How did Maple Ridge get it's name? Maple Ridge real estate was incorporated on September 12, 1874; it was the sixth municipality to be formed in B.C., preceded only by New Westminster, Victoria, Langley, Chilliwack, and North Cowichan. At that time Maple Ridge consisted of 33,000 acres, but had fewer than 50 families. By 1874, several small communities had sprung up on the north side of the Fraser River including Port Haney, Port Hammond, Pitt Meadows, Whonnock, Albion, Ruskin, and Webster's Corners. One of the problems of small isolated communities is that they tend to stay small and isolated unless some means is found to build roads between them.One of the earliest European settlers in the district was John Mclver, a Scot, who homesteaded where the Maple Ridge Golf Course is now locat... 12/29/2009

The annual need to dispose of the Christmas Tree and have it recycled approaches as rapidly as does the New Year. This seasons options in Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows are as follows: Maple Ridge Ridge Meadows Search & Rescue Annual Tree Chipping Search and Rescue Building 23598 105 Avenue (next to Planet Ice) Pick up service also available for minimum $10 donation! Call  (604) 244-2850  (604) 244-2850 or email scoutchipping@gmail.com. Include your name, number, address, and preferred date. Pick up provided for a minimum $10 donation. Chipping event: Jan 2 & 3 Jan 9 & 10 9:00am-4:00pm Pick up dates: Jan 2 & 3 Jan 9 & 10 Trees chipped for a donation. Proceeds go to Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue and First Haney Rovers. Maple Ridge Transfer Station (SSG Holdings) 10092 236TH St (604) 466-92... 12/29/2009

 We live in this great community, but, (without looking)...  do you know where the nameMaple Ridge came from?   I found it quite interesting.. you may as well.  Learn a little bit about where we live.. Click on the link below..  Click here for Maple Ridge History Page - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want to know what is happening in YOUR area on a regular basis, Subscribe for the Market Snapshot which will be emailed to you at the intervals you select- (2-8 weeks)  Market snapshot available to BC residents only.  Darren Revell and Gord MomanThe REAL Pros GroupKeller Williams Elite Realty604-719-3805 - 604-467-0754http://www.isellbc.com  This communication is not intended to cause or induce breach of an existing agency agreem... 12/29/2009

Maple Ridge Real Estate normally just plots along with the standard sale and resale of homes but every once in a while a fun listing pops up that gets our attention.  The historic Whonnock United Church, built in 1914, has been put up for sale and the congregation will be amalgamated with the Webster's Corners United Church next year. I have not been in the building since my Grandmother, Olive Leaf, died in the 90's and her funeral was conducted there.  I recall a classic, quaint old country church, could have been the church in Little House on the Prairie but in this case, on the Hillside.  The surrounding forest and gardens are beautiful and serene, it is hoped that a buyer would preserve the building but there is no Municipal designation from the District of Maple Ridge that would st... 12/22/2009

"Not all dreams must be huge or designed to save the world. Your dream to spend more quality time with your family or to be paid well for doing work that you love is just as important. If your dream matters to you then it is precious and worthy of pursuit." A quote from Marcia Wieder ...... Dreams are Whispers from the Soul 12/22/2009

Have you wondered what has been going on over the past year in our area?  Let's take a look at the statistics of November this year compared to November last year.  REBGV - Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (Board)Stats below. If you want to know what is happening in YOUR area on a regular basis, Subscribe for the Market Snapshot which will be emailed to you at the intervals you select- (2-8 weeks), BC residents only  November 2009 - Total Listings in Board -   13,575November 2008 - Total Listings in Board -   21,023November 2009 - Total Listings Maple Ridge -   1004November 2008 - Total Listings Maple Ridge -   1386November 2009 - Total Sales in Board -   3183November 2008 - Total Sales in Board -     929November 2009 - Total Sales Maple Ridge -  180November 2008 - Total Sales Map... 12/21/2009

Here is wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy Safe New Year.... From my house to yours.... May we all have Peace on Earth... Good will towards men... And a Prosperous year.... in 2010   Can't believe we finally got up all the decorations, bought a few presents... and now we can relax a little... and ponder the real meaning of the day... 12/17/2009

The CP Rail Christmas Train continues its cross-Canada journey into Alberta and B.C. on December 9 before completing its journey on December 18th, the day the train passes through Maple Ridge. This is the 11th year that the Canadian Pacific Christmas Train has been raising food, money and awareness for food banks in communities across Canada and the U.S. To date, they've helped raise $4 million and 2 million pounds of food with our Holiday Train program. From the initial partnership with the National Food sharing program this was a new idea formed in 1999.That December, CP began running a freight train decorated with thousands of Christmas lights across Canada, to raise awareness of the issue of hunger prevalent in all communities. In 2001, CP launched a second Holiday Train in the Unit... 12/15/2009

Two schools will be closing in Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows school district # 42! Riverside and Mt. Crescent elementary schools will close by the end of the 2009/10 school year after Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Board of Education trustees voted in favour of the cost-saving measure Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and school district 42 say the cost savings will be about $900,000 a year! Mt. Crescent, which was built to hold 400 students, currently has 168 enrolled. Riverside, meanwhile, has just 107 students in a school built for up to 471. Trustees in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows voted unanimously, 7-0, in favour of closing Riverside elementary, and 5-1 to close Mt. Crescent Many Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows trustees around the board table leveled harsh criticism towards the provincial government for a... 12/10/2009

