The Brownstones at Morgan Heights (15833 26AV), in South Surrey / White Rock. The Brownstones combines traditional East Coast Brownstone styling with environmentally sustainable construction features to create an affordable housing choice for active adults. Unabashedly sexy, trendy Boston-style walk-ups in Morgan Heights with private rooftop decks and built Green Gold verified. The Brownstones at Morgan Heights in South Surrey are as urban as the ones in New York and epitomize urban living with a West Coast twist. Built by Adera, this collection of 97 townhomes features traditional architecture with classic brick exteriors. Interiors, on the other hand, are contemporary, with luxurious hardwood, stone and imported ceramic tile finishes. Sizes range from 1,250 to 1,700 square feet. Homeowners can relax on city-type roof decks as large as 400 square feet—with a view of the North Shore mountains. Or they can gather at the private 1,300-square-foot Club Metropolitan, which offers fitness, games and meeting rooms. The area is also rich with green space, beaches and trails for walking or biking. The three- and four-bedroom townhouses are two storeys over a ground-level tandem garage. And parking the car is key here. The Brownstones are walking distance from a new “lifestyle village,” part of the City of Surrey’s plan for sustainable urban centres not dependent on cars. The village will offer everything from high-end clothing and gourmet food stores to banking, medical offices and restaurants, along with big box staples a couple of blocks away. “Sustainability is a top priority with Adera,” says company president Norm Couttie. “We have worked with the Built Green Society of Canada to include multifamily developments in the Built Green program.” All Adera projects, including The Brownstones, have Built Green certification. An industry leader in environmentally conscious building, Adera recently won the Built Green B.C. member of the …
Fall & Winter Maintenance Suggestions
Fall is the perfect time to get your home ready for the coming winter, which can be the most gruelling season for your home. During winter months, it’s important to follow routine maintenance procedures, by checking your home carefully for any problems that may arise and taking corrective action as soon as possible. Fall Check fireplace and chimney; service or clean if needed Clean range hood filter Clean leaves out of eavestroughs Check roofing and flashing for signs of wear or damage Close outside hose connection Close windows, skylights Check weather-stripping around doors and windows Clean and reactivate heat recovery ventilator, if it was turned off Winterize landscaping Test space heating system Close vents to crawl spaces Test your smoke alarms; change the batteries at least once a year Winter Clean or replace furnace filter Check/clean heat recovery ventilator; wash or replace filter Clean humidifier and turn it on if needed Check exhaust fans Ensure that air intake, exhausts and meters are clear of snow Clean range hood filter Check basement floor drain Do safety checks: fire escape routes; fire extinguishers; door and window locks Ensure gas valve is clear of ice and snow Annually Dust or vacuum electric baseboards Vacuum ducts behind warm air and return air grilles Test plumbing shut-off valves to ensure they’re working Test pressure relief valve on hot water tank; drain water from tank Check and, if needed, oil door hinges Lubricate garage door motor, chain, etc Check attic for signs of moisture in summer or fall Check septic system; clean if needed (usually about every three years) Every Two to Five Years Check and repair driveway cracks Check and repair the chimney cap and the caulking between the cap and chimney, re-caulk as necessary Refinish wood surfaces, including window frames and doors
October, 2012: White Rock / South Surrey Real Estate Market Update
POSITIVE SIGNS FOR FRASER VALLEY HOUSING MARKET (Surrey, BC) – The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) processed 1,053 sales on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in October, a decrease of 8 per cent compared to the 1,139 sales during October last year however, a 23 per cent increase compared to September. Scott Olson is the president of the board. “This is a marked improvement over September. Our sales increased at the same time as our inventory dropped improving our supply-demand conditions. “Although we remain in a buyer’s market, it moves us in the direction we want to go, which is closer to balance.” The number of new listings posted on the MLS® in October was on par with the same month last year and a decrease of 1 per cent compared to September with the result that the volume of active listings in Fraser Valley at the end of October remained unchanged compared to 2011 and 3 per cent fewer than in September. Benchmark prices for residential property types are showing month-over-month decreases however, depending on the property type, still show positive gains year-over-year. The benchmark price of a detached home in the Fraser Valley in October was $546,900, an increase of 2.5 per cent compared to October 2011, when it was $533,800; and a 0.5 per cent decrease compared to September when it was $549,500. The benchmark price of townhouses decreased 2.2 per cent going from $303,900 in October 2011 to $297,100 last month. The benchmark price of apartments increased year-over-year by 2.9 per cent, going from $198,100 in October of last year to $203,900 in October 2012. “Over the last three months we’ve seen the impact of lower sales and higher selection on prices of typical homes in our region. In most communities and for most property …