How Would I Decorate My Future Home?

Quiz: What’s Your Home Décor Style? My result: Modern It seems you are drawn to a modern home décor style. Comfort seems to be your main priority, having a room that is stylish yet accessible. A modern home includes plenty of neutral colours, simple furniture, sleek surfaces, and a few fancy accessorizing pieces that stand out. This will turn any space into a warm and inviting one!

Take this quiz!

Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

Goodbye, 2009!

While 2008 was a year of healing and 2010 is a year of hope, 2009 was a difficult year. It was difficult for everyone affected by the recession, but it was especially difficult for me.

I started seriously looking for my own place, even without enough money. I didn't - still don't - have much support from my family because they don't think I'm mature enough to live on my own. I lost one unit I liked because my brother took forever to definitely refuse to help me. Every time I mention the words "condo" or "condo hunt," my mom and my sister wig out. It is painful that other people support me in this matter, while my own family doesn't.

Then the government of British Columbia announced that it is harmonizing the Goods & Service Tax (GST, at 5%) with the Provincial Sales Tax (PST, at 7%), thus creating the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST, at 12%). It is effective starting July 1, 2010. The HST announcement led to a surge in real estate sales, reducing the inventory and turning the real estate market into a seller's market - which means, it's not helping me at all. The government is insisting that HST is good for the economy, but more British Columbians disagree with it than those who accept it. For more information about the HST opposition, please go to this site.

Also, the recession's effect on the construction industry affected my work days and my salary. To prevent more layoffs, my employer entered us in the Work Share Program and cut our working days by one or two days. Employment Insurance is paying us for those days, but it does reduce the money I put into savings, part of which is for the condo hunting.

The above may not match other people's difficult experiences this year (e.g. the Typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana victims in the Philippines, among others), but these were very difficult and painful for me. This is just half of all the pain I experienced in 2009, at least those I can talk about without getting chewed out.

These difficulties did teach me/remind me of a few things:

• God has control and sovereignty in my life. I can't impose my will on His.
• Everything happens for a reason and that God answers prayers in His time.
• God does not give me trials that are beyond me. He has gone through everything He makes me go through.

In 2010:

• I will have a better quiet, devotional time. I usually do it in the morning, before I leave for work, but I feel it's not enough.
• I will register for more editing or writing courses to develop my skills. I'm not sure about the SFU Certificate in Editing program anymore, because it will cost me at least $4,000.
• I will write more - and edit more.
• I will change my sleeping habits for the better. The more sleep, the better.
  
• I will improve my time-management skills.
• I will spend less and save more. Except, of course, if it relates to LOST. *Wink wink*
• I will fix that emotional unavailability thing.
• I will make other necessary changes in my life. *Wink wink*

Lord, I thank You for all the obvious blessings and blessings-in-disguise You bestowed upon me in 2009. *Sigh* More of the same for 2010? Hmmm...

Goodbye, 2009! Hello, 2010!

Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

How Do I Live My Life?

You Live Your Life Silently

You seem to be straight forward, but you keep a lot inside. You tend to avoid confrontation and stay away from sticky situations. You tend to have one best friend you hang with, as opposed to many acquaintances. You tend to dream big, but you worry that your dreams aren't attainable.

How Do You Live Your Life?

Interesting... True, though.

Don't Quit!

I was supposed to memorize the "Don't Quit" poem when I was in CAT (Citizen's Army Training, like ROTC) during Grade 10 (high school senior where I come from). Of course, I never did, but they never found out because I was never required to recite it. 

Anyway, part of this poem was featured on the Pastor's Corner today. I realized I need to keep a copy of this poem somewhere. I need it to remind me that I shall never quit - in looking for my first place, for instance. It might be difficult to find the condo for my specific needs, but I will keep looking. Also, I won't quit when my business does not bring me the profit that I'd hope. I also won't quit when it comes to my pathetic love life and LOST. (Hehehehehehe...)