    This is part of a new advertising campaign we will be running in December 2009 in the neighborhoods I work most often.  A bit edgy, certainly eye catching and hopefully a bit provocative!  No apologies either, what do you do for the money you charge and how well do you do it?  Don't do the tired old things others are doing!  Be different! 11/29/2009

  We need your help. Way back in 1995, some caring REALTORS® in Vancouver observed the homeless situation in the city’s eastside and said to themselves, we’ve got to do something.They put out an appeal to their fellow colleagues for warm blankets and coats and collected 600 bags of donations specifically dedicated to Vancouver’s homeless in the downtown core. That single act of kindness has blossomed into one of the largest annual collections of warm clothing and blankets, helping homeless people and the working poor in every single community in the Lower Mainland. Fourteen years later, thousands of REALTORS® from Whistler to Chilliwack, have collected more than 27,000 bags of donations. Each year, more than 75 amazingly dedicated members actually pick-up and deliver all the donations, ... 11/26/2009

It's official, the biggest thing since Harry Potter, the Twilight Saga is filming the second instalment Eclipse in and around the Lower Mainland of British Columbia in the suburbs of Vancouver. I spotted the "Forks Washington" Police Cruisers in storage, probably near an unidentified set in downtown Maple Ridge earlier this week and have been on the look out for one of the actual sets ever since.  If i got my 8 & 10 year old daughters on set of Eclipse I would be the coolest Dad in the World for at least the rest of the year in my girls eyes. A movie set cropped up in the Maple Ridge real estate neighborhood of Albion which looked suspiciously like Eclipse, non-descript without the usual set arrow signs with a name on them.  My spider senses told me this might be a way to keep the young... 11/24/2009

This option will not work correctly. Unfortunately, your browser does not support inline frames. Its enough to make you sick, but what is even grosser is that the US Debt is $39,000 per person and spiraling out of control. The major buyers of the debt in 2009, are China and several Arab countries spearheaded by U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia. Scott Leaf, your Maple Ridge Realtor 11/19/2009

The British Columbia Government has released important details today with respect to the transitional implementation of the HST with resepct to new Real Estate construction.  The tax will not just occur on July 1, 2010 but will be phased in.  This is an important consideration for builders and buyers. To help homebuyers and builders transition to the HST, transitional rules would be provided for new housing transactions that straddle July 1, 2010. The proposed transitional rules would be similar to the transitional rules that applied when the GST was introduced. These rules, including builder reporting and disclosure requirements, would be administered by the CRA.   Generally, sales of newly constructed or substantially renovated homes would be grandparented where the written agreements... 11/19/2009

The Province is proposing to increase the threshold for the B.C. HST new housing rebate from $400,000 to $525,000 to ensure that, on average, purchasers of new homes up to $525,000 pay no more tax due to harmonization, Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced today. "We heard the concerns from consumers and industry about how the HST might affect home buyers, and this increase will move the threshold to above the average new home price in the province. At $26,250, this provides the highest maximum provincial rebate in Canada," said Hansen. "A similar rebate will also support the construction or substantial renovation of affordable rental housing." Purchasers of new homes would be eligible for a rebate of 71.43 per cent of the provincial portion of the HST paid on a new home, up to a max... 11/19/2009

For over 20 years Allan Knight has helped thousands of entrepreneurs increase their sales. If you would like to be more self-motivated, strengthen your self confidence and master the art of communication, the Mind fit for Success system will provide you the practical tools you need to succeed! Jerome Bates CD - Money Concepts says........ I highly recommend Allan Knight and his excellent coaching program. I have been working with Allan for several months now and the changes in my professional and personal life have been substantial and measurable. Using his initial self-assessment tool, and designing my goals from that, I slowly eliminated many of my old, limiting habits and have replaced them with new, empowering ones. Allan has a lot to offer in many areas coaching, but for me one of ... 11/16/2009

 Time for a middle of the afternoon chuckle...... "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." ~Mark TwainLaughter is an Instant Vacation 11/16/2009

SOLD I BROUGHT A BUYER FOR THIS HOME   $259,900 LIST PRICE #203-12075 228 ST, MAPLE RIDGE, BC RIO-Final Release-Selection from 1 bdrm, 1 bdrm + den, 2 bdrm, 3 bdrm, + 3 bdrm townhomes. Kholer fixtures, granite countertops in kitchen + bathroom, stainless appliances, laminate flooring, ready to move in. WOULD LIKE TO USE MY NEGOTIATING SKILLS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE? CALL OLENA @ 778.991.3293 TODAY. View more pics at www.olenaosipov.com   11/13/2009

West side of Maple Ridge 4 bedroom home for sale marketed by Scott Leaf Real Estate Marketing & Associates.  Located very near to Westview Senior Seconday and Laityview French Immersion Elementary School (L'Ecole Laityview) This beautiful, well kept corner lot home offers a large yard that could be used for RV parking. This listing is coming to MLS soon, this sneak preview is just a taste of this listing.  Photogrpahs and Video of the inside coming soon! 11/11/2009

Maple Ridge real estate was host to two young deer making a Fall visit to the Upper Jackson property in Albion, Maple Ridge.  This site should be enjoyed as this beautiful farm pasture has been approved for development, contrary to the Official Community plan and all recomendations by Mape Ridge District planning staff. The developers, who made financial contributions to the campaigns of most of the town concillors and Mayor, are expected to build 112 homes minimum on this field.  The only hope to save this field rests with the Metro Vancouver board of directors and is expected to be heard by that body early 2010 but possibly sooner. Urban Sprawl brought to you by the District of Maple Ridge, ignoring residents and catering to Land Developers since time in memorium . 11/01/2009