend to be home, answer the phone and door, and are perceived to have more readily available money. Fraudsters play off these vulnerabilities. Fraud with Seniors tends not to get reported as they may feel ashamed, or fear others will think they cannot care for themselves. As my mom always said, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!” Yet scams these days are so slick and very sophisticated that it is easy to get fooled. Also, many victims are not aware of support resources or do not know how to access them. Below are a few common scams targeting older adults in our communities as noted by the Office of The Seniors Advocate  and links to resources about common scams and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

“You may receive messages claiming to be from a recognizable source (e.g. financial institution, telecommunications company, service provider, shipping company) asking you to submit or confirm your information.

If you are looking to purchase a new cellphone this holiday season, don't fall for an incoming call claiming to be from your service provider. Always find the official phone number for your service provider and make the outgoing call.

During the season of giving, make sure your donations are going to the right places. Charity/donation scams involve any false, deceptive, misleading, or fraudulent solicitation for a donation to a charity, association, federation, or religious cause. Refuse high-pressure requests for donations, ask for written information about the charity, and do your own research.

Remember to always ask the solicitor for the charitable tax number and confirm their registration with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or by phone at 1-800-267-2384.

The Government of Canada has a prevention list. 

the BC Law Insitute is a valuable resource for fraud prevention legal information concerning older adults.

The Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) is another valuable resource for fraud prevention.

Our local senior centres also provide information sessions, check out their monthly calendars.

Ensure the older adults in our lives are aware of frauds that target them. Encourage them to speak up and report fraud to you and the authorities. Together let’s protect our older adults.

The photo is from the Office of the Seniors Advocate Facebook page

Managing and navigating the process of rightsizing can often be challenging, whether you are relocating or assisting an older adult in moving. Are you contemplating your housing options? Keep in mind that new beginnings can be wonderful, yet they can also be frightening and overwhelming.

Feeling uncertain about what comes next? HELM’s 55 AND BETTER system can assist you in identifying your position in the transition and guide you with clarity and ease. How does it work? Simply say YES, and the rest is up to us! Give us a call at 604-730-2600.

We will arrange a casual conversation, share resources, and provide you with peace of mind. You'll be eager and ready to plan your next steps with confidence.