Hello Folks

Hello Folks, Hope you're weekend is cheerful.  I just finished cleaning my window sills and windows indoors. Now I can see the snowflakes better from inside. I heard some folks go across the boarder to the USA to get some salt for the sidewalks.  I will not venture there, considering our money is so weak, but certainly, even the city is blending the salt with sand now as they have pretty well used up the entire years allotted funds for snow management.

I was up very early, in eager excitement in order to tag along with my son-in- law to pick up my daughter from work. We used the 4WD to tackle the slippery roads, and afterwards saw two properties, out in the suburbs on our way home. The urge to nest and be independent is a very normal pursuit. I highly encouragement to move on if the time is right, and everything aligns. .Our government is giving first time home buyers an incentive at the moment.. or I should say a loan for a down payment that doesn't have to be paid back for 5 years. This is the only way some couples can get into the market.  My children refuse to get into a condo, or town house, so somewhere they have to compromise, and lower their expectation in this most expensive city to live in.. Vancouver British Columbia. Foreign interest, and investors have skyrocketed our home values. Thus my assessment was 51 percent higher than last year.  So far, every year we saw an increase of 1 or 2 percent.. and now 51. I can't imagine what our taxes will be like.  In any case, being a baby boomer myself, I recall when families took 2 or 3 generations to pay off a home. I think this era is quickly coming back here. The only thing I can offer is experience and knowledge from the past. When they ask, I will give them my thoughts, but like everyone else, it is a stress that they have to go through. The experience of purchasing a home is a very serious decision. As my daughter has finished her school to be a registered nurse, I hope this will reflect well on their ability to borrow from a lender.
I was sharing with them, that when we bought our first home, we had 4 children ages 4-13. We put 10,000 dollars down that we acquired from an auto accident settlement, and that was it.. The home was on a small 4K sq ft property. We closed in our carport and made an additional bedroom for our eldest. We made due with what we had..I value that they have a very sensible mind, and they will make the right decision for themselves. I will let you know if something is more definitive.

At our first house in Surrey, not everyone likes pictures taken. Deborah is in my arms being the youngest

A birthday with Alex visiting in our backyard

In my cleaning pursuit, I found a little picture frame that Deborah made with Popsicle sticks, and she placed her baby picture in it. Her sweet dimples ever present, maybe she was 4 months old. I also heard that de-cluttering may be not as necessary as we thought, so no.. these treasures from our past will not leave my home. We should be able to touch, hold and cherish old memories. Sanitizing our lives so it appeals to those who do not live here is not necessary or even healthy.