Vancouver! Vancouver! Vancouver!
Geraldine Santiago
Author and Licensed Realtor
"Welcome to my home!
Thank you for visiting my website."
I have been living, working and raising a family in Vancouver's westside for many years. I know the Vancouver real estate market, the community and the people. I am especially involved in the lives and events around the community on the Westside. Though I specialize in both first-time home buyers, my specialty is the Westside.
I am very active in the community. I provide helpful information-based seminars on the Vancouver real estate market for first time home buyers in many community centres and libraries throughout the lower mainland. This includes the Roundhouse Community Centre, False Creek Community Centre, Douglas Park Community Centre, Riley Park Community Centre, Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre, Renfrew Community Centre, East Hastings Community Centre, Mount Pleasant Community Centre and Trout Lake Community Centre and various public libraries as well such as the Richmond Public Libraries and Vancouver Public library.
I was fortunate to pen three books for Self-Counsel Press Ltd. I wrote the "Complete Home-Buyer's Guide for Canadians", 2003 Self-Counsel Press Ltd. publisher. It has been on the bestseller list for many years. It addresses the needs of today's buyers, addressing
issues and concerns such as closing costs to the buyer, home owner's grants, and tax exemptions for first-time home buyers, title insurance, the 'leaky condo crisis" and more. I wrote this book as a licensed realtor, but I wrote it for consumers to help them purchase with ease and confidence.
Whether you are buying in Richmond, Coquitlam, Surrey, New Westminster, Delta, Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody or Abbotsford, Maple Ridge I can help you be your guide. Whether you are buying a single detached home, a townhouse, a condo or an investment property, I can help you.
If you are not certain on a specific area and are not decided where to live, I can also help you. Each area is unique: WESTSIDE has its positive aspects and there are many areas to consider such as Kitsilano, Kerrisdale, Point Grey, UBC, Shaughnessy, MacKenzie Heights, Southlands, Cambie, Main, Arbutus, Douglas Park, Marpole, Oakridge, I can help you determine which area is best for you and your family.
I provide all who attend my seminar a complimentary copy of my book. It is a step in the right direction as it is extremely important to find out as much as you can about the home buying process beforehand. I admit that my book is only a guide for you to use. You still need an expert realtor to help you out with the details. I would need to write volumes on buying and selling. But you have the next best thing--which is having me as your experienced guide and realtor! I was licensed in 2001 and have the experience and knowledge to help you purchase and sell with ease.
At the time I bought my first home, I was not a realtor and I found the entire buying process difficult. I did not know about getting my own agent, I didn't know what questions to ask, where to look without spending considerable time and effort, and what documents to sign and review. I honestly felt both intimidated and frustrated. I did not know about agency, contract of purchase and sale, and hiring a team of professionals to help me.
I was extremely grateful for having an experienced realtor on my side as I depended solely on her to give me advice and point me in the right direction. I wished that I knew a little bit more about the buying process to give me the confidence in my own choices and decisions. By being active in the community, by way of my seminars, my on-line Q&A assistance or by way of my book, my mission is to help first-time home buyers purchase their first home with ease.
Today, after many years of being in real estate, I am experienced with contracts and am up to date with real estate legal issues. My role as a real estate agent is to always protect your interests and I have a fiduciary duty to you as my client. I pride myself in taking the time out to take updated real estate courses provided by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, such as Legal Update 2010 which helps realtors keep abreast of complex issues surrounding real estate sales.
My second book is titled, "Sell Your Home in Canada" 2005 Self-Counsel Press Ltd. publisher. It provides information for DIY'ers who want to find out about what it takes to sell their home, including marketing techniques, dealing with legal issues, and the pros and cons of using an agent.
"Buy and Sell a Recreational Property in Canada" 2006 Self-Counsel Press Ltd. publisher, is my third book. It provides information on buying and selling a recreational property. Though buying a recreational property-- a cottage home by the lake, or a timeshare in Whistler might be a dream come true, you may want to be informed first before making that decision to purchase. It has its own challenges as there are a host of different issues to be considered when purchasing and financing these types of properties. Knowledge is power and this book is choked-full of useful information you need to know before buying or selling your recreational property.
Download Sample Book Pages Here
Recreational Property book download
Education
If you are tired of renting and paying your landlord instead of building equity and savings, allow me to help you. Paying for a mortgage is just like forced savings. Every payment you make, though it might not feel like it, you are gaining and saving in the long run.
