Here’s a technique I’ve mentioned before, but it’s so good, it’s worth repeating!

Instead of setting goals and making resolutions for the New Year, try this slightly different idea that might have greater impact on the results you get.

Instead of planning simple goals and resolutions, what if you imagine forward to the time when you are already at your goal, then you ask yourself how you got there?

Instead of saying “I’m going to lose 20 pounds,” or “I’m going to start going on more dates with my spouse,” or “I’m going to start putting 10% of everything I make in savings,” imagine you are already there. Then ask, “How did I get so thin?” “How did my spouse and I get so close and loving this year?” and “How did I get so prosperous?”

This twist is similar to what Noah St. John calls “afformations” in which he talks about turning affirmations on their head. When using this idea in goal setting, instead of affirming what we want in the future, we use the power of our inquisitive mind to picture the result and then ask how we got there. Our minds naturally want to find an answer, and in that answer might lie a more certain path to our goal.

By imagining goals in these terms, too, we’re picturing more than just the goal. We’re picturing the result of the goal.

So go ahead and reframe your New Year’s resolutions. Imagine you’ve already succeeded, and ask “How did I…?

Sincerely,

Gino Pezzani

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The government released the regulations supporting the federal foreign buyer ban now, defining what the ban will look like.

These regulations outline:

  • The definition of a residential property, foreign buyer, and purchase;

  • Exceptions for temporary residents that meet specific obligations that include students or workers, refugees, and accredited members of foreign missions in Canada; and

  • Penalties for non-compliance applicable to Non-Canadians, as well as any person or entity knowingly assisting a Non-Canadian in violating the prohibition

There’s still little information on how this law and its regulations will be interpreted and enforced.

Please read it carefully using the link above if you are interested, or contact Gino Pezani, for further questions. 

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Most resolutions revolve around health and exercise. Although that frequently means losing weight, one area you want to fatten up is your money supply. Here are some simple resolutions for adding healthy heft to your overall financial health.

  • Save 10%. Put aside 10% of your income for long-term investments and retirement savings before paying any bills.

  • Track your expenses. Record every dollar you spend for at least one week. You’ll get a more clear idea of where the money goes and which items you can cut back on.

  • Energize your house. Look for ways to make your house more energy efficient. You’ll save on heating and cooling costs and you'll also help the environment.

  • Stay home. Resist the temptation to eat out; cook more meals at home. Instead of going to the movies, stream a video, read a book or a play a game with your family.

  • Don’t rely on credit cards. Credit card debt can eat up your savings and chip away at your future. Start reducing your debt, and don’t buy anything on credit if you don’t have enough money to pay the bill promptly.

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Sales and dollar values in the Lower Mainland’s commercial real estate market continued to decline through the third quarter (Q3) of 2022. 

There were 349 commercial real estate sales in the Lower Mainland in Q3 2022, a 46 per cent decrease from the 646 sales in Q3 2021, according to data from Commercial Edge, a commercial real estate system operated by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV). 

The total dollar value of commercial real estate sales in the Lower Mainland was $2.023 billion in Q3 2022, a 40.4 per cent decrease from $3.395 billion in Q3 2021. 

“With some fixed income investments earning over four per cent these days, viable alternatives to the relatively low cap rates we’ve seen over the past few years in commercial real estate now exist,” Andrew Lis, Director of Economics and Data Analytics said. “Correspondingly, we’ve seen deal volumes drop across all asset classes including land deals, which were a bright spot in Q2. 

“The significant pace of rate increases from the Bank of Canada are having their intended effect, which is to cool demand across all sectors of the economy with the goal of bringing inflation back to target. The Q3 data shows us the commercial real estate segment has not been spared the impact, and with inflation remaining stubbornly high, interest rates may remain at or above current levels for some time. This will likely translate to a slower pace of activity in the commercial market over the coming months and into 2023.” 

Q3 2022 activity by category

Land: There were 154 commercial land sales in Q3 2022, which is a 33.3 per cent decrease from 231 land sales in Q3 2021. The dollar value of land sales was $1.447 billion in Q3 2022, a 22.9 per cent decrease from $1.876 billion in Q3 2021. 

Office and Retail: There were 104 office and retail sales in the Lower Mainland in Q3 2022, which is down 56.1 per cent from 237 sales in Q3 2021. The dollar value of office and retail sales was $294 million in Q3 2022, a 47.8 per cent decrease from $563 million in Q3 2021. 

Industrial: There were 81 industrial land sales in the Lower Mainland in Q3 2022, which is a 46.7 per cent decrease from 152 sales in Q3 2021. The dollar value of industrial sales was $226 million in Q3 2022, a 58.3 per cent decrease from $543 million in Q3 2021. 

Multi-Family: There were 10 multi-family land sales in the Lower Mainland in Q3 2022, which is down 61.5 per cent from 26 sales in Q3 2021. The dollar value of multi-family sales was $57 million in Q3 2022, a 86.2 per cent decrease from $413 million in Q3 2021.

