Real Estate Blog for Buyers & Sellers
Your Lower Mainland and BC REALTOR® for home, investment & life!
A Replay Of A Christmas Traditions Show
December 12, 2022 | Posted by: Michele Cummins
Warning! This is an automated transcript so there will be mistakes throughout. Including the spelling of Michele's name ;)
Curtis Pope:
Oh, here we are. It's another Saturday morning. That means it's time for the company's Real Estate Group show with Michelle Cummings and myself Curtis Pope. Good morning, Michelle.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Good morning, Curtis. How are you?
Curtis Pope:
I'm doing good. Although I have to admit, you're all dressed all Christmas. See, and you've got your nails all done. I'm sitting here in my coat because it is freezing in his control room this morning.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Oh my goodness. Do you have the AC on?
Curtis Pope:
Maybe that's it. Did I turn the wrong thing on this morning? That's a possibility.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
It is the middle of winter there is snow in the air.
Curtis Pope:
I know I could you know you made Maybe you're right. Maybe I did hit the wrong switch. That's quite possible.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Is your window open? Maybe?
Curtis Pope:
No. The windows don't open. That's right. They don't Yeah. It could scratch that off the list. I haven't done that wrong.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
I haven't been in the studio and so long I forgot your windows. That's
Curtis Pope:
true. Yeah, no windows. Don't open them in studios. Generally, they don't open because they want soundproofing and whatnot. And plus, if we could open the window, we'd be throwing stuff at people and things like that. You know what radio people are like? That's not good. Yeah. It's just a lawsuit waiting to happen. So it's better this way.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
I have to ask you last week I had I went we went out for chai tea. And I went out for chai tea with a friend and I tried this in place in Abbotsford. Have you ever tried it? It's on its core. It's a cafe. But I thought it was coffee. Actually, we thought we were going for coffee. But oh my gosh, we had the best chai tea ever. And this butter chicken wrap and it was just amazing, like grilled. But it was so unexpected. It's called Thai Wallah of London.
Curtis Pope:
Or you know I've seen that I've driven by it. It's right in the corner of South fraserway and and gladwyn. But I haven't actually set foot in it yet.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Oh my gosh, it's such good Indian food and a just a billion different flavored chives, the best I've ever had. And I love Chai
Curtis Pope:
I likes it as well. So I would like that.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
I had the vanilla chai but they have so many unique flavors that I have to now go in and try every different flavor. I'm going to actually have a group lunch there in January and because they the atmosphere is amazing. It's two storeys high, really high ceiling windows, the lights the fixtures the way they do it all there. It's amazing in the views of Mount Baker and everything are just outstanding. We sat up on the tougher level, upper level,
Curtis Pope:
the copper level.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yeah. Hey, Curtis, what things are you going to do now that we're like two weeks no less than two weeks away from Christmas now? Oh my
Curtis Pope:
gosh. Deza 107 days I'm doing the math. You're my math is not good. We're like a week away.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
So a week ago we were two weeks away from Christmas. That's how fast my life is just blink of the eye. I hear you. But I had time to put on an ugly sweater.
Curtis Pope:
Yeah, no, I will see you again. I I'm just wearing my coat right now. I'm not looking all that Christmassy. I am wearing my Vancouver Canucks hat but yeah, no nothing. Nothing Christmassy.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Okay, was for that not even like a Christmas pin in the Connect Chat.
Curtis Pope:
No, no, I'm feeling very unChristian to see I'm not sure what's wrong with me. And maybe I should have painted my face green and come into the Grinch. I don't know.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yeah, probably. That's a good idea. Well, I could share my little light lights here with you. But you know, you're you're you're in the studio and I'm locked out.
Curtis Pope:
Yes. I totally area.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
So, traditionally, Richard and I love going to ArcMap during the Christmas holiday time, I believe in love. It's just it just becomes this Christmas. It's huge. We spend at least four hours walking through with a hot coffee and service and we just I always come out with some amazing stuff. Do you ever go there for Christmas time?
Curtis Pope:
Yeah, you know what? That used to be a big part of when I was a kid my mom always went to art naps. Well year round the one almost didn't when Steve Austin were when you know it's not there anymore. But when I was growing up I used to always go there Yeah.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Oh that I've never been to that one. I would go to the one on like the Sterling border in between but and the other traditional thing I love doing we don't do it every year but maybe every three years and whenever we have guests over we always bring into the capital Anna with the Christmas lights capital on a bridge. Yep. Ascension bridge. That is fun. And the Vancouver Christmas market is a blast.