Here's the full poem, courtesy of TheDon'tQuitPoem.com:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, 

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, 

When the funds are low and the debts are high, 

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, 

When care is pressing you down a bit, 

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

 

Life is queer with its twists and turns, 

As every one of us sometimes learns, 

And many a failure turns about, 

When he might have won had he stuck it out; 

Don't give up though the pace seems slow-- 

You may succeed with another blow.

 

Often the goal is nearer than, 

It seems to a faint and faltering man, 

Often the struggler has given up, 

When he might have captured the victor's cup, 

And he learned too late when the night slipped down, 

How close he was to the golden crown.

 

Success is failure turned inside out-- 

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, 

And you never can tell how close you are, 

It may be near when it seems so far, 

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-- 

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

The website says that the author is unknown, but there's a name at the bottom of the Pastor's Corner sheet: Mr Harry Knowles, Sr (1904 - 1979). Some websites attribute the poem to him. 

Regardless, thanks to whoever wrote the above poem! Your words help us get through difficulties and failures.

HGTV is Reinforcing My Choice

While waiting for the Robitussin to work in my system, I went on the HGTV Canada website and I decided to do some quizzes for fun.

Check out the result for the What Type of Home Should I Buy quiz...

Choose a Condo

Location, luxe décor, and low maintenance are important to you, which is why a condo is an ideal home base. Don't think that means it'll have to be closet-sized: look to buy in an older building. The building will have a solid reserve fund, meaning maintenance fees will be steady and units will be larger than they're made now.

See? See? It fits where I am right now in my life.

Oh, and one more: What type of a condo buyer am I?

Condo Guru

You want to own your own home, but don't need the stairs, driveway or lawn. A condo is your best bet. Not willing to give up outdoor space? Look for a penthouse unit with a private terrace, or a newer building with a deluxe rooftop patio. Remember, the more amenities (party or movie room, pool, whirlpool or barbeques), the higher the maintenance fees may be.

Thank you, HGTV Canada and whoever created the aforementioned quizzes!

My Favourite Room in the House

You Are the Library

You are very intellectual and well read. You tend to be absorbed in your own interests. You can seem a bit standoffish. To be honest, you're not that interested in other people. You are comforted by the things you own. You tend to be a pack rat. It's likely that you have many old possessions that you treasure. You rarely throw anything away.

What Room of the House Are You?

When I get my own place, I shall have a library, even if it's tiny.

What Do I Want for My B'Day?

Considering my birth month didn't start as great as I wanted, I would like something like this for my B'Day...

(Pic totally ripped from Lostpedia.)

If I'm not going to get my own place before my B'Day, then I want a LOST B'Day cake. I mean, that's the next best thing, right? Well, aside from $25,000 or a BlackBerry Storm from Rogers Wireless, it is the next best thing.

For the record, I do not want any other cake unless it's LOST-themed. And I do not want an ice-cream cake - at all.

Or you can give me $25,000 and/or a Rogers BlackBerry Storm, and we're all good.

Condo Hunt: HGTV Canada Contest and Rockport Update

I love HGTV Canada's TD Canada Trust First-Timer Mondays. I get to watch two episodes of Property Virgins, House Hunters, and Income Property (yes, the one with the hottie host).

Also, there is an open contest sponsored by TD Canada Trust, where a lucky person - hopefully, me - will win $25,000 for renovating, redecorating, or purchasing a home. Dude, $25,000! I can pay $20,000 downpayment and have enough money for closing costs.

Of course, I entered and I am now fervently praying that I win. If I did, then I don't have to get a little financial help from my brother. Yay!

Speaking of which, I don't think he wants to lend me any money. We've been e-mailing each other about it, and I have answered most of his probing questions so far. Apparently, he's still not satisfied. Actually, he did say he can lend me some, but when I asked him to raise the amount, he doesn't want to lend me money anymore. His apparent unwillingness to help me out is negatively affecting my hopes of getting the Rockport unit. It's taking him forever to directly tell me either yes or no. In turn, it's taking me forever to register an offer on the property. I just heard from my realtor that someone has put an offer on the unit yesterday.

