I just spent two days at Franchise Systems Operations (FSO) in Austin Texas with former CEO and now Chariman of the Board for Keller Williams International Mo Anderson. How can I sum up my impressions of Mo?  well how about this way...."WOW!" This lady is grand in all respects, passionate about this company or should I say Family.  She is direct, dont dissapoint her but encouraging she'll do whatever she can to help you.  Full of work ethic, she worked us hard with few breaks and working lunches but time went by quickly.  Her knowledge, experience and history can not help but motivate anyone who listens to her. She is so adamant that by following the systems failure is not an option, others have walked before you learn from their mistakes and follow the systems.  Profit Share is a gift ... 03/26/2009

  Have you just moved in to Maple Ridge? This is a GREAT pizza place... Soprano’s Pizza They have wonderful selections and their crust is amazing.   Our favourite is their “garlic cream” sauce and then making sure it is topped with Italian Sausage... I am getting hungry already... just thinking about it.   If you haven’t been or ordered Soprano’s Pizza for a while, get in there. You will be happy that you did. www.sopranos-pizza.ca So, stop in and see Luigi (call him weegii), tell him you saw this information on Darren’s Blog... and he’ll make you the best darn pizza at a very reasonable price... They are open Tuesday – Sunday starting at 4:00 pm Enjoy! AND, If you do NOT live in Maple Ridge, and would like to move here, Call me or email me... Darren@darrenrevell.com 604-719-3805 03/24/2009

OPEN HOUSE-24318 102 Ave, Maple Ridge, BC-Sunday, Mar 22 1-5PM Castle Brook 2 storey and full finished daylight walkout basement. Features 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, maple kitchen & granite top island, solid wood floors, gas fireplace, heritage doors, baseboards & crown moldings, ensuite soaker tub & separate shower, over range microwave,  2" blinds, front landscaping, plants in rear yard, rough in security, built in vacuum with accessories, garage door opener with 2 remotes & double garage, 10 year warranty. e access, landscaped front and rear yards. Close to Albion Elementary school and Samuel Robertson Technical (high school). 10 year warranty. Price doesn't include GST. Listing is a courtesy of RE/MAX ridge-meadows realty. 03/22/2009

OPEN HOUSE-10125 242B St, Maple Ridge, BC-Sunday, Mar 22 1-5PM "Castlebrook" 2 storey + full unfinished daylight basement. Features 4 Bdrms up and den on main floor, metal spindle stair case, laminate floors, maple kitchen +  island + nook + walk-in pantry, gas fireplace in family room, ensuite jacuzzi  tub and separate shower, tile bathroom floors, high efficiency furnace and hot water tank. Energy efficient lighting. Energy star ventilation fans. Dual flush toilets. Gas BBQ box on sundeck. Front & back turfed. Close to Albion Elementary school and Samuel Robertson Technical (high school). 10 year warranty. Price doesn't include GST. Listing is a courtesy of RE/MAX ridge-meadows realty. 03/22/2009

OPEN HOUSE-10136 242B St, Maple Ridge, BC-Sunday, Mar 22 1-5PM "Castle Brook" 2 storey plus full unfinished basement with separate entrance door. Detached double garage with lane access, landscaped front and rear yards. Features: maple kitceh with granite countertops and island, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, laminate floor on main, gas fireplace in greatroom, granite top vanity in powder room, baseboard & crown moldings. Close to Albion Elementary school and Samuel Robertson Technical (high school). 10 year warranty. Price doesn't include GST. Listing is a courtesy of RE/MAX ridge-meadows realty. 03/20/2009

OPEN HOUSE-24281 101A Ave, Maple Ridge, BC-Sunday, Mar 22 1-5PM "Castle Brook" 2 storey plus fully finished daylight basement with 2 bedrooms and separate entrance door. Detached double garage with lane access. Features: maple kitceh with granite countertops, 2 gas fireplaces, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, tile bath floors, laminate floor on main. Cul-de-sac location close to Albion Elementary school and Samuel Robertson Technical (high school). 10 year warranty. Price doesn't include GST. Listing is a courtesy of RE/MAX ridge-meadows realty.   03/20/2009

