Facebook buys WhatsApp for $19 BILLION dollars

Business Insider - Facebook announced Wednesday that it is buying the messaging app WhatsApp for $12 billion in stock, $4 billion in cash and another $3 billion in restricted stock unites to be granted to WhatsApp's founders and employees over the next four years.

For those not familiar, WhatsApp is a real-time messaging service, that allows people from around the world to stay connected with friends and family. It currently has 450 million users worldwide. The app is free to install and users pay $0.99 every year. The app has never had ads, and that will continue. 

Good news for First Time Home Buyers

The B.C. Provincial Government announced its provincial budget for 2014 - which included some good news for first time home buyers in B.C. The B.C. First Time Home Buyers Program allows B.C. residents to reduce or eliminate the property transfer tax paid when purchasing their first home. The B.C. government has increased the threshold for this program to $475,000 from $425,000 - effective February 19, 2014. This means that any home purchased by a first time home buyer for a fair market value of $475,000 or less is exempt from paying any property transfer tax - a savings up to $7500. 

For more information on the First Time Home Buyers Program, visit the website here. 

Calgary's housing market stays hot

CALGARY HERALD - Calgary's hot housing market started 2014 with a bang...and shows no signs of cooling off any time soon. Calgary recorded the highest year-over-year jump in house prices across the Canada in January, and so far indications show the escalation continues in February. 

The Canadian Real Estate Association released its monthly MLS data on Friday and listed Calgary as the top centre in the country for annual growth in the MLS Home Price Index at 8.98 per cent. Nationally, prices, in the 11 centres surveyed, rose by 4.83 per cent.

“We are seeing multiple offers in all price points. Obviously the lower the price point, the larger pool of buyers there is and hence a greater likelihood of multiple offers in the lower price points,” says Crystal Tost, a realtor with RE/MAX Realty Professionals in Calgary.

Al Capone's former Miami mansion up for sale

One of the most famous  pieces of real estate in Miami, the former home of notorious mob boss Al Capone, is up for sale. Originally purchased by Al Capone in 1928 for $40,000,the 10,000 sq ft waterfront mansion is now listed for $8.5 million.

Vancouver sales up 30% over last January

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver reported a 30.3% increase in sales in January 2014 over January 2013. Sales through the multiple listing service totalled 1760 for the month, a big jump from the 1351 made in January last year. 
The board also noted that the January sales for 2014 were 7.2% higher than the 10 year average for January. 
“The Greater Vancouver housing market has been a balanced market for nearly a year,” board president Sandra Wyant said in a statement.
“This has meant steady home sale and listing activity, accompanied by stable home prices.”

Read more at the Vancouver Sun here.