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By Frank O'Brien
Editor

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The Real Estate Weekly has asked the renowned futurist Frank Ogden of Vancouver, known internationally as Dr. Tomorrow, to comment on the house of the future.

"The homes we live in tomorrow will be better-built, stronger, and will contain more robotic features, making them more adaptable for our changing lifestyles and do-it-yourself owners.

If buying a new house or modernizing an old one, think first. Are you self-employed, or might be? Then have an office that has a home in it. When properly designed, occupying a building built like a ski lodge would allow the entire downstairs to become office space and you can have living quarters upstairs. Office space is income tax deductible. That includes a proportional part of mortgage interest, heat, electricity, maintenance, etc. Think about this.

Ask your real estate agent or accountant about tax criteria. The resulting savings should pay for many extras with a little cash left over. - How do I know? I've done it!

"Depending upon your changing lifestyles think about home security when you are away. Consider high quality, double-bolt, combination entrance lock and security devices that require no keys. Coming up in late 2002: Checking your home interior via video through the new Nokia Picture Phone, from anywhere in the world.

"The butler is back. But he now comes in the form of home sensors that can control lights, heat, home security and even appliances. If building a new home, make sure it has the smart wiring that will be ready for the future." 
 

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