People get new ideas in common settings. For some, the three B's are especially productive: bed, bath and bus. Others have reported the three S's produce creative ideas— swimming pool, sauna and sleep.

Ideas are fleeting things that streak across our minds. If not captured, they might be lost forever. The main thing that distinguishes "creative" people from others, say experts writing in Psychology Today, is that creative people have learned ways to be attentive to and preserve some of the ideas that occur to them. They have "idea capturing" skills.

Scientist Otto Loewi struggled for years with a problem in cell biology. One night, a new approach occurred to him during his sleep and he wrote it down in the dark. He went to his lab immediately in the morning to act on it. He won a Nobel Prize for the work he began that night.

People who want to capture their ideas develop methods of doing it. Artists have sketchpads, writers carry notebooks and inventors make notes on napkins and candy wrappers.

Develop your own idea-capturing techniques and you will discover that you are more creative than you think.

Canadian housing starts rose 18 per cent to 249,255 units in December at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). Starts were down 1 per cent from the same month last year. Single-detached housing starts fell 3 per cent from last month to 52,426 units, while multi-family and others rose 25 per cent to 196,830 units (SAAR).

In British Columbia, starts jumped 58 per cent from last month to 62,458 units SAAR in all areas of the province. In areas in the province with 10,000 or more residents, single-detached starts fell 8 per cent to 4,559 units while multi-family starts leaped 71 per cent to 55,329 units. Starts in the province were 8 per cent above the levels from December 2022. Starts rose from last month by 19.5k units in Vancouver, 2.2k in Victoria, and 3.8k in Kelowna while falling by 4.5k in Abbotsford. The 6-month moving average trend in BC fell by 1 per cent to 49,785 SAAR.

For the full year of 2023, starts in areas of Canada with 10,000 or more residents declined 7 per cent to 223,513, driven by a 25 per cent decline in single-family homes. However, starts were up 8 per cent in British Columbia and 28 per cent in Vancouver from 2022. 

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-housing-starts-december-2023

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

For the complete news release, including detailed statistics, click here.

Vancouver, BC –  January, 2024. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that 73,109 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service^® (MLS^®) in 2023, a 9.2 per cent decline from 80,506 units sold in 2022. The annual average MLS^® residential price in BC was $971,144, a 2.6 per cent decrease from $996,943 recorded the previous year. Total sales dollar volume was $71 billion, an 11.5 per cent decline from 2022.“The highest mortgage rates in over 15 years led to the slowest sales in a decade for BC,” said BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson. “With mortgage rates falling to start the year and the potential for Bank of Canada rate cuts on the horizon, the outlook for 2024 appears much brighter.”

A total of 3,596 residential unit sales were recorded in Multiple Listing Service^® (MLS^®) systems in December 2023, an increase of 2.6 per cent from December 2022. The average MLS^® residential price in BC was $965,447 a 6.5 per cent increase from $906,356 recorded in December 2022. Total sales dollar volume was $3.5 billion, a 9.3 per cent increase from the same time last year. 

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Seeking a healthier start to the new year? Cutting back on caffeine can be a transformative step. Here's how to make the shift:

Natural Boosters: Incorporate such foods as bananas and almonds, which are natural energy boosters.

Mindful Breathing: When fatigue hits, try deep-breathing exercises, which can re- energize your mind.

Stay Hydrated: Drinking water can often satiate what feels like a caffeine craving.

Adaptogenic Herbs: Consider the supplements Ashwagandha or Rhodiola, which can help manage stress and boost energy.

Tune In: Observe the positive changes in your sleep pattern and overall mood as you cut back.

Diet and exercise often take center stage when we think about health. However, the quest for well-being extends beyond the plate and the treadmill. Here are some lesser-known, yet scientifically backed, approaches to enhance your overall health:

Forest Bathing: Originating in Japan as "Shinrin-Yoku," forest bathing involves immersing oneself in a forest environment. This mindful exploration can reduce stress levels, improve mood and might boost the immune system.

Laughter Yoga: Combining laughter exercises with yoga breathing increases the intake of oxygen, releases endorphins and can be a mood enhancer. Plus, it's a fantastic way to connect with others in a joyful manner.

Earthing: Walking barefoot on natural surfaces, such as grass or sand, is called "earthing" or "grounding," and is believed to neutralize negative ions, reduce inflammation and improve sleep.

Music Therapy: Listening to or engaging with music can stimulate emotions, which can result in a stress-relief response. Music therapy has also been found effective in managing conditions like depression and anxiety.

Digital Detox: In our hyper-connected age, occasionally unplugging and taking a break from screens can help reduce eye strain, improve sleep quality and enhance real-world social connections.

While these techniques might not replace a balanced diet or regular exercise, integrating these alternative practices can offer a refreshing boost to your health journey.

Remember, health is holistic, and sometimes thinking outside the box can lead to the most profound wellness revelations.

Metro Vancouver’s housing market in 2023 saw surprising resilience in the face of the highest borrowing costs seen in over a decade.

Learn more at www.rebgv.org

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Dear friends,

Due to extreme cold temperatures anticipated over the following days, in light of the current Arctic Outflow Warning issued by Environment Canada, I am sending out this general reminders for all of you, to assist in mitigating loss or risk for your properties. Please review the tips and suggestions for minimizing the risk to person and property during this cold weather.

