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This year was a little different for us as we walked the Fort-To-Fort Trail together instead of at the official CNOY event due to a calendar clash, but honestly… we had a fantastic time, a highlight of the year so far. 
 

Thank you, genuinely, to each person who walked with us, donated to our team, shared our fundraising page, or simply cheered us on. The Coldest Night of the Year is one of our favourite events of the year precisely because of the community it brings together around a cause that matters deeply.

Fundraising was certainly noticably harder this year but we were happy to support Storehouse and partner with them in their overall fundraising efforts. 

•       Team total raised: $450

•       Overall Storehouse raised: $197,500

Every dollar raised supports Storehouse Society‘s vital programs serving the most vulnerable in our community – from the food bank to hot meal programs and Christmas hampers.

For those of you that have followed us for a while, you’ll know we’re committed to Community Involvement, having now raised well over $100,000 for our non-profit partners. We’re so grateful for your ongoing generosity and can’t wait to do it all again next year. If you’d like to be on the invite list for 2027, just reply to this email and we’ll make sure you’re included.

People Over Property, Always.

A DISCOUNT FOR YOU! – DAVIDSMITH2026 is now live for 10% off all season long.

With Spring comes the start of the Canadian Premier League Season, so when our partners, Vancouver FC, reached out to ask if they could feature us in Episode 1 of their new ‘Fan Stories’ video series, we said yes without hesitation. What Vancouver FC has built right here in Langley is spectacular, in just four years we’ve gone from non-existence to playing the Continental Champions in Mexico last month – we were there! 

We’ve shared lots of our story with VFC here, but if you wanted more in-depth details, the video above captures some of the stories well – and you get to see us all squirm on camera a bit. 

As club sponsors and genuinely passionate supporters, we couldn’t be prouder of what this organisation has become. Season 4 is right around the corner and we can’t wait to see you at Willoughby!

The match calendar can be found here, or just reach out to me directly! 

And don’t forget the discount code, DAVIDSMITH2026 

Let’s Go Eagles! 🦅

Spring isn’t just about the market waking up – it also brings a couple of important deadlines for BC homeowners. Two of them are coming up fast. Here’s what you need to know.

Speculation & Vacancy Tax Declaration – Due March 31, 2026

A quick but important reminder: if you own residential property in a designated area of BC, you are required to file your Speculation and Vacancy Tax (SVT) declaration annually – even if you’re exempt.

The deadline this year is March 31, 2026 (for the 2025 calendar year).

99% of homeowners qualify for an exemption – but you still need to file. So does anyone else listed on title with you. Failing to do so can result in the full tax rate being applied to your property’s assessed value.

If you haven’t already, head to: gov.bc.ca/spectax. It only takes a few minutes and it’s important not to miss this one.

Property Taxes — Due July 2, 2026

Property tax bills will be mailed out in May and are typically due July 2nd for most BC municipalities. A few things worth knowing before then:

• Home Owner Grant: If you occupy your home as your primary residence, you almost certainly qualify for the Home Owner Grant, which can meaningfully reduce your property tax bill. You must apply for it each year – it doesn’t carry over automatically. Watch for the application to open in May.
• Pre-payment Plans: Many municipalities allow you to pre-pay property taxes in monthly installments throughout the year. If you’re not already enrolled, it’s worth checking whether your municipality offers this.
• Investment Properties: The Home Owner Grant does not apply to rental or investment properties – the full tax amount is due.

A Final Note

With speculation and vacancy tax, property tax, property transfer tax, the BC Home Flipping Tax, and several other obligations now at play for BC homeowners, we continue to recommend working with a good accountant who understands real estate. We’re happy to refer one if you don’t already have someone in your corner.

As always, if any of these taxes intersect with a decision to buy or sell, never hesitate to reach out.

Every year, March rolls around and we start getting the same question: “Is now a good time to sell?” And every year, the answer is the same – if you’re thinking about listing this spring, the prep starts now, not when the market peaks.

The 2026 Spring Market beginning to build. Buyer activity has been picking up for weeks. Well-prepared homes are the ones that capture that energy. Here’s what we’d be doing right now:

Inside the Home

• Declutter and depersonalise. Buyers need to picture their life in your home. You don’t need to strip all personality – just make room for them to imagine. Start with the rooms that feel busiest.
• Take care of the deferred maintenance list. Dripping taps, stiff doors, cracked caulking, broken outlet covers – these small things create a big perception problem. Buyers’ agents use them as leverage in negotiations. Fix them first.
• A fresh coat of neutral paint goes a long way. Clean grout, clean windows, and a neutral repaint of the main living areas are among the most cost-effective things you can do before listing.
• Replace your HVAC filter and check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These won’t show up in the listing photos, but they do show up in an inspection.

Outside the Home

• Curb appeal starts at the curb. Clean the gutters, tidy the garden beds, and powerwash the driveway and walkways. First impressions begin before buyers step through the door.
• Prune trees and bushes and clear winter debris. A tidy garden doesn’t need to be in full bloom – it just needs to look cared for.
• Wash off outdoor furniture and get the backyard presentable. Buyers shopping in spring are imagining evenings outside.

The Most Important Step: Talk to Us Early

An early conversation – even if you’re not planning to list until May or June – means we can tell you exactly which improvements will move the needle and which aren’t worth a dollar. We’ve seen sellers spend thousands on the wrong things and miss the ones that would have made the real difference. 

If you’re thinking about it at all, reach out today. Kandace and I would be happy to walk through your home with zero obligation and give you an honest assessment of what’s needed. That’s the kind of preparation that wins in any spring market.

Over 90% of our business at David Smith Homes Group comes from introductions or ‘referrals,’ in fact it’s what our whole business is built around. 

Instead of us spending tens of thousands of dollars trying to secure new clients, we like to invest in performing well for our current clients and also in thanking the source of those introductions. 

We’re launching a new program in 2025 to say ‘THANK YOU’ in a real tangible way, if you introduce us to a friend, family member, colleague, team mate, whatever… and they purchase and/or sell a home with us in the following year, we’ll pay YOU $500. 

Reach out to david@davidsmithhomes.ca if you have any questions about this program or any introductions to make! 

Hello Amazing David Smith Homes Group Supporters!

Once again we’re back doing the ‘Coldest Night of The Year’ for Storehouse Society (Formerly Cloverdale Community Kitchen) and we’d LOVE for you to join us as we mix it up a bit this year, walking off-site in Fort Langley along the Fort-To-Fort Trail.

30 Second Introduction:

You really can buy real estate in the Lower Mainland! It takes planning, discipline, and the right professionals around you. 

Find out how at our upcoming seminar, with a short, informative talk and Q&A

When: Wednesday March 4th / 6:30-8pm 

Where: Trinity Western University – DeVries Centre 

Who: Anyone looking to purchase a home, inc. students, parents of students, alumni, and others without a TWU connection too. 

How: Register for your free tickets here.

There’s so much to love about Aldergrove, one of Langley’s most unique communities. Let Kandace Willson, our Aldergrove specialist, share just some of her favourite things about living (and selling real estate!) in the area. If you’re interested in buying or selling in Aldergrove, make sure to reach out to Kandace here.

Thanks to your ongoing trust we’re happy to share 2025’s real estate awards our team celebrated. Although we don’t do what we do for the awards, they’re a lovely reminder that we continue to perform at the top of our industry without compromising our ‘People Over Property, Always.’ philosophy. Here’s to another great year in 2026!