Oh, well. If that buyer gets the place, then I guess it's just not mean to be. But, where else can I find a great place that is close to transit, Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, my doctor, and my dentist? Argh!

Stay tuned.

Update - 2 May 2009, 07:08
It's official: my bro said no. Oh, well...

Condo Hunt: Davenport and The Rockport

Two weeks ago, I had a bit of a free time and I was able to look at MLS listings. I compiled five of them and sent the list to my realtor. Shortly afterwards, my mother made an excellent point that I should choose a place that is close to everything (e.g. groceries, Shoppers Drug Mart, bank, et cetera). I know that two of the listings that I gave my realtor are located near Willowbrook Mall. So I asked her if we could just see those two.

So last Thursday afternoon, we met in front of the Davenport, which is located near the intersection of 197 Street and 69 Avenue and was built in 1997. We looked at a 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit on the top floor. We noted that it is a long walk from the elevator to the unit, so obviously that's a bit of an issue for me - being a single gal and all. When we entered the unit, we were instantly greeted by the sunlight coming from the huge door leading to the spacious balcony. We went out to the balcony and assessed it; the view is nice and it is, up to that point, the biggest patio/balcony I had seen. The noise from the street can be heard, but it likely won't bother me; being on the top floor helps. The unit has laminate floors - obviously not real hardwood floors, but these will do. The living room is as spacious as it can be - with the sellers' stuff in the unit, it's not quite easy to see how spacious it really is. The kitchen and eating area are decent, although there are no stainless steel appliances (the unit is 12 years old and the refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher are probably from when the building was built) and no granite countertops. Personally, as long as the appliances still work, it's fine. The mirrors they installed give the illusion that the living area is bigger than it really is, so kudos to the sellers for that. The den/office is nicely sized and bright because of the two windows in it. The bedroom at the end of the short hallway is enough - not too big, not too small - for my needs. To our surprise, the closet is quite big and has enough space for my clothes! From the bedroom, there is a door to the bathroom that can be closed/locked when there are guests. The bathroom is decent and nicely sized. I might replace some of the lighting, as well as the major appliances, but the unit isn't too bad, given the age of the building. It is well-maintained and bright. The list price is $184,900, or $249.53 per square foot. 

Then we went to The Rockport, a mere two-minute walk from Davenport. Like the other complex, it is also a low-rise building. The unit that we looked at was at the first floor, although we had to take the elevator to reach the first floor. It is the third door from the elevator, so it is much easier for me to carry the groceries, et cetera. The first room we saw was the small den/office. The built-in storage units are great and the office space is enough for me. I only hope my desk fits! The kitchen is painted with a warm green and great cabinets. Like the Davenport unit, the appliances may be as old as the building (i.e. 11 years old) and may need to be replaced further down the road. The bathroom walls and cabinetry match the kitchen, and is decently sized. Across it, the bedroom is spacious enough - the closet is as big as the one in the Davenport unit - and has dark hardwood floors - which I love (the floor for the rest of the unit is light wood)! The huge patio can be seen from the bedroom window. Really, the patio is huge! There's a covered section, and there's a garden area. That would be freakin' awesome during the summer and spring, although I have a purple thumb (this girl don't have a green thumb). My realtor did say that I can just put plants in giant pots. The sellers are also upgrading the unit while it's on the market, so kudos to them as well. Overall, the unit is well-maintained and doesn't feel like it is only 629 square feet. Anyway, the unit is selling for $178,900, or $284.42 per square foot.

The best thing about these two units? They are both close to the following:

• Bus stop;
• TD Canada Trust, where I bank;
• Willowbrook Mall;
• The Real Canadian Superstore;
• Shoppers Drug Mart;
• My doctor; and
• My dentist.

Perfect location, location, location!