DO:

1. Exterior checks looking for; open / broken windows and doors (this can lead to frozen pipes which are the number one source of loss during cold snaps),

2. Maintain heat in vacant units and in front entrance areas of units where fire sprinklers are located to a minimum of 21 degrees,

3. Ensure that exterior hose bibs have been winterized. This may include shutting off water supply, disconnecting hoses and adding a cover to the exterior bib, depending on your individual property needs.

DO NOT:

4. Attempt to remove excessive ice build-up on roof or ice dams.

5. Try to turn off your sprinkler systems to avoid freezing, residential fire sprinkler systems reduce fire-related deaths, injuries and property damage.

6. Leave your space heater on all night, they should be used only for a limited time and should never be left unattended.

Thank you for your attention to this matter,

Gino Pezzani

The holiday season has likely brought an influx of new items and decorations into your home, and now that January is here, it's the perfect time to clear out the clutter and start afresh.

I am excited to share some valuable strategies with you to help declutter and organize your home for a fantastic start to 2024. This "Refresh & Renew" guide is divided into five sections, each offering practical tips and insights to create a more harmonious living environment.

• Section 1 – Understanding Your Space

• Section 2 – Decluttering Made Simple

• Section 3 – Smart Storage Solutions

• Section 4 – Creating A Personalized Organization System

• Section 5 – Refreshing Your Space

Wishing you a joyous and organized start to the New Year,

Cold weather is no reason to ease up on your sunscreen routine, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. UVB rays, which are the primary cause of sunburn, are weaker in the winter. However, UVA rays, which contribute to premature skin aging, remain steady year- round and can penetrate clouds, fog and windows.

On a snowy day, UVA rays can be worse: Snow reflects up to 80 percent of UV light, so the rays hit you twice.

The best protection is an even coat of broad-spectrum sunscreen over all exposed skin, even the tops of your ears and around your hairline. A moisturizing sunscreen can do double duty, protecting you from the sun and harsh winter air.

Lila the songbird lived in a dense, tranquil forest, where no wind rustled the leaves and no water flowed. With a voice that could make trees sway in emotion, Lila sang melodies that spoke of old tales and new beginnings. But in this forest, a unique silence prevailed, which swallowed her songs and caused her to feel isolated and unheard.

One day, as Lila sang a melancholic tune, a wandering fox named Ren was drawn to the faint but subtle notes. Lila, sensing a potential audience, sang louder and poured all of her emotions into the song, hoping Ren would hear her. But the forest's thick silence was impenetrable and muffled her spirited song.

Seeing her effort, Ren approached the dejected songbird, who was perched on a branch. He softly said, "Lila, while I may not hear your song as others do, I see its beauty in the way your feathers dance, your eyes shine with passion and the forest responds to your rhythm."

Lila looked at him in surprise and said, "You mean, you can feel the essence of my song?" Ren, nodding with a knowing smile, said, "In this silent forest, it's not about being heard loudly, but about being felt deeply. Your song touches the soul, even if it doesn't reach the ears."

Inspired, Lila found a renewed purpose. She sang not just to be heard, but to connect, to touch and to feel. The silent forest was now alive with emotions, stories and melodies that resonated in the hearts of its inhabitants. And in this unique harmony, Lila and Ren found a deep friendship, bound by the silent songs of the forest.

Plenty of suggestions exist about where you should put your home-remodeling money and how much you can expect in return. Some experts say kitchens, some say bathrooms, and some say family rooms.

However, you—along with the advice from a real estate agent or architect—are the person who knows best about what your house needs. Contractors might overstate how much money you'll get back from what you spend.

Few remodeling projects add as much to the value of a house as they cost. The key to planning should be to make the house more enjoyable for yourself, rather than to spend extravagantly on a feature that might or might not interest a future buyer.

Most buyers have a checklist of must-haves and won’t highly value anything not on their checklist, even something attractive, such as a solarium. If resale is a primary concern for you, then stick to the basics. A unique home takes longer to sell and could bring a lower price than a conventional home.

Adding a bathroom puts your home into a higher tier of properties in the minds of home buyers with checklists. But there is no need to make it fancy, say home designers. An expensive whirlpool will not reap a good return.

As you remodel, architects advise about preserving your home's character. If you have a two-story home, then make a two-story addition. You'll need a foundation and a roof anyway, and the cost of the additional floor might not be as much as you expect.

Think about how you will use the new space. Is there a place for kids to drop their backpacks? Is there a walk-in pantry? If little things matter to you, then they might matter to the next owner, too.

Always think of yourself as a consumer of housing and as a would-be seller. When you wear both hats, you can make smart choices and easy compromises.

Canadian employment was nearly unchanged from the prior month in December at 20.313 million. The Canadian unemployment rate also held steady at 5.8 per cent. Average hourly wages rose 5.4 per cent year-over-year to $34.45 in December, while total hours worked were up 1.7 per cent from December of last year.

Employment in BC rose 0.6 per cent to 2.84 million, while employment in Metro Vancouver rose 0.6 per cent to 1.62 million. The unemployment rate rose 0.3 points in BC to 5.6 per cent while rising in Metro Vancouver at 6.2 per cent in December. 

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-employment-december-2023-january-5th-2024

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.