When you sell your principal residence, you will receive the benefits of being exempt from the capital gains tax. If you bought your house for $100,000 and you sell it for $200,000, minus some costs such as selling costs, which is very minimal, you pocket the difference in the gain.
I know what it is like to pay rent month after month and not having any savings for yourself and your family. I would like to show you how you can be a home owner yourself, even if it takes a little more work, effort and time.
I am a family oriented person and I believe that I have the skills to help your family achieve their dream in purchasing a first home!
Photo by Steve Owst Photography
Professional Qualifications, Education and Memberships
University of British Columbia, Bachelor of Arts Degree, Mandarin Language
Licensed Realtor, TRG Realty (Kitsilano)
Published Author, the "Complete Home-Buyer's Guide for Canadians"
Published Author, "Sell Your Home in Canada"
Published Author, "Buy and Sell a Recreational Property in Canada" Self-Counsel Press Ltd. Publisher
Completed, Applied Practice Course (Residential) British Columbia Real Estate Association
Licensee, Real Estate Council of British Columbia
Graduate, University of British Columbia Real Estate Division- Real Estate Trading Services and Sub-Mortgage Course
Member, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV)
Member, Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
Here's what Geraldine's clients have to say....
Geraldine, Thank you for your assistance in purchasing our first home. As first time buyers, you made what could be an intimidating experience very friendly, and managable. In particular I found your book to be very informative and easy reading it only took an hour to get through. And all those terms I didn't quite have a grasp of I now had an understanding of and felt I could speak with some authority on. Thanks again for making it an exciting and fun experience.
Dan Devlin
We know that this Thank you note is long overdue. We've been really busy since we moved in and we haven't really settled in. Anyway, we would like to thank you for helping us find our first home.
Though we almost gave up, you've been very patient and you gave us your full support and best effort to find the right place for us, until we finally did. The book that you gave us, with the checklist of do's and dont's and everything in the book had been very helpful too.
Now everybody is happy and everyone in the family has his own place, so each one has his/her plan for his/her own place. Everybody is starting to be creative and imaginative on how to make his/her place the best to be. Again, thank you for being a great Realtor and a very good friend. We look forward to having you here during our house blessing. We will surely call you.
Thanks for everything.
Dadz, Let & Family
Geraldine made the process of being a first-time home buyer virtually stress free. She offers written, step-by-step information on the different stages of buying and what to expect from each stage. She backs that up with being available to answer questions when you need her. This allowed me to focus on finding the right property while not worrying about anything being left out in the process. I really feel Geraldine has my best interests at heart, and I am thrilled with my new home.
Thank you, Geraldine!
Geraldine was willing to take the time to help me find the right home in the right location, at the right price. Her positive attitude helped me stay focused on my goals. She has the determination but she's not a typical pushy salesperson. She really cares about her clients.
Shannon Hill
The Complete Home-Buyer's Guide was an invaluable resource in my home-buying process. I found the sections for searching for a home and making an offer particularly insightful. Rarely do you find this much information in one source and written in a manner that speaks to both first time home buyers such as myself as well as existing homeowners looking to trade up. Highly recommended for anyone wondering what kind of questions to ask, and the answers you need.
Jeanette Wilkinson
Thank you for helping me and Brad buy our first home. Having you as our realtor made it a great deal better to have you on board! Wishing you a "Bonne Fete" with lots of love and luck for the coming year!
You are a blessing!
Love, Mitsy and Brad
Geraldine's professionalism, vast knowledge in real estate and keen understanding for the needs and special considerations of first time home buyers helped make our home buying experience stress-free and thoroughly enjoyable! Thank you, Geraldine for helping us realize a dream!
Sean and Anna Maria
Dear Geraldine,
We're in the thick of it here! We are hoping to have finished all the work in three week?s time. We just wanted to extend our thanks to you in helping us find our first home---you were terrific!
All the Best to you,
Brittaney and Matthew Bennett
Geraldine was incredibly helpful and supportive during our hunt for a house for our large family. She was always available to answer questions, provided us with continual updates on new listings and invested many hours showing us potential properties. Her professionalism and enthusiasm made our task easier- we finally found exactly what we were looking for in Kitsilano.
David Sylvester and Allyson Larkin
Hi, Geraldine! We are very excited about our new little place, and even though it seemed like such a long time to wait to get into it, the time is flying by.
We were glad to hear that you had a good holiday. They always seem so short, don't they? We are really glad that Bill referred us to you! Thanks so much for the great help in helping us find our new home. We couldn't have asked for better.
We'll be in touch,
Jeff and Adrienne Proseillo