Curtis Pope:
You know, the funny thing is I've you know, born and raised in Vancouver. Well born in Vancouver raised in Richmond. I have never been to the capitol and a suspension bridge. Are you serious? It's one of those things because You know it's there and it's the touristy thing and you know it's it's always there I can always go there. I just never have.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
See that's the thing is we live in one of the most touristy places, but it's so great. We have so many places and things to do all year round for every season. And yes yet we don't enjoy what's in our own backyard. Okay, you have to make me promise that you and your family will go to Capitol No. I like to say the season well during New Years it's so fantastic you the bridges and the walk path is and so you've got to go it's so fun.
Curtis Pope:
Ya know, I'm I keep saying we're gonna go there one day, but we just we haven't and the fact I think I think Cody's been there and maybe even Cassidy too for like school field trips and stuff. But no, I have never I know Kelly's been there. I've just never been there. I've driven by it a number of times just ever got in.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
And you gotta get some divinity funge from the little fudge store, like they have a little market there. Okay, nice. That's my like, little tradition. What traditions do you have?
Curtis Pope:
around Christmas time? Spending a lot of money. Oh, wait a bit? Well, that's not really a tradition. That's just a cause and effect. Oh, you know, we might my dad has always made homemade chocolates around Christmas time. So he's always spent a lot of time at Christmas time making that and he sort of passed it on to me a little bit. Not so much. But now he's teaching you know the grandkids how to make them you just kind of skipping me and my brothers all they're useless. I'll teach the grandkids how to make these things.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Glitter, dark chocolate,
Curtis Pope:
you know, you don't milk chocolate, dark chocolate. He makes you know, these like little peanut butter things he makes, you know, peanut clusters, he makes all kinds of stuff. And and they're really good. You know, and, and it keeps him out of trouble. So that's a family tradition we have and, you know, one of them was always been, you know, not that we always got a ton of especially growing up in Lower Mainland but you know, the family would go for a walk with that first snowfall when the snow is coming down and things like that. So, you know, little things like that. Watching certain Christmas movies every year. You know, I know a lot of people have that tradition. That's kind of one of the things we do as well.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
What's a couple of your go to Christmas movies you
Curtis Pope:
watch every year. Well, my daughter's favorite movie of all time is else with Will Ferrell which is a good one. I love A Christmas Story. Yes, sure I am. Yeah. And the whole family loved the Grinch.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
I knew that was gonna be one of your
Curtis Pope:
and of course Christmas vacation is classic to every dad can relate to Clark Griswold.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
So true. Those are great ones.
Curtis Pope:
And I know you as a movie fan. I know. I know. You're Your husband's a big fan of It's a Wonderful Life.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Oh, yes, we I love that one too. We usually watch the black and white and the colored version. So we'll watch one around Christmas usually Christmas Eve sometimes and then like New Year's, we'll watch the other one as well.
Curtis Pope:
Yeah, that makes sense. I usually watch that at some point as well. You know, because it is a classic.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Okay, how about the one with Bo and Luke do from the Dukes of Hazzard they were in one that was actually filmed in Vancouver and the surrounding areas. And it's called Christmas comes to Willow Creek.
Curtis Pope:
I don't believe I've seen that one. Well, we just watched
Michele Cummins - PREC:
that actually last night. In our Yeah, we just watched last night. We used to watch that one once a year to you got it. You gotta check that one out. It's very 80s but it's it's it's John Schneider and Tom will pat Luke. Yeah.
Curtis Pope:
Well, I always the big battle in my house is between me and my boys and and and Kelly is we like to watch diehard and Kelly's like this is not a Christmas movie. I'm like it takes place at Christmas. It's a dad trying to get back with his family at all costs. It's a Christmas movie.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
To me. I've never seen it I've
Curtis Pope:
never seen diehard with Bruce Willis.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Nope. How surprising things do happen.
