First-time home-buyers have dozens of questions for making their largest financial decision ever. What location is preferable? What type of home is best matched to needs and financial resources? What are the mortgage options? How does the home buyers tax credit work? How much can first-time buyers withdraw from RRSPs? How about legal considerations, closing costs and home warranties? How will new mortgage amortization rules affect buyers? What's involved with condo pre-sales? Those and other key questions will be answered by a panel of experts at the 17th Annual Seminar for First-time Home Buyers, presented by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association (GVHBA) on Tuesday, March 22 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel, Surrey. Admission to the popular seminar is free thanks to the generosity of the presenting sponsor, the provincial Homeowner Protection Office, branch of BC Housing, and corporate sponsors Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, Genworth Financial Canada, Scotiabank, Travelers Guarantee, Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel, Shaw Cablesystems, CKNW, Rock 101, AM 730 and 99.3 the FOX. Speakers are Robyn Adamache, senior market analyst, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation; Wendy Acheson, vice president and registrar, Homeowner Protection Office; Narrinder Dhanoya-Bhangu, vice president, Pacific region, Genworth Financial Canada; Travis Myers, manager of personal banking, Scotiabank; Dave Watt, past president, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver; Howard Friedman, national vice president of residential real estate products, Travelers Guarantee; and Gregory van Popta, partner, McQuarrie Hunter LLP. The seminar moderator is Shayne Ramsay, chief executive officer of BC Housing. "Our experts will help first-time buyers investigate all available options and key issues before they take that critical first step onto the property ladder," said GVHBA president and CEO Peter Simpson. "Real estate continues to be a hot topic in this region, so the attendance is expected to be as many or greater than the 750 young people who attended the seminar last year. Doors open at 6 p.m., allowing attendees ample time to view builder displays and other home-related products and services," he said. Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.gvhba.org or call 778-565-4288 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Registrations will also be accepted via voicemail during evenings and weekends. The hotel has generously waived parking fees for this event and public transit is at the door. Although the seminar is free, attendees are asked to bring a food item for the Surrey Food Bank.
