House prices have soared in the last few years in B.C. What will happen next - will they continue to rise, flatten, decrease or crash? These questions are on everyone's mind - whether you're in the market or no.
The overall consensus of industry professionals (according to the BC Real Estate Association, BCREA) is that the prices will continue to rise at least until the Olympics (2010).

This rise, however, is expected to continue at a much slower pace, compared to the last few years (prices have doubled in the last 6-7 years).

In 2007 the average price of home in the Greater Vancouver Regional District was $564K, compared to $615K in 2008 (first half). This is an increase of 9% with a projected yearly increase of 18% at this pace.

The prices continue to increase, despite the fact that this year there are more sellers than buyers on the market. According to BCREA's chief economist Cameron Muir, this year there is 25.4% more sellers than last year, and "...rising inventories are providing more choice for consumers and exerting less upward pressure on home prices".

Muir also commented that the high demand, which is still noticeable, can be attributed, mostly to people moving from other provinces as well as British Columbia's economy being on the rise.
In my opinion - this may be a cause of serious concern as the "economy being on the rise" is mostly due to construction which does create a pyramid or avalanche effect where more workers come to the province to build more homes while at the same time also depleting the housing inventory (as they do need a home to stay while here).

On the bright side, one of the Vancouver realtors commented that it is much easier to get in the market this year - not because it is cheaper but because there is less competition between buyers and no "bidding wars".This years houses are sold in 30 to 90 days, whereas last year it would be sold in a matter of days.
Most mortgage and real estate professionals agree that the rate of rise of real estate prices should slow down in the coming months as more and more buyer prefer to wait out and see what the remaining half of 2008 brings.

It's easy to spend thousands cultivating an idyllic lawn and garden. But a little ingenuity and patience will go a long way in keeping some green in your wallet.

Traditional thinking says you should expect to pay anywhere from 5% to 10% of your home's value on landscaping. Even at the low end of that range, you're looking at spending $20,000 if you live in the median-value Canadian home worth $300,000.

That's tough to stomach no matter how much you love the outdoors. Thankfully, you can do it right and still spend a fraction of that amount. Here's how:

Get the most visual bang for your buck: First of all, realize that budget gardening can still be beautiful. Let's say you've got less than $1,000 to spend. The first things you should focus on are improving your soil and adding trees. You can spend $500 on plants, but they're not going to grow in clay or sand, amend your soil with compost and other ingredients to improve its quality. Buying soil, in comparison, can cost as much as $35 a yard plus delivery. 

Take advantage of freebies

• Your city, your friend: Some cities in North America often give away free trees, mulch and compost. In Seattle, for example, groups of neighbours can request 10-40 trees from the city in exchange for planting and maintaining them.
• Demolition sites: These are great sources for bricks and stones, but make sure you have permission to remove them.
• Fellow gardeners: See something you like in a neighbour's yard? Offer to trade cuttings. Also, set up seed exchanges with other gardeners or check out existing exchanges online such as www.gardenweb.com and www.gardenhere.com .

Avoid costly mistakes: Really think about how you're going to use your outdoor space. If you plan a water feature but are annoyed by the noise of babbling brooks, you’re going to spend more money ripping it out and replacing it with something else later.  Take the time to educate yourself and you'll avoid common pitfalls such as planting a tree too close to your house.

Work with what you have: Preserving existing plants and trees can help you save the cost, materials and resources needed to establish a new planting. Educate yourself about plant care and pruning; that 12-foot magnolia in the back yard would likely cost you $65 and five years of growing to replace.  Similarly, knowing which areas in your yard are flood-prone and which are always in the sun can help you buy the right plants for the right conditions. Some areas might be better for swing sets or patios.

Hire yourself: The best way to save money in landscaping is to do as much work as possible yourself. A 3-gallon bush may cost $20, but the price skyrockets to $30 or $40 when it's planted by a landscaping professional. A $3-to-$4 perennial will cost about $12 installed.

Know when to hire the pros: There are times when it makes sense to hire a pro.  It is suggested to hire help for jobs that take more muscle or design skill than you have, such as creating hardscapes, while you take on more manageable tasks such as planting small shrubs and perennials.

When using pros, try to get a packaged deal: Check out nurseries that offer landscaping services. Many will offer discounts on plant material to their landscaping customers. Some nurseries offer 20% discounts on all plant material for one year to their clients.

Hire a consultant: A full landscape design that includes drawings and a planting plan can cost anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to more than $1,000, depending on the complexity of the design and the overall budget of the project. A less-expensive route is to draw your own plan and hire a landscape designer to review it.

Take a phased approach: Divide your plan into phases and pay as you go with funds on hand. You'll save on loan or credit costs and be able to evaluate your progress and adjust plans before moving to the next phase.

Time your purchases: Buy trees, shrubs, perennials, soil and mulch late in the season when retailers want to be rid of them. Depending on your region that could be early fall, a great time for planting because it gives the plant time to develop roots before the summer heat arrives.

Check alternate resources: Look beyond stores for bargains. Arboretums, botanical centers, plant societies and gardening clubs often hold plant sales.   

Buy small: Purchase small-sized plants; five 1-gallon Shasta daisies at $3 apiece cost the same as one 3-gallon plant at $15 purchased at a Nursery. Depending on the species, the smaller plants could double in size in two years, giving you more plant for your money.

Protect foundations: Roots can damage concrete blocks, driveways and sidewalks, so plant large trees at least 8 meters from those areas.

Divide: Look around your yard for any perennials that can be divided and used elsewhere in the landscape. A one-gallon perennial can cost about $9 at a nursery, but you can easily divide the one you planted last year into four plants, saving $27.

Compost: Save money on fertilizers and mulch by composting your own, using yard waste and food scraps. Compost piles can be made of recycled 2 x 4s and chicken wire. All you need is access to the pile and enough space to turn it every now and again. You'll pay as much as $5 per small bag of compost at your local home improvement store.

Think about maintenance: A large lawn is great if you don't mind mowing. But if paying a yard guy $50 a week is part of your plan, make sure that goes into your budget.

Be water smart: According the Environmental Protection Agency, outdoor water use constitutes almost 10% of total home water use. Look for plants that are drought-tolerant to save on your water bill.

Finally, be patient. Plants will not fully mature for a good two to three years, longer for trees and many shrubs. Enjoy the process - and the money you saved.

Grouped by city and residence type (condominium, detached, etc)