Curtis Pope:
I tell you I well, you know another one. It's technically a Christmas movie is the original Lethal Weapon. Oh, really? It takes place at Christmas time.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
You shouldn't think of I've ever seen that one. Yeah. But yeah, that
Curtis Pope:
one takes place at Christmas time too at one point. If memory serves Mel Gibson's trying to buy a Christmas tree from drug dealers. Oh, sounds pretty Christmassy and he takes them down because he's a cop. Right? So that's the whole bust and yeah, it's. Yeah, it's Mel Gibson. It's Lethal Weapon. It started the buddy cop movies.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Oh, okay. Well, maybe I'll have to have that one on my list.
Curtis Pope:
There you go a couple of free to a couple action movies that are loosely around Christmas to watch.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
So, one topic I wanted to talk about before we head off to a little break here is the news about BC and how they want everyone's opinion about making buildings more accessible for everyone. I don't know about you, but I do know some people personally that, you know, are in wheelchairs or with walkers. And they need I've clients and family and friends and they need the accessibility. And there's a lot of buildings that don't have that. So the government's asking the public to fill out an online survey to help guide changes to the building code. And there's a couple of stories. So somebody named Dominic Jacobs, she can't get into her Vancouver Island condo using the front entrance without someone to hold the door for her. That would be pretty difficult, especially if you know, you're waiting around how long, I can't imagine that. But you know, stairways door handler handles slippery floors, and most disabled British Columbians have a list of things that make buildings inaccessible to them. And now the province wants to hear about them as it works to update the BC building code so much like we're builders and I was part of a task force many years ago about getting into the building code for future aging so that when you buy a home, you can actually age in it. And when you do possibly need a walker or a wheelchair, that you can still live in your same home, and what's wrapped into the home. And what's already built. There are the wider doorways, the maybe the microwave in the lower shelf, the support behind the walls where you might have to get support, you know, by the toilet or, or the shower or things like that that's already built roughed into the house. So the building code lays out the minimum safety requirements for new building construction. And it's updated every five years or so. And the province is putting a focus on accessibility for the next update in 2023. So Dan Kolbert, the MLA for Chilliwack is the Parliamentary Secretary for accessibility. And he says his government's goal is to make BC the most accessible province and for that they need public health. He's launched an online survey, which British Columbians can use to lay out their priorities for building access. Accessible doors that are activated by push button, make buildings more accessible for wheelchair users, and also people who use canes or have limited use of their hands or arms. People can use their elbows or hips to push the button and open the door. So he says, I think we can use the survey and the input from British Columbians to help us shape the building code, maybe in areas we never thought about. So accessibility is something culture thinks about every day because not just I don't know if you knew, but not just because of his job, but it's because he uses a wheelchair. And he says he avoids all buildings that don't have an elevator and finds doors challenging as well. If they don't open automatically, the building, you know can be inaccessible to him. So there are places he may not be able to go. Because of that. Jacobs would like all new buildings to have automatic doors that are activated by the simple swipe of a key fob. They should also slide open. That's such a great idea. I'd love that idea. So there is lots of room for people to get through using the scooters and wheelchairs and the province. They're wanting to offer grants to builders to help cover the costs and make it easier to include during their construction. So buildings for everyone is what they want. So that is Google News app please go on and find maybe if you Google I don't have the link for you. I'll put it actually on my home page on my website probably later today. But the province has a survey so I'll put the link there but if you just search BC you know building codes accessibility survey you probably will find it as well but it will be on my homepage.
Curtis Pope:
All right, very cool that people want to go to that homepage and get some more information and what is that web address shell company.ca Rebecca more right after this?
Michele Cummins - PREC:
She
Curtis Pope:
number two Real Estate Group chauffeur for Shell Cummins and myself Curtis Pope. All right, Michelle. So we gave some news about accessibility there and how that could be changing in the province. What do we got for segment number two?