Now, I have decided that I am going to buy one of them. Which one? I'm not saying. I just need to pony up $20,000 for the downpayment. If only Hurley can lend me the money... Hehehehe...

Stay tuned. ;)

Condo Hunt: Back to Madison Villas

The C's, my mom, and I went back to Madison Villas at Brydon Creek today. Mr C liked that building because it would make it easier for him and Mrs C to get to work. I liked it because of the price, although I'm wary about the access to transit.

My mom convinced me to look at the one-bedroom + flex room unit. She said that I'm single and I don't need a two-bedroom unit. So, the real estate agent showed us a suite on the first floor that is similar to the show home: 1-bedroom + flex room, 1-bathroom. It is approximately 688 square feet, and at $169,900, it is $246.95 per square foot. I was more open to the idea of getting a one-bedroom unit, because it is much cheaper and is just the right size for me. We looked at the identical second-floor unit. Finally, we went up to the third floor 1-bedroom + flex room, 1-bathroom unit. I discovered that the utility/storage room is much bigger in the 1-bedroom unit than in the 2-bedroom units that we previously looked at. Also, the flex room is big enough to be my office. The en-suite bathroom can be closed off when I have guests so they would not have access to my bedroom; the idea of my guests having access to my bedroom through the bathroom made me wary of the 1-bedroom unit, although I knew that it would be much cheaper. The master bedroom does not have a walk-in closet, but it has two closets that can fit my clothes. I can always keep my current dresser. There are furniture and appliances available that are ideal for small spaces, so I just need to find a good deal for the bed, dining set, couch, patio furniture, et cetera. The unit faces the east and the window is huge, so there are loads of natural light.

The monthly strata fee is much cheaper than I had anticipated. The annual property taxes are also relatively low. A good deal, isn't it?

Unfortunately, there are other buyers interested in the unit, so I really need to act soon. I've been pre-approved for a $200,000 mortgage. I don't worry about the monthly mortgage payments. I am kinda worried about the down payment, though. I haven't had enough saved for a down payment. It's my stupid spending habits, I know! I am waiting on my brother's answer - whether or not he'd be able to help me with the down payment. I do hope he will. Otherwise, I might have to wait a long, long, long time to save enough.

Of course, it also needs to be God's will. I need to speak with God about that. Soon.

Stay tuned.

Hello RRSP!!!

Your Money Personality is Healthy

You have a good relationship with money. You don't spend wildly, but you're not opposed to treating yourself on occasion. In general, you save some of what you earn. You know the importance of a nest egg. You aren't afraid of being financially literate - you embrace learning more about finances. From a retirement plan to having an emergency fund, you know what you need to have to be safe.

What's Your Money Personality?

Wonder how long I'd need to save enough money before I can have enough for a down payment... Hmmm...

Condo Hunt: Hawthorne

About two weeks after my family and I looked at Madison Villas, we went to the Hawthorne sales centre at the Walnut Grove neighbourhood in Langley, BC. I've been seeing the signs for the Hawthorne, as well as the buildings that are still being constructed, on my way home from work.

The show home is a 1-bedroom + den, 1-bathroom unit. At approximately 721 square feet, it is a very compact space; it is also bigger than the similar unit at Madison Villas. I like the dark wood - walnut, I think - used in the furniture. I also like that the bedroom and living room are big enough for solitary living (read: possible spinsterhood). The bench at the bedroom window was also a nice touch to the space. The stainless steel kitchen appliances and granite countertops are great, but both should be expected in newly built condominiums, right? Since it is a small unit, the home stager used the space well with minimal furniture and decor. The bedroom also has a decent-sized walk-in closet. The den is cute and could work as a tiny office or reading area; however, it is much too small for me. Worst comes to worst, I could probably make it work as a small reading area, and use the dining table for my writing/blogging. But a 7'4" by 6'0" den is too small for my needs. I'm also wary of visitors using the en suite bathroom and having access to the bedroom. I'm private that way. I haven't gotten the exact price from the realtor, but he said it's between $240,000 and $270,000, or between $332.87 and $374.48 per square unit.