Keep an eye out this Spring..... as THE BUFFALO CLUB BAR AND GRILL is opening soon.... Our unique lunch and dinner menu is focused around addictive local flavours offering a variety of appetizers, main courses and amazing share plates. Our lounge area offers a great place to meet friends or co-workers for a "One of a Kind" Bellini,Classic "Wine Taster Tree", Top Ten Draught Pick or a Hand-crafted Martini shaken at your table.We offer a warm fireplace, prominent water feature in our enclosed patio, high back leather seating, as well as cutting edge sights and sounds in a casual setting Name: Buffalo Club Bar & GrillAddress: 20690 Lougheed HwyCity: Maple Ridge Prov: BCPostal: V2X 2P8Phone: 604-465-2779Website: http://www.buffaloclub.ca Information obtained from the Maple Ridge, Pitt Meado... 03/18/2009

A new community of 41 Wistler Inspired Single Family Homes and Luxury Townhomes by Symphony Homes are coming to Maple Ridge soon! I just saw this sign past weekend driving around the Albion area in Maple Ridge, BC. The development is located on 248th St, next to Highland Vistas community. Nestled on a gentle hillside Albion Slopes offer stunning westward views and golden sunsets. While set in a quiet location these homes are still walking distance to schools, transit and parks, and only minutes drive to Lougheed Hwy and West Coast Express. All homes are constructed using Built Green technology reducing gas emmissions and preventing heat loss. Check my Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Real Estate website or this blog for dates, plans and price list. And remember, Builder's agent works for t... 03/16/2009

  How is your water doing? Have you been losing pressure? Is your water cloudy or brown? Maple Ridge is in the middle of their annual flushing/cleaning.  The report off of www.mapleridge.org is as follows.   The Operations Department will be commencing the annual flushing/cleaning program between 230 Street and 240 Street and South of 136 Avenue for approximately 12 weeks beginning March 2, 2009. This maintenance work will improve the water quality; however, during this cleaning process some residents could experience water pressure drops and milky or dirty water. You may take the following steps to correct the problem: Milky water: Open tap slightly to bleed air from the water lines. Dirty water: Turn an outside tap on until the water becomes clear. This temporary interruption in servi... 03/15/2009

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is warning tax payers about the fraudulent letter that's going around the country. The letter comes by mail and looks like it is from CRA but it's not. It's a scam! The letter says that CRA has insufficient personal information and won't be able to process your 2009 tax return. There is also a form attached to a letter that asks for a personal information like passport and bank account #s. This letter is not from the CRA and Canadians should not provide their personal information to the sender. A PDF version of the letter is available on the CRA Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/alert. This morning I have attended a seminar on Identity Theft and apparently currently there are 5 scam letters being circulated in Canada. 2 of them are from CRA and 3 from Telus. Do not ... 03/12/2009

• It will provide about $3-billion in tax relief to some 4.6 million families • Apply for the tax credit, directly on 2009 income-tax returns, save the appropriate receipts in case of a future audit by Revenue Canada. • The list of eligible expenses includes renovating kitchens, bathrooms or basements; new carpeting or flooring; building additions, decks, or retaining walls; installing furnaces or water heaters; interior and exterior painting; or driveway resurfacing. • Routine maintenance does not qualify. Such things as new furniture, appliances, tools, carpet cleaning and snow removal are excluded. Where are you going to start?   Get a Self-Serve Market Snapshot of Real Estate Activity in your neighbourhood in Greater Vancouver and the Faser Valley or the neighbourhood you want to m... 03/11/2009

Personal line of credit rates are going up in April as high as Prime + 8% in major banks. Prime is currently at 2.5% and you can get a line of credit at Prime+5%. Personal line of credit is an unsecured line of credit and usually doesn't cost you anything to apply. You payments include principal + interest. Another option is a secured line of credit, often called Homeline, that is secured by some sort of security, usually your property. The rate is currently at prime + 1%. There is a lawyer fee of approximately $300 involved in the application process as the loan has to be registered against your property. I'm not sure if rates are going up for it as well. So, if you were thinking about getting one do so before April 15th. 03/11/2009

I just visited the showhomes at Highland Vistas by Epic Homes past weekend. They are located just off the 240th St on the intersection of 248th St and 106th B Ave in Maple Ridge, BC with easy access to highway, variety of schools and parks. The area is very quiet yet you do not feel like you're in the middle of nowhere.               Above are the pictures of the site. There a couple of homes that are already built and occupied. Some of them are in the process of being built. It takes approximately about 5 months to get your home ready. Homes offer a choice of 3 or 4 bedroom plan, fair size backyard, double attached garages, cul-de-sac locations, nice finishings, basement. Prices start at $399,000 and the home below-Castlebrook-is the one that's being sold for that price. The price doe... 03/11/2009