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Lots of exciting stuff ahead of us Curtis exciting stuff. We're talking about germination of land use contract
Curtis Pope:
or termination. That sounds like a pretty you know, then you know An important word.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yeah, termination cut off. No more
Curtis Pope:
done gone, you're done.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
It is so true. And so that's the Luc. So a lot of people are like, oh, I want to buy a Luc lat I want to buy an Luc lat. And we have a lot that in Abbotsford, we have a lot of that in quite a few municipalities. So what is the land use contract and what is the termination of mean? So the land use agreements between local governments and land owners is going to be cut off municipalities and regional districts may enter into Phase development agreements and housing agreements with landowners in the past, they could enter into these land use contracts, and land use contracts were allowed in BC between 1971 and 1978. So between the time I and you were born
Curtis Pope:
easy now don't give away too much.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
As a form of site specific contractual agreements between local governments and landowners. The intent was to allow more flexibility than traditional zoning. And these contracts were registered onto land title, and they could be amended or discharged in the following ways. One by bylaw at anytime with the agreement of the local government and the landowner, and two in the manner specified in the contract. So when the land use contract legislation was repealed in 1978, the existing contracts remained in place. However, no new contracts could be created after that time. Now in 2014, which to me just seems like yesterday, but you know, it's been a while now. So in 2014, the Local Government Act was changed to terminate all land use contracts by June 30 of 2024. Giving local governments time to ensure that zoning and other bylaws are in place when the land use contracts terminate. The legislative change provides two termination options. The termination option that is used may have different requirements for matters such as public hearings, notification procedures, and filings related to land titles. If land a building or other structure is being lawfully used under the land use contract, and the use would not apply under the new bylaw, the US may continue as non conforming. So that's a lot like the you know, before the setbacks are in place, there's a lot of older homes that are legally non conforming, when you hear that word, it's because they were built before the new bylaws came in place. But if they ever burned down or something happened to them, you would not be able to rebuild in the same location that's for and you have to be careful as a buyer, you want to make sure that if you can't rebuild it in that location, can you build it within the lot? Dimensions? You know, where would you place it? What if it's a smaller lot? What if there's a creek running through it? What if it's against a major street, which has shorter setbacks than if you were adjacent to let's say, just another property owner? But still all of those things? You have to really consider? Is it on septic? And well, and where are those locations? How close can you be all the stuff that you have to consider. So if you have a older house, if you're thinking of buying a place that is illegal, non conforming, and illegal purchase means it's allowed to be there as long as it's there, but you can't get out any new building permits, you can't build, you can't, you can't extend onto those properties. If the let's say deck gets destroyed in a fire or in another way, you can get a permit for another deck if it's if it's within that new zoning setback if it's in the bat. So anyways, enough about that. That's what that means, certain conditions may apply. So contact your local government for more details. Now an early termination option will allow local governments to actually terminate land use contracts before the June 30 or 2022. So they all have to be ended by June 30 2024. But governments can start now to phase them out. Providing zoning is in place and certain requirements of court requirements are met. So the city of theory plans to discharge land use contracts before the date so they've been working on that. And and they've been working with landowners they have to go through the neighborhood. So let's let's move on, though to the relationship between Liu C's and zoning. So if a property lies within the boundaries of an Luc, all land use regulations are prescribed in the LEC. Nevertheless, all properties in Surrey are assigned a zoning bylaw in it. You know if you care to 1000 zones, including those properties that are governed by LLC so the zone assigned to a property that is regulated by an LLC is referred to as an underlying zone. Although all properties are regulated by Elysees has underlying zoning, the underlying zoning is to provide a general guide and has absolutely no effect on the land uses density or building siting. So once an LLC is terminated, the underlying zoning for the property automatically comes into effect. However, there are properties within some Elysees that do not correspond well to the underlying zoning that has been assigned to the property or that contain uses that are not equivalent to the uses or mix of uses contained within existing zones under that Zoning Bylaw. So in such instances in conjunction with the termination of the Luc, these properties will be rezone to either a more appropriate zone under zoning under the Zoning Bylaw or to a site specific comprehensive development. So definitely check in if you have a property that's within the LDC if you bought it because it was an LEC lot, definitely keep in mind that stat 2024 date is going to come up sooner than you think last week went away in a blink of my eye. So it's the next couple of years. So get prepared for that. And so there's some frequently asked questions that I thought I would bring up about that. So one is for the properties with underlying single family residential zones. Does the city require the consent of the owner of the property before an LLC can be terminated? Well, that's the no recent legislation allows the city council to terminate Elysees without the consent of the property owner. Will I be notified if City Council proposes to terminate the LEC on the property on which any home is located? The answer is yes. Once the planning