He did show me the floor plan for a 2-bedroom + study, 2-bathroom unit. It is approximately 904 square feet, but is still smaller than its Madison Villas counterpart. I assume it also has a walk-in closet, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, laminate hardwood floors, and all modern condo features. This unit is better for privacy purposes, because there are two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The other bedroom could be the office, while the space for the study could be occupied by bookcases for my tonnes of books. The only problem with this unit is the price: the second-floor suite is $334,900, or $370.46 per square unit. It is more expensive than the 2-bed + flex, 2-bath unit at Madison Villas by $97,000! I do understand why it's expensive - the Hawthorne is walking distance from transit, IGA supermarket, Shoppers Drug Mart, Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Royal Bank, Colossus Langley, et cetera - but I could have used that 97-grand to pay off the mortgage for the Madison Villa unit or to buy furniture.

*Sigh* Fantastic location, great square footage (for me, anyway), Marcon-quality, and Starline Windows-quality. Oh, did I mention that it's only five to 10 minutes away from work? It's only so darned expensive. I e-mailed the realtor regarding the unit similar to the show home, but he never got back to me.

Guess it's not meant to be.

*Sigh* Stay tuned for more condo-hunting trips.

Condo Hunt: Madison Villas at Brydon Creek

In the spirit of Valentine's Day - that is, the worst day in the year for me - I am going to start writing about my hunt for my dream condo unit.

The first place I've actually looked at was mentioned to me by the C's. They looked at the building the week before and they liked it. So they suggested that we look at the units on 25 January 2009.

Madison Villas at Brydon Creek is located at the 5500 block of 198th Street in Langley. It is closer to downtown Langley than I am right now and is about 40 blocks away from my current workplace. The show home was a 1-bedroom + flex, 1-bathroom unit and is approximately 688 square feet. The flex room can be my office, while the master bedroom is big enough for me. The unit has a walk-in closet, wood laminate flooring, stainless steel kitchen appliances, granite kitchen and bathroom countertops, and a deck, among other things. Unfortunately, the unit's living and dining areas are a little cramped for me, especially with several people in the room. The first-floor deck is also a tad too accessible to robbers, murderers, and other evil people. A unit similar to the show home is selling for CDN $199,900 or $290.55 per square foot.

Mrs C suggested two units on the third floor that I might like. The first is a 2-bedroom + flex, 2-bathroom unit and is approximately 1065 square feet. It is, obviously, bigger than the show home, yet it has the same features as the cheaper unit. The flex room could be my office and its distance from the master bedroom will help curb my workaholism. I especially like the walk-in closet and ensuite master bathroom. The deck is big enough for a small party too. However, the dining area is bigger than the living/sitting area. It is selling for $239,900 or $225.26 per square foot.

The second unit is also a 2-bedroom + flex, 2-bathroom unit, but is a little smaller than the other third floor unit, at 1007 square feet. It has the same features as all the other units, and the living area is slightly bigger than the dining area. It is closer to the storage room than the other third floor unit. The unit is selling for $237,900 or $236.25 per square unit.



Any of these units would be great for my first home. I love the walk-in closets, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and wood laminate floorings. I do not recall the monthly strata fee, but I remember it is reasonable for the amenities, such as the electric fireplaces, exercise room, meeting room, and library. There are storage lockers in the individual units, as well as storage rooms in, I believe, all four floors. The building also has a nice facade. I do not have to worry about mowing the lawn or shoveling the snow off the driveway.

My only complaint is that the nearest bus stop is at least 14 minutes away from the building. It is also farther from my current workplace and it will take me 41 minutes to commute to work, as opposed to half an hour.

Also, I do not have the money yet to buy the third unit I looked at. I haven't even been pre-approved yet! I'd also need money to buy a new queen bed and other furniture.

*Sigh* I guess I'd have to keep looking - and get pre-approved. Stay tuned for more condo hunting trips.