With softening real estate market and more affordability many people are thinking about moving up, in other words upgrading. It emand buying a bigger home and more likely a newer home. From my own experience working with buyers I've noticed a lot of interest in new development. Maple Ridge offers a wide choice of newly constructed homes. A lot of them are located East of 240th St in Albion and Thornhill area. The fussiest buyer can be satisfied with the choice the builders offer nowadays. Being a licensed REALTOR in BC, I sell resale homes as well as new construction. When thinking about buying a newly constructed home you benefit from having your own representative for many reasons. But one main and simple reason is: Builder's agent works for BUILDER, your REALTOR works for YOU. Check ... 03/10/2009

Yes..  We have an offer pending on this one.  Subjects are due off in a week.. Properties are moving... Have you thought about it? www.11595fraser.com Possibly the best buy in Maple Ridge. Vaulted ceiling in Living Room compliment this top floor, end unit condo. Lots of natural light. Gas fireplace provides heat and strata fee includes gas. Ideal for first time Buyer's or those looking to downsize. Close to shopping, schools, parks and West Coast Express. Located on the Northwest corner on the quiet side of the complex. Vacant and quick possession possible. All measurements are approximated and must be verified by Buyer. Call Gord or Darren at 604-467-0811 to view.   VIRTUAL TOUR - http://vt.realbiz360.com/Listing-99292.html There are more properties to purchase at great prices...  How ... 03/10/2009

Less then a week old and look at the first offfice meeting!  52 agents signed with dozens more coming!  The buzz in Metro Vancouver is all about the Agent Centred philosophy and training that Keller Williams provides.  The WIN WIN isnt just a catch phrase nor is the teamwork a throw away buzz word,  Keller Williams is a family that helps your family and puts you first!   03/10/2009

I am pleased to have recently helped facilitate the  Sale of Maple Ridge Real Estate: 12438 - 204th st Maple Ridge, BC $575,000 Get a Self-Serve Market Snapshot of Real Estate Activity in your neighbourhood in Greater Vancouver and the Faser Valley or the neighbourhood you want to move to: www.whatismyhomesvalue.ca Scott Leaf Real Estate Marketing & Associates Keller Williams Results Realty www.whatismyhomesvalue.ca www.scottleaf.com     03/10/2009

  Had our first team meeting today for the NEW Keller Williams Elite Realty   at Nando's in Coquitlam   52 People were in attendance... FOR OUR FIRST MEETING! Good things don't die... They become GREAT! Our Difference: Knowledge: Powerful curriculum through Keller Williams University keeps our associates ahead of trends, tools and advancements in the real estate industry.   Teamwork: Unlike other real estate companies, Keller Williams Realty was designed to reward agents for working together, to serve our clients better.   Reliability: Keller Williams Realty was founded on the principles of trust and honesty, emphasizing the importance of having the integrity to do the right thing and always putting our client’s needs first.   Speed: Leading-edge technology solutions accelerate our asso... 03/10/2009

Sounds familiar?:) It does for me:) It definitely has picked up. Recently I have reported that sales in February have doubled since January. Being 9 days into March I can definitely say that sales have increased even more. No matter what people have to move. It's a spring thing as well-spring is in teh air. Not so much though after this snowy weekend. But still I shouldn't complain-it's -30C in Calgary. Brrrr...Can you imagine?! During my open houses this weekend I had 10 groups of people through each time. One of the homes was supposed to receive an offer after the Open House. Now I'm thinking about the security of the home during the open house. I might have to let people in 1 group at a time otherwise it's a chaos:) before I was thinking how to advertise the property so to get people... 03/09/2009

The prime rate went down last week from 3% to 2.5% again. I can't say that fixed rates have dropped dramatically after that but we're expecting them to drop. Consequently, many people are doing refinancing of their current mortgage-from higher interest rate to lower interest rate. Basic rule of thumb(I've heard it from someone very smart:)) in today's market is: If your mortgage rate is higher than 5.00%... Then you need to take a closer look.  Depending on your lender's costs and terms for getting out of the mortgage, you could be in a position to save thousands of dollars simply by moving your mortgage to another lender with a lower rate   If you are in a variable mortgage that closed earlier than November 2008... And your rate is Prime minus anything, you need to stay the course.  Va... 03/09/2009