report with respect to the termination of the specific Elysee has been presented to council, and once Council has given first and second readings to the LEC termination bylaw, all property owners and tenants within the Luc to be terminated will receive written notification by the city clerk so all property owners and tenants of property within 100 meters of the Luc proposed to be terminated will also be notified by letter as well. Additionally, notifications will be placed in the local newspaper to appraise the general public of the proposed Luc termination. Property owners and tenants within the LEC surrounded or surrounding property owners and tenants in the general public all have the right to make their opinions known either in person or in writing at the public hearing held by the city. So the next question frequently asked Does the Luc termination mean that the city is going to redevelop my property and that I will have to move? Well, no, the city of Surrey has no intention of redeveloping your property and you can continue to reside in your current property as long as you wish. Now, these Frequently Asked Questions are because three has a very much an action plan to be terminating them prior to 2024. They do you have more frequently asked questions than other municipalities when I was researching this. So this is where I got these questions from just being so does the Luc termination mean that I will be required to make changes or upgrades to my existing dwelling so that it conforms to underlying zoning? No, you will not be required to make any changes or upgrades to bring your existing single family dwelling in compliance with the underlying zoning that will regulate your property once the termination of the Elysee on your property comes into effect. And other question, Will an Luc termination have an impact on the assessed value on my property? And on my property taxes? No, you don't have to worry about that it is not anticipated that terminating the Luc currently regulates your property will have any effect or impact on either the assessed value or the city property tax. Doesn't Elysee termination make it easier for a developer to redevelop my property? Well, no, any developer who wants to develop your property will first have to obtain your consent to allow any redevelopment of your property to move forward. If the developer receives your consent, the developer will still have to submit a land development application to the city. So there you go. And when an Luc termination Bylaw is adopted by counsel, does the underlining zoning come into effect immediately? The answer is no. I'll use the termination bylaws come into effect one year after they are adopted. During the one year period, the rules and regulations of the Luc that is being terminated will continue to apply. So there are some of the questions that are frequent. If you have any more, you know, feel free to call an official about this. And and I can connect you if you need that. But there you go. That's a lot about and that's happening everywhere in BC so not you know, city of Surrey has this action plan, but many others are moving forward with that as well. So the city of Surrey seems to be really proactive in a lot of a lot of things. But yes, so there you go. Um, I have a quote of the week, I would love to share, I would love to hear it. You know, Benjamin Franklin,
Curtis Pope:
not personally,
Michele Cummins - PREC:
neither, but he has a good quote that I like to live by it's, the quote is, by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. And yeah, I'm, I'm really looking at that this week, actually, I'm meeting with friends this week, and we're going to, I'm going to update my dream and vision board, and a couple of them don't have one. So they're going to create one. And it's been about 15 years since the last time and that was the first time I have made one. Have you ever made one credit? Not,
Curtis Pope:
not completely, not so much, I guess, a vision board. But I've definitely written down, you know, on a piece of paper, you know, goals and aspirations and things like that.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
I have to tell you, my life, my whole trajectory, it changed once I really sat down and purposely made myself this dream vision board when I made my dream serious enough to go big and take the time to put it on the vision board. It's amazing. I didn't look at it every day, but just taking that time and that time to process and think about it and what do I want out of life and really putting it down like taking that time? It's like it solidified it for me. And I'm telling you, most things on my vision board have come true since I did that. And I think I did that way back in 2014. Funny enough, I think that was the year I did it. And I pulled it out the other day, and I did a presentation on Zoom for a group and I'm like, Oh my gosh, it's amazing how most everything's come true. And I and so I'm ready to update it. And so I'm gonna have fun to do that this week. And I encourage everyone to have a look at theirs and make one if you haven't and in 2020 to start really working on all the steps and stones you need to make your dreams come true and your vision reality.
Curtis Pope:
Absolutely sounds like a good plan to me. Now of course, we guess we'll be off next week because it's going to be Christmas morning and I don't particularly want to be here.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
I don't either. I'd like to be sitting by the trees. Yeah,
Curtis Pope:
yeah, I think that's my plan to maybe a Christmas coffee or two or even three so maybe we should wish everybody happy Christmas you know Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. All that right now.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yes. Merry Christmas, everyone.
Curtis Pope:
All right. Well, we
Michele Cummins - PREC:
are lucky that together we're staying
Curtis Pope:
together. We're gonna try to go on the count of three or we go on three just before 3321 Mary dressed well, that almost works. Alright, for next year we will we have a year to practice now. If people want more information about you and what you do as a realtor, where can they go? Michelle cummins.ca. And join us again next week when we will talk real estate in order to unlock your real estate potential on the show where real estate is maximized. Thanks for listening
If you missed last week's episode where Michele & Curtis have special guest Erin Fleury on the show, please go take a listen! It's well worth it!