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.

The Sandwich Generation is caught (sandwiched) between meeting the needs of their jobs, and families and helping aging parents. Does this sound like you? Earlier this week, I spoke with yet another person trying to juggle it all. I’m dedicating my next AT THE ISLAND WITH HELM to this topic! I’ll be sharing HELM's dos and don’ts and resources to help you from, "burning the candle at both ends," as my mom used to say!
Part of HELM’s 55 AND BETTER service is here to help with a variety of essential RIGHTSIZING resources which starts with an in-person conversation providing you with peace of mind so you can plan your next steps with confidence. Our upcoming e-newsletter will have links to our helpful checklists including:
✅HELM’s Tips for Talking to Parents About Housing Options
✅HELM’s Am I Ready to Move? If so Where, When, and How!
✅HELM’s Age in Place Home Safety Checklist.
✅HELM’s How to Select a Retirement Living Community
✅HELM’s PREPARE and SELL YOUR HOME FOR TOP DOLLAR
To receive our monthly e-newsletter email info@janethelm.com or if you prefer a paper copy mailed just ask! 604 730 2600 Looking for immediate support?
Family Caregivers of BC is a Nonprofit organization that provides support and education to improve life for family and friend caregivers. https://lnkd.in/gDRmGmh3

Exciting News! HELM is gearing up for an amazing start to the new year! HELM’s 55 AND BETTER free seminars on housing options for older adults are coming to a senior community center near you! Ideally suited for those who have just started to think about rightsizing have questions, and want to avoid unnecessary stress and costly mistakes!
For those who don’t want to wait, you can schedule a one-on-one, no-obligation conversation with Janet. Call 604 730 2600. Ready to have a conversation? Janet will bring the coffee or tea; you bring your questions! Your questions will be answered, and Janet will share her resources, and you will receive the confidence to take your next steps with confidence!
To be notified of when the free seminars are email info@janethelm.com or call Janet directly at
604 730 2600

Ready to rightsize to a home that feels like a house, without the maintenance of one? This is it! Welcome to 302 1695 Augusta Avenue in Burnaby. Only the second time on the market, this 2 bedroom 2 bathroom corner unit penthouse is now available in the rarely available, hidden gem Augusta Springs. Upon entering you’ll immediately notice details that were custom designed for the original owner, including the large entrance, natural stone floor, and access to a rooftop deck where you can enjoy your morning coffee and then in the evening enjoy sunset skies and city lights!  Bring your house-sized furniture! The vaulted ceilings and well-designed layout ensure that natural light fills the home. Numerous windows and sundecks provide a view of the beautifully maintained private gardens, pond, and outdoor pool. The lovely gas fireplace in the living room provides an elegant ambiance to this home! French doors lead to the bright open concept kitchen ideal for entertaining. The primary bedroom has its own deck, large walk-in closet & spacious ensuite. The additional bedroom has a built-in Murphy bed, allowing the room to be used as an office, second bedroom, and or guest suite. The laundry is huge, lots of room for extra storage. This home has underground secured parking, 2 stalls & large storage locker. Visitor parking is covered and handy! BONUS: Large laundry room provides additional storage. Strata fees include HEAT, HOT WATER & GAS! Steps away from transit, BBY Golf course, schools, shopping, pharmacy & pub. Pets allowed! Open House Sat Sun 12-4 pm Ask your Realtor to book an appointment or

call Janet directly at 604 730 2600 MLS#: R2832059  

In your inbox monthly, 55 AND BETTER is chock-full of information specifically for older adults 55 and better. Reach out today to receive our upcoming winter issue info@janethelm.com