Download the Q3 2022 Commercial Stats Package

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The winter months can be hard on people with arthritis. Cold weather can exacerbate joint pain, making life uncomfortable when temperatures are low. The Integris Health website offers this advice for enduring winter with arthritis.

  • Dress in layers. Stay warm indoors and outdoors. Wear gloves and add layers to your knees, elbows, and other places where your body aches.

  • Eat healthy. Rich foods and sweets can cause a flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis. Limit your consumption of processed meats, desserts and unhealthy snacks.

  • Minimize stress. Try meditation, deep breathing and yoga to stay in a calm frame of mind.

  • Exercise. Physical activity helps increase flexibility, strength and energy, and helps ease arthritis pain. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, along with two strength training sessions.

  • Wear compression gloves. These encourage blood flow in your joints, and help keep your hands warm.

  • Get plenty of sleep. A lack of sufficient sleep has been linked to depression, fatigue and additional pain in people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

  • Talk with your doctor. If you’re in more pain than usual during the winter, then consult with your physician. It's a good idea to also let your family know about it, too.

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The Ying Ying Shi Blog offers an “animal” quiz that might uncover some creative and thought-provoking insights about your spirit animal. Answer these three questions: 

Your favorite animal is           

Your second favorite animal is           

Your third favorite animal is                            . 

For each animal, list one characteristic that attracts you.

The first animal represents your aspirations as a person. The second animal  is a portrait of how other people experience your personality.

The third animal depicts your true personality.

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Canadian real GDP edged up by 0.1 per cent in October, following a 0.2 per cent increase in September. Growth in services-producing industries (+0.3 per cent) offset declines in goods-producing industries (-0.7 per cent) as real GDP grew in 11 of 20 subsectors. Canadian real GDP is now roughly 2.9 per cent above its pre-pandemic, February 2020 level. Preliminary estimates suggest that output in the Canadian economy grew again by 0.1 per cent in November.

Recent GDP growth figures, while not strong, have tended to outpace expectations. With 0.1 per cent increases expected for October and November, at this rate fourth quarter GDP growth could come in at an annualized rate of around 1.2 per cent. This would be well-above the Bank of Canada's forecast of 0.5 per cent for Q4 as of the October monetary policy report. Alongside higher than expected core CPI figures released Wednesday, today's GDP figures could make it more challenging for the central bank to avoid an additional rate hike at its meeting on January 25th. 

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-economic-growth-real-gdp-oct-2022

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

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New Year’s Day, Jan. 1. Start on those resolutions today.

National Science Fiction Day, Jan. 2. An unofficial celebration by many science fiction fans in the United States on the official birth date of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.

Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day, Jan. 11. Impress your friends and family!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 17. Celebrating the life of the famous civil rights leader.

Penguin Awareness Day, Jan. 20. Almost everyone loves to watch penguins.

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Canadian prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose 6.8 per cent on a year-over-year basis in November, a slight decrease from the 6.9 per cent rate in October. Despite rising food and shelter costs, falling gasoline and furniture prices softened the pressure on prices. Rising interest rates contributed to an increase in mortgage interest costs, which were up 14.5 per cent year-over-year as Canadians renewed or initiated higher-rate mortgages. Month-over-month, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, prices were up 0.4 per cent in November, down from 0.6 per cent in October. In BC, consumer prices rose 7.2 per cent year-over-year, down from 7.8 per cent last month. Average hourly wages grew 5.6 per cent year-over-year in November, indicating a decline in purchasing power. 

November's CPI numbers were lower than October, but this was largely driven by volatile gasoline prices and base-year effects in furniture prices. Food and shelter costs continued to rise strongly in November and the Bank's preferred measures of core inflation, which strip out volatile components, ticked up in November. Overall, inflation remains well above the Bank of Canada's 2 per cent target and we will need to see more positive news in core inflation over the next several months before the Bank changes direction on interest rates. 



Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-inflation-november-2022

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

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A frail elderly man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law and 4-year-old grandson. The family knew it was time for him to move home because his hands trembled, his vision was no longer sharp and sometimes his step faltered.

The newly minted family of four was patient with one another, but mealtimes were difficult. The grandfather would spill food and, on several occasions, drop a plate or a teacup, which shattered on the floor. One evening, after several accidents at the dinner table, the grandson watched in silence as his parents removed his grandfather’s plate and gave him a wooden bowl.

The next day, the father noticed his son playing with his wooden building blocks on the floor.

“What are you making?” he asked sweetly.

“I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up,” the boy said, just as sweetly. The child smiled and went back to work.

The parents were speechless. Though no word was spoken, both of them knew what must be done. 

That evening, the boy’s father sat even closer to his own father and gently guided him throughout the meal. From that moment on, neither the husband nor wife seemed to care when a fork dropped, milk spilled or when the tablecloth got soiled.

As a family, they learned that patience, care and empathy were pure reflections of love.

Gino Pezzani
DIEN Realty
604-418-9366

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